Hope: a classic idea that is taught to kids through fairytales such as “Cinderella” and “Snow White.” The way Hansel and Gretel overcome the circumstances in the movie “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” is no exception to these teachings.
In the midst of the night, young Hansel (Cedric Eich) and young Gretel (Alea Boudodimos) are abruptly awoken. Their father leads them into the woods and leave them there. They come upon a house where an evil witch lives, who imprisons Hansel and enslaves Gretel. The two kids are able to outsmart the witch and burn her in the fire meant for Hansel, sparking them into a career in hunting witches.
Years later, Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arrterton), now full-grown adults, continue their lives as bounty hunters and are hired to find and kill evil witches who are wreaking havoc upon a village and kidnapping its children. While trying to hunt down these witches, they uncover the witches’ evil scheme, along with secrets to their past.
Renner and Arterton create a chemistry that is normally found only between brothers and sisters. With their witty remarks and their on-screen care to for each other, it is very easy to transport yourself into the lives of the witch hunters. Never cracking a smile, they are able to turn this classic fantasy story into a serious action-packed adventure. During each fight sequence, the audience is hypnotized by the suspense and very vivid bloodshed.
Wicked does not even begin to describe Famke Janssen’s portrayal of the evil witch, Muriel. She creates such a threat that even the audience cannot help but feel endangered. It is through her acting, combined with her makeup and special effects, that make one feel like Janessen’s character is a real witch.
What makes this movie great is not the actors or the storyline; it’s the makeup design and special effects. The makeup artists on this movie were excellent at making every witch, troll and blood-stained corpse look real. Each time a witch appears or somebody is shot, it looks as if they could be there right in front of you in the real world. Not only is the makeup well displayed, but the special effects are also impressive; it looks flawless.
Unfortunately, with this movie, the title tells everything. The storyline is very flat: every moment is predictable on what will happen next. The epic fights and countless amount of bloodshed compensated for this predictable cinema. In this battle of good versus evil, Hansel and Gretel once again come out victorious and continue to teach that classic idea of hope.
Recommended: This witch hunt is visually stunning.
