Inkworld Movie Preview
December 29, 2008 by Ashley Queen
Filed under Features
In 2008 the award winning German author Cornelia Funke released the final book in her Inkworld trilogy. The trilogy follows a young girl “Meggie” through her adventures and her realization that she and her father share an extraordinarily unique gift. Now an adaptation of the first book in the best selling children’s series, Inkheart, has been brought to the big screen.
Starring audience favorite, Brendan Fraser as Mo Folchart and English sweetheart Eliza Hope Bennett as his delightful daughter, Meggie, director Iain Softley successfully brings the cultivating imagery of Inkheart off the pages and right before our eyes. When explaining the scenario portrayed in Inkheart, director Softley begins with a question, “What are the boundaries between what is real and what is imagined?” Inkheart is a story that bridges the two realms together.
When Moe, played by Brendan Fraser, inadvertently congers up characters out of a fictional book by reading a loud, he realizes that his loved ones in real life somehow traded places with the fictional characters. When his gift causes his wife to be trapped between the pages of the story, Moe spends his life trying to find a way to get her back. “It’s an interesting notion that something real might come out of the story,” Fraser responds when asked about the peculiar scenario. Producer and fan of the children’s novel, Diana Pokorny, enjoyed reading Inkheart before bringing the story to life. “It is a story about the love of reading and the power of books…” She goes on to say, “It was quite magical to see those words we loved to read so much as a family actually come to life.” Cornelia Funke couldn’t agree more. Working closely with director Softley and screenwriter David Lindsay Abaire, Funke was able to see her literary fantasy world come to life. “It was a thrill for me to see my story through the eyes of another artist.” Funke goes on, “…to tell my story again in a different way, what a kick!” With an all star cast including academy award winner Helen Mirren and golden globe nominee Andy Serkis, Inkheart will deliver everything it’s veteran readers could ask for as well as excite and inspire it’s new fans, reminding everyone of the power of the written word.
The novelist was excited to get a chance to work with director Iain Softley and screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire. Funke, who also produced the film, knew Softley was the best director for the project, having seen many of his films including The Wings of the Dove an adaptation of Henry James’ novel and a 1997 Oscar contender. Now, the London born director has adapted literature to film again, this time with the aid of award winning playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lindsay-Abaire. Feeling honored to be entrusted with adapting the book to screen, Lindsay-Abaire worked closely with Funke. “Some things inevitably change from page to screen because they are very different mediums,” the playwright begins, “ but it was important to me that Cornelia be a part of the process… it’s her baby after all.”
Funke’s impressive use of vivid descriptions and elaborate illustrations made turning her words into reality easy. Almost as easy as casting Brendan Fraser for the part of Mo, a character the author admits Fraser inspired. With his warm demeanor, honest eyes and expressive voice, a trait very important to his character, director Softley knew Brendan Fraser would be exactly what the film needed. Fraser, who had played in a number of action movies as the courageous hero, was ideal in the role more because of his quiet self -awareness and sympathetic quality than his brawny heroism. But his experience as a hero certainly comes into play as his character embarks on a life changing adventure in order to save his wife after she disappears under mysterious circumstances. Fraser explains, “…He was reading Meggie [his daughter] a bedtime story from an obscure book they found called “Inkheart.” Fraser continues, “Three of the books character came to life and his wife went into the book.” One of those characters being the good guy forced to be bad, Capricorn, who is played by eccentric Andy Serkis, who is no stranger to playing deceptively wicked characters, like that of misunderstood villain, Gollum, in The Lord of the Rings. The actor charmingly displays a balance between menacing antagonist and delightful entertainer.
Helping Fraser’s character defeat the villainous Capricorn, is Paul Bettany’s starring as Dustfinger, who adds great depth and understanding to his lost character who searches for a way back to his, literal, storybook life. “He wants to get out of this incredibly odd place and back to his home with his wife and kids,” the actor explains. Joining him in the strange modern land are many classic literary characters, some straight out of Arabian Nights, others, mythological creatures from classics like The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. Each makes their appearance in the modern world delighting audience members as their favorite characters come to life in a true and believable realm.
