Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is at first glance, a very cool looking film. Until you get to watching it.  The production values are great, the witches look great, costumes are great.  Its just the acting and story are flat and predictable.  I had read a few reviews of this film when it came out in January (never a good sign), and hoped that even though it wasn't universally loved, I would find something redeeming in it.  All I can say good about this film is that as usual, Gemma Arterton really tries here, and Famke Jannsen looks like she's having fun as the evil witch.  As for Jeremy Renner, from his first line in the film, you can tell he doesn't want to be here. And that does not set a good precedence.

There's no real logic presented here to the weapons or the world. It just is what it is. There's no reason why Hansel and Gretel look like they stepped out of the Matrix, they just do. Just go with it!  Unfortunately, just go with it doesn't work for this film.  What could have been a fun Rambo-style witch killing quest movie turns into a plot-contrived story with lost family members, family secrets, and the different between good and bad witches.  I was hoping Gemma Arterton could salvage this film, as she did for Prince of Persia and Clash of the Titans, but even those films had more elements going for it other then her than Hansel & Gretel does.  Unless you're really curious about how bad this film is, skip it.

1 out of 5 stars

Trailer