Movie Review: Jack the Giant Slayer 3D (+trailer)

There's nothing wrong with an adventure story but when Snow White and the Huntsman, Oz: The Great and Powerful and Hansel and Gretel all hit cinemas recently, it became a bit much of the same.

Children's stories made into movies best suited for a mature audience are a slightly strange concept in my view, but we were intrigued enough to give Jack the Giant Slayer a try.

It's a mix of two folk stories; Jack the Giant Killer, a British legend about a lad who slays giants in medieval times, as well as the much-loved children's tale, Jack and the Beanstalk.

An ancient battle between humans and a race of fierce giants is reignited when young farm boy Jack (Nicholas Hoult) accidentally drops a magic bean through the floorboards of his house.

It sprouts a huge beanstalk, which takes the whole house up into the sky, along with the beautiful runaway princess Isabella (Eleanor Tomlinson).

The king (Ian McShane) sends his head guardian Elmont (Ewan McGregor) up the stalk to save his beloved daughter and the smitten Jack volunteers to join the rescue.

Their mission is disrupted by Roderick (Stanley Tucci), the king's counsellor, who wants to rule the giants.

People get eaten by giants and thrown from castle towers and sword fights are aplenty, but there's nothing too graphic or explicit in the movie. Most children will most likely enjoy watching the fantasy fights between the ugly giants and the king's men.

There's no ogre's wife to hide Jack in an oven and no golden goose or magical harp to steal, but instead we are treated to a cute love story.

Though not a truly standout movie, we did enjoy Jack the Giant Slayer. The 3D effects were well-executed and not over the top.

There was plenty of action throughout the movie to keep us happily entertained.

Jack the Giant Slayer 3D

(M) 125 minutes

Rating: 3 / 5