Featured Audience Ratings

• Directors C

  
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• Candy R

  
  A runaway princess, a poor farm boy and giants feature in this retelling of Jack and the beanstalk. Jack gets into trouble when a monk swops his horse for some magic beans. Good cast and special effects.

• Liam G

  
  Did anyone involved in making this film think to themselves ''Hang on, hasn't this been done many times before?''

• Sanjaya &

  
  For me 'Jack The Giant Slayer' deserved to be rated as a 4 star movie because of the fun this movie offers to its audiences and how fast paced and thrilling to turn this movie into a really entertaining movie.. Making a fairy tale story and twisting it a little to turn it… More
  For me 'Jack The Giant Slayer' deserved to be rated as a 4 star movie because of the fun this movie offers to its audiences and how fast paced and thrilling to turn this movie into a really entertaining movie.. Making a fairy tale story and twisting it a little to turn it into an entertaining and enjoyable movie to be watched, I must say that Bryan Singer did a great job in this movie.. For the cast, I'm a little surprised that this movie only had a few well known actors such as Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, and the future heart-rob boy Nicholas Hoult.. When I thought Bryan Singer almost wrapped this movie in an hour and a half and made this movie open-ended so it can had the possibility of a sequel, Bryan add keep the level of the climax of this movie or even take it more higher with his choices and I'm glad that he decided not to ended this movie with an open ending.. Overall, this is a reallt fun and entertaining movie to be watched..

• Michael S

  
  Equal parts fun and throwaway, "Jack the Giant Slayer" is a commendable slice of old fashioned entertainment with two strong leads in Nick Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson and some strong visuals and surprisingly violent action. Beyond that you have a film that feels tiring in… More
  Equal parts fun and throwaway, "Jack the Giant Slayer" is a commendable slice of old fashioned entertainment with two strong leads in Nick Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson and some strong visuals and surprisingly violent action. Beyond that you have a film that feels tiring in it's bloated running time and it's refusal to not do anything fresh or particularly inventive. It's pretty good while it last, but pretty bland and forgettable in hindsight.

• Bathsheba M

  
  Took a little too long to get off the ground. The uncle character was unnecessary, I thought and detracted from the adventure story. World class bean stalks, however.

• JY S

  
  There really isn't anything "giant" with Bryan Singer's <i>Jack the Giant Slayer</i>.<p>It's a 110 minute film and the script is weak. The story does move along as it has to and there isn't much in the way of drag; however, it lacks any… More
  There really isn't anything "giant" with Bryan Singer's <i>Jack the Giant Slayer</i>.<p>It's a 110 minute film and the script is weak. The story does move along as it has to and there isn't much in the way of drag; however, it lacks any sort of excitement or entertainment value for that matter. The humor triggers very few laughs and there isn't much to remember about any of the characters.</p><p>The final act is nearly all action, but there is nothing memorable about any of it. The giants do have detail when it comes to the CG, but in the end it is average at best.</p><p>There are a number of recognizable names filling up the cast, but due to the weak characters nothing sticks out with any of their performances. Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor, and Ian McShane are a waste of talent in here. Nicholas Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson also come up short on the effectiveness meter.</p><p>In <i>Jack the Giant Slayer</i>, Jack slays some giants. That's about it. End of story.</p>

• Kase V

  
  Almost saved by a solid final third, 'Jack the Giant Slayer' still can't manage to hold interest with its slow pace and uninteresting plot. The laughs don't hit as hard as they might've liked, but the visual effects are well done and the conclusion is… More
  Almost saved by a solid final third, 'Jack the Giant Slayer' still can't manage to hold interest with its slow pace and uninteresting plot. The laughs don't hit as hard as they might've liked, but the visual effects are well done and the conclusion is satisfying. There just isn't enough goodness throughout the entire film to keep it all afloat.

