YMMV / The Sorcerer's Apprentice

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Aside from whether or not Drake is truly evil, there's the bit with Morgana herself where her Start of Darkness is revealed to at least partially be because she didn't want to serve anyone, especially Merlin (a man). On the other hand, what Merlin was actually talking about was being a servant to the power you wield (and thus showing it respect and honoring the people you're supposed to help with it), so Morgana refusing to do this is actually a sign of her arrogance and megalomania, not a real Freudian Excuse.
• Cliché Storm: A major criticism of the movie, though considering the amount of Lampshade Hanging and humor about them, it's likely intentional. And to its credit, no other work of fantasy has ever before combined Merlin legends with 21st-century New York college students.
• Complete Monster:
  • Maxim Horvath was a treacherous disciple of Merlin who betrayed his mentor, and nearly everyone loyal to him, to their deaths at Morgana le Fay's hand. A thousand years later, Maxim returns to Earth so he can unseal Morgana and doom swathes of mankind to destruction, all because he's sore his old crush Veronica wouldn't take him. Along the way, Maxim pointlessly kills a man for honking at him, then betrays and murders both of his loyal minions so he can drain their life.
  • Morgana le Fay herself is an ancient sorceress who once sought to initiate "the Rising" and use an army of magic-wielding zombies to decimate mankind. In her quest, Morgana slaughtered entire castles of life as she dueled with Merlin and his apprentices, and when she was finally near defeat, Morgana possessed the body of Veronica in an attempt to escape capture. Even after being imprisoned in the Grimhold, Morgana's influence and followers lead to all manner of murder and mayhem—even the entirety of the Salem Witch Trials—and upon resurrection by her servant Horvath, she immediately tries to initiate the Rising once more, eager to wipe out most of humanity and enslave whatever is left.
• Creepy Cute: The witch Abigail Williams, makes you think that she's coming out of a horror flick.
• Draco in Leather Pants:
  • Blonde, arrogant young evil wizard with a British accent? Who's actually wearing Leather Pants? Whose name is Drake! Considering that Drake didn't seem to relish the idea of killing children to take over the world and didn't really do anything all that evil, this is one of the more plausible cases...
  • Maxim Horvath also became a hit in fanfictions and Tumblr posts, thanks to being played by fan-favorite Alfred Molina. ough.
• Fashion-Victim Villain: Drake Stone's fashion sense was already ten years out of date when the film came out, looking like he came straight of a late '90s/early 2000s nu metal band.
• It's the Same, Now It Sucks!: The Sorcerer's Apprentice can best be described as this: an iconic actor from the 80s and 90s starring in a fantastical Disney movie that's an adaptation with an unconventional source, featuring a former friend-turned-rival played by a less recognized but still acclaimed thespian, a young male protagonist who is a Fish out of Water to the fantastical nature of the setting, a blonde love interest who knew the protagonist from when they were children, and a somewhat comedic tone that balances out the more horrifying aspects of the work. Sounds familiar? It should.
• Narm/Narm Charm: "I brought some science with me!" Dr. Insano would be SO PROUD.
• Nightmare Fuel:
  • When the dancers inside the Chinese dragon get stuck inside when it transforms into a real dragon. Played for Laughs.
  • The Rising when it is cast. Dem Bones crossed with Zombie Apocalypse, with one of the shots being of the Paris Ossuary. Horrifying.
• Retroactive Recognition: Peyton List appears as 10-year-old Becky Barnes, a year before she became more known for her roles in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Jessie.
• Signature Scene:
  • Many people consider the Tesla coils scene the most memorable of the film.
  • The cleaning scene has become one of the most loved scenes in the film since it's effectively a homage to the original poem/Fantasia short.
• So Okay, It's Average: The general consensus of the film.
• They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: Mickey Mouse fans were not happy that despite being inspired by the famous animated segment of the same name from Fantasia, the film is an In Name Only live-action film whose only connections to the segment are a few homages (such as the cleaning scene and the appearance of the iconic Sorcerer Hat). Many saw the film as wasting a good opportunity to finally give Mickey a dedicated theatrical film.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character: Horvath summons Abigail Williams to kidnap Becky... and then absorbs her power to raise Morgana as soon as he has Becky.
• The Woobie: Dave, to a certain extent. Especially at the beginning of the movie.

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