Community Corner

'Jack the Giant Slayer:' A New Spin on Old Tale

The flick-o-meter gives Jack the Giant Slayer a 3 out of 5.

The video review can also be seen on Youtube

A new Jack and the Beanstalk remix serves up the fee fey foe fum to whole new audience.

The CGI wizards in Hollywood have taken an old fairy tale and made it into kind of a big video game. This time Jack climbs the beanstalk to encounter not just one giant, but a whole villa ge of them in "Jack the Giant Slayer."

Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Shot in 3D and packed with CGI , director Bryan Singer uses his skills to create a whole new story that kids may love. Sure there is a little romance and some gross out vulgar humor but, hey, they are giants after all.

The CGI was a bit over the top but that is the way these fantasy movies are made these days. That along with a great acting cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Bill Nighy, and Nicholas Hoult (who plays Jack).

Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The giants are supposed to be scary, but, in fact, they seem a bit comical to me. Are there any flaws in this movie? Sure, but I'm pretty confident this film is targeting a younger audience, so it should do just fine.

The flick-o-meter gives Jack the Giant Slayer a 3 out of 5.

Nothing says fun like a bunch of big lumbering gross giants but, after a while, the CGI gave me a headache. Then again, that just may be the hangover after last week's Oscars. 

-- Brett Martin

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.