Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner star in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is a different twist to the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The movie is full of action from beginning to end with some humor mixed in. It is not a child-friendly film because of the blood/gore and some language.
Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton play siblings Hansel and Gretel who, as in the old fairy tale, are left alone in the woods as children.
As in the classic tale, they come upon a candy house and are captured by a wicked witch who wants to eat them after she fattens them up. They escape by shoving her into her own fiery oven. That is where the original story stops and the twist begins.
The two grow up to hunt witches for a living. As they stalk their prey, brother and sister find allies with a white witch for Hansel and a troll who takes a fancy to Gretel.
For the most part, they have to rely on their own determination to overcome their enemies.
Hansel and Gretel are hired by a village when a rash of children’s disappearances suggests that witches are taking them.
The local sheriff, played by Peter Stormare, is less than thrilled with the brother and sister duo when they stop the burning of a woman accused of witchcraft, played by Pihla Viitala.
Leading the witches is a grand witch, Muriel, played by Famke Janssen. Janssen plays an evil witch who can change from glamorous to hideous when the mood strikes her.
Renner and Gemma Arterton are brother-sister in the new Hansel and Gretel.
The film moves quickly and is an hour and 28 minutes long. The 3D effects are not really necessary, but they did give the viewer a few good jumps.
The film definitely has plenty of horror movie moments for the hardcore fan. Most of the reviews that have been posted about this film have not been favorable.
Many talked about the poorly written script and the less than spectacular acting.
If someone is looking for an Oscar-winning performance, this movie is not what they would be looking for. If, on the other hand, they were looking for a good B movie with a little tongue-in-cheek humor mixed with an old familiar fairy tale, then Hansel and Gretel could hit the spot.
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