The Thief Lord

A modern-day fairy tale that's part Dickens' Oliver Twist and part J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, this sumptuous adaptation of Cornelia Funke's bestselling young adult novel derives much of its appeal from the beautiful cinematography of breathtaking Venetian locations. Written and directed by Richard Claus (The Little Vampire), the family-friendly fable The Thief Lord revolves around the adventures of orphaned brothers Prosper (Aaron Johnson) and Bo (Jasper Harris), who escape the custody of their mean aunt and flee to the city of canals, where they join a band of fellow orphans led by “the Thief Lord” (Rollo Weeks), a masked youth who directs their larcenous activities from secret headquarters in an abandoned movie theater. Doggedly pursued by a police detective, the boys embark on a caper that leads them to an old merry-go-round thought to have magical qualities. Briskly paced, and full of action and excitement, this enchanting film should prove to be a fun watch for younger and older viewers alike. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include both widescreen and full screen versions of the film, three deleted scenes, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning family film.] (E. Hulse)