Balthazar searches for over 1000 years until he finds Dave, a ten year old boy who wanders off from a school trip chasing after a note to a little girl.   Balthazar ends up trapped with Horvath for ten years until both of them are free again.  Dave is now a college student studying physics and building Tesla coils in an underground area near an abandoned subway station.   Balthazar races against time to train Dave as his apprentice while Horvath wants to get the Chinese doll that contains Morgana and the other evil sorcerers that Balthazar has trapped.   Horvath wants to bring about the resurrection of all dead sorcerers and he needs Morgana for that one.   Also, Dave falls in love with Becky who he wanted to be involved with about ten years ago.

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE is a fun adventure with plenty of action and humor.  Nicolas Cage plays the cranky old wizard quite well.   It is fun to see little homages to STAR WARS, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, and even FANTASIA.   A little scene at the end of the credits even sets it up for a sequel.   I do wish the movie was a little longer as I wanted to know more about Balthazar and his training with Dave.   The beginning sets up events for the present day neatly within just a few minutes.  This film might be another start of a franchise for Disney that is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

This movie review is ©7-15-2010 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com