“WIZARD WARS”
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Teresa Palmer, Alfred Molina, and Toby Kebbell
Directed by: Jon Turteltaub
MPAA Rating: PG for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief language.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Run Time: 1hr 51min
Release Date: July 14, 2010
Studio: Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
By John Delia
Sparks are flying in Disney’s newest film release The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The action adventure takes off quick with some very cool special effects, creates an interesting love story melding a 740 AD romance with a modern day crush and then puts on a crescendo of fabulous fireworks. Although the film will certainly entertain grade school kids, this grown-up tags the film with average marks.
Balthazar (Nicholas Cage), Merlin’s favorite apprentice, finds himself fighting for his life when his arch-nemesis Maxim (Alfred Molina) tries to steal a ring that will identify a mega apprentice in the future. Maxim gets locked up along with the wicked Morgona (Alice Krige) and Balthazar’s true love Veronica (Monica Bellucci) during a fight with Merlin wizard apprentices. Fast forward to modern day New York where Balthazar is trying to locate the boy who may be Merlin’s heir. He finds 10-year-old Dave and gives him Merlin’s ring. However a fight between Balthazar and Maxim ends up with the both of them locked inside a magic urn leaving Dave to just wonder. Fast-forward 10 years where we find older Dave (Jay Baruchel) meeting up with Balthazar and teaming up in an attempt to save humanity from slavery.
The story is average but plays extremely well to the 7 through middle-teen youngsters. Jammed full of special effects including some cool bolts of electric, powerful plasma balls, mirrored images and other things that kids love to see, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is sure to thrill the average pre adult. As for adult fare the film doesn’t score so well. The script is very elementary, bogs down by an over indulgent director who tries to put too many redundant special effects into the film and leaves his best for last. Oops did I say ‘for last?’ Isn’t that a good thing? Not when you have to sit on your butt for an hour and thirty minutes to get 20 minutes of fun.
Special kudos to the special effects, CGI and make-up crews that provide some cool entertainment with excellent visuals. I enjoyed the car chase, bathroom brawl, and final wizardry.
The film is rated PG for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief language.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â A dazzling film for the younger crowd. (3 of 5 Palm Trees)