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Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Omar Benson Miller, Monica Bellucci, Alice Krige, Jake Cherry, James A. Stephens
While Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Drake (Toby Kebbell) plot to restore Morgana Le Fay (Alice Krige) to power, master sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) makes physics student Dave Stutle (Jay Baruchel) his apprentice, teaching him enough magic to save the world from sure ruin.
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is a live-action update of the beloved animated short from the 1940s, "Fantasia." There is nothing incredibly new here to fans of the genre but that doesn't mean it isn't entertaining film. The story in a nutshell is about a Sorcerer and his newly appointed apprentice who is being trained in magic which at first he doesn't agree on to save the world from certain doom. The story isn't really serious, there's a lot of fun and laughs along the way with Nicholas Cage and Jay Baruchel provided many of the more humorous moments together. They show great chemistry together and just look like the had a great time making the film and you feed off that. Also Alfred Molina is terrific as always as Horvath, this guy makes a perfect villain no matter what the role calls for. The film is fast paced with loads of action and wonderful special effects that really captures the imagination. Sure the film's plot has it's share of holes and the characters are not fully fleshed out but with all that is going on you tend to over-look all that and just take it all in and have a good time with it. The film didn't perform very well in theaters but I think it will make up for that now that it is on DVD and Blu-ray. It is a film the family can enjoy together but it is best to keep the smaller children away from it as some of the scenes may be a bit too intense for them. Besides the sweet and charming tribute scene to the film's origin project with dancing/sweeping mops and broomsticks the film doesn't tie itself the the original so don't go into this looking for that or you might end up being disappointed.
Take the movie for what it is and I am sure you will be left with a smile on your face, the cast, action and the special effects make for a enjoyable fantasy that is entertaining plain and simple. The featurettes are plentiful and include:
Magic in The City
The Science of Sorcery
Making a Magic Reel
Fantasia: Reinventing A Classic
The World's Coolest Car
5 Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
The Blu-ray has bonus Features that include
The Making of The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Deleted Scene
You can order the format you want HERE.
Released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
*** 1/2 Out Of *****