Far more persuasive than the jerky demonic creatures (including a griffin and an octopedic sea monster) is Torin Thatcher's sinister, Lugosi-like performance as the wicked Master of Demons.

This shrill and clumsy serving of one of the most beloved of fairy tales is a pretty crude affair.

Stop-action animation, blue-screen work, matte backgrounds, and a rollicking fantasy story make this one for the ages.

...the process shots are a mixed bag to be sure, but there’s a few cracking imaginative moments to enjoy here, as well as an unfamiliar narrative source.. this Americanised version of Jack the Giant Killer has a certain cheeky verve around it…’