THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE

cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina
Directed by John Turteltaub
Distributed by DISNEY PICTURES

release date: JULY 16 2010

Walt Disney Studios, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Jon Turteltaub, the creators of the 'National Treasure' franchise, present 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' -- an innovative and epic comedy adventure about a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice who are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil.

 

Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protege. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'. The screenplay is by Matt Lopez and Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard from a screen story by Matt Lopez and Larry Konner & Mark Rosenthal.

THE PANEL ROOM

A formulaic weepie that might find a few takers , especially among the lady folks. Yet for many, this look like an easy miss or probably be something that they shall save for a rainy day's home viewing.

Built from many of the same ingredients as other Nicholas Sparks tearjerkers, Dear John suffers from its cliched framework, as well as Lasse Hallstrom's curiously detached directing. ROTTENTOMATOES  4.5/10

As far as “Dear John” is concerned, the best advice is just to mark it “Return to sender."  Frank Sweitek  C-

You're more likely to roll your eyes than swoon over this slow-moving and far-fetched love story. Claudia Puig 2/4

"Dear John" exists only to coddle the sentiments of undemanding dreamers, and plunge us into a world where the only evil is the interruption of the good.  Roger Ebert 2/4

I truly wish "Dear John" were a better, less shamelessly manipulative movie, but a couple of the actors got me through it alive. Michael Phillips   2 /4

Nothing to write home about  Michael Sullivan 2/4