Inkheart [PG]

The written word is a powerful thing, but for Mo it's more powerful then than can ever be imagined. When Mo reads something aloud, his voice brings the characters out of the book. A remarkable gift that turns dangerous when he and his daughter are kidnapped by the evil Capricorn so he can use Mo's gift for dastardly purposes.

I first saw this movie in the cinemas and was absolutely blown away. It actually inspired me to start reading books again. It was a bit like Stardust and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, a fun and rolicking adventure that everyone can enjoy.

Mo has an extraordinary gift: whenever he reads something aloud, his voice brings the charatcers out of the ink world on the page and into the real one. But Mo hasn't read aloud for years since something terrible happened the last time he did. Now years later, Mo is looking for a copy of an incredibly rare book so that he can put the wrongs to right, but he's not the only one. Upon finally finding a copy of Inkheart, Mo and his daughter Meggie are kidnapped by the evil Capricorn, who wants to use Mo's gift for dastardly purposes. And what started out as a harmless bedtime story years ago, soon turns into the biggest and most thrilling adventure of a lifetime.

Based on the first book in the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart was a classic example of a story within a story. You literally get lost in the tale as what started out as reality soon turns to fiction and fiction turns to reality.

Brendan Fraser starred as Mo and he was great, don't get me wrong, but I do have to say that the movie belonged to Paul Bettany who played the magic fire-juggler Dustfinger. He was simply wonderful. He had all the best lines, was creepy, cowardly, weak, selfish, and snaky. An absolutely brilliant character, providing much of the movie's drama and comic relief.

Alongside Brendan and Paul are Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent, and Andy Serkis. A spectacular line-up for a truly epic adventure.

Filled with magic, drama, suspense, action, and recognisable creatures and scenes from other famous books, Inkheart was a rolicking adventure that the whole family will enjoy.