Bubble, bubble,Cage is trouble

Time was, Nicolas Cage was an engaging actor. Quirky, of course, but also engaging.

Now, though … well, Cage is stuck doing one stupid film after the next. With the arguable exception of Werner Herzog’s “The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans,” he hasn’t made a serious film since 2006, when he starred in “World Trade Center.”

Since that time, his films have included “Ghost Rider,” “The Sorceror’s Apprentice,” providing the voices for animated films “G-Force” and “Astro Boy,” and starring in Neil Labute’s execrable remake of “The Wicker Man.”

Now he’s made “Season of the Witch,” which barely three weeks into the new year is already a candidate for Worst Film of 2011. A mismash of religious excusings, lame horror, hammy acting and a script so predictable you can actually say the lines before the actors begin to even move their lips, “Season of the Witch” wants to have things both ways.

It wants to hold religion, specifically Christianity, responsible for the crimes of war, persecution and countless deaths, but then it gives the Church a pass by making evil an actual entity. Yeah, right.

I can’t say Cage is the worst thing about “Season of the Witch.” But he doesn’t help. Even his one moment of classic Cage rage is worth only a giggle, not nearly an actual laugh.

The one good thing? I didn’t have to pay the elevated 3-D price. Having to come up with $14.75, now that would have been a double penalty.

Below : Trailer for the utterly crappy “Season of the Witch.”