The Sorcerer's Apprentice Review

The Sorcerer's Apprentice 

Release Date: 9th September 2010 - Australia

Production Companies 

Walt Disney Pictures (present)

Jerry Bruckheimer Films (present)

Saturn Films

Broken Road

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion 

Pictures Australia 

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 106 minutes 


Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $215,283,742 
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary 

Balthazar Blake is a modern-

day sorcerer with his hands 

full defending Manhattan 

against dark forces. When a 
seemingly average kid 
shows hidden potential, 
Balthazar takes his reluctant 
recruit on a crash course in 
the art and science of magic 
to become the ultimate 
sorcerer's apprentice.

Cast

Jay Baruchel - Dave

Nicolas Cage - Balthazar Blake

Alfred Molina - Horvath

Teresa Palmer - Becky

Toby Kebbell - Drake Stone

Omar Benson Miller - Bennet

Monica Bellucci - Veronica

Nicole Ehinger - Abigail Williams

Alice Krige - Morganna Le Fey
James A. Stephens - Merlin
Jake Cherry - Young Dave
Gregory Woo - Sun-Lok
Wai Ching Ho - Chinese Woman
Peyton List - Young Becky
Adriane Lenox - Ms. Algar
Ethan Peck - Andre

Crew

Director - Jon Turteltaub 
Screen Story/Screenplay - Matt Lopez
Screen Story - Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal
Screenplay - Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard
Associate Producer - Pat Sandston
Executive Producers - Todd Garner, 
Nicolas Cage, Mike Stenson, Chad Oman,
Norman Golightly and Barry H. Waldman
Producer - Jerry Bruckheimer
Production Designer - Naomi Shohan
Costume Designer - Michael Kaplan
Director of Photography - Bojan Bazelli
Second Unit Director - Phillip G. Atwell
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
George Marshall Ruge
Special Effects Supervisor - John Frazier
Special Effects Coordinator - Mark Hawker
Visual Effects Supervisor - John Nelson
Visual Effects Supervisor: Asylum - Phil Brennan
Visual Effects Supervisor: Double Negative -
Adrian De Wet
Visual Effects Creative Supervisor: Asylum -
Nathan McGuinness
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor: Asylum -
Jason Schugardt
Visual Effects Producer: Disney - Amber Kirsch
Film Editor - William Goldenberg
Music - Trevor Rabin

Review

I originally watched 'THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE' on the big screen in 2010, I discovered from research on the web that it in fact was loosely adapted from the animated segment of the original 'Fantasia'. But I wouldn't know until now that it was a misunderstood movie that was financially pounded in its impending release. It must've worn out its welcome for audiences and convinced them into seeing 'Harry Potter' instead among the year's other feature fantasies. I'll start with the fact that 'THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE' is not such a fantastically magical picture as it was perhaps marketed to be and this could be partly a result of its predictable storyline and only appealing to an younger audience.

The cast selection was I thought decent with Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel at the reigns. Both performers are at least well-committed, especially Baruchel as the apprentice who conveys a protagonist in training to become a mage and has a humorous and sarcastic approach to the character. Nicolas is possibly the best candidate to be chosen as a mage, he manages to create a fatherly figure to the young apprentice but also with adding comedy as well. Thankfully, the English actor Alfred Molina was there to give some form of acting with a range of decent villainy for his character to be brandished in a classy type. Not unlike Cage and Baruchel who were there to provide the movie's perchance for comedy.

'THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE' is one of these movies that showcased a cliffhanger ending and in my opinion, would be an ideal sequel material. Due to being considered as a flop unfortunately, it most likely won't get a look in for a second instalment. As previously stated, this movie is an overlooked gem and it's definitely worth giving a chance. 

Star rating: (6/10) Fair Movie

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