I think that the key to a truly successful fantasy story, be it on paper or on film, is one that embraces the humble nature of the story and provides a wonderful adventure narrative that also can play to real human emotions. This is probably the reason why the old myths, legends, fables and fairy tales have endured in some form or another for hundreds of years. "Jack and the Beanstalk" may have fanciful imagery of beanstalks rising into the clouds, but I think that another key to its endurance is the way it addresses themes of retribution and the underdog overcoming huge obstacles.
"Jack the Giant Slayer" hardly ticks this box. It instead goes the route so popular as of late of forcing aspects of an old fairy tale or children's classic into a clichéd modern action film, without successfully focusing on the really engaging human aspects of the story. Any attempt at incorporating human emotion seemed truly contrived. There is hardly any character development, with practically every Hollywood clichéd stock character being used at one point or another. With regards to the acting, Ewan McGregor is the only real shining star for his rather tongue-in-cheek turn as a pompous yet good-natured knight. The plot has several holes (especially with regards to how the giants seem to be able to live for so long, and how they seem to exist in such large numbers when they're all male), and overall, the script just seemed generally misconceived. In all honesty, it got so slow at points that I kept on thinking how I would have adapted the original "Jack and the Beanstalk" story. In short, "Jack the Giant Slayer" is truly a missed opportunity for bringing a wonderful story to the screen in proper grandeur.
"Jack the Giant Slayer" hardly ticks this box. It instead goes the route so popular as of late of forcing aspects of an old fairy tale or children's classic into a clichéd modern action film, without successfully focusing on the really engaging human aspects of the story. Any attempt at incorporating human emotion seemed truly contrived. There is hardly any character development, with practically every Hollywood clichéd stock character being used at one point or another. With regards to the acting, Ewan McGregor is the only real shining star for his rather tongue-in-cheek turn as a pompous yet good-natured knight. The plot has several holes (especially with regards to how the giants seem to be able to live for so long, and how they seem to exist in such large numbers when they're all male), and overall, the script just seemed generally misconceived. In all honesty, it got so slow at points that I kept on thinking how I would have adapted the original "Jack and the Beanstalk" story. In short, "Jack the Giant Slayer" is truly a missed opportunity for bringing a wonderful story to the screen in proper grandeur.