THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE (USA 2010 ****
Directed by Jon Turteltaub

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE is a fantasy action romance concerning Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can’t do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. 

The fun starts when the sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness.

At one point of the movie, Dave’s girl, Becky (Teresa Palmer) all bright-eyed and innocent, looks romantically at Dave through the glass window of the subway train after he had rescued her grandmother’s necklace.  The camera catches her look perfectly.  This is Jerry Bruckheimer at his best, capturing both the stupendous special effects of the movie and not forgetting that little thing that makes a movie great.  One can also understand at this juncture the reason Megan Fox was fired from the new TRANSFORMER movies.  After starring in films like JONAH HEX and JENNIFER’S BODY in which she has discarded her innocence for a sultry killer seductress, she ahs lost the image of the girl Bruckheimer wants in his movies.  The girl must have the charm (and look) so that when warned that he might lose everything and the world might end if he gets distracted romantically, Dave will know in his mind that she IS worth it.  THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE is very much like a TRANSFORMER movie where the hero has to save the day from gigantic monsters, in this case conjured up by wicked sorcerers.

Director Turteltaub who has proven himself with the NATIONAL TREASURE movies and one of the best romantic comedies of the past WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, knows how to work his material well.  When Dave breaks his promise to give up the urn to save his girlfriend, he is surprised to hear his master Balthazar confess that he would do the same.  The romantic element is strong and necessary to bring meaning to all the fights in the film.

But the high point of the film is the segment paying homage to Disney’s cartoon FANTASIA where the idea of this story is derived.  Like Mickey Mouse abusing the newly found magical powers and creating havoc with the brooms bringing water to wash the surroundings, Dave falls into the same trap with brooms.  The music used is derived from FANTASIA bringing the audience back memory lane to experience once again one of Disney’s greatest classic achievements in animation.

The film contains many other high points as in the special effects segment where music is put into motion with the electric bolts or the part when Balthazar frees Dave from his responsibilities to which he says: “I want to learn more.”

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE contains all the elements of a good fantasy action thriller – romance, danger in the form of the end of the world, special effects, CGI, pyrotechnics and plain human emotions.  And all blended splendidly together as if magically concocted in a wizard’s cauldron.  THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE is one of the most entertaining fantasy this year yet!