Inkheart incorporates it’s own characters also, like Darius, who shares Mo’s gift with one big difference, his speech impediment that effects his powers and as a result leads to strange happenings. Between a lack of understanding and control of his unique ability and dangerous mythical characters seeking his assistance, Mo tries to find a way to get his life back. While searching for the book to save his wife, Mo lives unaware that his daughter Meggie shares his unusual gift. Winning the role over hundreds of young hopefuls was British delight Eliza Hope Bennett. Like their characters, Fraser and his youthful co-star developed a strong relationship on set. “It was a privilege to be working with a young person who is so intelligent and thoughtful…” explains Fraser. “…she’s just a terrific kid.” Softley agrees adding, “She was just so effortlessly who Meggie was.”
Eliza Hope-Bennett wasn’t the only actress who really added to the development of her character. The always exceptional, Helen Mirren, added her own interpretation to the character of Meggie’s great aunt Elinor. The Oscar winner reveals she was nervous in meeting with Inkhearts author since she somewhat changed the direction of the character. Mirren wanted to add more emphasis on Elinor as a lover of books. Director Softley was delighted saying, “To me that was a brilliant idea because it brought to the fore something that was very evident in the book.” Inkheart’s author welcomed Mirren’s characterization of Elinor also. She responds, “It was a dream to cast Helen Mirren as Elinor and I absolutely loved her interpretation of the role.” As Cornelia Funke watched director Softley bring her story to life, actor Jim Broadbent, who stars as the fictional author of the book within the film, can relate, as his character somewhat mirrors that of Funke. “It was very valuable for me to see her excitement at seeing us…” Broadbent, whose character witness’ his stories come to life, adds, “It’s a writers dream come true because characters he’s created have come into his world …” Now the sensational fantasy adventure that sends a father and daughter on a extraordinary quest is brought to our world.
The decision to use real places over green screen was made early. Softley wanted the sets to look realistic as the story unfold. Shooting in Italy gave the director exactly what he was looking for, the area being very modern in some parts and then like a time warp, the out skirts were very secluded with deep history resembling something like the Middle ages. With use of practical sets and a visual design teams to help accentuate and enhance certain aspects, Softly was able to give the film a deeper element that is brought out on screen.
Finding stunning hilltop towns, mountain villages and seaside communities then combining them with exquisite and mesmerizing sets, creates the perfect illusion of stepping into another world with a comforting familiarity. Adapting from a children’s book with illustrations of medieval castles and strange creatures with elements of spine-tingling danger and adventure, Inkheart is a film that excites the imagination at every turn. Combining the talents of children’s novelist Cornelia Funke with that of Robots’ writer David Lindsay-Abaire brings this enchanting story right from the pages to the big screen, a symphony that director Iain Softley so whimsically conducts. Inkheart will surly be an enchanting, overwhelming, magical and unforgettable cinematic experience. Reflecting on the finished project Cornelia Funke comments, “What I saw was so close to what I had envisioned in my head that I suspected Iain Softley and all the other amazing artists found a secret door to my imagination.” The film Inkheart is sure to delight and fascinate audience of all ages as well as encourage all to pick up a book, allow your imagination to run rampant and inevitably come to life.
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One More List: Best Games of 2008!
December 29, 2008 by Eric M. Martin
Filed under Features
Happy (upcoming) New Year, gamers. 2009 will have enough announcements of its own. Instead of looking toward the future, let’s reflect on the gaming year of 2008. From start to finish, we had several contenders for Game of the Year, some of them coming in at the last moment in order to steal the prize, and one of those titles in general may be successful. As we’ve always prided ourselves on being different, we’re moving away from the Top Ten format. It has become apparent that several games released this year have their own reasons to be at the top of any list. So, instead of making a ranking list, let’s just have One More List, where we look at some of the best games to have come out this year.
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Yet another successful Castlevania game with a Metroid feel. Well, when you breed excellence with excellence, the end result is pretty obvious. Order of Ecclesia brings on a fresh take of the Castlevania series while maintaining established storylines of previous Castlevania releases and continuing to deliver the same gameplay, graphics, sound and story that is now expected amongst the Castlevania series.
Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed! and Path of the Furon
The DAH! franchise is fast becoming the household name for both THQ and platform games alike. This coveted position, held by games such as Crash Bandicoot and Ratchet and Clank, will ensure a measure of popularity so long as changes to each subsequent title will improve the gameplay experience without making an incredibly foreign title for those who have followed the series to date. Both Big Willy Unleashed! and the more recent Path of the Furon have aided to slim down control schemes while keeping movement and menus rather intuitive.
Eternal Sonata
Coming out in the beginning of 2008, this XBox 360 exclusive took RPGs onto a different level. Dealing with the final hours of composer Frederic Chopin’s last dream, the concept of Eternal Sonata was just as powerful as its handling of battle sequences, level progression, and original score. All music pieces were performed without a single bit of synthesis, and the creators were even able to sneak in some actual Chopin pieces on piano.
Fallout 3
Woohoo, here it is! It came in at the end of the year and pretty much took me by storm. And if I’m just one person, I can’t imagine what the rest of the PC world is feeling like at the moment. I’m a bit upset that the XBox 360 and PS3 versions ended up getting the exclusive content, but at least I can fiddle around with the G.E.C.K. There is so much to do in this game, not to mention the online interaction that is promised through the Live networks.
Grand Theft Auto IV
Probably the most awaited game of 2008, hands down. Grand Theft Auto IV was a long-awaited promise. It gave the gaming world a lot, including grandiose dreams of downloadable content, new gameplay controls and modifiers, storyline options and a bigger sandbox. Outside of the game itself, there were many accolades and criticisms. One publication would praise the authentic feel while another would hammer on the fact that the game was too short and the ending was lacking. Outside of all of that, the voice actor for Nico Bellic whined and got his fifteen minutes of liberal media coverage. And now, way too late, the promised DLC finally emerges. GTA IV is the perfect rollercoaster of success and fail for 2008, which makes it one of the best of 2008 in its own right.
Hail to the Chimp
Party games, move aside. Since Mario Party 8 couldn’t do the job, so Hail to the Chimp stepped in, cleaned up, and earned its rightful place in this list and in upcoming game fame. This is the perfect blend of satire, writing, gameplay and unlockable content. It’s also still a great excuse to phone up some friends, order a pizza with soda and waste away an afternoon or evening, or maybe even both! Okay, so it’s not a 24-hour gaming venture, but it’s got enough to keep players coming back. The best part? The only game that makes you want to watch commercials.
LEGO Batman and LEGO Indiana Jones
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: God, I love being a turtle! I also love LEGO games. I admit, I laughed when I saw the first LEGO Star Wars game. I stopped laughing after I realized that it contains everything gamers look for in a game. If you could bottle up game essence in a beer, that beer would be made by LEGO. I will go so far as to say that the LEGO franchise makes the world’s perfect games, and they should continue to do so. I, for one, would love to see LEGO X-Men and LEGO Avengers in the near future.
LittleBigPlanet
The best result of hundreds of imaginations gone right. This game reaches out to the indie, the developer, the platformer, the puzzle-solver, the party gamer, the level creator, the playtester, and the list goes on and on. I will go so far as to coin a new genre and hope it catches on. From henceforth, LittleBigPlanet will be known as a “Universal Game.” Who does it have to thank? In some small parts, Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. In others, Bomberman and Katamari Damacy. LEGO LittleBigPlanet, anyone? Or even better, LittleBig-Counter Strike? How crazy can it get? I think that’s what this game was meant to answer. Imagination at its best, set to a series of button maps.
MLB Power Pros 2008
Sports games, not my thing. Wii Fit? I’m getting closer. Sports games with big heads and family friendly gameplay? BINGO! MLB Power Pros is a sports game that I would have in my collection in a heartbeat. Much like the old Nintendo sports games, it’s not about stats and complicated stick tricks and team planning. Rather, it’s about A-Rod and Chipper Jones and big heads with tiny feet. Admit it, it’s great to watch animated baseball players doing their struts and frets.
Megaman 9
No school like the old school. This one goes out to all of you who owned a brand-new NES, those who played Ice Hockey on Speed 5 with all skinny sprites, those who remember Mike Tyson instead of Mr. Dream, and those who know what its like to play as a thief that couldn’t steal. Second generation gamers for life!
