Reading Pages into Reality
Inkheart
Review by Ross Anthony

Once, as a boy, my parents gave me a wonderful gift - the Joe Lightspeed Intergalactic Space Cruiser. Wow, what an impressive ship! Flashing lights, sirens, it even rotated on its landing gear. The only thing missing was the Joe Lightspeed action figure. We searched the box, even under all the discarded holiday wrapping paper, but no Joe Lightspeed.

Deja Vu, I had that same feeling screening Inkheart. Beautiful cinematography, good direction, solid supporting actors, interestingly enough story, despite its predictability, but the main character felt absent. And that absence not only left a huge hole in some otherwise respectable art, an opportunity was missed to lift the entire production into something really memorable.

On the way home my gf and I considered alternative casting, she suggested Will Ferrell. What a great idea! Will would have brought a truly unlikely hero, believable vulnerability, and a sharp comedic lift to a film looking for a spark of dragon's breath.

Btw, check out Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction and see if you agree with our casting choice. Stranger Than Fiction isn't a fantasy piece, but it does play on the same fun literary idea in which a fictional character and author, by chance, meet.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --


  • Inkheart. Copyright © 2009.
  • Starring Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, Andy Serkis, Eliza Hope Bennett, Rafi Gavron. Directed by Iain Softley.

Grade..........................B (2/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Thursday, 22-Jan-2009 19:55:00 PST