'Inkheart' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Drew has reviewed 'Inkheart.' He says it may be worth a rental if you fit a very specific demographic (Babysittin', Fraser-lustin', booklovin' fan-folks). Other than that, this one is a wee bit skippable. This Blu-ray, like the film, is a mixed bag. Continue to the review dear readers...

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2294/inkheart.html

[zaphod]

I'll be steering well clear of this one, but I have to say I can't help but like Brendan Fraser. He's not such a bad actor (watch 'The Quiet American') and he's just... a really nice guy, I guess.

PS: Oh, and 'FIRST' for the first time. :-)

[twonunpackmule]

Originally Posted by zaphod

He's not such a bad actor

He's a rather good actor. Not many actors are constantly given terrible dialog and are capable of selling it. Basically, he can take some of the worst dialog and make it not sound that bad.

[Casca]

I haven't seen INKHEART, and like you I'm wary of studios trying to catch lightning in bottle - and failing. 'The Golden Compass' is probably the best example of this although, oddly enough, Pullman's Trilogy is the closest to Harry Potter in terms of its literary credientials and successes. The UK National Theatre production was extraordinary, for example, and proves that the material works both narratively and in terms of character and spectacle. The movie just failed in almost every area.
Interestingly, 'VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER' (part 3 of the Narnia series) will certainly go into production after Ben Barnes finishes his current movie 'Valediction' in Boston (with Eliza Dushku), so Disney haven't 'pulled out' as you say in the review, even though Caspian wasn't a huge domestic success. These movies did perform internationally, sold very well on DVD/BD and are perfect television fare and command high broadcast prices (and will do so over multiple cycles).
As for Brendan Fraser, I saw him as Brick in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' in London, and he was terrific. The guy can act, and has a terrific physical presence. I suppose he's just very comfortable playing against green screen - and, let's face it, the money's always good for that kind of thing.

[zaphod]

Originally Posted by twonunpackmule

He's a rather good actor. Not many actors are constantly given terrible dialog and are capable of selling it. Basically, he can take some of the worst dialog and make it not sound that bad.

You're right. Plus I think he has genuine talent as a comedian. At least I thought he was pretty funny in the first Mummy.

[mosul210]

I haven't read the review yet, but I have seen the movie. In my opinion this has enough going for it to make a decent rental, but definitely not a purchase. Too many other titles out there that would rather warrant a purchase.

[project-blu]

Originally Posted by Casca

Interestingly, 'VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER' (part 3 of the Narnia series) will certainly go into production after Ben Barnes finishes his current movie 'Valediction' in Boston (with Eliza Dushku), so Disney haven't 'pulled out' as you say in the review, even though Caspian wasn't a huge domestic success.

perhaps you don't read the news much.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0980970/companycredits

FOX. Disney pulled out like it were a cheap form of contraceptive.

[horrorbusiness]

Pass for me on this movie.

[shakwurst]

Originally Posted by project-blu

FOX. Disney pulled out like it were a cheap form of contraceptive.

and you can take one look at my paycheck to see why that is not a good "form of contraceptive"

[Nazdar]

Inkheart is alright. I enjoyed the low key and mundane paced fantasy. It's not an overly CGI heavy production and has a good cast. All the reviews that are hung up about Harry Potterish programming and Fraser's descent into green screen; suffer in that.

Once at a party, Henry Winkler lamented to Charles Bronson about being typecast. Bronson reminded him to be glad to have something, where many don't.

[RoadLizard]

Originally Posted by Casca

'The Golden Compass' is probably the best example of this although, oddly enough, Pullman's Trilogy is the closest to Harry Potter in terms of its literary credientials and successes.

I thought Compass was actually very good and much better than Harry Potter which is hopelessly over-rated. Its the same film 6 or 7 times in a row. The kids eat it up, but it causes blunt head trauma in adults trying to sit through the nonsense. Uh oh, somethings wrong, it might be Voldemort(ya think?), time to go out late at night sneaking around, some magic spell, Malffy gets beat up, a new professor joins the school, blah, blah, blah.

Too bad Compass didnt get better treatment, its better than many of the current fantasy film series'. Oh well.

[The_Doctor]

The movie itself is decent enough. Brendan Fraser actually makes these kinds of movies enjoyable. Inkheart was a little too last Action Hero for my tastes, but enjoyable overall which is better than some recent big names movies i could name.
If you are picking and choosing what to buy then give this a rent. If you are pressed for time and are carefully choosing what to spend your viewing time on, skip it.

I think it is an enjoyable movie but nothing new, but sadly what actually is "new" these days in Hollywood.