Reviews

What film, filled with fantasy, magic AND physics, mild horror, adventure, humour, great action and special effects? Why it's Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice of course. Starring Nicolas Cage and hometown (Montreal/Canadian) boy Jay Baruchel.

"The Sorcercer's Apprentice" made its Canadian debut on Thursday July 8th, as the opening film feature at the commencement of the 14th edition of the Montreal Fantasia Film Festival, hosted, as it has been for the past several years by Concordia University.

In one of the venue's largest theaters, about 700 of us were treated to the screening of said film, in advance of its opening next Wednesday, July 14th.

And what a treat it was.

After the general Festival opening announcements, Jay Baruchel (who was in attendance) introduced the film to the happy hometown audience. Then we sat back and allowed the magic to unfold.

Without giving too much (or anything) away, I can safely say that The Sorcercer's Apprentice was indeed an enjoyable film.

Nic Cage made good as the "just a bit" crazy master sorcerer Balthazar Blake, on the quest to find the one who could be the next to acquire Merlin's magic and defeat the evil Morgana.

And Baruchel proved to be well cast as the nerdy, endearing, reluctant hero / apprentice.

With a nice, balanced blend of action, adventure and pretty cool special effects. The film takes the viewer on a fun ride, reminiscent of classic Disney fun family fare. And it'd also no doubt leave you laughing out loud at some unexpected moments in dialogue.

If you enjoyed The National Treasure movies, then you will certainly enjoy The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

GravyTrain is a retro (think 70's) style indie Canadian comedy by the same twosome, April Mullen and Tim Doiron, who made the other indie gem Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser.

The film centers around Gypsy Creeks #1 cop Charles "Chuck" GravyTrain (played by Doiron) and his new partner Ms. Uma Booma (played by Mullen), as they go on the hunt in and around Gypsy Creek, for the elusive Jimmy Fish Eyes, who had killed Chuck's father several years before. Of course several obstacles seem to get in the way of catching the elusive killer, including the fact that many of the potential leads, themselves end up victims of The Fish, begging the question "Where's the Fish?" (or even moreso "Who IS the Fish?")

The film also had a beautiful aesthetic about it, both in sound and cinematography. Beginning with its look in the way in which it was shot (using Red One camera technology) amplifying, the sharp detail of, for example, the black and white in the opening sequence, to the funky, grainy retro feel of the soft pastel colours in the clothing and decor, to the kaleidoscopic FX in Chuck's psychedelic dream trip.

GravyTrain was alive with beautifully contrasting visuals, the essence of which was not lost on this amateur photographer. And the selection of groovy tunes from the day helped to compliment the overall "I'm there baby" feel.

Personally, I found GravyTrain, to be a hoot!

A slapstick, tongue-in-cheek comedy, which, much like the actors there in, doesn't take itself too seriously. Some parts had me laughing hard, even to tears with the unexpected one liners and outlandish scenes.

And, is it just me, or is there still "a mystery" surrounding the "smoking man in the shadows" at the Devil's Pitch Fork bar? We never did find out who he is/was! Hmm, I can surely see this having a sequel or more in the genre.

I loved the original, trippy, campy, silly nature of GravyTrain, tied together by the plot and whodunit mystery, which kept me guessing right until the "big catch".