2013's first 'John Carter' is 'Jack the Giant Slayer'

Fee-fi-fo-fum, Jack the Giant Slayer is already done. OK, maybe not done entirely, but the newest fairy tale-related fantasy movie didn't fare very well at the weekend box office. I actually saw this Brian Singer-directed 3D adventure film, and I didn't hate it. I'm picky about my fantasy movies, too, so I had some misgivings going in.

Personally, I'd say that Jack the Giant Slayer is not nearly as awful as the dismal box office numbers would have you believe. The acting, in particular, is quite good, particularly from Nicholas Hoult as Jack, aka That Adorable Little Boy from 2002's About a Boy. Hoult is having quite the year already, with starring turns in Jack and in the zombie horror comedy Warm Bodies. No doubt he's already a big breakout star in 2013.

Back to the movie, though. It's a deftly done digital take on the age-old fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk. Is it perfect? No, far from it. But Jack the Giant Slayer is just sweet and old fashioned enough to be a thoroughly enjoying film. I'm not entirely sure the 3D was necessary (and really, I'm not one who automatically hates or criticizes every 3D movie just because I can). We opted for the whole IMAX/3D experience, and while it was fun, I suspect I would've enjoyed Jack the Giant Slayer just as much without it. The strength of this film, to me, is the storytelling, not the special effects. Sometimes, that's more than enough to entertain me.

Unfortunately, Jack the Giant Slayer pretty much tanked in its debut weekend. And by tanked, I mean it took in just over $27 million, and easily claimed the top spot at the weekend box office. So, that's tanking by Hollywood's standards. Given that the film cost nearly $200 million to make, it's a confirmed flop. Comparisons between Jack's bad start and 2012's John Carter are already being made.

Again, in this case, Jack the Giant Slayer was an enjoyable movie for me not because of the ridiculously expensive effects, but because it was well acted and compelling enough without the razzle dazzle. Hollywood's movie budgets are clearly so out of control now that the focus continues to be more on the dazzle and less on the meat of the story. If priorities would shift a bit, that $27 million box office take wouldn't look so bad, now would it?

It's a shame, because Jack the Giant Slayer is way better than John Carter (sorry, JC fans). If you're on the fence about seeing this movie, I'd recommend a matinee, perhaps?

Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter