YMMV / A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

• Awesome Music: Thomas Newman's score was one of the most praised aspects of the movie, to the point where it even got an Oscar nomination,
• Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: In the middle of the dramatic destruction of Aunt Josephine's house, the tension is immediately cut by the inexplicable appearance of the Aflac duck screaming. Doubles as Narm.
• Broken Base:
  • There have been many fan debates about the quality of the film, not to mention the open-ended conclusion of the books.
  • Which is better, this film, or the Netflix series? Or do they each have some better aspects than the other?
  • Related to the above, who is the better Count Olaf? Jim Carrey or Neil Patrick Harris? Some, however, Take a Third Option and enjoy them both equally.
• Crosses the Line Twice:
  • When Count Olaf shows up as "Stefano" in place of Monty's assistant Gustav, Olaf gives the Implied Death Threat "he'd give anything to be here right now." On its own nothing special... but we then cut to the sight of Gustav tied to the front of a racing locomotive, screaming in terror.
  • Daniel Handler's reaction to the fact that all of The Wide Window was filmed - "You did?! You filmed the entire segment of The Wide Window!? - followed by his reaction - "You said this was not in the film!" (paraphrasing!) - concerning The Marvelous Marriage seems to scream of this.
• Harsher in Hindsight: In the DVD commentary of the film, Lemony Snicket snarks the director for saying that Cedric the Entertainer adds "urban flare" to the film merely because Cedric happens to be the Token Minority and a black guy. In 2014, Daniel Handler (Snicket's real-life alter ego) made a racist joke about winner Jacqueline Woodson being allergic to watermelons while hosting the National Book Awards. Handler had to apologize, which he did via Twitter.
• Ho Yay: In a Deleted Scene, Constable and a critic played by Dustin Hoffman get to banter as they watch The Marvelous Marriage. The Critic even asks Constable if they want to get Chinese [food] after the show.
• Love to Hate: Count Olaf. Jim Carrey's portrayal gives the character just enough comedy to go with the evil of the original, and actually makes him come off as smarter than his book counterpart.
• Mis-blamed: The plot of the film is attacked for trying to fix the insubstantial nature of the books it was based on; alleged leaks of the author's original screenplays indicate that he'd have deviated even more wildly. The Netflix series, produced directly by Handler, pretty much confirms this, as it slowly changed a lot from the books, even more than this film.
• No Problem with Licensed Games: The console versions of the games based on the film have decent reviews. While sometimes repetitive, fairly easy, and short, it manages to expand a bit on the orphans' situation, their respective guardians, the bond between the siblings, and gives a few members of Olaf's troupe more limelight (as bosses for the various worlds) which the 2-hour movie didn't have the time for.
• Older Than They Think: Olaf calling Sunny a monkey was not invented by the movie. He expressly calls her that in the tenth book (The Slippery Slope), which came out the previous year—albeit only once.
• Retroactive Recognition: Jane Lynch gets a short cameo as a realtor, years before becoming better known for Glee and Wreck-It Ralph.
• So Okay, It's Average: Perhaps it didn't quite deliver the grim charm of the original books, but it was respectful to them for the most part.
• They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: The way that Count Olaf is defeated (in an ending that is lifted from the first book, The Bad Beginning) is completely different. In the book, Violet makes the marriage invalid by signing the wedding vows with her left hand, and the law says the vows must be signed using the hand of the bride, and since Violet is right-handed, it's technically invalid. In the film, it is Not His Sled: Olaf catches on to this deception and forces Violet to sign it with her right hand, meaning it's up to Klaus to save her all for the sake of a more exciting, Hollywood climax.
• Tear Jerker:
  • When Poe announces to the children their parents are dead and they've been orphaned, Jude Law's Lemony Snicket provides a brutal, somber reflection.
  Lemony Snicket: If you have ever lost someone very important to you, then you already know how it feels; and if you haven't, you cannot possibly imagine it.
  • "The Letter that Never Came", with it's appropriately-titled track, is this combined with heartwarming.
  Dearest Children:
  Since we've been abroad, we've missed you so much. Certain events have compelled us to extend our travels. One day, when you are older, you will learn all about the people we've befriended and the dangers we have faced. At times, the world can seem an unfriendly and sinister place. But believe us when we say there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough. And what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may, in fact, be the first steps of a journey.
  We hope to have you back in our arms soon, darlings. But in case this letter arrives before our return, know that we love you. It fills us with pride to know that no matter what happens in this life that you three will take care of each other with kindness, and bravery, and selflessness as you always have. And remember one thing, my darlings, and never forget it: that no matter where we are, know that as long as you have each other, you have your family and you are home.
  Your loving parents.