• danny d

  
  there is no character development, but i understood the characters because ive seen them all dozens of times before. the comedy was corny, the script cliche, and the special effects pretty weak. so why the high score you ask? because every so often a film is released that is… More
  there is no character development, but i understood the characters because ive seen them all dozens of times before. the comedy was corny, the script cliche, and the special effects pretty weak. so why the high score you ask? because every so often a film is released that is completely flawed, and is at the same time incredibly fun and satisfying. this movie was full of problems, and i thoroughly enjoyed it. part of this is that i really like nicholas hoult, and part of it was just that watching phenomenological creatures has a certain appeal. i can think of many things that would have made it better, but im satisfied with what i got.

• Mark H

  
  There just isn't enough innovation to Jack the Giant Slayer to justify why this was even made. Uninteresting characters, weak script and bad special effects, do not add up to a good time. It's a deadly trifecta of bad movie making. The overreliance on poor CGI makes this a… More
  There just isn't enough innovation to Jack the Giant Slayer to justify why this was even made. Uninteresting characters, weak script and bad special effects, do not add up to a good time. It's a deadly trifecta of bad movie making. The overreliance on poor CGI makes this a distinctly dreary exercise. There are snatches of excitement to be found. When Jack dumps a hive full of bees into a giant's helmet, there's gleeful anticipation in what will happen. But more often than not the action is a dull, labored affair lacking the fun of the original fairy tale. Not surprisingly the $195 million production has been a costly bomb. Maybe they should have just included music by Slayer. Guess we can be thankful we were spared sequels like Jack the Giant Megadeth or Jack the Giant Anthrax. fastfilmreviews.wordpress.com

• Everett J

  
  "Jack the Giant Slayer is basically a re imagining of the Jack and the beanstalk fairy tale. Kind of the lIke the recent "Snow White and the Huntsman", in that it takes the story, adds elements, and makes it for adults just as much for children. Nicolas Hoult stars as… More
  "Jack the Giant Slayer is basically a re imagining of the Jack and the beanstalk fairy tale. Kind of the lIke the recent "Snow White and the Huntsman", in that it takes the story, adds elements, and makes it for adults just as much for children. Nicolas Hoult stars as Jack whom accidentally unleashes the bean stalk and takes the Princess(Isabelle) with it. The King(Ian McShane) has his men along with Jack ascend the stalk to get her back, when they come face to face with an army of Giants. The special effects are fantastic. The giants don't look nearly as bad as I expected considering they are CGI. The performances are all decent and serve the film good. Ewan McGregor has some pretty funny moments, and McShane is awesome as usual(he evens looks like Lord Farquaid from Shrek in a few scenes). Bryan Singer is one of my favorite directors("X-Men" and "Usual Suspects"), and here he takes something that could have been bad and cheesy, and made it entertaining and relevant. Is this a great movie? No, but it is an entertaining film that is perfectly fine for a Saturday afternoon. I'll be showing this to Grant when he gets older, because boys will probably love this with all the action it has. Good flick worth a watch, surpassed my expectations.

• Aaron N

  
  Jack: What do you suppose is up there? Elmont: I never suppose, I simply prepare for everything. There is something admirable about Jack the Giant Slayer's decision to play itself straight. It has been over 25 years since The Princess Bride, among other films, hit theaters… More
  Jack: What do you suppose is up there? Elmont: I never suppose, I simply prepare for everything. There is something admirable about Jack the Giant Slayer's decision to play itself straight. It has been over 25 years since The Princess Bride, among other films, hit theaters and presented a satirical take on the fairy tale adventure genre, but 'Jack' doesn't go for that angle. Instead, the film is a straightforward adventure tale that utilizes state-of-the-art special effects to present a new take on the "Jack and the Beanstalk" legend. It is unfortunate that the film is not better. I would say it is decent overall, as the film has a few things going for it that I enjoyed, including some of the performances and the overall look of the film. However, with the film feels awkward in being so straightforward, as if everyone involved wished they were in a more humorous or colorful film and it is this unevenness that takes away from my enjoyment of it overall. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• George F

  
  what an enormous misfire...the CGI is mediocre the story is at times stupid and other times unbelievably boring...the acting is fine which is mostly just a big disappointment that makes you wonder why Nicholas Hoult and Ewan McGregor are here. I can barely find descriptions for how… More
  what an enormous misfire...the CGI is mediocre the story is at times stupid and other times unbelievably boring...the acting is fine which is mostly just a big disappointment that makes you wonder why Nicholas Hoult and Ewan McGregor are here. I can barely find descriptions for how bad this was...

