Starring Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor
Directed by Bryan Singer
Adapting one of the most beloved folktales of all time for the big screen is no small task and X-Mens Bryan Singer pulls off the gargantuan feat, even though the finished product is a bit predictable.
Rising young star Nicholas Hoult plays Jack, the iconic farm boy who is tasked with selling the family cow but ends up with a handful of magic beans that sprout an enormous beanstalk into the clouds stop me if youve heard this before.Despite the familiarity of the storys foundation, Singer manages to create a clever, sometimes surprisingly violent and, above all, adventurous tale.
The film relies on a huge amount of CGI to create the fantasy worlds (human and giant respectively) and the individual behemoths, who do have unique personalities and traits, but the blending works rather seamlessly throughout thanks to a hefty visual effects budget, plenty of well-staged action and a rousing musical score.
A strong cast also helps things move at a brisk pace, though some roles are so small they almost come off as mere cameos. Stanley Tucci has fun as one of the central villains, Ian McShane parades around in robes playing the king and Ewan McGregor sizzles as the resplendent leader of the elite guard with possibly the best hair in the movie.
Not everything works in the movie; the plots conclusion can be seen a mile away and the script could have used some more wit but Jack The Giant Slayer avoids becoming yet another silly romp.
