Leapin' Leprechauns!

For Saint Patrick's day when I was in first grade (I'm now in college), our teacher decided to show us this movie in class. I still remember certain scenes vividly because I had awful nightmares for years after watching it. The nastier mythical creatures that come with the leprechauns from Ireland absolutely terrified me. Over the years, I described the movie to friends in an attempt to locate it, but they all met me with blank stares. I finally found it today when I did a google search. I haven't seen this movie since first grade, so I can't comment all that much on it's overall quality or scariness from a more adult perspective. However, I would strongly recommend against showing this movie to children who might be more easily frightened.

Much as I enjoyed watching this film the one fire fly in the ointment for me was the fact the film was not made in Ireland / UK as the enclosure act of 1833 showed the countryside was in Europe as did the east European style Castle. The film was shot in Rumania.

John Bluthal as the lead character and his family plus the little people are excellent as was the special effects. It was thrilling, exciting and entertaining for this 71 year old and will be for all ages. I am not deaf but admit the husband and wife Doctors had me guessing what they said with their strong accents. The comedy team of Leprechauns James Ellis (Z cars) and Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) where the highlight for me.

It's great fun to watch and it will bring you many laughs. It is an all-star cast who play their characters with great talent. This film should have been a box office smash. I have seen the film many times with my family and on my own, each time I watch it I never get tired of the fascinating storyline.

I remember being rather embarrassed about requesting this movie at the local video store; not exactly a macho title, is it? But really, how could I resist a team up between Ted "Subspecies" Nicolau and Sylvester "Doctor Who" McCoy? What an inspired combination.

Of course, both of these entertainment titans have done better. It's a shame that Nicolau hasn't been picked up by mainstream Hollywood, or at least TV (HBO, maybe?), because he can direct really moody movies and squeeze some decent imagery out of tremendously low budgets. I'd like to see him cut loose on a production that actually has money in it. As for McCoy, well, he's perfect to play a leprechaun (he's often described as "puckish"), but this is a far cry from starring in his own BBC TV series. He's not the greatest actor in the universe - he gets by on personality more than talent - but I'd still like to see him do more.

As for the movie itself, it's fun family stuff. Some clever effects, some duff ones (the leprechauns are pretty obviously puppets in many shots). Though it's ostensibly taking place in Ireland, the castle is actually Romanian - the same location from Subspecies! Gotta love those cost-cutters at Full Moon.

A great film for all ages. I love this movie and everyone I know has seen it and they do not say anything bad about it. This film will have you laughing for days. One of the funniest bits of the film was when one of the Leprechuans got stuck in the bin.