• Bradley W

  
  Jack the Giant Slayer is a fun and exciting adventure that takes an interesting and lovable twist on Jack and the Beanstalk. Director Bryan Singer has directed some great films in his time, but this film proves he still has the power to entertain us and give us something fun and… More
  Jack the Giant Slayer is a fun and exciting adventure that takes an interesting and lovable twist on Jack and the Beanstalk. Director Bryan Singer has directed some great films in his time, but this film proves he still has the power to entertain us and give us something fun and fresh. A film like this hardly ever works, with so much that could go wrong it's hard not to expect the worst before entering the theater. But luckily Singer gives us a film that keeps the young and old entertained while also being one of the best films so far this year. When I first saw the beanstalk grow in this film I was a bit surprised at how much it impressed me, mainly because it shows how far special effects have come over the years and I have always wanted to see the fable of Jack and the Beanstalk brought to the big screen (albeit under different circumstances). What really makes this film work well is its imagination, creativity, good cast, and nice story. I wasn't thinking this was going to be a masterpiece so I expected a boring plotline and one-dimensional characters, but we really grow attached to these characters and the story ends up being a whole lot of fun. I will admit that the film has its moments where they should've just cut from the film, which is a lot of toilet humor. There was a moment where a giant picks his nose and eats his own snot and I couldn't believe a smart filmmaker like Singer could let something like this happen. But off the negatives, most family members will find this to be a good time and will see it as a fun adventure film. I paid my money to have a good time and Singer and his film deliver, and I can ask no more than that. The story follows Jack (Nicholas Hoult), a young farmhand, accidentally opens a gateway to the world of Giants an ancient war restarts as the giants, thought only of as legend, try to reclaim the world they lost centuries ago. Jack is forced into a fight to not only save his own life, but that of those in the kingdom and that of the princess. The plot of this surprised me with its maturity and imagination with storytelling. With a title such as this I was expecting another "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" but luckily the writers are smart and are able to give us an adventure film that gives us our bang for our buck. The character of Jack is a likable and smart young hero with fears, dreams, and courage which makes him a very relatable hero. It's always good to see a protagonist that we can enjoy and like straight from the beginning. Princess Isabelle even had some good moments and contributed to a good story, which surprised me since she became much more than a damsel in distress. The trolls weren't very interesting in terms of personality or story, but they sure were fun to watch on the big screen. I even enjoyed how they gave us a very well-crafted climax that had some beautiful action sequences as well as concluding the story on an interesting note. I enjoy an adventure film with heart and humor, and luckily this story succeeds both and doesn't deny us a great time. As I said before, the film delivers some unneeded potty humor that will only get some laughs from small children, which the writers should've been smart enough to cut out of the script. But that being said, the writers understand good entertainment and gave me a silly, exciting, imaginative, and good adaption of one of the most famous fables ever. The cast is perfect for a film like this, where we need likable and fun actors who can deliver exactly what they are best at. Nicholas Hoult has shown me that he is one of the best teenaged actor currently working in Hollywood. While we have pretty boys such as Taylor Lautner or Zac Efron, Hoult gives us a likable and believable performance in this film which shows he is destined for great things. He has charisma and shows it on screen, which will work out in his favor for Hollywood. Eleanor Tomlinson doesn't give the usual boring performance we see in these kinds of films, and actually her personality and entertaining performance made her damsel in distress character a bit less cliché. She has wit, cunning, and doesn't always get in the way of the protagonist. Ewan McGregor stands as one of my favorite actor in the current age of Hollywood, and I could never explain why this was other than his great acting and how he always gives his all in a performance. He gives a conflicted and humorous performance in this film that steals the show as we believe every inch of his performance. I am glad he performed well, he truly is a brilliant actor if I do say so myself. Stanley Tucci gives a fine performance in the film, but I believe he is capable of a much more deep character and should've been used more wisely. Ian McShane even has some great moments in the film as the king, and I believed his performance as well as enjoyed it. Overall a good cast and they gave some fun performances, but its Hoult and McGregor that stand out for their charisma and appeal. Jack the Giant Slayer may not be anything new to some people, but I have seen a lot of terrible films lately and it's good to see a good director come out with something actually worth a watch. I mean it's very hard to not appeal to a film like this. Who can deny a film with danger, epic battles against trolls, and magic beans? This is a full fantasy adventure so be warned, you are in for a bit of violence so many you should prepare your kids if this seems like something you want to show them. Of course I am a very big fan of the fantasy adventure genre, as some of my favorite films of all time are "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. But this film stands on its own two feet against other big budget films and is able to entertain the audience. I truly believe in the wrong directors hands this film could've been a complete disaster and nobody would've ever cared about it, but luckily due to Singer's careful and precise direction and knowledge of special effects, he was able to craft a film that is a perfect example of a great adventure film. I personally hope they don't attempt to make this into a series, because that would just prove Hollywood is almost all out of ideas and is trying to a make a sequel on whatever they can. So if you enjoy a fun story, fun characters, and hearing "Fee-fi-fo-fum" countless times, I suggest you check out this lively film.

