Jack the Giant Slayer Review - 2½ Reviews

Forget about Disney’s animated Jack and the Beanstalk, this 3 D update aims for the action adventure crowd, and turns out a better than expected product.  Young Nicholas Hoult (the kid from “Warm Bodies”) plays Jack, sent to town to sell his horse and coming home with a handful of beans.  This time a monk passes off the beans to keep them out of the hands of villain Stanley Tucci — who plays his role with equal parts comedy and left brain seriouslness.  It seems the beans and a magic crown dug up from a beloved king’s grave will make Stanley king of the world.  Once the beanstalk start growing, Jack has good reason to join the men climbing it — he’s got a crush on beautiful princess Eleanor Tomlinson who gets lifted by the growing stalk.  The giants — and there are an army of them — look pretty scary and make a lot of noise.  So you might keep the little kids at home and take heed of the PG-13 rating. Also worth a mention is the always excellent Ian McShane as the king—he’s got a great mix of bearing and voice.  Bill Nighy plays the giant’s leader and he’s completely unrecognizable under his make up.  I like “Jack the Giant Slayer” although I’m not sure who it wants for an audience.  Too frightening for the under ten set and too juvenile for teens.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Pretty good 3 D action adventure. Is it entertaining?  Good story.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Better than expected.