Author Cornelia Funke's best-selling children's novel comes to vivid life on the big screen with this family-friendly tale about a bookbinder whose storytelling skills possess the curious power to transport the characters he speaks about into the real world. When a nefarious villain from a bedtime story that the father is currently reading to his daughter emerges to kidnap the stunned storyteller, it's up to the young girl and her adventurous friends -- both real and imaginary -- to bring dad
back home and close the book on the dreaded fiend once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
[Has] plenty of thrills, a smart although oft-confusing script, delightful scenery-chewing scenes from stalwarts like Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent and Andy Serkis, and a gorgeous high-concept visual style.
Seemingly intended as a celebration of the power of books, it's an occasionally incoherent, sleep-inducing picture that reduces narrative to mere mechanics.
Over and over again, characters in Inkheart wax eloquent on the power of books. But there's nothing in the movie as haunting or as compelling as the sound they make when they speak for themselves.
Kind of a NeverEnding Story-lite, Inkheart never makes full use of its strengths. The ideas about reality and fiction have already been explored better elsewhere, even in light family films.
I will admit that I enjoyed this film better on home video than I did in the theater, and that might have simply been because I knew what to expect from it.
Readers who want to exercise their imaginations may prefer to stick to the written word. If a story gets boring, you can always skip a few pages and move on. In the cinema there isn't much choice.
This adventure-fantasy film doesn't have the special effects depth of a Lord Of The Rings movie, nor the charm of the Harry Potter franchise, but it is still quite enjoyable.
I have not read the original source material but the movie has a nice wholesome quality with good direction, well used but not overused CGI. I would say a much better job of adapting a fantasy book to big screen than others, IE things like the Seeker Dark Is Rising or even Goodkinds TV series. Overall I enjoyed the
show.
It's a family friendly tale about the joys of reading (and because of that many characters from the classic children's library show up and put in an appearance) but the subjective feeling of joy is somehow missing, much like one of those TimeLife commercials selling classic rock packages to baby boomers (" ... and who
can ever forget when we used to sing this one by Kenny Loggins!"), selling your youth back to you. Better to read the actual stories to your children yourself. But the intention here is spot on.
No quotes approved yet for Inkheart. Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'Inkheart'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
62%
——
97%
Top Critic
