REVIEW: Jack The Giant Slayer 3D

MOVIE
Jack The Giant Slayer

CAST
Nicholas Hoult,
Eleanor Tomlinson

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
March 1, 2013

DIRECTOR
Bryan Singer

STUDIO(S)
Warner Bros. Pictures,
New Line Cinema

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 54 minutes






STARS
***








REVIEW:

Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, I'm surprised this film doth not suck.  With all of these rehashes of children's fairy tales like 'Snow White & The Huntsman' and 'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters' coming to the big screen recently, it's hard to find a sense of originality implanted in these action fantasies.  'Jack The Giant Slayer' continues that streak unfortunately, but in a way doesn't take itself seriously throughout.  Basically this film takes the story of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and adds more giants, a love interest, and a villainous human.  In other words, a cliched fantasy story is put in in order to "Hollywood-ize" the original story.  While it's not a perfect film by any means, 'Jack The Giant Slayer' at least is a fun movie to see on the big screen, and even with friends and family.  It's kind of like a modern campy fantasy flick: it's cheesy, stupid, and dumb, but enjoyable enough where it won't tick you off.

Probably the best thing about the film is the selected group of actors who give an effort and deliver solid performances.  Nicholas Hoult from February's 'Warm Bodies' delivers another solid performance as the title character.  Hoult brings a charisma to his character and makes him a likable enough hero.  Ewan McGregor also delivers a good performance, playing one of the soldiers of the kingdom named Elmont.  Of all of the cast members, I had the most fun with Elmont's character.  It might have been because he was the most enjoyable and adventurous of the characters in the film. Ian McShane for example isn't given anything to due other than to command the kingdom and mope around about his daughter. Speaking of the daughter, Eleanor Tomlinson as Isabelle the princess differs from most damsels mainly because she wants to be adventurous but is grounded due to her title in the kingdom. With all of the good performances, there are bad performances. 

It breaks my heart to say this, but Stanley Tucci's character annoyed me in this film. Frankly I understand that was supposed to be what the character is, but it just felt too over the top for me. Even more annoying is Tucci's right hand man played by Ewen Bremner, who is only there to be the snarky sidekick that annoys everyone. He succeeded. Finally, Bill Nighy voices a two headed giant, and he's just playing Davy Jones from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' all over again, not bringing anything relatively new to the table.  Overall the cast is a mixed bag.  It might have been filled with some relatively big names, but the good performances are mixed with the bad performances, regardless of their names.

Director Bryan Singer, whose most notable works include the first two 'X-Men' movies and the underrated 'Superman Returns.'  Singer actually has a good sense of direction with this film, continuing his streak in my opinion.  He's able to capture this beautiful world and bring it to us in an exhilarating fashion.  It helps with the CGI, which is also great.  The script is also fine, but there's really nothing special to it.  A thing that actually takes away from the film in a way is actually the 3D.  This is the type of movie that really didn't need the conversion at all.  It would have been just as good to have seen it on the big screen, or even in regular IMAX, which the film is also featured in at the moment.  Overall the world that Singer brings is great to be in and great to look at, and the script is fine for what the movie is trying to be, but the 3D conversion was just unnecessary and can be just as easily enjoyable seeing it in 2D.

Not much else is there to say about this film.  'Jack The Giant Slayer' is nothing but an entertaining popcorn flick with an unnecessary 3D conversion.  Some of the acting is good in the film, while the rest of it is mediocre.  The CGI and atmosphere of this fantasy world looks great, but other movies have made fantasy worlds look much better and more realistic.  Finally, director Bryan Singer delivers in directing the best he can on an average script.  This is the type of movie that's best to see with a bunch of friends who are looking for nothing other than a good time, which is what this film gives.  While this movie will probably become one of the more forgettable films of 2013, at least when I do look back on it I'll see it as a fun and entertaining ride.  'Jack The Giant Slayer' is far from being great, but it is a fun enough film to recommend seeing on the big screen.



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