Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
Cast: Patrick Gibson, Christoph Waltz, Sam Neil, Miranda Otto, Damon Herriman, Jessica De Gouw, Mezi Atwood, Rachel House, Chris Pang, Sophie Wilde, Christophr Sommers, Tori Webb, Jason Wilder, Arka Das, Lillie Wallace, Savanna Crasto, Jasmine Barui, Diane Lin, Finn Treacy, Lin Yin, Chris Bridgewater, Stephen Walker.
In all fairness, it is only right that Tom Holt’s prestigious and abundant work should finally get the big screen treatment that his ideas and iconic books have long been asked for by the discerning and faithful readers of his comic creations.
A statement of intent perhaps, but very few statements when it comes to adapting novels for either the small or the large screen are as true as bringing to life the sheer absurdity and brilliance of the man behind The Portable Door.
It could be argued that without J.K. Rowling’s presence in cinema in the last couple of decades, whether through the filming of the Harry Potter franchise, or the Fantastic Beasts series, then maybe Tom Holt might not have finally his rightful time in the sun, and yet such notions are to be dismissed; all it needed was for the right director and the technology to capture the essence of the story, and what you would have is inspiring take of fantastical proportions…the only issue being is that by starting with the J.W. Wells & Co. series, so many other books that went before might never have their chance to shine.
The Portable Door will have many declaring that J.K. Rowling’s influence is to be noted, and yet this is, if it may be claimed so bold, a story of finer intricacy, of greater persuasion to the comic verse within, and with the delightful Rachel House once more reuniting on film with the glorious Sam Neill, with Christoph Waltz giving his expected dedicated and charming performance, and with both Patrick Gibson and Sophie Wilde capturing the roles of Paul Carpenter and Sophie Pentigel with book point accuracy, the viewer is left under no illusion that this Jim Henson Company backed feature is deserving full praise from the fans of the novelist.
Smart, funny, captivating, and truly to form, The Portable Door is hopefully just one of many of Tom Holt’s engaging books that will be released in the years ahead, but not just from this series of novels, after all what fan wouldn’t want to see Ye Gods!, Who’s Afraid of Beowulf, or Paint Your Dragon to be part of the cinematic fantasy world.
A supremely enjoyable film, The Portable Door will take you places you never knew you needed to go.
Ian D. Hall