DISNEY’S “APPRENTICE” IS MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Movie Review from radio broadcast of MOVIEBEAT WITH BLAIR 8/2
Trivia Question: Alfred Molina plays Maxim Horvath in the action adventure “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” What film did he make his debut in?
Answer: Satipo in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Watch those spears!
It’s not just your typical Disney remake or one former star’s latest attempt to revive his floundering career. It’s a film that takes a recognized story idea and helps it become a worthy blockbuster.
Strong characters, eye-popping special effects and a storyline with a meaningful message make Disney’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” a powerful contender for the summer movie season.
Loosely based on the Disney animated classic, “Apprentice” follows the discombobulated path of college kid Dave (Jay Baruchel) who learns the ways of his destiny as a sorcerer from teachings by the world-traveling, ageless sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage).
If college, girls and learning you are the ancient heir of Merlin the Sorcerer wasn’t enough for Dave, he also is being chased down by a second sorcerer, Maxim Horvath (SpiderMan 2‘s Alfred Molina), who plans to unleash a dangerous sorceress in the world held captive by Dave.
You might say, ‘Been there, seen that’ when you first hear the premise of the story but the talented cast demonstrate the film is worth a second look.
Although there is talk and display of sorcery and magic, the film centers most around Dave and his desire to feel that he is more than the science nerd everyone sees on the outside. Baruchel brings the heart out in Dave to show that the hero can come out of the most unlikely person.
Cage as Balthazar is charming and humorous with a touch of fatherly authority and makes it clear to audiences that his bad film choices as of late were just that, bad choices, and not bad acting.
Molina completes the trio of sorcerers by playing his delightful meanie with debonair and sophistication that you almost hate to root against him.
This isn’t a film to encourage magic or give Disney a few more dollars in their box office but more a film about believing in yourself and knowing you are more than what others tell you as what you are supposed to be.
Four Heartbeats
DVD Rental: LAST CHANCE HARVEY – starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. Heartfelt, grown-up love story of a jingle-writing composer and his life-changing meeting with a British airport employee while attending his daughter’s wedding in England. Hoffman shows he can be quite the romantic and the chemistry between he and Thompson is electric but meaningful.
FOUR HEARTBEATS
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