Penny Arcade Advenutres: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
Episodic content at its finest. This is a game inspired by gamers and made for gamers, regardless of your computer preference. Basically, they have enough care to support a Linux version of their program. The series is not for everyone. It’s a specific target audience of RPG players, which would include people heavy into comic strips, H.P. Lovecraft mythos and pop-culture references. But, it’s proof that games don’t need overbloated budgets or advertisement waste in order to be great.
Persona 4
Hip and now gaming, complete with eerie undertones, fabulous musical atmosphere, unique dungeon-crawling mechanics and a second layer of sim life. Persona hits hard, and well it should. People who play Persona should not do so unless they are patient and willing to devote some serious time. However, time spent will be well rewarded if you’re a storyline-driven gamer.
Roogoo
Tetris. Simple idea, worldwide success. Roogoo. Simple idea, soon to be worldwide success. The secret to a great puzzle game is, well, great puzzles. Don’t make the solving too complex or involved, but keep it interesting for your players and don’t be afraid to throw in a few twists and turns as the stage count begins to climb. Roogoo follows this formula well enough, dealing with meteors and cartoon character animals. Sure, fit the round peg into the square hole, if you want to.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Duh! Watch the video!
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff
See quips about Megaman 9, add the greatness of DS multiplay, rinse and repeat. It’s been approximately twenty years, and now we’ve got Tecmo Bowl that’s even better and just as exciting. Forget the N64 version, skip straight to the DS and hope that Patrick X. Best can finally beat me (once again) in a game of Tecmo Bowl. There’s nothing but chocolate-flavored awesome in this title, and it’s served best on a sesame seed bun. Simple football action that plays out less like a football title and more like a party game.
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The Kreep Christmas Kalendar Day 25
December 25, 2008 by Brazilla R. Kreep
Filed under Features
Gather ’round people and you will hear, the word on good ole xmas cheer, each day until the 25th, The Kreep suggests a kreepy gift, and the Kreepy Kalendar, t’give you something t’cipher.
What’s this joy today?
‘Tis Christmas for all is well
Give t’celebrate!
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The Kreep Christmas Kalenday Day 24
December 24, 2008 by Brazilla R. Kreep
Filed under Features
Gather ’round people and you will hear, the word on good ole xmas cheer, each day until the 25th, The Kreep suggests a kreepy gift, and the Kreepy Kalendar, t’give you something t’cipher.
Such darkness clouds me
On hands and knees I pray, Ghost
Remove thy fixed name
Not sure what to stuff the stocking with, well here’s my pitch to buy forth-with;
Lost - The Complete Fourth Season
After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, it s survivors were forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discovered that the island hold many secrets, including a mysterious smoke monster, polar bears, a strange French woman and another group of island residents known as The Others. The survivors have also found signs of those who came to the island before them, including a 19th century sailing ship called The Black Rock, the remains of an ancient statue, as well as bunkers belonging to the Dharma Initiative a group of scientific researchers who inhabited the island in the recent past.
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The Kreep Christmas Kalendar Day 23
December 23, 2008 by Brazilla R. Kreep
Filed under Features
Gather ’round people and you will hear, the word on good ole xmas cheer, each day until the 25th, The Kreep suggests a kreepy gift, and the Kreepy Kalendar, t’give you something t’cipher.
What of Timmy Tim?
A lone crutch in corner waits
Is there no mercy?
Not sure what to stuff the stocking with, well here’s my pitch to buy forth-with;
Wall-E (Three-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)
The highly acclaimed director of Finding Nemo and the creative storytellers behind Cars and Ratatouille transport you to a galaxy not so far away for a new cosmic comedy adventure about a determined robot named Wall-E.
After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, the curious and lovable Wall-E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named Eve. Join them and a hilarious cast of characters on a fantastic journey across the universe. Transport yourself to a fascinating new world with Disney-Pixar’s latest adventure, now even more astonishing on DVD and loaded with bonus features, including the exclusive animated short film Burn-E. Wall-E is a film your family will want to enjoy over and over again.