THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE
(PG)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5)
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Modern-day sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) takes an apprentice in New York City, a young kid who reluctantly becomes involved. Balthazar trains him to be a sorcerer so they can defeat the minions of Morgan Le Fay, who are trying to release her from her immortal prison.
WHAT I LIKED
For the most part, I enjoyed “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” It definitely had the tongue-in-cheek feel of the Disney live-action family films like “Prince of Persia” and the “National Treasure” films. It’s really a story made for a younger generation rather than that of its stars. Jay Baruchel and his buddies probably wouldn’t be seeing this film were he not in the movie.
Like many of Disney’s live-action fantasy films, this sparks the imagination. It’s not as hard-edged as the “Harry Potter” films at all, and thus doesn’t quite have the same wide appeal. But it’s fun, and there is a scene which pays homage to the original “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” short in “Fantasia.”
Directed by Jon Turteltaub, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is just plain fun. It’s not the greatest movie out there, but it falls right in line with other films like “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Most of the softer parts of this film come from the movie just being fine rather than being awesome. The special effects look slick as ever, but there just isn’t the spark that makes a film great. Plus, Nicolas Cage and his mullet can bring down any movie, even if he chews the scenery in an entertaining way.
Finally, I really hope that Jay Baruchel’s fifteen minutes of fame are up. I’m getting tired of the kid, and I would have probably enjoyed the movie more were someone else the star.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray comes bundled with the DVD. Blu-ray features include five deleted scenes, outtakes, a making of spot and several featurettes: “Magic in the City,” “The Science of Sorcery,” “Making Magic Real,” “The World’s Coolest Car” and “Fantasia: Reinventing a Classic.”
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Tweens who might find Harry Potter a bit too dark for their tastes.