Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Jon Turteltaub, Walt Disney Picture, PG 109 Minutes.
Besides helming his highly successful franchise ‘National Treasure’ Jon Turteltaub now directs another entertaining action-adventure through his appealing family fantasy on sorcery in collaboration with brilliant ‘Crimson Tide’ producer Jerry Bruckheimer and reteaming with Nicolas Cage from the franchise.
The prelude to the story dates back to 740 AD with Merlin having three main disciples–namely Balthazar (Cage), Horvath (Alfred Molina – ‘Abduction’) and Morgana (Alice Krige – Will’) – only to be betrayed by Morgana in collusion with the malicious Horvath.
However both are later defeated by Balthazar and another disciple in Veronica (Monica Belluci – ‘Spectre’) before Morgana and Horvath are imprisoned in a Grimhold (a large nesting doll) along with Veronica, Balthazar’s love interest.
Fast forward 2,000 years and master sorcerer Balthazar is still searching for the Prime Merlinian a child endowed with all of Merlin’s powers whom he finally meets as a young boy in an antique shop.
Then Balthazar becomes particularly displeased when young David accidentally releases Horvath from the Grimhold after receiving Merlin’s magical dragon ring. 10 years later David (Jay Baruchel – ‘RoboCop’) is a physics genius primarily interested in gaining the affection of girlfriend Becky (Teresa Palmer – ‘Bedtime Stories’) but grudgingly agrees to Balthazar giving him a crash course in sorcery to retrieve the Grimhold doll.
On completing his training Balthazar appoints David as his reluctant apprentice being fully aware of the power within his dragon ring and prepared to assist him in facing the forces of darkness led by Horvath – especially the sorceress Morgana.
The “mother of all battles’ takes place in a park once Horvath releases Morgana from her lengthy imprisonment simultaneously freeing Veronica and allowing Balthazar to face-off against Horvath while David uses his electrical wires magic to disable Morgana’s powers.
Turteltaub’s fascinating fantasy is both enjoyable as it is exhilarating with a stimulating storyline that takes place against the background of sorcery and spells at a time when sorcerers weaved their wizardry resulting in a good v evil confrontation.
Apart from Bruckheimer’s invaluable inclusion as producer which ensures the success of this production there is a great deal to relish from the performances of Cage (Balthazar), Molina (Horvath) and the painful Baruchel (David).
In addition to the many magical scenes one of the major highlights are the stunning special effects including the conversion of a gargoyle into a flying steel eagle.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is being televised on Channel 7flix at 8.30PM on Friday 10 July.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
