releasing this week: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

I have to admit. I’m faintly curious about The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I suppose that tells you what I think of the rest of the films this week. Ah that’s not entirely true but the ones look good are on very limited release (like 2 cinemas each) so it’s not really fair on any Irish readers outside Dublin…

So, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Ordinarily I would run a mile from a Nicolas Cage film… but Kick-Ass and The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans have bought him a temporary reprieve. Well ok, I did see Knowing recently (seriously. What was the story with the rabbits?) but since it was on a plane, which isn’t really fair on an action flick, and I had so much fun watching Bad Lieutenant, I’m letting him away with it.

To be honest, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice looks kind of ridiculous.

Nicolas Cage plays a master sourcerer in modern-day Manhatten who decides to recruit an apprentice to help him fight his arch-nemesis Maxim Horvath (played by Alfred Molina). Now this apprentice, (played by Jay Baruchel who starred in the much-funnier-than-i-thought-it-would-be She’s Out of My League) isn’t actually that keen on being a sorcerer but Cage has seen his potential and has put him on a magical crash course whether he likes it or not. Before you know it, our man Jay (or Dave rather) has to save the city, the girl and himself in a deadly magical battle with a girl with shiny eyes, a man with very long nails and the aforementioned Alfred Molina.

Or something like that.

I’m hopeful though that this film will move into that funny space just beyond ridiculous. Good stupid fun.

Despite myself, I’ve really liked all the trailers I’ve seen so far; even though Cage features heavily in them. The effects looks totally cool, Alfred Molina is sufficiently theatrical (which is what you want in a magical evil nemesis) and Cage doesn’t seem to be taking himself too seriously. If it was anyone but Cage I’d be saying go see this film immediately but since it is Cage… well. That said, I never saw National Treasure but I heard it was good so I’m hoping maybe that’s the Nic Cage we’ll get in this one.

Other films releasing this week…

The Last Airbender – I can’t help but notice that M. Night Shyamalan’s name is much smaller on posters than it used to be. This is the biggest film releasing this week but since I’ve heard so many people saying such nasty things about it, and because I don’t want to negative about both the big films out in cinemas today, I thought I’d better not highlight it. I guess it might be a good film, I gather the TV show is very popular amongst kids, but there are plenty of other places you can read about it so I’ll leave it out here. For what it’s worth, it’s a family action adventure flick.

The Secret in Their Eyes (El secreto de sus ojos) – You may remember this film from such award shows as the 2010 Oscars. I’ve seen this one. It was on the plane on the same trip where I got to watch Knowing. Fortunately for this one, you don’t need a big screen to appreciate the artistry of it.

The Secret in Their Eyes is an Argentinian crime drama. It features some excellent performances from the leads and supports and while, I’m not quite sure if it really deserved the Oscar, it’s definitely a good film. Then again I love the ol’ procedural crime dramas so maybe I’m biased.

Unfortunately you will only be able to see it in The IFI in Temple Bar and The Light House Cinema, Smithfield.

Le Refuge – French drama about a pregnant woman who, after losing her partner to a drug overdose, escapes her life by running to a house far outside Paris. Starring Isabelle Carré. Only playing in, you guessed it, The IFI and The Light House Cinema, Smithfield.

So there you have it. Not much particularly grabbing me there. Well, except for The Secret in Their Eyes, but I’d already seen that. If I’d have known it hadn’t been released here yet I might have held on for the cinema release… but oh well.

Next week is going to be a doozy though. The Expendables, Piranha 3D and maybe, just maybe, this one. Man, I wish they’d moved just one of them into this week. Any one, I’m not fussy.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The Last Airbender, The Secret in Their Eyes and Le Refuge are all in cinemas from today, Friday 13th August 2010.