Poster of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Action, Fantasy, Horror

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Release Date: January 25, 2013

Where to Watch

I’ve seen a lot movies, including one of the worse movies ever made: Van Helsing. This movie is not Van Helsing though they share a certain steampunk aesthetic, which I generally loathe, but did not in this film. I know that the filmmakers were trying to go for an European feel so I’m not sure why Jeremy Renner was cast. Culturally he sticks out like a sore thumb, but other than that bit of awkwardness, it is a serviceable film. There are some clever, but predictable twists if you’re paying attention in this take on the Grimm tale. One reviewer wrote, “[The film] has an alarming number of females being strung up, burned, shot, decapitated and eviscerated.” Um, give me a break. I’m against violence against women & misogyny, but they’re witches as monsters, not Wicca witches. Also the reviewer left out that a woman is doing a lot of the killing, and there is even a little PC message that some witches are good and it is bad to kill people indiscriminately. What next? Do you need a disclaimer in the credits that no witches were killed in the making of this film!?! If you’re expecting The Hurt Locker, keep moving, but if you’re looking for a fun movie with Famke Jennsen reprising her role as Phoenix and Gemma Arterton finally using her M16 skills, then Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is for you. Looking forward to the sequel.

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