Coming in 2015, Seventh Son based on the novel The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney looks to be an epic film filled with fantasy elements and great CGI. The film stars Jeff Bridges as Master Gregory, the Spook, and Ben Barnes as Tom Ward, the Spook’s Apprentice.
While I have never actually read the book, the film definitely looks interesting. However, there are a few things that worry me about the film. For starters, what’s up with Jeff Bridges’ accent? He sounds like somebody doing a bad Sean Connery impersonation. Also, the film looks like a mash-up of Lord of the Rings and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (how ironic) which sort of hurts the originality element to it.
The film also experienced several push-backs in the US, which eventually landed it being released in early 2015. However, it was released early in France in December 2014 and was met with mixed reviews, one of which didn’t sound very impressed with the film’s take on the series by Joseph Delaney.
Jordan Mintzer from Hollywood Reporter is quoted as saying after meticulously pointing out many of the flaws he found in the film,
“What’s left is certainly watchable but far from memorable, and though a closing scene leaves things open for a sequel, business realities may deem otherwise. If anything, the movie offers up the guilty pleasure of seeing Bridges and Moore duel it out in front of countless green screens and a few stunning Canadian backdrops – two great actors clawing at each other with magic staffs and fake fire, trying to survive in the netherworld of heroic kitsch.”
With a review like this, one might start to wonder if seeing the film would be worth their time and their money. However, whether or not the film will take off in theaters this coming 2015, one can appreciate the time and effort put into the film especially from an impressive list of actors and writers and hopefully this film won’t suffer the terrible fate this similarly named film did.
Laura C. Cantu 