• Luke C

  
  Jack The Giant Slayer is just another one of those modern remakes of classic fairy tales and I believe it outranks the silly Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and the slo-mo filled Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. JTGS retells the story of Jack & the beanstalk, modernising it… More
  Jack The Giant Slayer is just another one of those modern remakes of classic fairy tales and I believe it outranks the silly Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and the slo-mo filled Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. JTGS retells the story of Jack & the beanstalk, modernising it for a new generation. Not meaning itâ(TM)s setting has changed to 2013 but that it is a more suitable for the teenagers of today. JTGS is different to the other â~retellingsâ(TM) because it has a 12a age certificate compared with the 15 rating held by H&G:WH & AL:VH. This difference comes from H&G and AL having many bloody moments of the main hero(es) violently taking down their foes. Whereas JTGS doesnâ(TM)t have much giant slaying and all those moments are either comical or have no blood whatsoever. I would have preferred JTGS to be a bit more mature and hold the 15 rating because one giantâ(TM)s death was too childish and immature to entertain an older audience; specifically those who liked the other retellings. The cast of JTGS contains such A listers like Ian McShane, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor & Bill Nighy. Some of these performances were great, like Ewan McGregor who I had absolutely no problem with, whereas Stanley Tucci was too pantomime and cheesy to keep the film at the same tone. Nighy was really good as the voice of the two headed giant leader. Nicolas Hoult who plays Jack did ok, he was nothing special but he had charisma and likability going for him. The CGI of the giants was close to awful. In a world where Avatar looks as good as it is and is pretty much completely CGI, I wonder why Warner Bros & Bryan Singer could tolerate such flimsy and fake looking effects. From forests trampled by giants to beanstalks jumped on by giants, it all looks very shoddy. The only GREAT effect was the beanstalk, watching it fall the second time was one the greatest set pieces of the film for sure. There were some amazing shots that included the beanstalk, from the great shot of them climbing the beanstalk with the glimmering moon in the background, to the spectacle of the beanstalk falling on the ground; laying waste to everything it falls on. JTGS is around the 2 hour mark in length and I believe that to be 20 minutes too long. There was a lot of unnecessary time filler in the film. It focused on the king and his men for no reason sometimes, it had too much build up and it had a few pacing issues now and again. Overall JTGS is entertaining, silly, brainless and both visually impressive and unimpressive. Itâ(TM)s a good time but not worth the price of admission. But there are a lot worse fairytale reboots to watch, this just ranks above the mediocre standard.

