L'empire des elfes

Considering all the talent involved in this movie, I was expecting something much better - something whimsical and charming. This isn't. The effects are diabolically bad, the costumes are awful, the acting leaves a lot to be desired but, worst of all, the story is a convoluted mess and as a result this is just plain boring. A big waste of time for kids and adults.

Looks like this one could have been sat on a shelf for a couple of years judging by the age of Aaron Johnson - he was 17 in 2007 but looks no older than 12 here - and that really is where it should have stayed. Despite recognised names like Jenny Agutter, Patsi Kensit and Anthony Head, the feeling that this is some amateur's passion project is increased by the fact that the two child leads (other than Johnson) share the director/producer's surname. Boring doesn't even begin to describe it.

Every now and then I find a film that I would call charming. It does not have to be ground breaking, high art. I think there are some people, who do not have the ability to just have fun with a charming tale. Perhaps we have all lost our childlike innocence and can no longer enjoy a sweet story. I have read some reviews which do not rate it very high. Nevertheless, I loved it. I suppose it all has to do with expectations. Everything has to be bigger and better than anything else ever seen before. All the special effects have to be astounding. OK, this is not Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, or Harry Potter but I still think it is a very nice movie. Both my husband and I watched it after just watching Hansel and Gretel, Witch Hunters. It was sort of refreshing and we both liked it.

Holy moly Batman! This film looks like it is someone's home movie - complete with cheap cheesy costumes & make-up, terrible acting, the worst special effects and lame dialogue. I'm almost sure this is someone's homemade movie - it has to be. I know that a lot of the major motion film studios has produced some terrible films but this film makes the worst Hollywood film look super. Seriously.

I got this film in a 4-Pack Sorcerer's Apprentice plus 3 bonus films, I got the pack for The Magic Sword starring Basil Rathbone and decided to watch the other 3 films as well. This is by far the worst film in that 4-pack, followed closely by The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

You would have to see this film to believe just how incredibly awful it really is.

1/10

A magic Troll aims to defeat the Black Witch (Jenny Agutter) and find the magic door that will lead him home with the help of the elf Flip (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and the boy Liam (Liam Matthews).

I was drawn to this film because it has Jenny Agutter, who I knew from "Logan's Run" and "American Werewolf in London". But it also has Anthony Head ("Buffy"), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (the Avengers movies) and a few others. This cast should be able to add some weight to the picture.

But no. the main kid (Liam) is not very good, and I think he might be the writer-director's son. So that is pretty lame. And beyond the weak kid and weak plot, we also have a video quality that might be lacking. The one on Netflix gets some crackling noises in it. I have used the service for years and never had that issue, so I feel it much be the film itself... ugh.