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''Words can be very powerful...''
A young girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook's hero.
Brendan Fraser: Mo 'Silvertongue' Folchart
I lose count at the amount of fantasy films that seem to be churned out of film studios nowadays. After LOTR and the HP series escalated in showing public interest and a great source of inspiration, film studios are capitalizing once again on this genre. Unfortunately resulting in fantasy blunders like Eragon, a mediocre Narnia series, or the below average Golden Compass. So where does Inkheart fall and fare among all these clones and repetitive efforts? I'd say it lands squarely into being not something of greatness, but rather mindless fun like City Of Ember was.
Character development and elaboration seems to be lacking or missing, while action and plot seems to be detailed in some areas while lacking in others. For instance the concept of reading books and everything coming to life from them, could of been done so much better. Inkheart goes for a safe option, it neither goes all out on this idea but it feels to me like some alternative take on The Last Action Hero but with books instead of films. Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant ideas on offer here, and I believe it must be an intriguing book to read but it's hardly new or awe inspiring.
So performances, firstly Paul Bettany as Dustfinger, almost proves to be about as half annoying as he was in A Knights Tale, he just seems to be typecast and miscast these days, Inkheart is a perfect example of this.
Brendan Fraser as Mo, seems to be the same problem, he always goes for these family father type role figures, whether it be Mummy or Journey to the center of the Earth, you know exactly what to expect if he's in it. Which isn't necessarily a good thing.
Helen Mirren is no Gandalf, Andy Serkis seems to be having too much fun as Capricorn, Jim Broadbent looks like a weathered old leaf and some girl, Eliza Bennet shows us an awful dress and deep voice in a bizaare final showdown. We even get Rafi Gravon showing us some Prince of Persia antics.
Whats funny about Inkheart is the fact it has all these famous stories, and it has creatures, people and monsters coming to life from a silver tongued reader. We see flying monkeys from Oz, A croc from Peter Pan, even a Minotaur. Sadly some concepts and ideas aren't elaborated on. For instance when character's swap over, one thing comes into our world, while another is swapped. The explanation or elaboration for this is left strangely missing. Inkheart at it's heart is a film for the family, there is no doubt. It's hardly deep or educational nor is it new or ground breaking. Upon reflection it is fun and the time flies by while watching it. While a dark nemesis at it's peak called the Shadow was abit Lord of the Rings or Never Ending Story inspired I suppose it can be forgiven for not hiding it's efforts to emulate them.
Andy Serkis getting his just desserts also seemed to be a rip off of Philosophers Stone, which was amusing if what something of a parody of misconception again on strains of originality.
If you have children or young friends then this would be a good watch for any fantasy appreciative fan, while also giving some escapism to boot.
Overall the effects are without fault, the music accompanying does its job, and the cast turn in so-so acting and charismatic efforts.
6/10