• Jeff B

  
  A Giant-sized blockbuster with an entertainment factor of medium build, this tale of Jack doesn't ultimately amount to a hill of beans. Another in a new line of fairy tales with its edges roughened (Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Huntsman, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters),… More
  A Giant-sized blockbuster with an entertainment factor of medium build, this tale of Jack doesn't ultimately amount to a hill of beans. Another in a new line of fairy tales with its edges roughened (Red Riding Hood, Snow White and the Huntsman, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters), this Mother of a Goose aims itself more at All Ages than Adults Only. Sometimes exciting, oftentimes inventive, but always ridiculously predictable, Jack proves to be the most memorable Slayer since Buffy...but in name only. In this PG-13-rated fairy tale adventure from director Bryan Singer (Apt Pupil, Valkyrie), the long-standing peace between men and giants is threatened as a young farmer (Hoult) joins an expedition (Tucci, Ewan McGregor, Bill Nighy, Ian McShane) into the giants' kingdom in hopes of rescuing a kidnapped princess (Eleanor Tomlinson). Fe fi fo fum, come smell the blood of a pile of dung. Okay, this assessment proves a bit harsh, but it just goes to show that Singer doesn't fully know Jack. With a CV that includes The Usual Suspects, X-Men, and Superman Returns, the director traditionally chooses stories more in the clouds than of the earth. His Jack and the Beanstock update at least boasts some gigantic H'Wood talent including Tucci (The Hunger Games), McGregor (The Impossible), McShane (HBO's Deadwood), and hot up-and-comer Hoult (X-Men: First Class, Warm Bodies). Here, this well-meaning A-List team shows every intention of giving moviegoers a rabble-rousing A-Level thrill ride. Instead, what audiences get is a formulaic adventure with some performances that occasionally get a bit too arch. Bottom line: Bland of the Giants.

• Sol C

  
  I had a mixed to negative reaction to the film. They had a good idea for a film but didn't execute it correctly. It needed a major rewrite. I thought the first 30 minutes were awesome. However, when they go to where the Giants are, the film hit a bunch of bumps on the road. On… More
  I had a mixed to negative reaction to the film. They had a good idea for a film but didn't execute it correctly. It needed a major rewrite. I thought the first 30 minutes were awesome. However, when they go to where the Giants are, the film hit a bunch of bumps on the road. On the negative, I didn't like the design of the Giants in the film. They look like they came from the Lord of the Rings films or the Harry Potter films. I also thought that some scenes might be too scary for some kids. I thought Stanley Tucci was miscast as the villain. He was too over the top here. I think Christoph Waltz would have done a better job in that role. Bryan Singer has done much better films than this one. I was expecting better from him. I also didn't like the final scene of the film. On the positive, I thought the performances by Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Ewan McGregor make the film worth watching. All 3 are awesome. Hoult has come along way since About A Boy. He was excellent as Beast in X Men First Class. Here he shows that he can carry a film, in a leading role. His character reminded me of Luke Skywalker. He has a great on screen chemistry with Eleanor Tomlinson. Ewan reminded me a little of his Obi Wan Kenobi character from the Star Wars Prequels. Overall, the film reminded me of movies like Krull and Star Wars, except those were much better than this one. I would say, just check out the film for the performances of Hoult, Tomlinson, and McGregor.

• Christopher H

  
  Not nearly as bad as I expected it to be, "Jack The Giant Slayer" creates a fantasy world with kings and peasants, giants and magic beans, a fairy tale that I never would have imagined could actually be translated into film. Even though this PG-13 film is designated more for… More
  Not nearly as bad as I expected it to be, "Jack The Giant Slayer" creates a fantasy world with kings and peasants, giants and magic beans, a fairy tale that I never would have imagined could actually be translated into film. Even though this PG-13 film is designated more for children, the darkness of the film is almost too much for adults at times, let alone children. I imagined many parents have the "death" talk after this film. Nicholas Hoult holds his own as the film's protagonist, Jack, playing opposite the lovely Eleanor Tomlinson, who proves she deserves more work in Hollywood than she's getting. What had me most worried walking into the film was the caricature performances coming from Ian McShane and Stanley Tucci, but both hold their own quite steadily, helped mostly by the adult-nature of story at times, especially in battle. Ewan McGregor also proved me wrong, capturing the spotlight quite nicely whenever he was involved and actually became one of the best parts of the film. Getting invested in CGI-driven films can be hard if the material is weak, but with continued great voice acting from Bill Nighy (bringing back the villainous voice of Davey Jones from "Pirates of the Caribbean"), the films is helped immensely. However, with a thin story like "Jack and the Beanstock" being your premise and the plot progression basically becoming a large game of king of the mountain that eventual becomes more build up than epic conclusion (a massive game of tug-O-war), "Jack the Giant Slayer" is a huge feat for children's film-making, marking a film that probably would have been one of my favorites if I were ten years or younger, but in the grand scheme of film-making, it is a sub-par, CGI heavy venture that has little pay off.

