The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Blu-ray + DVD)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a daft but fun and extremely enjoyable family fantasy movie. Nicolas Cage and Alfred Molina are very over the top, in fact they both seem to be having a competetion of who can out ham each other. Molina wins, he's practically twirling his moustache as the villain, but looks like he's having fun making the movie as does Nicolas Cage who seems to be on a comeback this year. Special effects are very good, and there's a fun sequence that pays as a homage to Disney's Fantasia involving some brooms. Jay Baruchel is good in the title role, coming across kind of like Shia Lebeouf did in the first Transformers film. I'd like to see a sequel to this film as the film is left open for the possibility of one. The whole family should enjoy this. While it's not exactly the most original movie you'll ever see, if you like Harry Potter movies and enjoyed Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief then you should enjoy this.

This movie has it all---magic, mythical creatures, great special effects, a captivating tale, romance, as well as the quintessential Disney charm. If you're going in thinking you'll be seeing Mickey Mouse, clear your mind. This is live action and filled with Disney magic. Nicholas Cage delivers a fantastic performance as Balthazar Blake, a sorcerer personally trained by Merlin. Balthazar has spent the last millenium seeking for the one person that is capable of riding the world of the evil Morgana and her threat of overtaking the world with her undead minions. His quest leads him to a normal, everyday (Bless you Disney) geek, Dave Stutler(Jay Baruchel). Dave's a whiz kid that comprehends physics with a skill that makes me want to be his study partner in class, and is more than a little klutzy. Goodness, watching him in his office made me want my own Tesla Coil!

When our unlikely pair meet in 2000, poor 10 year old Dave accidently breaks open a coveted nesting doll that contains the evil persona of Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). How much more can a man be described as evil when his human body forms from a mass of slithering cockroaches? Ten years later, Horvath is seeking to destroy Dave, discovering he is the one individual capable of bringing an end to any plans of world domination.

The battle of good vs. evil is on but, first, Dave has to learn how to perform the magic that remains hidden deep within him. Reluctant, falling in love, and lacking self-confidence, Dave is a darling that makes the viewer laugh, groan in commiseration, and clap with glee when he succeeds. Balthazar is the teacher that makes one shake their head, wondering where he gathers so much patience with what appears to be a hopeless case. Harvath is slick, disgusting, but delivers an age-old charm that makes your skin crawl.

Overall, this is a good family movie. It's a bit too in-depth for the younger set, but those between the ages of 10-16 will find it enjoyable. Our audience clapped with enjoyment and laughed with the characters throughout the movie, as only true Disney fans will do. I enjoyed it, as did the kids, enjoying the clean family fun and magic that Disney always delivers. Remember to stay for the ending credits, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub are notorious for those little teasers they place at the end of the flick.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is just a really nice fun for all the family movie, a mixture of magic & science. The film follows the opening storyline setting of Merlin and his 3 apprentices, of whom best friends Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage -Con Air) & Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina -Spider-Man 2) are divided by a love feud between each other in the shape of the 3rd apprentice, Veronica (Monica Bellucci -Malena). However Maxim Horvath cannot win Veronica's heart from Balthazar Blake, so thus he turns against Merlin & joins forces with the evil Morgana (Alice Krige -Star Trek First Contact) to defeat Merlin & Blake in order to have Veronica by force.

However in the ensuing battle, Merlin is slain & Blake alongside Veronica manage to defeat Maxim & Morgana by trapping Morgana inside Veronicas body, and the both of them togher bound inside an object(a Russian doll?). The only way Blake can free Veronica & finally slay Morgana(who wants to take over the World) is to find another gifted Sorcerer's Apprentice & train them for battle. Now, after 1000 years of searching around the World, the Sorcerer's Apprentice purely by chance, stumbles across Blakes path at long, long last!

That is what the story is all about, and has now moved on to a modern day New York. I really enjoyed the imaginative idea's used in combination with the magic, many memorbale set pieces, and Disney fans who enjoyed Fantasia will love the scene where Dave uses his magic to get the mops etc... to clean with, like Mickey Mouse. All the actors did a very god job in they're respective roles, of note Nicolas Cage managed to control the crazy inside him enough to give a solid tongue in cheek yet serious, Con Air, style performance which suited well(he looked in great shape too). While Alfred Molina reprised one of his his usual evil villian roles to a tee. New to me was Jay Baruchel (How To Train Your Dragon), who plays the Sorcerer's Apprentice of the title, Dave, and does a good job as a bumbling student who lacks confidence after an unfortunate incidnet in his early life. Although he does sound a little like Adam Sandler on hellium in places, it's quirky though & i liked it, as it suited the character's flaws perfectly.

In conclusion, the story, acting & special effects all rolled into one, manage to bring this film to life as an highly enjoyable fantasy film. The music is upbeat too, so if you are looking for a film to sit down with the whole family & watch these upcoming Holidays, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is right on the money for all ages. Highly reccomended.