The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

So about two weeks ago, I went to go see The Sorcerers Apprentice with my girl. Usually I am fairly quick to post a blog about a movie, but after being tortured for what seemed like 5 hours, I had no urge to go home a write a blog about this excuse of a movie.

We decide on the movie because we both like Nicholas Cage, the CGI looked pretty spiffy and we both liked the plot. “Where did it go wrong,” you ask. I put the full blame on Jay Baruchel and the character he played, “Dave”. I must say it was really strange seeing him, because I remember him from Knocked Up and I am pretty sure he played a stoner or something in a movie so seeing him in this…was just odd.

The movie starts in the past and tells the story of Balthazar Blank (Nicholas Cage). Balthazar, Maxim Horvath and Veronica are the 3 apprentices to Merlin. However, Horvath betrays them to Morgana, Merlins greatest enemy, and Morgana murders Merlin. While Balthazar and Veronica are fighting Morgana, Veronica absorbs Morgana's soul into herself to destroy her. But when Morgana starts to possess Veronica and kill her from inside, Balthazar imprisons both in a Grimhold (a nesting doll).

Before dying, Merlin gives Balthazar a metal dragon telling him that it would find the Prime Merlinian, the Merlin's successor, and only he could kill Morgana. Balthazar searches for that kid for centuries in vain, and while looking he has to ward off evil magicians who are intent on freeing Morgana, each one he traps in a new layer of the nesting doll.

Finally in 2000, Balthazar comes across a young Dave Stutler on a school trip. Cut to the year 2000, we see a kid waking up and getting ready to go to school. Balthazar then asks Dave to take the metal dragon in his hand. As soon as he does, the dragon comes to life, wraps around his forefinger and folding its wings, becomes a ring. He is the Prime Merlinian. However we know it can’t be that easy, right. While Balthazar goes to get something, Dave accidentally frees Horvath from the nesting doll. Balthazar and Horvath fight and both of them are imprisoned in an urn for 10 years.

10 years later it is 2010 and Dave is in college studying Physics and he is some kind of genius nerd (like worse than Sheldon on the Big Bang dork…although not as cocky). Over time Dave has managed to repress the memories of what happened when he met Balthazar, but he can’t forget forever and both Balthazar and Horvath are released from the urn. Balthazar must find Dave before Horvath can get to him first and kill him.

Of course you need the girl…which happens to be Becky, a girl that Dave had a crush on 10 years ago. Obviously she is too pretty and “cool” for him, but you know how movies go. Balthazar manages to find Dave first (by a hair) and rescues him…more than once, because Dave is such a dork, and convinces him to become his apprentice and fight Morgana.

What can I say, yes, the plot was really good, but OMG I was so sick of Dave (the character) before the movie was half over. It is of course a kids movie so don’t waste your time (unless you have kids) we all know it is going to be a happy ending so do something else with the 2 hours or bring a strong drink.