The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Disney)
Rated PG for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief language.
Starring Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Omar Benson Miller, Monica Bellucci, Alice Krige, Jake Cherry.
Written by Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Matt Lopez, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard, based on the poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Directed by John Turteltaub.
GRADE: B
REVIEWWhat, no wand? Oh, that's right, sorcerers don't need wands; it's wizards I'm thinking of. Must be Harry Potter on the brain. Where was I? Oh yeah, magic; the sorcery kind, as seen in Disney's live action adaptation from 1940's animated Fantasia movie.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice stars Nicolas Cage as Balthazar, sorcerer who was tutored by Merlin along with the beautiful Veronica (Monica Bellucci) and Horvath (Alfred Molina). Betrayed by Horvath, who crosses over to the side of Merlin's nemesis, the evil sorceress Morgana, Merlin is killed and Veronica (the love of Balthazar's life) is concealed along with Morgana and Horvath inside a nesting doll curio for centuries. Balthazar spends the years searching for an apprentice; a boy with special powers who will one day own all of Merlin's secrets and prevent Morgana's evil plot of raising dead souls to take over the world.
The boy turns out to be Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a complete nerd who is ga-ga over his childhood sweetheart Becky (the lovely Aussie Teresa Palmer). As Balthazar recruits and trains Dave to become a full sorcerer, Horvath is released from his imprisonment and a series of battles ensue all over Manhattan, where Dave and Becky attend college. As Balthazar teaches Dave all about magic and science, Horvath's attempts to release Morgana and take over the world grows more intense, culminating in a final epic battle.
I mostly enjoyed
The Sorcerer's Apprentice, although I have to believe there was a little too much cronyism in casting Cage in the lead role. The entire film is a reunion of sorts for the team behind the
National Treasure movies (Turteltaub, Cage, Bruckheimer) and it would seem that even though Cage doesn't come off as annoying, he doesn't dazzle, either. Baruchel is another story, and delivers a decent comic performance and the lovable nerd discovering special powers while winning the heart of a beautiful woman.
Some other high points in
The Sorcerer's Apprentice include the good special effects and a rare Monica Bellucci sighting, which is always easy on the eyes, in my humble male opinion. As far connections to the famous Fantasia vignette go, there is one scene that mimics the Mickey Mouse version almost to the last detail. I suppose Disney fans will enjoy that.
Also, a caution to parents: Even though
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is rated PG, a certain dragon scene might give your toddler nightmares.
