The Sorcerer's Apprentice

If Hollywood can make movies inspired by kids toys, board games and Megan Fox then surely a feature length film based on a ten minute cartoon should be a piece of cake.
Director Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure 1-3) reunites with frequent wig wearer Nic Cage in this latest Jerry Bruckheimer production.
We start off with a brief lesson on mythology. Merlin (James A. Stephens - Sherlock Holmes) has three apprentices. There's Horvath (overused villain - Alfred Molina), Veronica (Monica Bellucci - Malena) and Balthazaar (Nic Cage). The four are fighting super evil chick Morgana Le Fey (everyone's favourite Borg Queen - Alice Krige) who wants to destroy all mankind. Horvath betrays Balty and Merlin so Balty traps everyone in a nesting doll along with a couple of other bad dudes for filler, oops, good measure.
Like magic, it's 2000 and young nerdy Dave (Jake Cherry - Night At The Museum 2) accepts a dragon ring for a strange man with shaggy hair. Turns out, Dave is the 'Prime Merlinian' i.e. the holder of Merlin's powers and in theory he can defeat Morgana le Fay. Yay. Dave accidentally traps Horvath and Balty in a vase for ten years. Not so yay. The nesting doll goes missing.
2010 and Dave ('nerd du jour' Jay Baruschel - She's Out Of My League) is playing the same character from She's Out Of My League. He's a nerd and he's in love with a beautiful blonde...
Dave meets up with Balty again and begins Sorcery 101. In no time Dave is firing plasma balls out of his hands and tutoring love interest Becky (Teresa Palmer - December Boys) in physics.
The nesting doll is found, and with a blatant disregard for public property the battle (of the goatees) is on to save the world from the human race-ending plans of Morgana le Fay.
The effects are pretty cool, but cool special effects does not a good movie make. Everything else is pretty ordinary. Jay Baruschel is Jay Baruschel, (with a really annoying voice this time around) can you get typecast that young? Nic Cage is Nic Cage.
Wow. I really don't have much to say about this one at all! Best wait till it's on DVD.
Things I learnt: never be in a Chinese dragon; Nic Cage needs to choose movies based on wardrobe; be glad this didn't have Megan Fox.
Has some nice shiny things.
Four out of ten.