Jack and the Bean Stalk becomes Jack the Giant Slayer in
this action packed family adventure, aimed predominantly at the younger age
groups but more than catering for those adults who are along for the ride. Jack
played by Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies) the unconventional rising star, falls in
love with Princess Isabelle played by Eleanor Tomlinson, who could see this as
her big break having largely featured on TV, notably in the White Queen on BBC
1. Both are quite similar, neither are overly emotional, but seem well suited.
When the Princess is whisked away up the bean stalk Jack
teams up with the King's men to save her from the giants. But there is a more
terrible fate facing the world, with the bean stalk reinstated will the giants
descend and destroy the kingdom. Amongst the soldiers are a mixed but
impressive cast. Ewan McGregor sports another needlessly posh voice as Elmont, Stanley
Tucci appears as the unexpected by slightly ridiculous Roderick and the once
again excellently grime Eddie Marsan plays Crawe. There is also no surprise
when Ian McShane turns up as the King in camp gold armour.
Jack the Giant Slayer does well to introduce an aspect of
a legend to the plot. The back history has been well developed and the Director
Bryan Singer takes care to cautiously introduce the giants as something
mystical and unknown. We are the adults finding out that giants are real after
all and not just a story and once they are revealed they are full on and
gritty. Perhaps one of the over looked characters and one of the successes aspects
of the film is the Bean Stalk itself. At times it seems to fight back and the
computer graphics are impressive as it comes tumbling down from the skies to
pound the outer walls of the castle. Sit back and enjoy this modern take on an
old story.
67/100
