What do you get if you put Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren, and Gollum in the same movie? No, that’s not a trick question, it’s the trailer for Inkheart, a fantasy flick that’s apparently about a girl and her dad who can make literary characters spring to life.
Sounds like an interesting idea — and Cornelia Funke’s book series is well-read and well-loved — but it suffers from just feeling like another unfortunate attempt to grab at Lord of the Rings treasure. What’s more, it just doesn’t look all that special. Andy Serkis doesn’t summon the right brand of malice to be a truly substantial villain, and even though Inkheart’s got Paul Bettany and Helen Mirren to its credit, Brendan Fraser might just cancel them out.
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Andy Serkis looks alright, but Brendan Fraser is definitely a red flag. Dude doesn’t even have any recent nut guards.
This preview was the best thing about my Golden Compass experience. I’ve gotta disagree about Brendan Fraser. He’s not THAT bad. I just don’t like the title. Inkheart. What.
i will defend brendan fraser. he was great in the mummy movies, and i think he’ll do fine here too!
The movie itself looks fine, but I agree about the title. When the title was said during the previews before ‘The Golden Compass’ my friend and I both burst out laughing.
Paul Bettany? Are you sure? None of the people in the trailer look like Paul Bettany to me. (Of course, I could be mistaken…)
I THOUGHT that was Paul Bettany but thought, ‘No, there’s no way that he’s in that…’ Nice to have my suspicions confirmed.
I’m also on the “Defending Brendan Fraser” train. Didn’t you watch him as Jordan’s brother on Scrubs?? Lifetime spot on the Love List for that one.
Yeah, defending Brenden Fraser as well. I’m not so sure at what point people started to dub him a bad actor. Sure, he’s made more than his fair share of bad *movies*, but he was never bad in them. And he’s also been in some very good movies (and Scrubs), but he rarely gets credit for those. Besides, his solo audio commentary for The Mummy has earned him a spot on my nice list for a long time–dude is funny.
Not sure why it is OK to always bash people like Brendan Fraser. They are quite good at what they do, which is providing, for the most part, light hearted entertainment. He is what he is and seems like a genuinely nice guy. Hey, sometimes you’re just in the mood for “The Mummy” or “Bedazzled”, and a good time with a fun character (and actor).
That’s the great thing about entertainment options today, there’s something for everyone, all the time. If you don’t like someone, for whatever your reason, just move on and leave your snarky comments unspoken. And for goodness sake don’t bring out the tired, condenscending “I want those two wasted hours of my life back…” whine. You’re the one who wasted them…
Not sure why it is OK to always bash people like Brendan Fraser. They are quite good at what they do, which is providing, for the most part, light hearted entertainment. He is what he is and seems like a genuinely nice guy. Hey, sometimes you’re just in the mood for “The Mummy” or “Bedazzled”, and a good time with a fun character (and actor).
That’s the great thing about entertainment options today, there’s something for everyone, all the time. If you don’t like someone, for whatever your reason, just move on and leave your snarky comments unspoken. And for goodness sake don’t bring out the tired, condenscending “I want those two wasted hours of my life back…” whine. You’re the one who wasted them…
f’real! id love to know whent this brendan frasier hate started but id like it to stop! sure he’s been in some bad movies (monkeybone) but who hasnt?… he’s excellent at comedy (bedazzled), great to look at (george of the jungle!) and pretty damn good when it comes to drama (gods and monsters anyone???)… and i know im reachin here but he did win a SAG award for Crash (yea so did sandra bullock)… but still, dont hate on an underrated actor even though he WAS in encino man (my #1 guilty pleasure)
I think it looks kinda good… I like BF, he’s not really that bad. But Serkis in human form creeps me out.
This looks really good to me – I want to see it. And btw, is it a part of the EW contract these days that you take every available opportunity to bash Brendan Fraser? ‘Twas not always so.
Why does every fantasy movie have to be compared to Lord of the Rings? Give me a break. And, why don’t you give Andy Serkis a chance to act, as a human, before passing judgement on the entire story. The book and its sequel are great. Their original, engaging and well told stories with a strong female hero. I don’t mind objective criticism of the trailer, preferably by someone that has a bit of knowledge about the source material. But, to dismiss the trailer, story and movie as an attempt to grab at the “Lord of the Rings treasure” as you so idiotically phrased it, is the height of ignorance. I guess if the source was in comic book form or based on a video game you’d be squealing like the fanboy that you are.
