Jack the Giant Slayer

And so, as the year has a January in it, Hollywood has deemed another retelling of a classic English fairytale be appropriate. Fortunately, 2013's offering does size up rather better than previous attempts, not least thanks to a very pleasing number of British actors in role (in fact, Stanley Tucci's devious Roderick is left alone in holding the fort for our American cousins in a delicious reversal of Hollywood stereotyping). As another bonus, girls shouldn't have too much of a struggle with this film, as aside from Nicholas Hoult needing a smidgen of a haircut, Ewan McGregor is looking so devilishly dapper it's almost off-putting.

The other things to look at aren't bad either. The special effects are decent enough, although admittedly not some of the finest I've ever seen on screen, but more than made up for by the beautiful sweeping panoramas of the Kingdom, which certainly do deliver the goods.

That sinking feeling when you feel compelled to make reference to Nicholas Hoult's massive beanstalk. Too predictable.

By way of a side note, as my viewing company for this film was yet to enter the realms of teen-dom, it would be remiss of me not to comment on its suitability. Though a 12A, the screen was certainly full of individuals much (and in some cases, much much) younger, and felt pretty friendly throughout. Save for the obligatory minor swear words, there is plenty to keep the younger members satisfied, which is why perhaps it did feel slightly more childish than I'd been expecting. Don't get me wrong, having been adapted from a children's fairytale, it was unlikely to be anything else, but there were moments that did just fail to walk the tightrope between appealing to kids and appealing to adults, and fall squarely on the children's side. One such annoyance comes in the form of a truly surreal end sting, which (although I won't ruin) doesn't feel like it's in any way necessary, or indeed additive to the narrative of the story. But then as school holiday fodder goes, I'm reliably informed it's "the best film of the year", so who am I to argue?