Plot
In AD 740, the mighty magician Merlin (James A. Stephens (actor)) has three apprentices. One, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), betrays his master by joining forces with the evil sorceress Morgana le Fay (Alice Krige). Morgana mortally wounds Merlin before another apprentice, Veronica Gorloisen (Monica Bellucci), absorbs Morgana, body and soul, into her own body.
As Morgana tries to kill Veronica by possessing her from within, the third and final apprentice, Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), stops her by imprisoning Morgana and Veronica in the "Grimhold", a magic prison in the shape of a nesting doll. Before dying, Merlin gives Balthazar a dragon ring that will identify the Prime Merlinean, Merlin's successor and the only one able to defeat Morgana. While he searches for his successor throughout history, Balthazar imprisons Morganians, sorcerers who try to release Morgana, including Horvath, into successive layers on the Grimhold.
In 2000, 10-year-old Dave Stutler (Jake Cherry), encounters Balthazar in a Manhattan antique store. When Balthazar gives Dave Merlin's dragon ring, the ring comes to life, and wraps itself around the boy's finger. When Balthazar goes to find the book of magic, Dave accidentally opens the Grimhold, releasing Horvath.
While battling for possession of the Grimhold, Balthazar and Horvath are imprisoned in an ancient Chinese urn with a ten-year lock curse. Dave is humiliated when his teacher and classmates find his pants wet from a vase that broke in his lap. The store has no trace of the sorcerers' battle, so the class believe Dave is pretending, and the boy suffers years of psychiatric treatment.
Ten years later in 2010, Dave (Jay Baruchel), now 20, is a physics student at New York University, and meets his childhood crush Becky (Teresa Palmer). The ten-year imprisonment curse of the urn ends, releasing Horvath and Balthazar. Horvath pursues Dave and the Grimhold. Balthazar rescues Dave, riding an animated steel eagle created from a Chrysler Building gargoyle.
Dave initially refuses to help Balthazar, having been under psychiatric care since their first meeting, until the elder agrees to leave after finding the Grimhold. They track the Grimhold to Chinatown, where Horvath has released the next Morganian, Sun Lok (Gregory Woo). Dave defeats Sun Lok, and Balthazar retrieves the Grimhold. Dave changes his mind, likes magic after all, and agrees to become Balthazar's apprentice. He also becomes romantically involved with Becky against Balthazar's wishes and advice.
Horvath enlists celebrity magician Drake Stone (Toby Kebbell) to get back the Grimhold. They attempt to kill Dave, but Balthazar saves him. Cued by Horvath, Dave demands to know the truth about Balthazar's quest. Balthazar reveals that Morgana is trapped in the Grimhold with Veronica. Morgana, free, would cast "The Rising" spell, to revive sorcerers from the dead and enslave mankind. Dave, the Prime Merlinian, a descendant of Merlin, will become powerful enough to cast spells without his ring, and is the only one who can stop her.
After he loses control of animated cleaning mops, Dave decides to give up on magic, until Becky changes his mind. He returns to his underground subway lab, just after Drake and Horvath try to kill Balthazar and steal the Grimhold. Horvath has no more use for Drake, casts a parasite spell, steals Drake's energy, life, and his magic ring.
Horvath releases the witch Abigail Williams (Nicole Ehinger), uses her to kidnap Becky, then steals her energy, life, and pendant. He threatens to kill Becky, forcing Dave to surrender the Grimhold and his ring. Balthazar then goes after Horvath in Battery Park, sure Dave, without his ring, will be killed.
Horvath releases Morgana from inside Veronica. Morgana begins the Rising spell while Horvath animates the Charging Bull sculpture to attack Balthazar. With Becky's help, Dave reaches Horvath and Morgana. Balthazar's eagle flies away with the Bull.
Balthazar takes Morgana, body and soul, from Veronica into himself, but being low on magic, Morgana escapes. Morgana tries to incinerate them, but Dave stops her, without the ring, proving he is the Prime Merlinian. Morgana shoots energy bolts and kills Balthazar.
Dave creates a Tesla coil with the square's lamp posts and powerlines, and destroys her. Dave revives Balthazar by starting his heart, so Balthazar and Veronica reunite. Dave and Becky kiss, and fly to France on Balthazar's eagle.
After the end credits, Horvath takes his hat from Balthazar's shop.
Read more about this topic: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010 Film)
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