Writer: Wilson Chong

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Watch this if you liked: “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids”

Expect rich pickings of fairy tale-based movies in the cinemas this year. Earlier in the year we had "Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters" based on the Grimm brother's story of Hansel and Gretel and now we have "Jack The Giant Slayer" based on the English folktale Jack and the Beanstalk. Plus, pretty soon we would have the movie, "Oz The Great And Powerful", loosely based on the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

First things first, "Jack The Giant Slayer" starts with the younger form of both the male (Jack) and female (Isabelle) protagonist introducing their world's background in the form of bedtime stories told by their parents. Apparently, this medieval land has a history of war against giant beings. Giants came down to this world after monks, seeking enlightenment, planted magical beans. Humans won that war after they had forged a crown from the heart of a giant. That crown is able to command all giants. The story fast forwards 10 years to a grown up Jack (played by Nicholas Hoult) and Isabelle (played by Eleanor Tomlinson). Here it follows the familiar tale; Jack has an animal he must sell in the market, he wants to sell it but somehow manages to end up trading it for beans. He claims they are magical beans, but his guardian refuses to believe it and throws them away. Now here's the twist, Princess Isabelle came to Jack's hut the night the beanstalk transports the hut into the land of giants. And so begins Jack's quest to save the princess (there wasn't any princess-saving in the original tale) with the King's men. However, a traitor with plans of his own is in their midst.

Bryan Singer, the director of this film, made a bold move by hiring fresh faces for the major roles in this blockbuster. Nicholas Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson, the two main protagonists, has more screen time than other A-list actors in this movie like Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Ewen Bremner, to name a few.

The special effects team for this movie did a really good job animating the giants and the beanstalk. There is visible variety among the giants. They can be told apart from their clothes, hair, face, or body size. General Fallon is well animated, considering his two heads have to be independent of each other.

In conclusion, this movie is perfect for the little ones. They will greatly enjoy watching the giants and their antics. Just don't blame the movie if they start asking odd questions about the original fairy tale.

Cinema Online, 28 February 2013