Review of Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) by Riccardo R — 31 Mar 2015

Stop me if you've heard this one before. When Jack(Nicholas Hoult) goes to market to try and sell his horse and cart, he returns with only beans which angers his uncle(Christopher Fairbank) no end. So much so, that he decides to talk all the way to town to sell what he can, in order to have something to eat. And it might have ended there if Princess Isabelle(Eleanor Tomlinson) had not chosen that night to realize that she has no future in cross dressing and shows up unannounced on Jack's doorstep. That's when the beanstalk grows to a fantastic height, leaving her stranded at the top. So, King Brahmwell(Ian McShane) sends his best men up there, a mission for which Jack also volunteers.

Surprisingly at this late date and irony, "Jack the Giant Slayer" is an adaptation of the venerable fairy tale to the big screen with little new material or much in the way of inspiration. For example, there is a princess who seeks to be liberated but also in need of rescue. At the same time, the movie has more than its fair share of scares and white knuckle moments while building anticipation for the giants nicely. And while Ian Mcshane is sufficiently regal, Nicholas Hoult is the best thing in the movie. But you knew that already.