Parents Television Council Reviews

PTC reviews aim to provide you with advance information about an entertainment offering so that you can be the final arbiter of what you and your family see.

Based on the best-selling novel by Cornelia Funke, this movie tells the story of Mo Folchart, a “silvertongue” – a person possessing a magic power which makes characters in any book he reads aloud appear in the real world, and sends real individuals into the world of the book. Having inadvertently exiled his wife and brought to life villainous characters from the rare fantasy novel Inkheart, Mo and his daughter Meggie search the world for another copy of the book in an attempt to bring her back. The rougish character Dustfinger wants Mo to send him back into the book to rejoin his family; but the book’s villain Capricorn wants to remain in our world – and will stop at nothing to do so…

There is little content of concern to parents in Inkheart. No sexual innuendo is present, and none of the heroic characters exhibit problematic behavior. Each of the words listed above under “language” are used only once apiece, and the movie contains no other foul language. The movie does contain typical action-adventure violence such as chases, fistfights, characters threatened with knives and guns, and explosions; but even these are fairly restrained compared to many other action pictures. The thief/juggler Dustfinger frequently performs stage-magic stunts with fire, such as blowing flame from his mouth or hands. Monsters such as a unicorn, a minotaur and flying monkeys are occasionally shown. Some scenes, especially early in the film, feature whispery voices and shadowy, sinister figures.  At the end of the movie a huge monster made of smoke with fiery eyes and mouth appears and attempts to devour the heroes, and transforms some characters into an ashlike substance, whereupon their bodies crumble away. These scenes may frighten the very young, but should not disturb most school-age children.  

Inkheart is a delightful, adventure-filled romp which champions the virtues of friendship, family, loyalty and courage in the face of fear. Meggie is an aspiring writer, both her father Mo her great-aunt Elinor are shown to be book collectors, and the characters they encounter are drawn out of books – all sending a not-so-subtle message to young viewers that Reading Is Good.

Because of its positive messages and its value as action-packed, family-friendly entertainment, the Parents Television Council is proud to award Inkheart with the PTC Seal of Approval^TM. The PTC recommends this movie for viewers over age 7.

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