I saw the trailer for Jack a few months ago and was quite convinced I wouldn't bother with it. It looked terrible and it's main star was Nicholas 'I was pretty bad in Warm Bodies' Hoult. But then my friend in the states saw it, the land where everything gets released before it does in the UK (I still haven't forgiven her for being able to see Hansel and Gretel a whole 2 months before we got it) and she actually recommended it to me. In a round about sort of way. See what she said was that Ewan McGregor was hot and therefore I should see it.
It seemed like sound logic to me, so upon the film's UK release I went along with my cinema buddy. And let me tell you, my American friend wasn't lying! See alternate Jack poster below featuring Mr McGregor's character Elmont. Swoon!
I'm not going to delve deep into the story, because if you don't know it then where have you been? Farm boy Jack (Nicholas Hoult) gets tricked into trading a horse for some 'magic' beans, beans get wet = giant beanstalk which goes up to land of giants above the clouds. Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson), and object of Jack's affections, gets stranded at the top of the beanstalk. The King (Ian McShane) sends his best men - and Jack - on a mission to climb the beanstalk and bring the princess down, before the giants realise that their link to earth has re-appeared. For if they discover it, they will climb down and destroy the earth and all who inhabit it.
The story is easy to follow and for the most part it's an enjoyable fairytale movie. I found it started to drag a bit after they came down from the beanstalk but on the whole I liked it. Ewan McGregor's Elmont is definitely the star of the show, stealing every scene he's in, but Stanley Tucci is also worth a mention, playing the wicked Roderick with such relish it's like he's the best panto villain you've ever seen. The giants are quite scary but probably only for younger kids, I'd say anyone above my nephews age (7) will likely be fine with it.
Jack The Giant Slayer isn't going to win any awards but if you've got older kids who'd enjoy it, or if you're looking for a bit of tall tale with plenty of action and a bit of romance on the side then it's not a bad way to spend a few hours. Or if, like me, you just want someone to swoon over in the dark, you won't go wrong. 6.5 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 24th March 2013
UK Release Date - 22nd March 2013
Cast Overview:
Nicholas Hoult ~ Jack
Eleanor Tomlinson ~ Isabelle
Ewan McGregor ~ Elmont
Stanley Tucci ~ Roderick
Eddie Marsan ~ Crawe
Ewan Bremner ~ Wicke
Ian McShane ~ King Brahmwell
Ralph Brown ~ General Entin
Warwick Davis ~ Old Hamm
Bill Nighy ~ General Fallon
Director ~ Bryan Singer
Writer(s) ~ Darren Lemke (Screenplay and Story), Christopher McQuarrie (Screenplay), Dan Studney (Screenplay) and David Dobkin (Story)
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