Movie Review: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Originally published at Grasping for the Wind. Please leave any comments there.
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Toby Kebbell
Directors: Jon Turteltaub
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 30, 2010
Run Time: 169 minutes
National Treasure producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Jon Turtletaub, and actor Nicolas Cage team up again to create The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a fun, family-friendly urban fantasy. Now out on Blu-Ray and DVD, this action-adventure is a visually arresting story that mixes science and magic.
In ancient times, Merlin had three apprentices. His ancient enemy Morgana Le Fey, suborned one of these apprentices. Nearly defeated through treachery, Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), the deceased Merlin’s most loyal apprentice, is able to capture Morgana and her minions in the Russian nesting doll known as the Grimhold. Balthazar also seeks the Prime Merlinian, a prophesied savior who will finally defeat Morgana. Physics student Dave (Jay Baruchel) is the Prime Merlinian. But when he accidentally releases Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), the strongest of the Morganians, it is a race against time to stop Horvath from releasing Morgana before Dave is ready to defeat her.
Turteltaub once again shows his expertise in setting. The backdrops are full of color and detail. Turteltaub is a master at taking the mundane and turning it dreamlike. For example, the hideout of Dave’s Tesla coil, an abandoned New York subway station, changes from abandoned, presumably dingy place into one of excitement and color. Turteltaub does not skimp on the detail for his movies, so that even an unused desk is lavishly decorated and heightens the ambiance of the entire movie. For the settings, from high in a skyscraper to Battery Park, this movie is worth watching. (That, and the homage to the classic Mickey Mouse cartoon “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” from Fantasia.)
Cage and Baruchel work well together. Baruchel has a high tenor of a voice, and he has perfected the bumbling persona. He truly seems to be a clueless genius, unlucky in love but desirous of it. Baruchel also presents the character as a skeptic, a scientist who only believes in magic once he has senseory evidence, after which he accepts and uses it wholeheartedly. Cage as the enigmatic Balthazar is excellent. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is definitely one of Cage’s better fantasies. He looks and sounds like a tired old man, finally glad to have found the Prime Merlinian, even if he is often sarcastic in showing it. Alfred Molina shines as the primary villain. He and Cage play very well off each other, and their rivalry is vicious yet comradely, a juxtaposition that makes sense in context.
The plotline is basic. It is standard story of a young, gangly, intelligent boy who finds his true destiny of as the savior of the world. Simple as it is, it sure is fun to watch, and the tongue-in-cheek humor keeps the story light. Too, the magic system in this story is explained well, is logical, and meshes nicely with the science Dave is studying. The special effects are exciting, and Turteltaub uses just enough so that they are not overwhelming or detract from the story.
The Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack contains some excellent special features about the making of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice including: Magic In The City, The Science Of Sorcery, Making Magic Real, The Fashionable Drake Stone, The Grimhold: An Evil Work Of Art, The Encantus, Wolves & Puppies (worth a watch just for the cuteness factor), and The World’s Coolest Car plus outtakes and deleted scenes. Sadly, most of the extra features are only available on the Blu-Ray version.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a great family watch (there are a few profane words and lots of fantasy violence) that is great for the upper elementary and older kids. Dave is easily to identify with, likeable, and interesting. It’s another fun action adventure from Disney, great for a sleepover or Friday night family pizza dinner.