Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. First off, this review is green, leafy, but it just might be completely honest. It comes from a fan of the book and if it's as honest as I hope it is then maybe we're in for a quality family fun film. I'll let you be the judge.

PS Apple has the second trailer for the flick here, so give a watch and see if you think it matches up!

Hi Harry,

just come back from a screening of the film INKHEART in London.
first of all I loved the book by Cornelia Funke, a great concept!

The story is of MO (played brilliantly well by Brendan Frazer) and his daughter MEGGIE (Played by Eliza Bennett who delivers a fantastic and heartwarming performance) who both have a gift. When they read aloud a book, characters from the book come into our world but unfortunately characters from our world go into the book world. I won't reveal who goes into the book world as I don't want to spoil it for your readers.

now does it have similarities to Harry Potter, yes & no.
yes there is a 12 year old girl who has magical qualities to her but really that's where the similarities end. Its brilliantly directed by Iain Softley who had done SKELETON KEY & BACKBEAT and the performances are excellent across the board.
Brendan Frazer, Eliza Bennett, Paul Bettany (who has a great sidekick!), Helen Mirren (always fantastic!) Jim Broadbent and finally Andy Serkis who plays the evil Capricorn and really has fun with it. Its great to see Mr. Serkis in a role that is Motion Captured!!!

Talking of CGI, the effects work is pretty outstanding, I think the budget for the film was around $60 million, pretty average for today's blockbuster budgets, but they have spent it wisely. The Creatures are beautifully designed and excuted, the Winged Monkey's, and the fabulous Shadow beast is a marvel to watch. Its great watching a film that isn't cluttered with pointless CGI.
The story is at the forefront and it makes a change.

So to sum up, its beautifully shot, superbly acted, it'll make you laugh, cry and it has some great action sequences. PLEASE go and see it!

if you use this, call me SKY CAPTAIN.