It is strange. The core National Treasure team--Cage, Jon Turteltaub, Jerry Bruckheimer--certainly made a grave miscalculation when they made The Sorcerer's Apprentice instead of a third National Treasure in 2010.

Fantastic.

What a summer movie! The Sorcerer's Apprentice combines b-movie charm with a solid, solid screenplay which provides a foundation for all the melodrama, humor, and yes, even horror in a beautifully produced cinematic oasis amidst the vast arid desert of quality know as 2010. Seriously, the screenwriters obviously "get it" - - they know that there's still a way to conjure up a crackin' good story out of the cultural archetypes of the past. They lay the exposition on thick, right out of the gate, and the viewer is immersed in the millennial old tale careening to it's spectacular conclusion on the big screen in front of us. Then all the acting was top notch - - this is my fourth Jay Baruchel film so far this year, except for the disappointment that was HTTYD, all were great films. Nicholas Cage was perfect here, what with his trademark super dry campy seriousness. Alfred Molina made a truly threatening bad guy, though with an excellent flare of comic undercurrent. And Teresa Palmer as "Becky" played the most perfectly ultra-romantic love interest - - I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of her!

If only all Hollywood products could all be this cool! The Sorcerer's Apprentice had exactly the vibe that the recent version of Sherlock Holmes needed to save it from being the unfocused drag it turned out to be. One can clearly see that producer Jerry Bruckheimer brings the best of his talents from decades of experience to bear in balancing all the elements to create this fine film. This is a movie so finely crafted, that I imagine that it would be just as entertaining to a theatre audience in 1936, 1953, 1968, 1981, 1997, 2010, and for the whole stream of years into the future. It's that timeless.

It's funny... it's romantic... it's way, way melodramatic... it's authentically frightening at times... it's a non-stop unequivocal blast!

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is the real deal: a well told tale - - a new classic is born.


18 out of 5.




{Don't forget not to miss the super secret after-credits scene. Look out sequel, here we come!}

TSA is a lot of fun. It is much better than I thought it would be. Cage is very charismatic in this and the writing is brilliant. There are two scenes that had me and much of the audience old enough to get it, dying of laughter. This is an incredibly fun film and it feels like a gigantic summer film. It's too bad no one wants to see this because it is a lot of fun.

8.5/10

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is an incredibly fun and entertaining fantasy entry that works great in its present day setting. After a bit of a misfire with Prince of Persia, this new Bruckheimer entry has a compelling, even if it can be a bit typical at times, and great visual effects and action that don't overtake the story. Nicolas Cage is enjoyable as Balthazar but Jay Baruchel gives another great performance here. With this and She's Out of My League, Baruchel shows he can do well in a film but audiences don't seem to be giving him the day. Alfred Molina and Teresa Palmer are good as well. The film spends a good amount of time building up its story and doesn't live one confused of why something is happening the way it is. Also, when fantasies throw in the romance angle, the film can lose its touch but the one between Baruchel and Palmer works because it takes a back seat throughout most of the runtime but still has some importance. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a great surprise and it looked like it could of turned into a potential franchise. With how many people are seeing it though, it won't happen. ***

I would actually blame it on Cage if I had to guess. All of his tax issues came on in 2009, and he needed the money really fast, and probably couldn't commit to a 2 picture deal with a long shoot schedule, that took a long time to be paid. And just hopped on the fast track for a bunch of smaller 1-4 million paydays with short schedules to get out of trouble. Then It's 2011, and too much time has passed.

Why does everything need to be a trilogy these days? Now it's been so long, just leave it be. Two is enough.

now that Disney actually owns Indiana Jones, would there ever be any reason for Disney to ever make this?

Good point.

$$$$$ are still $$$$. No reason to give up on a franchise because you bought one you kinda copied.