MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2 (3/1/13): JACK THE GIANT SLAYER
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian MacShane, Ewan McGregor, Eddie Marsan, Ewen Bremmer and the voices of Bill Nighy and John Kassir
WRITER(S): Justin Haythe and Ric Roman Waugh
DIRECTOR: Bryan Singer
WEB SITE: jackthegiantslayer.warnerbros.com/
THE PLOT: Continuing Warner Bros.' recent tradition of turning all childhood stories into a epic fantasy films, Jack the Giant Slayer stars Warm Bodies' Nicholas Hoult in the title role. A nice enough young man living with his uncle (Christopher Fairbank), Jack always seems to catch himself in a fair bit of trouble unwittingly (and much to his chagrin). Growing up hearing legends about the days when mankind was at war with giants who lived above the clouds in the sky, Jack never thought more of the story than just that: It was a story passed down from one generation to the next.
Then some stuff happens involving some monks, Roderick (Stanley Tucci) – who is the right hand man to King Bhramwell (Ian MacShane) – magical beans and Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson), who ends up getting more than she bargained for when her adventure seeking spirit inadvertently leads her to Jack's house. (Still following along? Good.)
With his daughter in danger, King Bhramwell assigns his best men, the Guardians, to the task of saving her. But Elmont (Ewan McGregor), Bald (Mingus Johnston), Crawe (Eddie Marsan), Roderick and his crony-in-tow Wicke (Ewen Bremmer) won't be going alone ... No, Jack will also be joining them on their journey.
Once they arrive in the land of the giants, Elmont and the rest of the Guardians soon realize they are going to need all the help they can get ... Especially given what Roderick is up to and the revenge the unofficial leader of the giants, General Fallon (voiced by Bill Nighy), seeks ...
THE TAKE: As the aforementioned Warm Bodies proved, Hoult is building a nice resume for himself as a young actor playing unconventional heroic figures. In Giant Slayer, he crafts a nice character out of Jack as a young man who isn't wimpy but also isn't physically strong; if anything, he's an everyman who while nondescript is smarter than he first appears. Likewise, he's not corny in his naíveté, but instead grows to know how to react in a situation without falling victim to any of the usual movie hero conventions.
It all adds up for an enjoyable experience with Jack in Giant Slayer, which also works due to a brisk yet effective pacing that takes the traditional elements of the bean stalk tale, adds depth to its otherwise simple roots and provides a complete story arc to make it both memorable and enjoyable. Whereas Tucci fully embraces his role as a villain, the rest of the cast portraying their characters effectively to make actions progress.
Singer, however, deserves a lot of credit for being able to craft a cohesive, entertaining story out of the film instead of relying on special effects to carry the brunt of the burden. There's a definite beginning, a middle that doesn't lag and ending that adds a nice, developed conclusion without being hokey or worse yet, feeling like it was just made to set up a sequel. What you get is a nicely done live action fairy tale that is more a fantasy adventure than just little kids' fare.
Then some stuff happens involving some monks, Roderick (Stanley Tucci) – who is the right hand man to King Bhramwell (Ian MacShane) – magical beans and Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson), who ends up getting more than she bargained for when her adventure seeking spirit inadvertently leads her to Jack's house. (Still following along? Good.)
With his daughter in danger, King Bhramwell assigns his best men, the Guardians, to the task of saving her. But Elmont (Ewan McGregor), Bald (Mingus Johnston), Crawe (Eddie Marsan), Roderick and his crony-in-tow Wicke (Ewen Bremmer) won't be going alone ... No, Jack will also be joining them on their journey.
Once they arrive in the land of the giants, Elmont and the rest of the Guardians soon realize they are going to need all the help they can get ... Especially given what Roderick is up to and the revenge the unofficial leader of the giants, General Fallon (voiced by Bill Nighy), seeks ...
THE TAKE: As the aforementioned Warm Bodies proved, Hoult is building a nice resume for himself as a young actor playing unconventional heroic figures. In Giant Slayer, he crafts a nice character out of Jack as a young man who isn't wimpy but also isn't physically strong; if anything, he's an everyman who while nondescript is smarter than he first appears. Likewise, he's not corny in his naíveté, but instead grows to know how to react in a situation without falling victim to any of the usual movie hero conventions.
It all adds up for an enjoyable experience with Jack in Giant Slayer, which also works due to a brisk yet effective pacing that takes the traditional elements of the bean stalk tale, adds depth to its otherwise simple roots and provides a complete story arc to make it both memorable and enjoyable. Whereas Tucci fully embraces his role as a villain, the rest of the cast portraying their characters effectively to make actions progress.
Singer, however, deserves a lot of credit for being able to craft a cohesive, entertaining story out of the film instead of relying on special effects to carry the brunt of the burden. There's a definite beginning, a middle that doesn't lag and ending that adds a nice, developed conclusion without being hokey or worse yet, feeling like it was just made to set up a sequel. What you get is a nicely done live action fairy tale that is more a fantasy adventure than just little kids' fare.
PARTING SHOT: A film that further establishes Hoult as a viable box office lead, Jack the Giant Slayer is the first enjoyable epic fantasy of 2013 that should appeal to boys of girls of all ages (and their parents as well).
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