Movie Review - Jack the Giant Slayer

Jack the Giant Slayer  $$$ 1/2   

 

PG-13

114 Minutes

Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, and Eleanor Tomlinson.

Director: Bryan Singer.

 

            In recent years, Hollywood has relied heavily on retelling well known stories. Remakes of old television series and previously successful movies have become a common item on the movie-going menu. Producers seem more willing to back proven stories than take a risk on something new.

            Granted, it is no easy matter to find new material. The longer Hollywood stays in business the more original material they will grind through. As it is we have about a century worth of storylines stockpiled in the celluloid vaults.

 

            Jack the Giant Slayer is a telling of the popular children’s story: Jack and the Beanstalk. For those of you who somehow missed hearing that tale as a child – Jack is sent to market to sell the family horse and buy some much needed supplies. He ends up with magic beans that are thrown out and end up growing a huge beanstalk that rises into the sky. Climbing the beanstalk, Jack finds a land inhabited by giants.

            However, in this version Jack (Nicholas Hoult) has met himself a princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) and ascends the magic stalk in order to rescue her. He is accompanied by a host of the king’s elite troops, including Elmont (Ewan McGregor) and the rascally Sir Roderick (Stanley Tucci).  

            The acting was good. The writing was a decent reforging of a well-known tale. And the special effects were great. I loved watching the giants. The chemistry between Jack and the Princess was believable and fun. All in all, this was an excellent family movie. More mature audience may find it less appealing.

            The film scored a solid three-and-a-half movie bucks from me. The giants definitely need to be seen on the big screen. The action too screams out for a first-run theater showing. But it won’t hurt to catch it as a matinee.  

 

                        Randy’s Rating System 

$$$$   = Full Price    See this movie right away and pay full price, it’s worth it.

$$$     = Matinee      Catch this as a matinee or other discounted showing.

$$        = Discount     Wait until this movie reaches a discount theater near you.

$          = Rental         Wait until this movie reaches your local video rental outlet.

0          = No Sale       Don’t see this movie at any price.