• Gavin C

  
  Me and my brother went to see this in the opening weekend today, hoping that it would exceed our expectations and would deliver what the trailers had promised. Later, it did and we had such a romping good time. Ok, it's not an excellent movie due to it's flaws that I will… More
  Me and my brother went to see this in the opening weekend today, hoping that it would exceed our expectations and would deliver what the trailers had promised. Later, it did and we had such a romping good time. Ok, it's not an excellent movie due to it's flaws that I will state in a moment, but if there's only one word to describe this movie, it would have to be epic. The direction from Byran Singer, the guy who brought us "Superman Returns" and the first two X-Men films, is solid with a lot of focus and tense to the style and tone of the film. The music score from John Ottman is excellent with some energetic moments, the editing is slick, it's briskly paced and the cinematography is excellent. The visuals and scenery are breathtakingly beautiful and are a sight to behold. Not to mention that it has lots of action sequences that are so epic they would leave you breathless, but the best aspect would have to go to the cast of actors. Nicholas Hoult is a great title character and had the right charisma for the part, Eleanor Thompson is a beautiful Princess Isabelle, and Stanley Tucci is both funny and menacing as the villain. Other actors including Ewan McGregor as the funny and serious Elmont, captain of the guards, Ian McShane as the stern, but noble King Brahmwell, and Bill Nighy voices the sinister General Fallon perfectly. Like I said before, there are some flaws. The story is at times predictable, but it got me interested and to my surprise, it lived up to the title of the film itself. While the script is mostly ok in the department, the dialogue is pretty much bland despite it's humorous moments which gave me a chuckle or two. Overall, Jack, the Giant Slayer isn't an excellent film like the critics expected it to be, but as a moviegoer, I would definitely recommend this to those who have read the fairy tale and haven't seen it yet. It's that good!

• Philip P

  
  After being postponed nearly a year for post production reasons that involved more time for the special effects (where were the results of that?) as well as for marketing we finally have the first new film from director Bryan Singer in four years. A retelling of the classic fairy… More
  After being postponed nearly a year for post production reasons that involved more time for the special effects (where were the results of that?) as well as for marketing we finally have the first new film from director Bryan Singer in four years. A retelling of the classic fairy tale, Jack the Giant Slayer (formerly titled Jack the Giant Killer) is another in a long line of Hollywood attempting to capitalize on a trend that never made it past the first lap. You can't completely fault them as this film was greenlit in 2009, well before Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland began the trend of bringing old fairy tales to the modern audience with gigantic budgets.Though this trend hasn't exactly proved a winning one it will surely continue far past this fun, forgettable film that brings nothing new to the genre of fantasy and pure escapism but does nothing to harm it either. It is a perfectly acceptable two hours of amusing and imaginative storytelling that plays out exactly as we imagine it might, but the keyword is imaginative. Director Singer has always had a fun imagination and has incorporated it into both his stories and filmmaking techniques. Whether it be The Usual Suspects, X2, or even Superman Returns and Valkyrie I have always found something about the guys films to be endearing and impossible to dislike (yes, I liked Superman Returns, so sue me). This feeling continues with this film and whether it be the fact I have a soft spot for Singer or that I am more easily convinced in a pure fantasy world that everything is fun, I had a good time watching this movie. I didn't love it and it certainly has room for improvement in several areas, but it was enjoyable nonetheless and I'm not too upset about that outcome. read the whole review at www.reviewsfromabed.com

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