def get_messages(self, character, max_messages, popup=None, unread=False):
query = Message.all().filter('recipient', character)
if popup:
query.filter('pop_message_box', True) #only get messages that need to be shown in popup message box
if unread:
query.filter('read_by_user', False)
message_list = query.fetch(max_messages)
return message_list
