Review: 'The Sorcerer’s Apprentice' gets you transported

Film: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Toby Kebbell, Nicole Ehinger, Peyton List, Monica Bellucci
Director: Jon Turtletaub
Rating: * *

The story here is set up with two prologues. We are transported  to 740 AD where the legendary Merlin, along with his three trusted apprentices Balthazar (Nicolas Cage), Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Veronica (Monica Bellucci), are trying to prevent the evil Morgana Le Fay (Alice Krige) from acquiring the power that will allow her to raise armies of the dead.

Balthazar and Horvath have their eyes set on Veronica but she chooses the former, and that sends Horvath over the edge. He  then forms an allegiance with Morgana in an effort to destroy everything that comes in their path.

The narrative then moves forward to  year 2000, where 10 year old Dave Stutler( Jake Cherry and later on Jay Baruchel) encounters Balthazar in a curio shop and is ordained as Merlin’s heir. Again fast-forward another 10 years to his training under Balthazar and together they then attempt to conquer the evil sorcerers bent on destroying the world.

By then you feel extended beyond endurance. The film is basically an overdone FX actioner, noisy and continuously active but lacking in ingenuity, coherence and direction. The overpopulated story does not allow for smooth transitions. We expect the frivolousness of the enterprise but it’s difficult to understand the lack of magic in it!