Chick 1 says:

I was excited about this fantasy story, but worried by the January release date & the presence of Brendan Fraser.  I really like Fraser , especially in The Mummy & Scrubs, but he has been in some really stupid movies.  So I wasn’t sure what to expect.

What I Liked:  First, the story. Very nice script. The movie is about a man (actually, there are several with this particular gift) who can bring characters & objects out of books simply by reading the stories aloud. The problem is that when this happens, something from his own life goes into the book & he has no control over what comes & what goes. There are some fine performances, most notably from Paul Bettany & Helen Mirren, both reliable actors. Some of the art direction was quite nice, especially the use of red.

What I Didn’t Like: While I really enjoyed this movie, it’s not a perferct film or even a great one. Populated with many talented actors, there are a few uneven performances. But for me the main problem is the direction.  The pace dragged at times.  There were some set/scenes that could have been beautiful but instead just felt…cluttered. 

And please, please,  stop stating the theme overtly & repeatedly. Wow, a movie about storytelling where the written word & creativity are powerful & important. What a shocker! (Could you pass this message on to M. Knight Shamylan & most Christian filmmakers?) OK, done ranting.

Bottom Line: I found Inkheart delightful. Somewhat mediocre in places, but I am a sucker for any story about imagination & creativity.  Worth a visit to the theater.

Chick 2 says:

Adapted from the children’s novel of the same name, Inkheart is the story of Mo (Brenden Fraser) who discovers that he is a Silvertongue. When he reads characters, and even environments, literally jump off the page and into real life. Unfortunately these exchanges from page to life do not always bring desired results, and Mo and his daughter must make things right. Having not read the novel, I don’t know how true to story is the movie, but the general plot is such a clever idea. It truly reminds you of the power of the written word, so much so that I spent much of my Saturday in a bookstore the day after I saw the movie. The concept of complete thoughts, sentences, and even ideas is a lost art form and much needed in today’s world of txtrs.  Peppered with great actors and references to literary classics, the movie overcomes its disjointedness and lack of great direction with its theme and uniqueness. What the film lacked, the story made up for–and perhaps this one may be much better enjoyed as a novel.

IF you want a fantastical story you can share with your kids, THEN GO.