My Impressions:
Interning in London gained a magical twist. The story established its supernatural nature right from the get-go and delivered promising moments that built up steam as the plot progressed. However, it rushed as it went and didn't quite convey the full gravitas of what the characters aimed to achieve.
I liked how they combined corporate greed with magical possibilities. At first, I wondered if such intricate ideas were originally written for the screen. But then I learned "The Portable Door" was adapted from the book after the same name written by Tom Holt. There are numerous literary titles in the J. W. Wells series, by the way.
The movie version contained good VFX and compelling performances. Both were make-or-break factors in a story filled with magic, and based in London besides. Most of us will recall yet another tale based on a certain 'boy who lived'. But don't go drawing comparisons, "The Portable Door" illuminates its own niche in the genre.
Patrick Gibson was as charming as he was awkward - in an engaging and entertaining way - as the character Paul Carpenter. He had fun with the role and his acting was admirable. To be honest, his performance made the movie work on numerous counts.
Some of my favourite artists were also involved in this production. Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, and Christoph Waltz brought their own elements to the plot.
On a related note, Jessica De Gouw as Rosie and Sophie Wilde as Sophie Pettingel were both fascinating additions to the character roster. Their acting communicated hidden suspense and imminent disaster in subtle ways.
The secret organization called J. W. Wells & Co. Was the focal point for all the magical elements in the movie. They were in the 'business' of manipulating people's instincts to ensure a certain outcome, all while making it appear natural or coincidental.
The exact reason for this wasn't properly explored or mapped out. However, later in the movie, one critical part of their agenda became clear. Select members within the organization were shooting for mind control and eventual societal domination. "Influence is no coincidence" was established as their sinister, almost Orwellian, motto.
The story's numerous familiar tropes only made watching it play out on screen feel clichéd. However, the movie did contain a good amount of intriguing moments. The overall plot felt like a mild blend of "Harry Potter" and "Dr. Who", only minimalistic.
Now, despite being almost two hours long and having a literal magical door that could take the characters anywhere, the story didn't quite feel like it went places. Its 'grand reveal' came late but, in all fairness, was riveting when it did.
Apparently, everyone at J. W. Wells & Co. Were either wizards or goblins. They were stealing the souls of people through 'Operation Fine Print' and had a dark agenda ready to roll. It was also mentioned how goblins had a tendency to obsess over humans and that they had a hand in helping us evolve, one 'coincidence' at a time.
These were great ideas worth exploring, but "The Portable Door" movie didn't do them enough justice. By the time the really good part came along - with the Bank of the Dead, i.e., the room with the many doors leading in, and the organization's founder Mr. Wells being freed at long last - the movie was almost done. This belatedness became a major let-down for me.
Interning in London gained a magical twist. The story established its supernatural nature right from the get-go and delivered promising moments that built up steam as the plot progressed. However, it rushed as it went and didn't quite convey the full gravitas of what the characters aimed to achieve.
I liked how they combined corporate greed with magical possibilities. At first, I wondered if such intricate ideas were originally written for the screen. But then I learned "The Portable Door" was adapted from the book after the same name written by Tom Holt. There are numerous literary titles in the J. W. Wells series, by the way.
The movie version contained good VFX and compelling performances. Both were make-or-break factors in a story filled with magic, and based in London besides. Most of us will recall yet another tale based on a certain 'boy who lived'. But don't go drawing comparisons, "The Portable Door" illuminates its own niche in the genre.
Patrick Gibson was as charming as he was awkward - in an engaging and entertaining way - as the character Paul Carpenter. He had fun with the role and his acting was admirable. To be honest, his performance made the movie work on numerous counts.
Some of my favourite artists were also involved in this production. Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, and Christoph Waltz brought their own elements to the plot.
On a related note, Jessica De Gouw as Rosie and Sophie Wilde as Sophie Pettingel were both fascinating additions to the character roster. Their acting communicated hidden suspense and imminent disaster in subtle ways.
The secret organization called J. W. Wells & Co. Was the focal point for all the magical elements in the movie. They were in the 'business' of manipulating people's instincts to ensure a certain outcome, all while making it appear natural or coincidental.
The exact reason for this wasn't properly explored or mapped out. However, later in the movie, one critical part of their agenda became clear. Select members within the organization were shooting for mind control and eventual societal domination. "Influence is no coincidence" was established as their sinister, almost Orwellian, motto.
The story's numerous familiar tropes only made watching it play out on screen feel clichéd. However, the movie did contain a good amount of intriguing moments. The overall plot felt like a mild blend of "Harry Potter" and "Dr. Who", only minimalistic.
Now, despite being almost two hours long and having a literal magical door that could take the characters anywhere, the story didn't quite feel like it went places. Its 'grand reveal' came late but, in all fairness, was riveting when it did.
Apparently, everyone at J. W. Wells & Co. Were either wizards or goblins. They were stealing the souls of people through 'Operation Fine Print' and had a dark agenda ready to roll. It was also mentioned how goblins had a tendency to obsess over humans and that they had a hand in helping us evolve, one 'coincidence' at a time.
These were great ideas worth exploring, but "The Portable Door" movie didn't do them enough justice. By the time the really good part came along - with the Bank of the Dead, i.e., the room with the many doors leading in, and the organization's founder Mr. Wells being freed at long last - the movie was almost done. This belatedness became a major let-down for me.