Because I see most films at industry screenings, I rarely get to see previews. So I was pleased that last night’s sneak peak of The Golden Compass brought us trailers for The Spiderwick Chornicles and Inkheart, and both look to have some promise, although as I and others remarked afterwards, Inkheart is a much better book than the preview made it look (and oh, what a premise - people who can read words into being and truth!). Spiderwick just looked delightful, with what I hope will translate to good pacing, and an utterly fabulous design sensibility. Unfortunately, one of the costs of fantasy now being mainstream and ruling at the box office, is too many projects will think they can just phone it in. Hopefully it won’t be either of these two.
