Review of Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) by Hoops2448 — 24 Apr 2013

Yet another fairy tale re imagining that sounded interesting but upon execution left much to be desired but oddly enough not in the ways you would expect. When Jack (Nicholas Hoult) is given some magic beans by a monk he thinks hes been swindled but then the resulting beanstalk causes his house to ascend into another realm along with a princess he must travel up to rescue her and prevent the giants from coming down.

As a film its a puzzle because it seems like the film's climax seems to be in the wrong place with the 3rd act disappointing the first two. Bryan Singer loves telling stories about outcast heroes and Jack is a gripping protagonist as he is someone you genuinely like, hes a charming, naive oddball of a hero.

On his adventures he is joined by Elmont (Ewan McGregor), a knight sent to rescue Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) and it is clear that McGregor relishes his character's comedy. The films best quality is its ever mutating tone while managing to stay interesting and family friendly.

The film is stuffed full of comedy to provide levity to a story that is filled with dark elements. The giants are dark and twisted but they are also entertaining in their large bumbling way. While the comedy tone makes for a fun watch, the movie lacks depth or any kind of real emotion or heart and when the film shifts in the 3rd act to allow for a stereotypical finale it loses its unique character.

It's one of the few films that has an epic final battle and it isn't really as good as the conclusion at the end of the 2nd act. The visuals are outstanding with the land the giants inhabit being both beautiful and menacing.

The giants themselves look gruesome but with individual personas to entertain, the chef giant is a particular highlight. Overall its an inventive and funny film but never really grips you to your seat in the way an epic should and the final act disappoints both in terms of gravity and tension making for another flat ending.