At the Movies with Fatwayne

If you remember the old Disney film, Fantasia, then you will no doubt recall Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and his botched attempt to get all of those mops, brooms and buckets to do his bidding. There is a sequence is this movie that captures the essence of that endeavor with pretty much the same results for our novice apprentice, Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel). Although unexpected it was none the less quite enjoyable.

This turns out to be a family friendly fantasy / adventure movie that will thrill the entire family. Way back when (740 AD) the great sorcerer, Merlin, has taken on several apprentices. Two of these Morgana le Fay (Alice Krige) and Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina) turn their powers to the pursuit of evil thus betraying Merlin. A battle ensues between the evil and the good apprentices. The good is represented by Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) and his love, Veronica (Monica Bellucci). When all is said and done, Balthazar has imprisoned Morgana and unfortunately Veronica along with Horvath in the Grimhold which is a prison sort of like a large bowling pin shaped doll. During the battle Merlin is mortally wounded and charges Balthazar with finding a Prime Merlinian who will become his successor.

The balance of the film recounts Balthazar’s thousand year search for the Prime Merlinian. It is in the present time in Manhattan that he meets young David. Balthazar realizes that Dave is the Prime Merlinian but Dave accidentally releases Horvath from on of the layers of the Grimhold. The two sorcerers begin to fight each other and wind up becoming imprisoned together in a large vase with a ten year lock.

Ten years later Dave has matured and is a physics student at NYU. Both Balthazar and Horvath are now out of their prison and searching for Dave and the Grimhold. One wants to keep the evil Morgana imprisoned and the other wants to release her and ultimately destroy humanity. The rest of the movie relates their encounters replete with magical spells, deceptions and, believe it or not, a doozie of a car chase!

The story is interesting and fast paced. The characters were well cast and convincing. Special effects were riveting and thrilling making the movie all the more enjoyable.

Quotes from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Fatwayne’s Rating  -    -