In a divided land, it takes a rebellious boy and his clandestine love for a Princess of an opposing race to stop a war orchestrated by a power hungry villain.
A few magic rocks and tepid battle scenes do little to inspire interest in the goings-on as Malcolm McDowell and Eric Idle spout villainy and punch lines, respectively.
– Kyle Smith,
New York Post,
12 Dec 2008
rotten:
There isn't enough action for older children, or silly humor for younger ones; even at an hour-and-a-half, the film feels padded, and it's going to feel even slower to audiences amped up on blood-red Icees and molar-cracking Nonpareils.
– Stephen Whitty,
Newark Star-Ledger,
12 Dec 2008
rotten:
This flick is like a cheap thriller where the wisecracks always fall flat and the author couldn't be bothered to invent a new plot, so he just patches together some old ones.
– Susan Walker,
Toronto Star,
12 Dec 2008
rotten:
The story is tedious, noisy and banal. It is also rather dark and convoluted for children, though it does have the familiar bombast of a video game.
– Claudia Puig,
USA Today,
12 Dec 2008
fresh:
Although the film may be too violent for kids younger than 10 and too storybook for teens, it is a tale of mythic pretensions and can be quite stunning.