Series of Unfortunate Events, A: The Bad Beginning

The Baudelaire children have just been orphaned by a terrible house fire. The executor of the estate -- a banker named Mr. Poe -- decides they will live with a relative: the evil Count Olaf, who is after the Baudelaire fortune. Count Olaf uses the children as his servants, provides awful living conditions, and makes them cook meals for him and his odd-ball acting troupe. The children show talents: Violet, 14 years-old whose inventions help the children, Klaus, 12 years-old is smart, and Sunny -- whose only real ability is an incredibly strong bite. Though the Baudelaire children suffer many hardships, in the end they do manage to outsmart Olaf's plans.