Jack The Giant Slayer

It is probably the most “in” thing these days in Hollywood.  A trend that started a year or so back.  The fairy tale with a modern twist.  A story of Snow White which has the seven dwarfs but it also has elements of thrill and fear woven into it.  Or as in this case, the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.

The trend, is so popular (it would seem) that there are several fairy tales already on the anvil that would be released over the next few years.  With studios vying for who will be first to make the more popular one, you can definitely expect some really good stuff in the days to come.

 

The purists are dissing these attempts but I am all for this genre of Fantasia.  And when there is a director like Bryan Singer (one of my favourites) who is involved, you can usually expect some really good work.  Which should also explain why I was really disappointed at the end of 2 hours or so.

 

First of all, Ewan McGregor’s hair cut keeps you in splits throughout the movie.  Every time the movie decides to get a bit serious and the thrill factor gets pumped up you have Ewan McGregor coming in for a few dialogues and all you can do is look at his hair and really roar your guts out J

 

The story has little or nothing different from the fairy tale and that adds to my disappointment.  Usually there are some aspects that are twisted around to make the movie a bit more contemporary but that was not to be either.  So about 30 minutes into the movie you are left wondering if Bryan Singer is going to put in a twist in the tale in the last 10 minutes like he is famous for or is it one straightforward fairy tale.

 

The performances don’t really give you too much to crow about either.  Nicholas Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson are both average.  Stanley Tucci is unrecognizable (maybe I am to blame here and not the rest of the world) and did I mention Ewan McGregor’s hair style? (yeah I know… stale joke).

 

Jack the Giant Slayer is at best an average watch thanks to some above average special effects.  Barring that, there is nothing really to look forward to.  Watch it if you have nothing better to watch or do because you will definitely not tear your hair apart.  You will just find the movie… average – 5 on 10.

 

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi830449433/?ref_=tt_ov_vi