The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)

This one I just had to see as soon as possible. It looked very promising and I didn’t want to wait!

First I want to point out that I’m getting tired of movies that try and tell you what’s going on instead of showing you. I mean, how much more time would it take to have added a scene or two instead of this stupid narration thing that’s going on?! Yes, it catches the audience up – but at a cost, because if we are simply told, we tend (or at least I tend) not to form strong attachments to the characters. So I’m not as moved about their plight.

That was one huge stumbling block and I found it took a good thirty minutes into the film before I cared for the main character: Dave, the apprentice or Balthazar, the sorcerer. And in my naive and over confident way I could think of at least two other ways they could have introduced you to both characters by showing and had (at least me) be more hooked in.

However, apart from that, the movie was cool.

Did you know that this whole film was loosely based on that one skit in Fantasia where Mickey Mouse makes the mops and brooms come to life to clean up? I heard some people leaving it (after I’d seen it) and the scene where that was duplicated was their favourite. Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer seem good at bringing small bits of Disney fun to life (The Pirates of the Caribbean come to mind! Based off of a ride in the Disney park).

Alright, down to the goods: Nicholas Cage is an actor that I appreciate watching. He always brings his own flare to the screen. Though I’ve heard that some don’t like his adaptations – I’m not among those some. I think I have a bit of a crush on him (actually) and he’s among my top people that I’d live to meat and have coffee with one day! He plays Balthazar, one of Merlin’s students (one of three).

Next we have Jay Baruchel, Dave, the prodigal apprentice. I was interested in how his character development unfolded and I’m not going to ruin it by giving away any more. I do wish they had started with him – and given a bit more depth to his side of the story. I think we (or at least I) the viewer would have felt far more involved if they had started and focused more on that angle.

As for Jay Baruchel, (go Canadian actors!) I had a hard time not envisioning ‘Horace Hiccup’ when he spoke, that was the last film I heard his voice in – and with such a unique voice it was hard to let that image go. But as actors go I’d have to say he’s finding his own. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t become a face we see a lot of over the next few years as Hollywood seems to have taken a huge liking to him as the ‘underdog’ actor – he does suit it well.

To be completely honest the story was basic, it was the special effects that kept this film going. And WOW, there were quite a lot of special effects! This was cool and fun to watch.

They only briefly touched on the fact that magic was all around us but only magician’s eyes could see it so mere average people were blind to it (for the most part), but I wasn’t buying this so much, for me it was almost as if they just didn’t want to deal with that side of things.

Everything that was given, in the story, was a ‘been there – done that’ kind of plot. So for me it was like: “yeah, I expected that”. What I’m telling you is that it was not that original – but, like I said already, the special effects were what the movie had going for itself! Balthazar had a lot of cool toys, as did the bad guys.

I laughed, I was wowed, my love for the characters took some time to warm to, but in the end I’d buy this one. I’d say: go to it. Most children would be able to handle the story – not too much violence or gore. It was a lot of fun (even if I know they could have done better).

My rating 4.1 stars

Until next escape,

Aviva B.