ON DVD NOW
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Nicholas Holt, Ewan McGreggor, Stanley Tucci and
Bill Nighy (Voice)
Released: 16th September 2013
The recent surge of bedtime story movies is on the increase
and fairy tales are hot property right now. ABC’s popular Once Upon A Time will
soon be moving into it third season, with a new spin off In Wonderland being
released this autumn, while the cult crime drama Grimm also has a following of
loyal fans.
On the big screen we’ve already seen disappointing versions
of Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood. Last year we had two Snow White adaptations,
one comical and one action, the later Kristen Stewart flick the clear victor as
a sequel is currently in the works, and earlier this year the action duo Hansel
and Gretel bombed at the box office while Oz: The Great and Powerful triumphed.
Next year we’ll be treated to two Oscar winning actresses,
as Angelina Jolie tackles the role of the evil fairy in Sleeping Beauty
retelling Maleficent, while Cate Blanchett will step into the evil stepmother’s
shoes for Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella.
So it’s clear that although fairy tales are popular, they
are also a risky venture completely dependable on good characters, strong
casting and fun special effects. Modern audiences want romance, action and
comedy with proper fleshed out characters. The old tales of the Brothers Grimm
and Hans Christian Anderson are frequently lacking in that department, so the
screenwriters have a huge job transforming dated stories.
Jack the Giant Slayer is the latest fantasy offering from
X-Men director Bryan Singer. Starring Nicholas Holt in the lead role, and in a
slight deviation from the original fable, Jack is sent to sell his horse at the
market where he meets the lovely Princess Isabelle. He fails to sell the horse,
but instead he is given a few beans in exchange by a desperate monk claiming
the beans are sacred and must be kept safe. Back home, all hell breaks lose
when the beans grow into a giant beanstalk on the same wet night the Princess
decides to take shelter with Jack (as the beanstalk erupts through the floors
of his house), forcing him on a rescue mission along with the Palace guards.
While it’s slightly too scary for very young children, it is
a film that the whole family will enjoy. Most of the action takes place at the
end of the film, although it’s a good decision to take some down time, setting the
slower scenes as they all try to climb the beanstalk.
The special effects unfortunately leave a little to be
desired, especially with the depictions of the giants themselves (far too CGI
to look remotely real), but they are characterised with so much humour it’s
easily forgivable, and you just end up going along for the ride. The leader of
the giants, a monstrously two-headed motion captured creature (voiced by Bill
Nighy), is dreadful to look at but has so much fun he ends up with the most
laughs.
All the special effects and crazy characters are nothing
though if you cant like the leading hero, but delightfully Jack himself (Holt
now a tall strapping leading man far removed from his plump About A Boy days)
is an immensely likeable and down to earth hero, funny with genuine sweet
chemistry with leading lady Tomlinson.
Despite its delayed production and release, Jack the Giant
Slayer is a well rounded fun actioner and with an extended action packed final
battle sequence, you are left feeling thrilled and exhilarated.
VERDICT: * * *
A classic fairy tale with a few modern twists, Jack is a fun
and funny romp up the beanstalk and back again. Despite cheesy CGI, Singer and
his screenwriters throw everything they have at you with a few delightful
performances from McGreggor and Holt too. However with his hilarious sneering
and plotting, its Stanley Tucci’s bad guy who steals the show.
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