The Thief Lord (2006)

Director:

Richard Claus

Writers:

Richard Claus (screenplay)
Cornelia Funke (novel)

Release Date:

5 January 2006 (Germany)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Magic is just around the corner.

Plot:

A tale about two young boys, Prosper and Bo, who flee to Venice after being orphaned and dumped in the care of a cruel auntie...

Plot Keywords:

Thief | Young Boy | Detective | Foster Family | Aunt

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Aaron Johnson	...	Prosper
Jasper Harris	...	Bo
Rollo Weeks	...	Scipio
Alice Connor	...	Hornet
George MacKay	...	Riccio
Lathaniel Dyer	...	Mosca
Jim Carter	...	Victor
Caroline Goodall	...	Ida
Alexei Sayle	...	Barbarossa
Carole Boyd	...	Esther Hartlieb
Bob Goody	...	Max Hartlieb
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Conte
Anita Wright	...	Contessa
Poppy Rogers	...	Morosina
Robert Bathurst	...	Dottore Massimo

Also Known As:

Herr der Diebe (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Luxembourg | UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Brazil:10 | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Germany:o.Al. | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-7

Filming Locations:

Hamburg, Germany

Company:

Thema Production

Trivia:

Part of the exterior Venice scenes were actually filmed on a large set in Luxembourg.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the fight between the boys and the Aunt and Uncle where Mosca jumps the Uncle, Hornet is holding Bo in the long shots, but in the close-ups Bo is missing from the shot altogether.

Quotes:

Scipio: [about child Barbarossa] Sorry I had to bring him here, Ida. He's afraid of the dark. He didn't want to stay in his shop on his own.

Movie Connections:

References Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Soundtrack:

Orphan Skies

Very good "family" film is actually a "lost" gem that everyone will probably enjoy

Cornelia Funke's novel has been turned into a very good "family" film. How I hate to use that term but unfortunately its true. This is the story of a couple of orphans who high tail it to Venice in search of the magic that their mother always spoke about. Their they fall in with the "Thief Lord" and his band of orphans who steal in order to survive.

This is a really good movie. I really do like it a great deal. The film is well acted by all concerned. It has great effects and is extremely well made in pretty much every area. And that is what was wrong with the film, it looks too good. Everything is picture perfect and neat. I don't think I've ever seen a film where Venice ever looked this neat and clean. It takes the film out of being very real to being a a bit of lets put on a show. Its a grand and very enjoyable show, but its a show who's technical excellence keeps you at arms distance. Maybe its just a bit of disappointment on my part, I wanted to fall into this film and enjoy it from on the inside, instead I was forced to see it through a looking glass of picture perfect perfection.

Still see this movie. If you have kids sit them down and show them this movie, it will keep everyone entertained. Its a film that people should be seeing and talking about since its too good to have get lost and disappear.

7.5 out of 10.