By Greg Vellante
Correspondent

There is no denying that magic is quite possibly the coolest imaginable concept in the world. One could also make the argument that it is the scariest. What I love about Disney’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is that it tackles both criteria with a steady, even flow, never overshadowing the imaginative glee of magic with the sheer terror of its potential, nor vice versa.

Sparking new life into the animated Disney classic “Fantasia” and mixing it with a spin on the legend and back-story of Merlin, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is part fresh, part nostalgia, and all fun; a vibrant burst of energy that surges from the opening scene to the final credits.

I came to the conclusion many years ago that I’d never be able to conjure up a spell and make the impossible possible, but it’s movies like “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” that manage to keep that imaginative spirit of the possibility alive.

Jay Baruchel, the current poster boy for all that is nerdy and awkward, stars as Dave Stutler, a physics geek who finds himself becoming apprentice to a sorcerer named Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage). Cage, who adds to his impressive string of hits over the past year, is a witty breath of fresh air, embodying the cool and collective demeanor of his character along with a dash of devil-may-care zeal for shaking things up a bit.

Alfred Molina plays the villain, Maxim Horvath, with a humorous-yet-callous thespian execution that is both proper and terrifying. Once re-released into the present, Horvath races against his adversaries, Dave and Balthazar, to locate a holding device known as a “Grimhold.” It contains an evil sorceress named Morgana (Alice Krige), who is currently infused with the body of Balthazar’s one and only love, Veronica (Monica Belluci).

If released, Morgana and Horvath will fulfill a plan of world domination by raising all the perished sorcerers from the dead and forming an army.

Where does Dave come into all of this madness? He’s what is known as the “Prime Merlinean,” the descendent of Merlin and inheritor of his powers, and also the only one who can ultimately defeat Morgana.

Sound confusing? Don’t worry, the movie does far better in both explaining, and entertaining through, the fairly developed plot for a PG-friendly audience.

The effects are surprisingly spectacular, not revolutionary by any means, but they get the job down with flawless precision (highlights include a battle between a dragon and Dave, along with a riveting car chase sequence).

What appeals most visually is that while “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” could have easily succumbed to the current craze of 3D entertainment, it doesn’t. And it looks a million times better on the big screen than it would with those insipid glasses dimming the vibrancy of the effects.

Plain and simply put, magic is cool. And movies like “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” are enough to feed the appetites of magic’s biggest fans until the final, two-part chapter of a certain boy wizard begins to hit theaters later this year.

Hopefully the film has lasting power, as I’d enjoy seeing Cage and Baruchel team up again for a sequel, and possibly even a franchise.
All the studio needs to remember is one simple rule: Don’t lose the magic.