Matilda has used her magical powers to even the score with vile grown-ups in many cultural forms since Roald Dahl created her in his 1988 book. The brilliant little girl with awful parents and a talent for telekinesis is presented as never seen before in this stylised gothic vision. National treasure Emma Thompson dons industrial amounts of prosthetics to play the sadistic Ms Trunchball, headmistress at Crunchem Hall, where punishment is prioritised over education. Adapted from the West End musical - with all the songs by witty genius Tim Minchin carried over - the epic themes of good versus evil are delivered with ghoulish pizzazz. To believe once again in the defiant imaginations of children, come to school with Matilda.