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The Pagemaster
1994 75 min United States of America G 12+
★5.8
Family, Fantasy, Animation
Director: Pixote Hunt, Joe Johnston
Trailers
Description
Rich knows a lot about accidents. So much so, he is scared to do anything that might endanger him, like riding his bike, or climbing into his treehouse. While in an old library, he is mystically transported into the unknown world of books, and he has to try and get home again.
Budget:
$27M
US Gross:
$13.67M
Worldwide:
$13.67M
Starring
Macaulay Culkin
Actor
Christopher Lloyd
Actor
Kanin Howell
Actor
Awards
6 nominations total
Key opinion
The Pagemaster is generally viewed as a nostalgic, well-intentioned family film that effectively encourages children to discover classic literature. While praised for its creative blend of live-action and animation, the film receives criticism for its predictable, simplistic narrative and uneven performances.
| Culture | The film succeeds in its educational goal of sparking interest in classic literature and reading for a younger audience. | |
| Acting | Christopher Lloyd's presence as the librarian provides a charismatic and memorable anchor for the film. | |
| Production | The film utilizes a creative, high-quality blend of live-action cinematography and traditional hand-drawn animation. | |
| Screenplay | Viewers are divided on the screenplay; some appreciate the simple, magical adventure, while others find the plot relies too heavily on generic clichés and predictable character arcs. | |
| Acting | The performance of the adult actors is perceived as inconsistent, with some critics finding the portrayals to be overly theatrical or forced. |