Das Geheimnis der Murmel-Gang

The difference being, of course, that "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is an excellent movie on its own terms and this one is just blah, but still it's a blatant lie. It could as well have been called "Calvin & Hobbes and the Marble Gang" and it would have exactly as much to do with Calvin & Hobbes as it does with Zipi y Zape, that is, absolutely NOTHING. Which is a term overused when discussing not-so-faithful adaptations, but in this case it's literal. Other than the names of the lead characters, this has nothing in common with Escobar's creation.

What it is, is an evident try to copy the Harry Potter formula, minus the magic. We have a duplicate Harry in Zipi y Zape, a duplicate Ron in Micro and Filo, and Matilde is our Hermione. The Esperanza school stands in for Hogwarts, and the whole search for the Esperanza treasure is a cross between the typical Potter plot and Indiana Jones (Last Crusade, specifically). Even the promotional poster is a Harry Potter ripoff. None of the members of the lenghty supporting cast of the comic (Don Pantuflo, Doña Jaimita, Don Minervo, Peloto, Lechuzo, Don Ángel, El Manitas, Nati and Tina...) appear at all, not even in cameos, and aren't even referenced. And Zipi and Zape themselves speak in modern slang, nothing to do with the educated, somewhat pedantic (but charmingly so) language of the comics which was one of their most recognizable features. It's noticeable that the director was not interested at all in making a Zipi y Zape movie, he just wanted a formula hit and just tacked on the names of the characters for box-office recognition purposes. I wish he hadn't bothered.

The movie itself as a self-contained entity and ignoring the source, well, it's okayish, watchable for the kids to kill 90 minutes if nothing else is playing. But still, it tries way too hard to be Harry Potter and to copy the Hollywood blockbuster formula, down to the primary colors in about every shot being the ubiquitous teal and orange that's so annoyingly overused in modern Hollywood movies today, particularly in posters.

One made exclusively for commercial reasons. It's watchable, so this might rate a 5 or even a 6 from me, but drops down to a 4 due to the false advertising. This is just NOT what they're selling us to be.

I think I'll be skipping "Zipi & Zape and the Chamber of Secrets".

This film shows all the aspects of a legendary film. The two lead actors show great potential in their future of acting. Also the CGI is out of this world

I think this may well be the worst film I have ever seen in my entire life.

Zipi and Zape are two ten year old twins. They are not mean but they are not the brightest students either. They get caught cheating and their parents sent them to a strict summer school. There they make friends, defy authority and hunt a treasure.

The story is fun but predictable, it is a kids story anyway, but had a couple of nice twists. It is similar to The Goonies, as they also hunt for a treasure, and not really related to the Zipi & Zape comic book, but in the name of the two main characters. The cast is fine though some of the child actors could do better. The sets, locations and CGI effects are gorgeous.

The kids must sneak around at night, so many times it is dark and there are some scary moments. There are no monsters and the most menacing characters are a dog and the principal, so it is not really a big deal. There is no violence but a punch in the end of the movie, also the audience would feel pity for a main character being grounded alone several times in a row.

There are some nice role models like when the kids stand by a small boy being bullied or when they work as a team. On the downside there are some stereotypes, like the fat kid ( not so fat anyway ) , the sick boy with a condition, or the braver-than-the-boys-girl. They end up being a nice outsider gang where everyone is admitted.

The last act is a roller coaster and audience cheered as the stars progress in their quest being chased away by the evil guys. The movie is quite fun, the kids loved it and the grown ups had a good time also.

Entertaining film with a lot of fun , state-of-art special effects and interesting screenplay ; according to director Oskar Santos was a lovely homage based on Escobar characters . The picture blends comedy , adventure action, rip roaring , cliff hunger , tongue-in-check and results to be extremely entertained . Zipi and Zape is the most famous creation from Escobar , a legendary Spanish cartoonist . They are twins have a great heart but in their adventures they're not good students like their cousin Sapientin ; then they often finish in punishment by their parents , both of whom here don't appear . This is a fun movie concerning a feisty bunch of underprivileged as well as naughty twin kids Zipi (Raul Rivas) & Zape (Daniel Cerezo) who are punished and sent to summer school at Esperanza College (actually Schossberger castle, Tura, Hungary) , a strict re-education school run by terrible Falconetti (Javier Gutiérrez , a homage to William Smith/Falconetti from Rich man , Poor man) , a nasty Principal with an eye-patch and forbids all forms of amusement and entertainment . Zipi and Zape befriend some boys and form an amusing group called the Marble Gang , the children's resistance , guided by loyalty , bravery , faithfulness and unbreakable trust in friendship . As 5 friends spend their time making antics and frolics when takes place weird deeds and something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined . They uncover a mysterious secret hidden deep within the school and end up having the most stirring adventure of their lives . They spend one last adventure-filled together holding numerous risks , thrills and dangers.

Adventure story has everything for amusement , and generates a sense of wonder and surprise with fast-paced action scenes and some images that have you on the edge of the seat . This is an amusing mess made in Spielberg style , the goal was to pay homage to cinema of the 80s , taking parts here and there from various film in ¨The Goonies¨ style and recently ¨Super 8¨ in which a feisty group of kiddies undertake several adventures along corridors , false doors , traps , and looking for treasures ; as they form a lively quintet in order to defy the evil headmaster . This film tries to put in the big screen some topics of Zipi and Zape adding an adventure style in Steven Spielberg wake . The gags and mischiefs of the movie are the same ones that we could see if we read some comics books of the characters of Escobar , the same thing that the flowing bemusing script as the histories of the own Zipi and Zape . This Fernando Bovaira production is a fun movie concerning the intimate twins carry out childish pranks , mischiefs and winding up into a roller-coater adventure .

I like this movie , it has a good realization , nice atmosphere , an original script and partially faithful to the roles of the twins , and sympathetic interpretations , though little fidelity to the comic books . Enjoyable support cast such as Javier Gutiérrez of ¨Red Eagle¨ as Falconetti who rules the center with a heavy hand and Alex Angulo of ¨The day of the beast¨ as Esperanza . The picture has great loads of action , abundant as well as up-to-date special effects , impressive soundtrack and colorful cinematography by Josu Inchaustegui . Being filmed on location in Guipúzcoa , País Vasco and Hungary , Schossberger castle, Tura, Hungary as Centro Reeducacional Esperanza . Imaginative and rousing musical score by Fernando Velazquez who previously composed for successful terror/thriller films as ¨The orphanage¨ , ¨For the good of others¨ , ¨Julia's eyes¨ and ¨Devil¨ . Produced in big budget by Fernando Bovaira who has financed many hit smashes such as ¨Fin¨, ¨Sea inside¨ , ¨The Others¨ and ¨Mortadelo and Filemón¨. The motion picture was well directed by Oskar Santos who formerly directed ¨For the good of others¨ and TV series as ¨Hispania¨ and ¨Crematorio¨ .

Other films about ¨Zipi and Zape¨ by Escobar are the followings : ¨Aventures of Zipi and Zape¨ by Enrique Guevara with Mary Santpere as Tía Aniceta , Alfred Lucchetti as Don Minervo , Marta Angelat as Doña Jaimita Zapatilla , Joan Monleón as Don Pantuflo Zapatilla and ¨Zipi y Zape" (2003) cartoon TV series by Claudio Biern Boyd .