Using spoiler tags in case anybody reads before watching.
I really liked it. I feels like you're being set up to think one thing, so it makes you think that it's going to be something else - I imagined that Alan Rickman was going to be an estranged father or grandfather, or that he was going to save the family in some way. I didn't expect what actually happened! It made me think of the slightly disturbing stories/fairy tales children are told (Santa is another character who sneaks into your house when you're asleep!) and how they have to sort out the truth from the fantasy and the imaginary benefical characters from the real, dangerous characters. That they're being told "don't talk to strangers" alongside "a stranger will come into your room at night to take your tooth".
I thought it even touched on something more disturbing: using the child as a drug to make him fly, even though it didn't involve touching or harming the child, made me think of the issue of child porn. I don't want to think about that one too deeply, but that's what sprung to mind. I think there would have been quite a different feel if they'd used a young, female actress instead of Alan Rickman.
At the end, the child seems happy to have helped, though, and just wants a glimpse of the magical creature.
Last edited by Liberty (July 21, 2014 6:31 am)
I will say that Rickman was great for the part, though. He left me still uncertain whether I find it funny or unnerving. 
Reminded me of the similarity in strangeness and conveying the story without words like Benedict's short "Inseparable".
Russell wrote:
