Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001) (TV)

Director:

Brian Henson

Writers (WGA):

James V. Hart (story) and
Brian Henson (story) ...

Release Date:

2 December 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

What if the fairy tale were true?

Plot:

The bones of a giant are discovered turing Jack Robinson's life upside down, teaching him the truth behind the fairy tale and how he can fix a greedy ancestor's mistakes.

Plot Keywords:

Miniature People | Dragon | Casino | Fairy Tale | Giant

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Jack Robinson (Johnathan William Duncan Robinson)
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Countess Wilhelmina, Matriarch / Narrator
Mia Sara	...	Ondine
Daryl Hannah	...	Thespee, Member Great Council of Mac Slec
Jon Voight	...	Siggy (Sigfried Mannheim), Overseas Div. Director for Robinson Intl.
Richard Attenborough	...	Magog, Arbiter of Justice Great Council of Mac Slec
Bill Barretta	...	Thunderdell
Honor Blackman	...	Jules, Jack's Secretary
Jim Carter	...	Odin, Member of Great Council of Mac Slec
James Corden	...	Bran, Thunderdell's Son
JJ Feild	...	Young Jack
Jonathan Hyde	...	Dussan, Jack's Butler / Guardian
Anton Lesser	...	Vidas Merlinis, Research Scientist
Julia McKenzie	...	Jack's Mum
Nicholas Beveney	...	Cernos, Member of Great Council of Mac Slec

Runtime:

Germany:174 min (2 parts) | Greece:180 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-7 | Australia:PG | Germany:6 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Bray Film Studios, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Boring, sappy and badly written

OMG did I wait for the movie to end. The tempo of the movie is very slow and events unroll boringly. This may very well have been a magical TV movie but for a movie to watch in one sitting there is no action or drama to keep you awake. You just sit there hoping that there was a climax on the way and it never comes.

Of course this was a family movie, too, so I know I shouldn't have expected black humor or scary thrills.

In many places the script isn't transparent... you kind of start to think of the writers' motives on including a twist in the plot which isn't good. It just wipes away the movie magic.

The actors could've tried harder as well. I know they were making a movie about a fairy tale but this was supposed to be the "real story" so a bit less overacting would've been good. Many of the characters seemed unnecessary, like the pantheon in the trial.

I liked the cheating and conniving ancestor, though. He was a nice touch, worth 1 point, 1 point comes for a good idea and 1 for the investment in fantasy.