“Just Stating Facts” is a recurring column where I argue one my (many) unpopular opinions.
Look I loved 2019 2020’s “Artemis Fowl”. A theatrical and IMAX release that was dropped on Disney Plus for no Premiere Access surcharge (ahem “Mulan”) in the middle of June when everyone was still staying at home, quarantining and just trying to get by. I get on my knees to thank Disney for dropping this film. Now “Artemis Fowl” is nowhere near objectively perfect. I get it. But it’s perfect for me. It’s the kind of weird film with just enough IP juice that would move me to see it 2-5 times in theaters – if movie theaters still existed in California. Let me make my case.
Reason 1. Based on… a hit book series
The Artemis Fowl Book Series has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. While this is not Harry Potter level or even Percy Jackson level of sales, it’s still a lot. Moreover, it’s an IP with dedicated fans but not so many that you can’t take some risks with the film. Although some of them probably would have liked to see a straight-ahead “page for page” adaptation like The Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone, if you haven’t read the books you don’t feel left out watching the film as there are probably more people unfamiliar with Artemis’ world than familiar with it. If anything you would feel good knowing that those fans have just as much an idea of what’s going to happen next as you do. Then afterwards you can go back and read the books if you want.
Reason 2. But plays by its own rules
Kenneth Branagh is not going to come in and make a carbon copy of a book – he never has. I’m not saying he’s Christopher Nolan (actually Branagh has made more films in the past decade that I like than Nolan), but if you look at his track record, films like Thor, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, and even Cinderella all adapt their material and give it an original spin that is not necessarily fully present in the original material. Branagh adapts Shakespeare and knows how to make that his own and he sure as heck is going to make “Artemis Fowl” his own as well. Like I said, because the series is popular but not universally beloved, there is a bit more freedom of adaptation. There are a lot of ways the film diverges from the novel. Some of them can even be found in the books. In an early cut, we see Artemis in Hong Kong (mirroring the first chapter of the novel) finding the “Book of the People” and taking pictures of its secrets after outsmarting a fairy (played by the same actress who plays Opal Koboi – was it OPal? Unclear as the scene was cut). Anyway, this was all cut out of the film. Perhaps Branagh wanted to make an estate-bound fantasy epic, and I get that. Although I do think the Hong Kong sequence might have given us more of a sense of drive and purpose for Artemis (one of the places I do think the film is lacking at times), it also does keep the film’s narrative location focused on Fowl Manor – which is kind of a cool idea and also very Shakespearan, where the idea of “unity of place” is a huge thing.
Brangah’s visual vision of Fowl Manor though is quite amazing and although it pays homage to the novel and does not depart from the novel, he definitely makes it his own. Branagh also makes some of the characters his own as well – from changing the gender of Commander Root from male to female (allowing the great Dame Judi Dench to play a leprechaun fairy) and also changing the background of Mulch Diggums.
And yet – his visual and thematic interpretations of Artemis Fowl and Holly Short are fairly close to the novel. They look and sound and act like the characters. Although Artems does deviate from certain character traits and is a bit more “good” than he can be in the novel, if you read the move straight away, there are plenty of times when Artemis can be read as manipulating “good” characters (like Holly and Commander Root) for his own selfish needs – which actually is close to the novel.
Finally, the general look of the film is quite beautiful. Branagh shot the film on 35MM and it was a great choice. The film has a look that makes you think of big budget summer films of the 80s and 90s. And you can hate the film all you want but wow does Haris Zambarloukos do an amazing job making every scene look just perfect. Whether its a small moment like Artemis watching TV in his PJ’s and seeing his father held responsible for the art thefts or the amazing Troll fight in the middle of Fowl manor. Speaking of that fight, and the other cool sequences in the film:
Reason 3. A Handful of Rousing Set-Pieces
Any blockbuster knows needs great set-pieces. There are a few of them in Artemis Fowl. The first (and maybe the best) is the Troll capture in Italy. In this sequence Branagh showcases both an AMAZING set (the Italian wedding), with strong CGI creature work (the troll) and a larger effects conceit – a time freeze.