Ha Ha ha Martha, my first thought was “Does Brendon Frasier have a nut guard?” But after reading the other posts, I reflected on some of the other fun movies he’s been in and forgive him Monkeybone. (So I guess he does have a nut guard.) This looks good… I love Paul Bettany and would watch him read the phone book.
The “you’re going back in that book,” line makes me shudder every time I hear it. Can you say horrific writing?
Wow, i just heard of it, but the term NUTGUARD already feels as ancient as Talk to the hand. as one evil witch once said, “Bored Now.”
Wow, I had no idea that people loved Brendan Fraser so much…or that “nut guard” was already passe, some 2 weeks after it was introduced on this site. Color me sheepish…
I wanted to respond to posters that seem to be confused by the title “Inkheart”. Clearly you have not read the book. Why don’t you give something a chance before you bash or question it? Or at least bash something after you have actually seen the movie or , (call me crazy), read the book.
Hey! What’s wrong with Brendan Fraser? Compared to some other actors out there (who shall remain nameless) he’s not all that bad.
To Antoinette:
I didn’t say I was confused by the title “Inkheart.” I also never said it wasn’t an appropriate title. I just said I personally don’t like how it sounds for the name of a movie (kind of how I don’t like the title of Master & Commander: The Far Side of the Universe even though it is my second favorite movie ever or the title of that new Denzel movie The Great Debaters.) There is no need to patronize me for stating my opinion.
wow. brendan fraser. thats enough to make me not want to see this movie. im surprised by all his backers here actually. to each his own. im not a fan. i personally don’t think he’s a good actor and can’t deliver lines at all. but that’s just one opinion. journey to the center of the earth anyone??? hmm. ill pass on that one too.
To Antoinette Part 2:
I’m take back my previous comment. It was kind of mean. Plus, I can totally see how I looked confused by the title since I wrote, “I just don’t like the title. Inkheart. What.”
I should have written, “I don’t like the sound of the title.”
Inkheart is one of the best books I’ve read in the last five years- seriously. Therefore I will NOT be watching the movie, because I’m sure Hollywood will find a way to butcher this fine piece of literature.
Annette — I think you’re being overly sensitive. It’s not that I don’t “get” the title, I just dont like the sound of it. It has nothing to do with the story itself. There’s plenty of things I dont like the names of that I enjoy. I also laughed out loud (and cringed) when I heard the name “Nintendo Wii”. Doesn’t mean I didnt buy one…
Oh here here Marc Bernadin. Is everyone [I put it to you NEW LINE CINEMA] jumping on the Epic fantasy novel to Movie storyline? There is so much plaguing the silver screens and with it there doesn’t seem like there is enough attention paid to the wonderous spectacle of the source text. The Golden Compass was bad enough [save the polar bear fight, and the guy who played Lee Scoresby] I kept thinking I was watching Gandalf though whenever Iorek spoke with thta booming voice , and what was the point of Christopher lee?!
rant over – ‘Inkheart’ is a good read, but the film doesn’t excite me at all which may say a lot, cus the trailers are usually better than the films!
To all the bashers–Brendan Fraser reads the audio book version of Inkheart, and Cornelia Funke (that’s the author) actually campaigned a bit to have him cast in the movie. I don’t really see where he’s that bad, either. He’s not really ever been a huge Oscar-baiting actor or anything, but for decent popcorn flicks, he’s always done a good job.
Inkheart is a GREAT book. If you are a parent of a reader the name doesn’t even give you a second thought. My son read the first two in the trilogy and he kept saying that these were the best books he had ever read. We listened to the first on tape as a family and it was wonderful. I actually think this will translate easier than the Golden Compass. The basic premise and background story is pretty simple to explain. The filmakers can then concentrate on the hear and now storytelling and action. The casting looks pretty good esp for Dustfinger and Bast. I would not have thought of Brendan Frasier as the dad but I don’t hate the idea. I have always liked him and I can see him playing off Helen Mirren pretty well.
I personally couldnt stand the book. I thought it was trite and slow. But I am intrigued by this trailer.
I disagree about your casting quams. I think by casting Fraser and Serkis they are attempting to make it tounge-in-cheek. It knows its ripping off LOTR. Heck, even the voice-over guy wasnt taking it seriously.
I find it rather refreshing personally. Plus, I love Fraser, Bettany and Mirren.
Well I actually saw a free screening of it, and it was well acted and the special effects were cool.