The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
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The Pagemaster
Family · Fantasy · Animation · 1994
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.
Movie details
The Pagemaster
“All the adventure your imagination can hold.”
1994 Family · Fantasy · Animation 1h 15m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.4 / 10
Community rating
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.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Pagemaster?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Where it lives
Watch in your region.
Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.
Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.
Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Pixote Hunt · Joe Johnston
Written by
Ernie Contreras · David Casci · David Kirschner
Macaulay Culkin
Richard Tyler
Christopher Lloyd
The Pagemaster (voice) / Mr. Dewey
Patrick Stewart
Adventure (voice)
Whoopi Goldberg
Fantasy (voice)
Frank Welker
Horror (voice)
Leonard Nimoy
Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde (voice)
Ed Begley Jr.
Alan Tyler
Court is in session
Put The Pagemaster on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.