Balthazar Blake ( Nicolas Cage ) , a `` Merlinian '' , is a sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan , fighting against the forces of evil , in particular his nemesis , Maxim Horvath ( Alfred Molina ) , while searching for the person who will inherit Merlin 's powers .
The movie is named after the The Sorcerer 's Apprentice part in Disney 's Fantasia Balthazar Blake ( Nicolas Cage ) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis , Maxim Horvath ( Alfred Molina ) .