A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

first - for the moral story about greed, love, selfishness and self discover. the second - for the touching performances - Vanessa Redgrave is the best example. not the last- for Matthew Modine ( as fan of him , it was the basic motif for see the series ). but the great thing who defines this series is, obvious, the smart way to use the virtues of an old classic fairy tale for a seductive show . the delicate and precise clash between worlds, the inspired choice for do the characters, the atmosphere and the drops of "The Legend" from the performance of Mia Sara. short, a beautiful series. for the whole family.

The bones of a giant are discovered turning Jack Robinson's life upside down, teaching him the truth behind the fairy tale and how he can fix a greedy ancestor's mistakes. Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story is a 2001 TV Mini-Series starring Matthew Modine, Vanessa Redgrave, Mia Sara and Jon Voight. What i loved the most about this small TV Series is how it's darker than previous Jack and the Beanstalk films plus it does have some scenes with a bit of humor in it delivered mostly from Modine who is really great here just like Mia Sara who plays Ondine, Jon Voight's character is pretty over the top and has a very hilarious accent but that is what makes him a great actor anyways. The special effects are quite well done for a TV Show and for the time it was released also the acting for the most part from everyone is really good and even a young James Corden makes an appearance at some point. Overall i think that this is one of the better films based on the famous and popular fairy tail plus it's dark and funny when it has to. (A+)

This was one very entertaining watch, definitely belying its 6.8 rating on this site. For a family film, it certainly kept this adult in its spell for its entire length (3 hours). Mostly solid acting (especially from the "intense" Mia Sara), very good special sets and effects considering it was made for TV and shot 10 years ago, the pace never slows even though it does allow itself some slower, more contemplative pauses from its break-neck pace, such as the beautiful scenes of Jack (the modern one) climbing the beanstalk through a sea of clouds. The score is very good too and enhances the experience throughout. The fantasy land and inhabitants are right on the money, with a fraction of the money spent on Harry Potters et al, this one hits home. All things considered, it is a great adaption of an age old tale, with a clever spin to it: those old tales don't always tell the truth...

I watched this movie all in one go and I must say I didn't move from my chair. Modine and Mia Sara's performances are excellent as are the rest. Sara plays the girl from another world who comes to Modine to help him find the truth and help her bring welfare back to her people. Modine slowly will discover where the riches of his ancestors came from. Then he will try to right the wrongs and end the curse to his family. The family moves between two worlds. Our world and a fantastic one. The scenery and the landscapes are wonderful and there is also some mistery and twists till the end. The movie addresses the greed of people and how they would go all the way just to satisfy themselves ignoring the needs of others. I highly recommend it.