Too much of everything

Overrated

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Kerwin Mathews and Nathan Juran, star and director of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), team up once again for more colourful fantasy adventure in Jack the Giant Killer, an engaging and inventive yarn crammed full of monsters and magic.Mathews plays Jack, a farm worker who is knighted after saving a beautiful princess (Judi Meredith) from the clutches of an ugly giant sent by the evil wizard Pendragon (Torin Thatcher, also from 7th Voyage of Sinbad). When a second attempt to abduct the princess proves more successful, Jack sets off to rescue her, with the help of a viking, Sigurd (Barry Kelley), a young boy (Roger Mobley), and a leprechaun in a bottle (Don Beddoe).While the stop motion used to bring many of the film's creatures to life isn't quite up to Ray Harryhausen standards, the sheer quantity of special effects scenes make Jack the Giant Killer a whole lot of fun for fans of classic (ie. pre CGI) fantasy. The action starts with a miniature jester in a musical box growing into a towering horned terror, there's a wonderfully creepy assault on a ship by hideous witches (the film's highlight, possibly too scary for the really young ones), Pendragon summons up an army in a scene reminiscent of the skeleton attack in Jason and the Argonauts, a two headed giant battles with a lizardopus (half-lizard, half-octopus), and the evil wizard changes into a dragon to try and put an end to Jack once and for all.Clearly aimed at kids, the performances are of the pantomime variety, especially Thatcher as wicked Pendragon, who hams it up a treat. Meredith also gets a chance to exercise her villainous side when she is transformed into a witch, complete with green skin and bright yellow eyes. This broad acting style doesn't detract from one's enjoyment, being perfectly suited to the fairytale material.

A delightful kiddie fantasy in the mould of the SINBAD films - and just as good as, if not better than, any of them! This production has a quaint feel to it of a make-believe world which never existed, a world full of weird monsters and heroic peasants. Non-stop action and plot twists help to keep things running along smoothly, but the icing on the cake is the sheer quantity of weird and wonderful creatures appearing at every opportunity! The evil villain of the piece, Torin Thatcher (complete with moustache, beard and high collar) has himself surrounded by all manner of zombies, witches and demons. The makeup used is effective-looking and quite possibly scary for younger viewers. Animation is used to make the witches glow and shoot various flames and rays at people, delightful in a tacky sense. The real fun comes from the stop motion effects, which are spectacular. Although lacking the finesse of Ray Harryhausen's creations (probably due to lack of time and money), these are still something to behold and quite passable for a children's film. We get giant horned monsters, a funny-looking serpent, and even a flying demon for the finale.Kerwin Matthews stars as the heroic lead and even has a glint of charisma about his wooden persona. But it's Judi Meredith who dominates things as the squeaky clean princess who eventually gets transformed into a witch herself - in a novel twist, a mirror reveals her secret, true self - that of a pale woman in a red dress, with yellow serpent eyes! There is something about Meredith's appearance as a witch which makes her strangely beautiful - compare her to Barbara Steele in CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR and Amanda Donohoe in LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM and you'll see what I mean, these serpent-like ladies are irresistible! Support comes from a Viking (!) and a young orphan boy, who are turned into a dog and a chimpanzee respectively! You'll never see anything quite like this. Also lurking about is an annoying leprechaun (aren't they always...) offering advice while being trapped in a bottle.It's the visual, fantastic images which remain in the memory after watching. Highlights such as a corridor full of sword-wielding arms and a helpful skeleton pointing the way are truly excellent, a shame there aren't more films around like this. Who can forget the scene where Jack whips an army of armoured knights with a skeleton's arm, turning them into clouds of smoke? JACK THE GIANT KILLER is a superb children's film, one of the best I've ever seen, and eminently rewatchable. It's even on par with JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, which is saying something! For kids of all ages, see and enjoy.

On the birthday of Princess Elaine (Judi Meredith), the evil warlock Pendragon (Torin Thatcher), who is exiled from the Kingdom of Cornwall, and his minion Garna (Walter Burke) come disguised to the court and he gives a gift to Elaine. During the night, his gift becomes a giant that abducts the princess. However the farmer Jack (Kerwin Mathews) vanquishes the giant and rescues Elaine. Jack becomes a knight and Elaine and he fall in love with each other. King Mark (Dayton Lummis) assigns Jack to protect Elaine and to travel by ship with his daughter posing of peasants to a distant convent where she would be safe. However Pendragon's spy Lady Constance (Anna Lee) warns the sorcerer and he sends witches to bring Elaine to his castle. They kill the captain of the ship and the crew throws Jack overboard that is left behind with the captain's son Peter (Roger Mobley) in the sea. However they are rescued by the Viking Sigurd (Barry Kelley) that shows the Leprechaun Imp (Don Beddoe) to Jack. The Imp grants three wishes to Jack and together with Jack, Peter and Sigurd, they head to the island where the castle of Pendragon is to save the princess. Will they succeed in their mission? "Jack the Giant Killer" is one of those naive adventures that are delightful matinée. The entertaining story is full of action, magic and evil creatures. Princess Elaine is gorgeous and the hero Jack is a farmer capable of fight like the most skilled swordsman. The special affects are dated in the present days but part this is one important component of these wonderful movies from the 60's. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Jack, O Matador de Gigantes" ("Jack, The Giant Killer")

"The legend of Jack the Giant Killer was born more than a thousand years ago in Cornwall, England, near Land's End. There was a time when the Kingdom of Cornwall lived in fear and trembling of the Black Prince Pendragon, master of all witches, giants and hobgoblins, who ravished the land. But at long last, Herla the Wizard drove Pendragon and all his witches from the Kingdom and exiled them beyond the reaches of the known world. Here on a misty isle, uncharted and unknown, Pendragon schemed and waited for the day when he would return to power in Cornwall. Then, after many years, the day came…"...This was a day of rejoicing as beautiful Judi Meredith (as Elaine) is crowned princess. The snarling Torin Thatcher (as Pendragon) arrives. He conjures up a giant to threaten Ms. Meredith. She is saved by handsome farmer Kerwin Mathews (as Jack). He is knighted Sir "Jack the Giant Killer" and becomes Meredith's protector...Seeing how millions of kids liked to spend Saturday afternoon watching Mr. Mathews battle special effects monsters in "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" (1958), producer Edward Small brought Mathews back with director Nathan Juran and villain Torin Thatcher. While less spectacular than the earlier effort, this one is still very good. It makes up for a smaller budget with imagination and excitement. The handsome hero, beautiful princess, snarling villain, cute kid, chimp, and special effects formula carries the story. And, there are memorable supporting roles by Walter Burke, Don Beddoe and Anna Lee.****** Jack the Giant Killer (5/18/62) Nathan Juran ~ Kerwin Mathews, Judi Meredith, Torin Thatcher, Walter Burke