ENGLISH - (U) - 22 January 2009 - Fantasy/Adventure
Distributor: NewLine Cinema, Warner Bros
Running time: about 106 mins.
Director: Iain Softley
Producers: Cornelia Funke, Ileen Maisel, Dylan Cuva
Writers: David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay), Cornelia Funke (novel), Gary david Goldberg
Casts: Brandon Fraser, Eliza Bernett, paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis, Jim Broadbent
Plot: Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) is a father who possesses a secret ability to bring characters from books to life when he reads them aloud. But when Mo accidentally brings a power-hungry villain from a rare children's fable to life, the villain kidnaps Mo's daughter and demands Mo to bring other evil fictional characters to life. In an attempt to rescue his daughter, Mo assembles a disparate group of friends - both real and magic - and embarks on a journey to save her and set things right.
THE VERDICT:
Green Tea says:
Inkheart started off as a potentially a good film to ride on, based on its amazing teatherical trailer, however turned out a little bit disappointing. Due to long delay, the prospect of this movie became so dull that the anticipation it garnered all these while just died off. Bringing in a fantasy kids-novel by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is a part of the trilogy revolving around a Silvertongue called Mo with his daughter who shared the same ability to bring characters from the book alive.
WARNING SPOILER! The story kicked off in a high note. But first, I would recommend you to read the book as well to better understand the whole thing. The events in the movie is really out of proper pace and the flowability is disrupted constantly by anti-climaxes. There were certain parts that became non-senses, illogical and hassles. For instance, one of those that supposed to be exciting finale turn-out to be reading from a piece of paper that was written and the whole event changes. Mind you, would it be simple to avoid all of these chains of events if there were someone who willing to read it aloud from a piece of paper written at the very beginning of the movie?
Brendan Fraser was good as always in his portrayal of a certain character like this. This is his third outing in a fantasy or adventure movies following "Journey To The Center of The Earth" and "The Mummy 3". Paul Bettany outing as Dustfinger was equally outstanding with the portrayal of confusion and indecisive characteristic of the role. He was good. The role of 12-years old Meggie was took by Eliza Bennett, another good future for her acting career but she seems a little odd in the movie.
The greatest appraisal will definitely be the effects. The alive of The Shadow was wonderfully done and was rich in originiality. This fantasy adventure movie was again one of those victims of movies been badly tainted by its poor plotline, resembling those in The Mummy 3, Max Payne and many more. However, Inkheart could be an interesting piece of fantasy movie to watch but I will not guarantee it will give you a full satisfaction. another piece of so-so film.
THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 3.0 stars
STORY - 3.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 3.5 stars
EFFECTS - 4.0 stars
an overall >> 3.0 stars
GreenTea-O-Meter: 12.9