Long ago, parents told tales of the Great King Eric and his victory over a race of giant warriors who descended upon the kingdom from a land in the sky. Jack (Nicholas Hoult) heard and read that tale for many years, dreaming of the day when he might find his own quest and a place in the world. But, left in the care of his uncle, after the death of his father, Jack saw very little chance of his dreams coming true. With no crops or game to sell, Jack sets off to sell his horse and cart to pay for repairs to his house. While doing so, Jack comes to the aid of a princess in search of adventure and meets a monk who sets Jack and Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) on a path which may lead to the destruction of all that they have taken for granted.
Despite all of the buzz garnered by its promotional campaign, Bryan Singer's "Jack The Giant Slayer" did not wield as much box office bang as expected. In this CG affected retelling of a boy and his beanstalk, Jack's world has expanded beyond the road to town and a castle in the sky. The world and many of the characters are interesting, compelling, and fun. The giants are grotesque, gritty, and somewhat gassy. Getting a glimpse at the myth behind the magic of the beans and the addition of a royal twist to connect the tale to the modern age, were good ideas. However, the creation of Roderick (Stanley Tucci), the over the top antagonist, took away from a story comprised of much more interesting parts. Of course, in a story where there was always another villain to take the reigns of destruction, at a certain point, it becomes difficult to care who's leading the charge. You just want it to end. In spite of the arduous task of defeating an unstoppable foe, "Jack the Giant Slayer" does conclude with a clever twist that makes you wonder what would happen if you planted a magic bean in just the wrong place.
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