Jack The Giant Slayer is the newest in a long line of fairy tale redoes. First---we had both Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman and now we get a classic take on "Jack and the Beanstalk." Just like I did---you probably think that this could be a pretty cool film. While I hate to be the bearer of bad news---you and me were both wrong. The film is a stinking pile of nothing with few redeeming qualities. This is not a film...this is a special effects showcase.
The film stars Nicholas Hoult as Jack. One day, while trying to sell his horse...Jack gets ripped off by a con artist monk when he gives him magical beans. Little does he know the beans are actually magical and he carelessly lets the magic take place. All the while---Prince Roderick (Stanley Tucci) and his brainless assistant, Wicke (Ewen Bremmer) have other intentions. Also---Jack is being helped out by two noblemen (Ewan McGregor and Eddie Marsan.)
The main problem with the film is Hoult. It explains itself why Hoult was so good at playing a zombie in Warm Bodies upon watching this film. He has no personality, no life to him and no charm. I feel as if the film would have been much better had it focused on McGregor and Marsan's characters. Yes, I know this is based on "Jack and the Beanstalk" but the noblemen were such interesting, funny, charming characters that I felt the character of Jack really was quite superfluous. Also---the film is too much special effects and action with little substance. This especially comes out when the giants come into play. They are nothing more than a way for director Bryan Singer to show how far CGI has come over the years. As well---the visuals aren't that great. The visuals are more along the line of Waterworld than anything else. By this I mean they prove that just because a film was expensive to make doesn't mean it automatically looks cool.
Overall...you should have no trouble skipping Jack The Giant Slayer. It is a boring, redundant, ludicrous film that can't seem to get its own two feet off the ground. McGregor and Marsan are really the only two good parts of the film and yet even they seem to be trapped in their own little mess of a film.
(1 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for intense scenes of fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief language)
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