FeistyUpper
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
Donald Seymour
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Geraldine
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
skybrick736
Jack the Giant Killer is an adventure fantasy that I feel stands the test of time better than a lot of animation monster movies out there. The assortment of witches, giants and magical beings is a great mix that had terrific special effects for the early 60's. The music assigned to the witches is enchanting as well as creepy. The main characters of Jack and Elissa are a good duo but the cheesy love lines shows its date. The supporting characters are exceptional and it hooks the viewer from the start. Most of the junk on TV is not worth anyone's time, so check out Jack the Giant Killer! It can be watched with the entire family!
dbdumonteil
Although a Cornwall legend,the screenplay makes me think of Perrault's "Sleeping Beauty" revisited by Disney a couple of years before .Like Maleficent,the evil sorcerer is not invited in the king's castle . Like Princess Aurora ,the king's daughter must hide ,disguised as a peasant. In the sorcerer's den ,the gnome in the bottle plays the part of the three good fairies . A raven carries the villains' news . The sorcerer's den ,with his devils, resembles that of Maleficent. And ,last but no least ,when he goes for broke,the evil character turns into a flying monster,just as Maleficent changed into a dragon.This is good entertainment for the whole family ,although some pictures might have seemed a bit scary for yesterday's kiddies (the same can be said of Disney's "Sleeping beauty")much of which (the reflections in the mirror)has been blunted by the passage of time.The special effects are still good (except for the cardboard giants and monsters )and Kerwin Matthews had plenty of go .Even adults can dig it.
styujio
Even though this film's budget is not less than The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, the producers still managed to make an excellent movie. Jack the Giant Killer is just an attempt made to cash-in on the success of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad made 4 years ago, there are two Cyclops in Sinbad and there are two giants in Jack. Both films have an evil magician. In Sinbad, a Cyclops fights a Dragon, in Jack, a Two-Headed Giant battles a Sea Monster. And in the final part, the hero slays a Dragon, a similar theme in both films. Despite the similarities, Jack the Giant Killer is almost as good as Sinbad. The stop-motion animation are not up to Ray Harryhausen standards, but the three animators did their best. The animated creatures include Cormoran, the first giant Jack killed, an unnamed Two-Headed Giant, a Sea Monster with tentacles for limbs and a Dragon which is actually Pendragon that Jacks slays at the climax of the film. The plot is very entertaining, the acting is solid, Kerwin Mathews is perfect for fantasy movies like this and is charming as Jack, Judi Meredith is almost as beautiful as Kathryn Grant and Torin Thatcher is forever terrifying as the evil wizard Pendragon, the evil grin on his face and his Bela Lugosi Dracula stare makes him a perfect villain. Coupled with some dazzling visual effects and wonderful animation of the creatures, this action filled family-fantasy movie is sure to entertain children with its fantasy theme and please adults with the plot and special effects. I highly recommend this film.
kathleen-angulo
I work for Panavision in Hollywood & we recently got an e-mail from our London Office asking for gear for..."Jack the Giant Killer" & I was like...REALLY?!! They're re-making this? cuz A) I usually do not like re-makes cuz they never compare (I have never seen & may never see the re-make of "Sabrina" even though I love Harrison Ford...but the original was...PERFECT...so why? & same for the re-make of "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". As much as I love Brendon Frazier I could see this film had NOthing to do with the James Mason / Pat Boone film, which was also...PERFECT...so why?) & B) I remember this film as being one The BEST films of this 60s stop action Fantasy genre & I am interested in seeing how, with the modern tools, handle it. As long as they do not get carried away with CG & stuff or ruin the Story. BUT after reading these reviews I am A) Even MORE excited at re-WATCHING this great Classic Fantasy Film (going to try to find it on Netflix. *fingers crossed*) B) Glad to hear I do remember it correctly as such a FAV & remembering the Witches & The Evil Princess...so cool...& scary...& sexy! & C) actually kind of excited at a possible re-making of this one! I will keep my eyes on it's release! Thanks ALL for confirming my Love of this Classic!
