Ewan McGregor becomes dinner in new 'Jack the Giant Slayer' trailer: Watch
Also: Check out a new poster from the Bryan Singer adaptation
- Critic's Rating B
- Readers' Rating B-
Can you say "Ewan-McGregor-in-a-blanket"?
The Golden Globe-nominated actor is reimagined as a tasty appetizer in the new trailer for Bryan Singer's "Jack the Giant Slayer," a cinematic adaptation of the famed Cornish fairytale that stars Nicholas Hoult ("X-Men: First Class," upcoming zombie rom-com "Warm Bodies") as the title character and McGregor as Elmont, a royal soldier who accompanies Jack on a mission to rescue a beautiful princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) from the clutches of a race of menacing giants.
"Fee-fi-fo-fum," begins the ominous voiceover, playing over a series of visuals that establish the giants' impressively-realized skybound land. "Ask not whence the thunder comes/ For between heaven and Earth is a perilous place/Home to a fearsome and giant race."
While I'm finding it hard to get too excited about "Jack the Giant Slayer" - the release of which was recently pushed back a full nine months by Warner Bros. (it was originally slated to hit theaters this last summer) - I have to admit that the film certainly looks spectacular, with top-notch CG effects work and some fun visuals including a flying windmill, a two-headed giant and the aforementioned "Ewan as dinner" bit.
That said, it also comes off as a rather bland "four-quadrant" slot-filler that seems particularly targeted at families and older children, a la "National Treasure" or "Night at the Museum" - in other words, older audiences without children may not find much to enjoy here. Nevertheless, the film's saving grace may be Singer, a talented craftsman who has previously managed to deliver brainier-than-usual mass-targeted fantasy/action films, including the first two "X-Men" movies and the (in my opinion) underrated "Superman Returns." Here's hoping he can do the same with "Jack the Giant Slayer" (not to mention the upcoming leather-free "X-Men: First Class" sequel "Days of Future Past").
My grade for the trailer: B. After watching it (and checking out the new poster for the film below), you can rate it for yourself at top left.
Follow me on Twitter @HitFixChris
"Jack the Giant Slayer" is slated for release on March 1 in 3D and IMAX 3D.

News From Our Partners
-
Hulu.com: 7 Things That Wouldn't Exist Without The Office
Larry Womack: In Defense of (the Original) James T. Kirk
'Storage Wars': Ivy Finds Giant Clam Shell
-
What to Watch Tonight: The Season Finales of Arrow, CSI, and Supernatural
Grimm "The Waking Dead" Review: Dead On Arrival
CBS's 2013-2014 Season: New Nights for Person of Interest and Hawaii Five-0, More Comedy on Thursdays
-
In Pictures: The Stars of Star Trek Into Darkness
Digital Multiplex: The Last Stand, Side Effects, and More
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Ambitious, Time-Jumping Epic Cloud Atlas
-
'Riddick' Trailer: Vin Diesel Is What Goes Bump in the Night
'The Simpsons' Taps Kristen Wiig For Guest Arc As FBI Agent
CBS Fall 2013 Schedule: 'Mike & Molly' to 2014, More Comedy Thursday, and 'Hawaii' to Friday
-
The Telefile - TNT & TBS Upfront 2013: Reaping What Other Networks Sowed
The Telefile - Fall TV 2013: What's On When
The Telefile - New Girl: Wedding Do's and Don'ts
-
Best Alicia Keys Instagram Photos – Picture Perfect
Taylor Swift Fan Arrested for Swimming Near Her Rhode Island Beach House
Taylor Swift vs. Pink vs. Rihanna vs. Beyonce: Whose Tour Costume Do You Like Best? – Readers Poll
-
Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher in $10M Tug of War
'Captain America: The Winter Soldier': Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie Spotted in D.C. (VIDEO)
Katie Holmes Attracts the Wrong Kind of Attention on 'Mania Days' Set
-
'Star Trek' Baddie Benedict Cumberbatch Reveals Role's Biggest Challenge
Cannes Film Festival 2013: Our Must-See Movies
'Star Trek Into Darkness': The Secret Behind The Sounds


Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupJ B
November 21, 2012 at 8:04PM EST Reply to Comment2013's Prince of Persia / John Carter... this film doesn't look promising at all. I'd probably disagree with the phrase 'top-notch CG effects work' as everything in this trailer looks extremely fake.