Inkheart, the movie, based on Inkheart, Cornelia Funke’s bestselling YA novel, is an interesting specimen. The story is good (thanks to an exciting source), the cast is solid (Oscar winners! Bright newcomers), and all kinds of small elements in the film (costumes, locations, etc) are fabulous. Somehow, though, the final product doesn’t tie it all up in a bow. The flick feels kind of … average, which is fine for a fantasy adaptation in today’s culture of Harry Potter/LOTR wannabes, but not so great for fans of the novel looking for a loving cinematic incarnation.

It opens with a voiceover, a great plumy voiceover, and then we quickly meet our two main characters: Meggie and her father, Mo. The young actress playing Meggie is the right amount of real kid mixed with heroine. I liked her, as much as I like the always-dependable Brendan Fraser (serviceable as book-collector dad with a secret). References are dropped noting Mo’s incessant quest for a mysterious book, but we’re not really engaged with the tale until Paul Bettany appears (sinewy and intense) as the fire wrangling character known only as Dustfinger.

Soon we’re learning about Dustfinger’s home – it’s inside of a book called Inkheart. We connect that the book Mo has been looking for is this same novel, and then we discover that Mo’s big secret is a gift of voice. He is a “Silvertongue”, one who can call characters from books into the real world, summoning them from pages with his voice alone. Of course, when someone comes out, someone must go “in”.  Ergo, Meggie’s absentee mother has been trapped inside the book Inkheart for quite some time, while Mo has been valiantly trying to rescue her. Dustfinger, on the other hand, really just wants to find his way home – even if his life is inside of a novel!

Add in some slimy villains, Helen Mirren (hamming it up), and generic rollicking adventure tracks, and you have Inkheart! It’s a great imaginative, crazy mess. And while it’s probably fun enough for the kids, or for young fans of the book series, I personally wished that the climax had been a little grander. A more epic, awesome turning point than the dramatic reading (with some green screen in the background) that the director chose to roll with. Hey, it’s a good enough flick and a decent adaptation (no major crimes are committed against the literary source – it IS a movie all about book lovers, see), but I sincerely wish the movie were, simply, a little more cinematic. See it if you love the books, or, if you’re looking for an alternative to Paul Blart: Mall Cop. 

The Canadian tourism board wants you to know that this year is the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables. They’ve been emphasizing this important data point all year long, hoping that it will pan out in tourism dollars. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and take a peek.

So you see, yes, Carrots herself is alive and well, and inspiring consumer spending in a time of economic woe, to boot. I find this funny, because Anne Shirley and her creator, Lucy Maud Montgomery, only ever inspired me to sheer audacity. I wanted to be wild and creative, and have adventures that involved bosom friends, raspberry cordial, and cute boys (possibly not in that order) just like Anne. (Well, OK, once I was also inspired to donate money to PBS because I got sucked into a fundraising drive while they were airing those Sullivan miniseries based on the Anne books, too. But that’s about it).

I like adaptations of YA novels. And when they’re done right, they’re just right, and you know it in your Story Gut. Kevin Sullivan’s Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, are not stringent in their adherence to the novels, but they do manage to get Maud’s world correct. They’re quality entertainment in their own right, but they’re also really fun to juxtapose to the books. I’m cool with this form of “Maud” pop culture because those two films are clearly respectful of their source. Of course, then a few years ago the Sullivan team went and totally lost my support by releasing a third Anne miniseries. I’m still heartily boycotting it because it’s original and not based on any of Montgomery’s Anne novels. I can handle creative license in an adaptation, but messing with beloved characters in a totally new story that is positioned as “canon” really frosts my cookies. This was a horrible idea. “Why would they do this???” I wondered. “Where’s Mrs. Lynde when you need her? Someone needs to tell these heretics where they can put that third film!”

So I guess you can imagine my horror when I came across Budge Wilson’s Before Green Gables, an Anne prequel novel, floating around my local Borders a few months ago. “WTF?” I wondered: “Is nothing sacred any more?”

Subsequent “How could this happen?!?” internet searches resulted in some exciting revelations. One, the prequel novel is very real, and has also been optioned by Nippon Animation, based in Japan, for a TV follow-up to their previous Anne of Green Gables anime series. Two – wait. “WHAT?” I pondered. “There was a previous Anne anime series?!?!?!”

Ahhh.  And there you have it. I discovered Akage no Anne, an anime series from 1979 that tells the Anne of Green Gables story in excruciating detail, and is just as weird, trippy, retro, and beautiful as you’d expect. It’s a true adaptation, done with respect, but also heavily influenced by the culture producing it. And its frickin’ gorgeous.  Bonus: the infamous Hayao Miyazaki (some claim he’s the Walt Disney of Japan – I’m not sure that’s the best description, but he’s certainly an amazing animator) worked on the project. It’s pretty cool, and if you poke around the internets, I’m sure you can find a torrent file, like I did, possibly even one with English subtitles! You can also rummage around YouTube and get a taste of it there, too. Great stuff for a rainy afternoon. Or, for celebrating an anniversary that’s a lot less about dollars, and more about well … story sense.

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874.  Try celebrating the anniversary of Maud’s birth by curling up with Anne, Emily, or Pat, or by climbing your own Alpine Path. It’s all about girl power and audacity. Own it, ladies.

Hi guys, it’s Jami B. again.

I did some Nancy Drew style sleuthing and uncovered a link to the Ryan Seacrest/Obama interview that I mentioned in my last post right here.

If you’re curious, The Seacrest also does daily readings on his morning show from Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, in anticipation of the upcoming film release. There are links to some of his recent reading passages on the same webpage if you scroll a bit. Good for a chuckle, since he has some colorful commentary.

And finally, I’d like to get some thoughts about Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist off my chest. I had high hopes for this film. The novel, coauthored by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, is pretty kickass. Like seriously. Kick. Ass. Reading. So the suggestion that some Hollywood studio might smear this adorable, yet meaty book with bubblegum pop music and cheescake tween idol actors really gave me pause. What if they f’ed it up? Really, I was concerned.

I’ve seen the movie, though, and it’s actually pretty good. Its not 100 percent accurate to the book, but it does get the important stuff right. As a screenwriter who loves YA books, I was ready to roast this film if need be, but it’s really been done right. The lead actors (Michael Cera and Kat Dennings) deliver spot on, emotionally real performances as the titular Nick and Norah. The soundtrack, of course, is respectable. And the big diffs — including edits to the Tris and Caroline characters — mostly result in more laughs for the audience or help to trim bulky plotlines to make the 2 hour movie work. I also just liked it because the chemistry between the two leads totally crackled, and that’s how it comes off in the book! Finally, a movie that gets it! GETS that they have to make the audience feel what it feels like to be living-reading-breathing it as if you’re on your own night-in-the-life of adventure!

Bottom line: It’s a good adaptation, because it gets the feelings and tone of the book down pat. In Hollywood, that’s almost unheard of. So bravo Columbia Pictures, director Peter Sollett, and screenwriter Lorene Scafaria. Let’s hope others follow your lead and we get more great page to screen adaptations like Nick and Norah and a lot less like … City of Ember.

Hey there,

I’m Jami B., one of Brina’s “lit lieutenants.” I’m here to check in and help fill the gap while Brina is on sabbatical. To wit … you’ll find all kinds of good bits once you jump on in and read my inaugural post: One of the things that I love about young adult literature is that it’s EVERYWHERE! It impacts everyone. We’ve all read at least one book in our youth that really made an impact and stuck with us. And we all know young people who are discovering their own favorite books.

• Just this week, I heard Senator Barack Obama discussing both the Harry Potter and Twilight books with Ryan Seacrest on Ryan’s morning radio show. The audio link isn’t up on the website yet, but I suspect it’ll be here in the next few days.

• And a few weeks ago screenwriter/author Diablo Cody wrote a really interesting essay on Judy Blume, her influence, and her oeuvre for Entertainment Weekly. It’s interesting to read another female writer’s opinion on the infamous Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret? I happen to dig Cody’s writing, and I’m looking forward to some of her upcoming screenwriting projects – but I’d love to read more about her literary past, too. Lets hope she circles back to the topic with another essay sometime soon! You can read the essay here.

• There’s been a lot of talk about Gossip Girl’s TV incarnation, but I’m finding the WB’s other YA lit adaptation — PRIVILEGED — to be much more my speed. For those of you who don’t know, the series is based on Zoey Dean’s novel (which was the authors’ first marketed to an adult audience), How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls. I’ve noticed differences between the book and the show (casting, for one) but even so, I’m digging the series. It’s got a lot more heart – rather than smut – at its core. Maybe that’s because the showrunner used to work on Gilmore Girls, while the showrunners over at Gossip Girl all came from The O.C. Are there any Zoey Dean fans out there who want to share their thoughts on PRIVILEGED? I’d love to hear them.

• Am I the last person on the planet to find out that The Babysitters Club series has been reincarnated as graphic novels? If you want to check out some of their art, or if you’re like me and wanna take the “Which Babysitter Are You? Quiz (I’m a KRISTY? No way …) then hop to it.

• And finally … I’ve been meaning to post my thoughts on Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Check back tomorrow and I’ll be ready to review.

• A reminder: Please don’t forget to vote if you’re eligible! Early, often, and before you check back here. Go to the polls, grab your free cup of coffee or scoop of ice cream, and then settle in for a quick peek at YA New York while waiting for awesome election night coverage to commence.