January 25, 2013 in ACTION SCI FI / FANTASY
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Review
RYAN: It’s the season of the witch and I’m not being cliché. This is the first of several movies with witches we’re getting this year. And I live for witches so I’m fully on board with this, Hollywood. Bring it.
CAROLINE: I’m happy for you. I know you’ve had a thing for witches your whole life.
RYAN: I loved the Hansel & Gretel story as a child. In fact, it was my most requested bedtime story. But this is not a kids movie or family film. It’s very rated R. And I was really surprised by it! It’s great!CAROLINE: That’s surprising. The trailer looks a bit gruesome.
RYAN: Seriously… it’s like Alice in Wonderland meets Kill Bill. The violence is almost at the Tarantino level. It’s like a new genre – fantasy for adults and I was all into it.
CAROLINE: I can’t say I’d enjoy it.
RYAN: See I think you would. You tend to not like fantasy films because you’re not into family/kids’ movies and fantasy almost exclusively caters to children. But this is very adult. You’d dig it.CAROLINE: Maybe.
RYAN: I saw it in IMAX 3D and while the 3D is just okay the IMAX was cool. It’s a good script, often funny without ever being corny, which is the fine line.CAROLINE: Oh good. And Will Ferrell produced it right?
RYAN: He did. And Oscar winner Jeremy Renner stars alongside Gemma Arterton. They are both excellent. I found it a little strange that they and some others in the cast use American accents and the rest do not.CAROLINE: Gemma’s British, right?
RYAN: Yes but she works a great Amer-accent here.
CAROLINE: How’s the witch?
RYAN: There are several witches but Famke Janssen plays, like, the grand witch and she’s fantastic. I love her in this role. She is so nasty and looks terrific. The costumes are pretty cool in this movie too. It’s even more bad ass than Snow White and the Huntsman.CAROLINE: I couldn’t believe Jeremey Renner was in this movie.
RYAN: He gets even more action in this than he seemed to in The Avengers since Hawkeye was more of a supporting character.
CAROLINE: I hear you.
RYAN: I also love that they throw in some very contemporary language in the script even though the movie takes place in about the 1690s.CAROLINE: I imagine that would annoy some people.
RYAN: I honestly thought I would be giving this, at best, a Rent It rating and I don’t think this is just a case of going in with lowered expectations. Even the dudes behind me at the screening walked out praising it. I took a very informal poll of the audience. It’s a freaky-fun 90 minutes at the cinema!
Michael January 25, 2013
Thank Thank THANK YOU!!! I am soo glad you saw this movie and reviewed. You have officially confirmed my Friday evening plans for tonight…lol…have a great weekend!