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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 MOVIE REVIEW 
3

Inkheart Better on the Page

Kids' movie about bringing books to life struggles to bring book to life

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(Newser) – When it comes to the kids-lit adaptation Inkheart, fans are probably better off sticking to the book, say critics. Brendan Fraser stars as a father with the power to bring characters off the page to life, but the special-effects-driven movie fails to capture the "dark whimsy" of the best-selling original, Sheri Linden writes in the Los Angeles Times.

The medieval-tinged world conjured up on screen is initially enchanting, but it is soon bombarded "with a noisy overload of characters and subplots," as endless fictional villains emerge, writes Prairie Miller at NewsBlaze. Inkheart drives home its message on the power of the written word, Matt Stevens writes at E! Online, but "this flaccid adaptation proves the book is mightier than the film."

In this image released by Warner Bros., Brendan Fraser is shown in a scene from
In this image released by Warner Bros., Brendan Fraser is shown in a scene from "Inkheart."   (AP Photo)
Director Iain Softley jumps in front of actors from left, Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Hope Bennett, Sienna Guillory, Rafi Gavron and Paul Bettany at the New York premiere of 'Inkheart.
Director Iain Softley jumps in front of actors from left, Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Hope Bennett, Sienna Guillory, Rafi Gavron and Paul Bettany at the New York premiere of 'Inkheart."   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Brendan Fraser, left, and Eliza Bennett, right, arrive on the red carpet for the German premiere of
Brendan Fraser, left, and Eliza Bennett, right, arrive on the red carpet for the German premiere of "Inkheart" in Berlin, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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Trailer for 'Inkheart.'   (YouTube)

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Making a movie about the magic to be found in reading books, is a little like General Motors singing the praises of riding a bike instead. - Prairie Miller at Newsblaze

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3 comments
VIEWING:
 
riffran
Jan 23, 09 8:10 PM CST
I have read the books, and the books themselves are a bit full of sub plots and diverse characters.....So I am going to see the movie anyhow....the more the critics trash it the more entertaining the movie winds up being....most of time Reply
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Mad
Jan 23, 09 9:06 PM CST
Hint: If the movie stars Brendan Fraser, save your money. Reply
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riffran
Jan 24, 09 9:02 PM CST
Awww come on Mad....you didn't think Dudley Dooright was oscar material????.....Gahhhh that was a waste of HBO air time wasn't it? Reply
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