Featured: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Science and Magic Unites

Science combined with magic? Or… magic is just like science? Wait a minute. Is it really true that magic and science correspondents each other? Well… Let’s see this

Yes, magic and science is indeed united… in the movie titled The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a 2010 American fantasy adventure film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Jon Turteltaub, and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the team behind the National Treasure franchise. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci.

The basic idea for the movie was mostly Nicolas Cage’s, who wanted to explore a mystic world and play a character with magical powers, and following a suggestion by his producer friend Todd Garner, decided to make a feature-length movie based upon the Fantasia segment of the same name. On February 12, 2007, this film was announced by Disney.

Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can’t do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protege. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It’ll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – written by Walt Disney Pictures

The events that unfold prior to the main timeline in the movie are introduced in narration (uncredited Ian McShane), and takes us to 740 AD. The mighty magician Merlin (James A. Stephens) has three apprentices. One, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), betrays his master by joining forces with the evil sorceress Morgana le Fay (Alice Krige). Morgana mortally wounds Merlin before another apprentice, Veronica Gorloisen (Monica Bellucci), absorbs Morgana’s body and soul into her own body. As Morgana tries to kill Veronica by possessing her from within, the third and final apprentice, Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), stops her by imprisoning Morgana and Veronica in the “Grimhold”, a magic prison in the shape of a nesting doll. Before dying, Merlin gives Balthazar a dragon ring that will identify the Prime Merlinean, Merlin’s successor and the only one able to defeat Morgana. While he searches for his successor throughout history, Balthazar imprisons Morganians, sorcerers who try to release Morgana, including Horvath, into successive layers on the Grimhold.

In 2000, 10-year-old Dave Stutler (Jake Cherry), encounters Balthazar in a Manhattan antique store. When Balthazar gives Dave Merlin’s dragon ring, the ring comes to life, and wraps itself around the boy’s finger. When Balthazar goes to find the book of magic, Dave accidentally opens the Grimhold, releasing Horvath. While battling for possession of the Grimhold, Balthazar and Horvath are imprisoned in an ancient Chinese urn with a ten-year lock curse.

Ten years later in 2010, Dave (Jay Baruchel), now 20, is a physics student at New York University, and meets his childhood crush Becky (Teresa Palmer). The ten-year imprisonment curse of the urn ends, releasing Horvath and Balthazar. Horvath pursues Dave and the Grimhold. Balthazar rescues Dave, riding an animated steel eagle adapted from a Chrysler Building gargoyle. Dave initially refuses to help Balthazar, having been under psychiatric care since their first meeting, until the elder agrees to leave after finding the Grimhold. They track the Grimhold to Chinatown, where Horvath has released the next Morganian, Sun Lok (Gregory Woo). Dave defeats Sun Lok, and Balthazar retrieves the Grimhold. Dave changes his mind, deciding that he likes magic after all, and agrees to become Balthazar’s apprentice. He also becomes romantically involved with Becky against Balthazar’s wishes and advice. Horvath enlists celebrity magician Drake Stone (Toby Kebbell) to get back the Grimhold. They attempt to kill Dave, but Balthazar saves him. Cued by Horvath, Dave demands to know the truth about Balthazar’s quest. Balthazar reveals that Morgana is trapped in the Grimhold with Veronica. Morgana, if freed, would cast a spell called “The Rising”, which would revive sorcerers from the dead and enslave mankind. Dave, the Prime Merlinean, a descendant of Merlin, will become powerful enough to cast spells without his ring, and is the only one who can stop her. Dave tries to use magic to clean his lab, but loses control of his animated cleaning mops, and, disillusioned, decides to give up on magic, until Becky changes his mind.

He returns to his underground subway lab, just as Drake and Horvath try to kill Balthazar and steal the Grimhold. Horvath, having no more use for Drake, casts a parasite spell and steals Drake’s magic and his ring. Horvath releases the witch Abigail Williams, uses her to kidnap Becky, then steals her magic and her pendant as well. He threatens to kill Becky, forcing Dave to surrender the Grimhold and his ring. Balthazar then goes after Horvath in Battery Park, sure that Dave, without his ring, will be killed. Horvath releases Morgana from inside Veronica. Morgana begins the Rising spell while Horvath animates the Charging Bull sculpture to and commands it to attack Balthazar. With Becky’s help, Dave reaches Horvath and Morgana. Balthazar’s eagle flies away with the Bull. Balthazar takes Morgana, body and soul, from Veronica into himself, but Morgana escapes from within Balthazar. Morgana tries to incinerate them, but Dave stops her, without his ring, proving that he is the Prime Merlinean. Morgana shoots energy bolts and kills Balthazar. Dave makes a Tesla coil out of the square’s lamp posts and power lines and then destroys her. Dave revives Balthazar by restarting his heart, and Balthazar and Veronica reunite. Dave and Becky kiss, and fly to France on Balthazar’s eagle. After the end credits, Horvath takes his hat from Balthazar’s shop.

Cast:

  • Nicolas Cage as Balthazar Blake, a one-thousand-plus-year old sorcerer of the “777th degree”.
  • Jay Baruchel as David “Dave” Stutler, a highly intelligent college student who becomes Balthazar’s reluctant apprentice.
  • Jake Cherry as Young Dave
  • Alfred Molina as Maxim Horvath, an evil sorcerer and Balthazar’s nemesis.
  • Teresa Palmer as Rebecca “Becky” Barnes, the love interest of Dave Stutler.
  • Peyton List as Young Becky
  • Toby Kebbell as Drake Stone, a celebrity illusionist who joins forces with Horvath.
  • Omar Benson Miller as Bennet Zurrow, Dave’s roommate.
  • Monica Bellucci as Veronica Gorloisen, a sorceress and the love interest of Balthazar Blake.
  • Nicole Ehinger as Abigail Williams
  • Alice Krige as Morgana le Fay

So… do you feel interested about this movie? Let’s see the trailer first

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By: Ayu Anisa Budiarti
Source: Wikipedia, IMDb, YouTube