The second is the safe-cracking sequence with Mulch Diggums. This sequence does not have a ton of action but it does have a good deal of suspense. We know Mulch is going to get the Aculos – but the suspense comes from the questions: why is he getting, to whom does it go to and what will it do? Branagh also does the small things visually well – whether it is Mulch’s optical camera or
The third is the Troll Fight in the middle of Fowl Manor. This is the biggest action sequence of the film as the Troll is unleashed by Briar Cudgeon to wreak havoc on Artemis and allow the fairy troops an opportunity to steal the Aculos. The troll then fights Artemis, Holly, Domovoi, and Juliet. The fight is long (in a good way) and feels very physical, as if Branagh actually destroyed the multiple rooms in the home where the fight takes place. The camera is also always in the right place as there are usually multiple characters in peril from the troll or fighting the troll at any given moment.
Last thing I want to talk about is Domovoi’s death scene. The scene takes place almost exactly after the Troll Fight and yet Branagh is able to slow the momentum of the film down and create an intimate moment using music and the cinematography to convey a believeable feeling of grief for Domovoi (even though in this film with this subject matter we all knew it was highly unlikely that something like a character death would happen). Also he hangs tension in the scene as the audience knows Holly Short has no magic to save Domovoi and outside Commander Root is trying her best to restore that magic. It’s solid emotionally and narratively and is another example of an actual non-action based sequence that elevates this film.
Reason 4. A movie that embraces its weirdness aka Artemis Fowl Surfs
I love that there is so much weird stuff in this film. Whether it is the outfits for the fairies and worn prominently by Holly Short and Commander Root or Domovoi Butler’s white hair, or the design of the Fairy weapons or even the new added macguffin of The Aculos. They all are original but to me at least feel like they could have been in the book series. This may anger some fans but I have to admit while I read and liked the books, I may not be quite as dogmatic about them as other fans.
Now one thing that I will take some time to discuss at length is Artemis Fowl surfing. This is a quick cutaway early on in the film that is clearly supposed to establish Branagh’s version of Fowl as someone active and relevant. It angered a few people – including Eoin Colfer, the author. And I get it. It is not something that Artemis would ever take time to do in the books. He’s a much more buttoned-down and focused character. But Branagh’s Fowl feels a bit more off the cuff and reliant on momentary inspiration as much as planning which, I think would speak to someone who maybe does things like surfing or other activities where reaction time is a factor.
Moreover, I think the surfing is something that catches the audience off-guard early in the feel. It could be a very bad thing or it could be a very good thing. For me it was a way that I knew the film was going to be different from the books and also a little wacky – which set me up to take other wacky things in stride (the costumes, the weapons, The Aculos, etc…).
I also want to say a little bit about Ferdia Shaw’s performance. Although he has taken some hits – I actually think he’s great because he’s awkward. I know some people wanted a fully formed Artemis Fowl in this film, but I don’t think that works in the same way as it might in the book. While Artemis in the book fells much more at home with the fairy world around him, the Artemis in this film is just buying into and believing it for the first time. Ferdia’s performance feels like someone who is working to believe the things that he needs to believe so that he can get his father back from Opal Koboi. Does it feel stilted or awkward at times – yes. But I think that is purposeful and I think Kenneth Branagh intended that to be the case. This is how a real kid of Artemis and Ferdia’s age might act in this position. It’s also complimented by some genuine moments from Ferdia – like when Holly Short has to finally put the Aculos to use – that allow us to see that he may have been putting up an act this whole time. Speaking of Holly Short and some other great supporting characters and performances….
