‘Inkheart’ may lead to books (3.5/5)

Inkheart

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Eliza Bennett, Paul Bettany.
Directed By: Iain Softley.
Rating: PG for fantasy/adventure action, some scary moments and brief language.
Running time: 1 hour, 46 minutes.

Let’s see: Read a 500-odd page book, or watch an hour-and-a-half long movie?

Much to my chagrin as a graduate of both English and professional writing, many people would prefer to watch a film adaptation of a story than read the work itself.

That’s all fine and dandy — I mean, I’m a big movie buff myself. But when it comes to transferring someone’s creative written work onto the big screen, a simple rule should be followed: Do it right, or don’t even bother.

I always approach such a film with a little bit of trepidation. The title “Inkheart” appealed to me, however, because not only was it based off of a book, it was also about books.

Not only that, but the film also starred two of my favorite actors: Paul Bettany (“A Knight’s Tale,” “The DaVinci Code”) and Andy Serkis (formerly Gollum of “Lord of the Rings” fame).

Written by Cornelia Funke as the first of a trilogy, screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire and director Iain Softley provide a good, fun film, though many fans decry its variations.

 “Inkheart” falls into the fantasy-fiction/adventure genre with force, allowing a narrator to divulge before the title screen the mystical power of “silvertongues” and their ability to, quite literally, bring life to books that they read.

Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) is one such man, as he found out quite accidentally one evening while reading the book “Inkheart” aloud to his wife, Resa (Sienna Guillory), and daughter, Meggie (Eliza Bennett).

Not only does Mo’s reading call to being the fire juggler Dustfinger (Bettany), but it also brings forth the villain Capricorn (Serkis) and several of his henchman — at a drastic price.

Nine years after bringing these elements of the novel to the world, Dustfinger gives Mo an ultimatum — send Dustfinger back home, or be given over to Capricorn and be forced to read into being things of Capricorn’s desire. Mo refuses Dustfinger’s request, stating that he has no control or knowledge of his “gift,” and escapes with Meggie to Italy and the home of Elinor Loredan (Helen Mirren), Resa’s aunt.

Dustfinger tracks Mo to Italy and brings Capricorn’s henchmen to capture him, Meggie and Elinor, with the understanding that Mo would be forced to read him back into his home — an agreement which, of course, the dubious Capricorn rescinds.

It is quickly discovered that Capricorn fully intends to never return anyone to the novel, but to have Mo read out the fiercest villain of all known only as the Shadow.

Though Fraser is touted as the lead of the film, Bettany far outshines him in terms of acting and even plain characterization. Other highly notable mentions are Mirren as the book-loving, sharp-tongued, my-way-or-the-highway Elinor and Jim Broadbent as Inkheart’s author Fenoglio.

The brief interactions between Fenoglio and Dustfinger are spectacular as creator meets creation. While Fenoglio describes the sensation as the equivalent to giving birth, Dustfinger views the author in disdain and tells him, “You’re not my God.”

Perhaps the best thing of the movie is that it will hopefully inspire young adults to pick up this and other novels and discover the true magic of literature.

3 1/2 of 5 stars