The Sorcerer's Apprentice

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for all things related to magic and sorcery. I'm a mega fan of Dungeons & Dragons and yes ... even Harry Potter :p So when Disney released The Sorcerer's Apprentice, I simply knew I've gotta watch it.


This movie was actually Nicolas Cage's brainchild as he was an avid fan of Disney's original Fantasia. Hence, the story was conceived and pitched to Disney's bigwigs who happens to agree that it'll be cool to make a modern adaptation of Mickey's magic spinning antics. Even the scene of Mickey doing his chores with the aid of a li'll sorcery (pictured above) was incorporated into the film. *wink*

Ok ... so back to the story ... it tells of Merlin, yes THE Merlin and his three diciples, Balthazar Blake (Nic Cage), Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Veronica (Monica Belluci). Working together since the medieval era ... 700 A.D. to be exact, they battle the evil sorceress, Morgana who's aim is to bring an army of dead sorcerers back to life and *GASP* rule the world!!! *JENG JENG JENG!!!*

So anyways, they almost had Morgana defeated but because of Horvath's betrayal, Merlin was killed and Veronica trapped in a Grimhold (magical prison) with Morgana. The reason for Horvath's treachery was revealed later ... it seems both Balthazar and Horvath had the hots for Veronica *YAWN* and since Veronica chose Balthazar (coz Cage's a bigger star than Molina), hence, Horvath had to play the role of the spurned lover and wreck havoc. *DUH*


On the brink of death, Merlin gave Balthazar his dragon ring and says the person whom the ring chooses will be the Prime Merlinion (PM) ... the only person able to defeat Morgana for good. *OOOooo*

So for a thousand years *no kidding*, Balthazar have been trying to locate this PM and at the same time, battling and imprisoning other evil sorcerers . Oh and he doesn't age over time since Merlin previously put a spell on all 3 of his diciples so that they can search for the elusive PM without growing old and dying *Genius!*

Fast forward time to the year 2000 and we see 10 year old Dave Stutler coincidentally landed himself in Balthazar's shop, the Arcana Cabana while on a school field trip. In there, Balthazar found out that Dave is indeed the PM ... the chosen one he has been searching for millenias. *Jeng Jeng Jeng!*


Dave unknowingly released Horvath from the Grimhold and a battle ensued between the two sorcerers resulting in both of em' being trapped in an ancient urn for the next 10 years *Boo hoo*.


Tick tock tick tock ... 10 years later ... both dudes were released from the urn and tried to locate the Grimhold. Balthazar finally managed to locate and persuade Dave (Jay Baruchel) to be his reluctant apprentice while Horvath recruited a 'Morganian' to help him with his wicked cause to free Morgana. Let's get ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!


You'll be pleasantly entertained by a whole lot of action with rather cool special effects ... electric plasma balls, tesla coils, a Merc SLR & Ferrari car chase, big-ass steel bird, the bronze Wall Street bull coming to life, a fire breathign dragon etc.

The ending is rather predictable and the inclusion of Dave's love interest, Becky (Teresa Palmer) into the whole equation provided the eye candy. I'd give it a 3.5 / 5. Don't expect too much and you'd be walking out of the theater a happy customer.