Friday December 17th, 2004 Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events was released in US theaters. This film was a loose adaptation of the best-selling book series of the same name. With the renewed press surrounding this series (Netflix has acquired the rights to the source material and has begun pre-production for a Netflix Original Series based on the books) it is the best time to recall this childhood favorite flicks of mine.

Although many critics are split on this adaptation, as a fan of the source material I can say I was thrilled as a child watching this movie. I felt excitement and looked on in anticipation watching the adventures of the three Baudelaire orphans survive disaster after disaster at the hands of their evil “uncle,” Count Olaf (before there was Olaf the snowman, my favorite Olaf was this evil Count).

My older-self has come to enjoy the creepier aspects of the film and the warm fuzzy feeling it gives my inner child. The ingenious and well-mannered children at the center of this film make me root for them to find a way out of the terrible spiral that is their lives. Despite knowing the outcome of the film I am continually entertained by the road they travel to get there.

This is a dark comedy full of dry humor and endless tragedy, but it comes together in a uniquely wonderful fashion that gives the young geniuses charm and shows their resilience. The perseverance of these orphans through the incredulous struggles life throws at them fills me with encouragement to continue through the struggles of school and life that are, by comparison to the Baudelaire’s lives, nothing serious. Of course, this film is perfect as simply a silly adventure film full of twists, turns, and spine-tingling suspense at what will become of the Baudelaire children.

This film includes such diverse and original characters that are so eccentric, you’ll love even the villainous Count Olaf as much as I do. Despite his horrid exterior I see a lost soul seeking acceptance and love, and the humorous scenarios he instigates make for the dark-humor is love so much. For the new generation obsessed with Olaf the snowman, they better make way for the original, Count Olaf (played by the hilarious Jim Carrey). This film wasn’t as dark as it could’ve gone and allowed for my younger-self to remain intrigued throughout the film, even through the darker and twisted parts.

This is a perfect film to watch over the encroaching Winter Break (I suggest at night for the full effect of its haunting film style) and immerse yourself in the lore of this world before Netflix turns it into a, surely stunning, series.