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Description and Opinions
Amazon.co.uk Review:
Adapted from Darren O'Shaughnessy's book series the Saga of Darren Shan, Cirque du Freak: A Vampire's Assistant is an endearingly goofy teen-vampire tale reminiscent of The Goonies or Lost Boys. Like those kids' horror classics, Cirque du Freak is a coming-of-age tale in which maturity is hastened by horrific discoveries of alternate realms. Best friends Darren Shan (Chris Massoglia) and Steve (Josh Hutcherson) embark on a life-changing career path as monster prodigies after attending a taboo freak show starring various mutants and Madame Octa, a fluffy, neon orange, Muppetlike spider that Darren is irrevocably compelled to kidnap. Darren's petty theft results in the boys' introductions into the dualistic realm of good vampires, including the paternal Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly), and less-generous bloodsuckers such as Murlaugh (Ray Stevenson) and his Vampaneze family. Part of the fun is in learning how vampires are defined in this world; for example, they can't turn into bats but they have magic spit. The film's additional appeal is in its clever teen-vampire cultural nods, such as when Darren plays his Gameboy inside his coffin. The actual circus, too, offers a wide array of fun, spooky characters, such as ringleader Mr. Tall (Ken Watanabe) and Darren's scaly buddy Snakeboy (Patrick Fugit). Cirque du Freak: A Vampire's Assistant has tough moments, too, once the boys realize they can't look back. These moments transform Cirque du Freak: A Vampire's Assistant into a film parents may even be charmed by. --Trinie Dalton
I've changed my mind, 2 stars is too generous... 
Worst... Casting... Ever...
The script is pretty flaky, seemingly only loosely based on a synopsis of the original books, however this is vastly overshadowed by the diabolical casting and hairdressing! Darren Shan is played by an odd looking kid with some weird 1970's haircut, Crepsley is portrayed as a baggy faced, Ronald McDonald-haired nerd with a strangely high-pitched voice, and apparently they couldn't find a fat actor to play the tubby bad dude so put some 'ham' into a fat-suit?
This is a difficult review to write, the temptation to simply say "don't bother, it's rubbish" is too strong, a film this bad doesn't really warrant the effort to review :/
If you've never read the books, please please please don't judge them based on this awful film! The vampire series by Darren Shan has been treated pretty badly, only the first three being released as audio books, and then this joke of a film. I just hope that the same crew aren't allowed to massacre any other books, especially not the Demonata series...
Have read the books, They did well! 
I'd just like to write this because of all the critising reviews written by people who had read the book. I've read them all, granted a long time ago, and I still thought that the film was well done, mature, had a nice feel and was generally very enjoyable.
This isn't really any of the books in particular it's cirque du Freak with a bit of tunnels of blood, vampire's assistant and some later story points thrown in (which I understood, and enjoyed, but may be too unexplained for those who haven't read the book - all that stuff about Des Tiny etc). They also put in alot of humour which I never saw in the book, but perhaps that's a good thing, it sets it apart from twilight and possibly the books take themselves rather seriously, what this means is that the story is pitching between fantasy and reality in a lighthearted, entertaining way that feels macabre rather than cliche or Disney, it's still a little Dark.
It's well edited and the pacing is good, sometimes it feels like a home movie in the way it is shot but it just adds more mood in my eye.
All in all very enjoyable and I actually hope that they do a sequal.
HORRIBLE DISASTER
I hated this movie so much. It just went so fast, didnt make sense at all and had the worst ending ever. EVER, I am not kidding. It was horrible. DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE. I wouldve given this movie 0 stars but i cant so I rated it one star even though its not even worth that.
Has destroyed the books 
I can not explain how bad this movie is well i can and here is why. this movie has destroyed the books it has turned darren shan saga into a childs dream if you are a big fan of the shan books then i would highley recommened you steer clear of this movie
Rate's 7 out of 10 
I haven't read the books so I can't make a comparison.
That said, I have to say I enjoyed the movie to the end.
Reilly did a perfect job.
As long as I don't know how the film turned out
at the box office, I hope there will be a sequel; it would be
a delusion not to know how the war will turn out.
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