Reason 5. Supporting Performances
There are three wonderful performances in this film. First there’s Josh Gad as Mulch Diggums. The character in the books is as memorable for the Fowl crowd as Haggrid is for the Potter crowd. And Josh Gad does a yeoman’s job bringing the character to life. He shoulders a lot of the narrative and table-setting early on when he is taken into custody after the events of the film and we must learn who the Fowls are, what the Aculos is, etc… all through him. But when he disappears into the frame story, allowing us to meet Artemis and Holly on their own terms, we are also excited to see him again when he pops back up on Holly’s story. I’m not sure how much of the dialogue was Gad improvising but he makes me genuinely laugh multiple times during the film. And he delivers his lines (which might have been flat or stilted in lesser hands) so effortlessly. It works whether it’s a humorous moment like when he guesses that Commander Root’s name is “Britney” or a more serious one like whenever he refers to Artemis as “human” with both fear and disdain in his voice.
Next is Dame Judi Dench as Commander Root. Commander Root is a man in the book series but Dench is able to make the role her own while also honoring the spirit of the character. If you would have asked me to fan-cast Artemis Fowl there is no way I ever would have guessed that Judi Dench would play Commander Root. It’s a tough role with a lot of narratively monotonous dialogue in the chess match that occurs around Fowl Manor. But Dench makes it work. There’s as much at stake for her as there is for Artemis and Dench never makes it feel like Root is just going through the motions. She also wears her wacky costume like its second nature and like she’s been wearing it for years (which her character has). I really had more of an appreciation for the Dame after this film than some of her more well respected roles (not knocking them, just sayin;).
Finally I want to talk about Laura McDonnell as Holly Short. In a lot of ways the Artemis Fowl book series is as much about Holly as it is about Artemis. Holly is an integral character in the way that Ron or Hermione are in the “Harry Potter” series (ok last Potter reference I promise). McDonnell exceeds those expectations and more. In fact, I would give her the MVP of the film. McDonnell is believable as short from moment one. I almost can’t put my finger on how but as an actor her performance is completely empathetic and completely energetic. Her time before coming into contact allows us to see the fairy world through her eyes of wonder and happiness – which helps. If this were a lesser character or performance the fairy world might come off as crass or off-putting but McDonnell allows the audience to completely buy into it. When she hits the surface to rescue an Italian wedding party from a troll attack and takes the time to fix an ice cream cone for a little girl – we are immediately on her side. Her interactions with Artemis and Juliet while imprisoned never feel belabored or hampered by her limited physical location. The way she says “English” to Juliet or the way she punches Artemis as soon as she is set free feels completely of the character and the moment. And she does this all while wearing her fairy ears and costume – and always making them feel completely at home and believable.
Reason 6. Setting up a franchise (that will probably never happen)
The end sets up the return of Holly Short and Mulch Diggums but also the film set up such smaller characters as the principal at Artemis’ school and Domovoi’s niece Juliet who surely would have made future appearances like Dudley Dursely and the Durselys at large (ok now that’s the last Potter reference – I promise). While this might be frustrating for some people it leaves me with a sense of hope. I want to see what Holly Short is like in “The Arctic Incident” so bad! And even though it will probably never happen, at least I can reflect on Josh Gad and Laura McDonnell’s wonderful performances and I can imagine future adventures in my head in tandem with the Fowl series – even if they never happen. And that gives me hours of fun. HOURS.
Reason 7. We had nothing else
At the end of the day, this was the middle of a pandemic in the middle of summer and most people in the US were staying at home. Most people did not have access to theaters. So any chance of seeing a big summer movie in 2020 were down the drain. But “Artemis Fowl” changed that. It was our hope. And yes I am saying this tongue-in-cheek. But also if you don’t think I was thinking about this film and counting down the days to Friday that week then you don’t know me. In fact, I stayed up late on Thursday night and watched it the moment it hit at midnight. Now there were other films that came out this summer (“Scoob!”, “Bill and Ted 3”, “The King of Staten Island”, and even “Mulan”) but none of them delivered the way a weird, wacky, loud summer movie could like the way “Artemis Fowl” did. And for that and all the other reasons, I’ll always love this movie.
No Scoops Club 