Given a fairly negative critical reception upon its initial release, The Pagemaster is actually a more-than-passable mixture of live action and animation with a fair number of high points. While the filmmakers may be presenting the message of their movie -- essentially, that reading is a good thing -- in a fairly obvious and banal manner, it does serve as a smooth way of introducing children to some of the exciting characters that can be found in classic literature. It also features excellent voice work, especially from Patrick Stewart and Whoopi Goldberg. Stewart seems to be enjoying himself a great deal, bringing an enthusiasm and energy to his work that is a change of pace from his usually more restrained approach. Goldberg is Goldberg, full of sass and vinegar and always ready with a quip. Macaulay Culkin is less annoying than in many of his other films, probably because his mannerisms are naturally minimized when the character becomes animated. On the downside, the story is rushed and not as compelling as it should be; much of it lacks the magic and sparkle that the situation demands and it has episodes rather than a real plot. Although most of the animation is just middling, there are a couple of impressive moments, such as the initial "meltdown" sequence in which Culkin becomes animated and the segment involving a dragon. Pagemaster's quality varies, but there's more than enough there to satisfy children.