Last January 18, 2013, I had the privilege to attend the red carpet premier of the Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters movie at SM North Edsa IMAX Theatre.
Skeptical as I was because of adding up to “a classic tale with a dark twist” band wagon in likes of the Snow White and the Huntsman and Red Riding Hood, I had watched it anyway. Honestly, those films hadn’t made great feats at the box offices locally and internationally but what the heck, right?
I have watched the trailer few months ago and yes, I was a bit awed with the CGIs and from the looks of it, it is definitely more action-packed from its predecessors. Good job for the acquiring of the IMAX theatre for the premiere because it has really made difference and the film became more entertaining to watch in 3D!
And the night doesn’t stop there, the audience was given the wonderful opportunity to watch the 9-minute prologue of the most awaited film Star Trek: Into The Darkness!
The good thing is that it follows the plot of the story that we know (and not the Brother Grimm version) where there was a young boy named Hansel and his sister Gretel who were banished from their home and left out in the forest one night.
After finding out that there’s no one who will ever come back for them, they tried to find their way back home. Instead, they found the mouth-watering house made of candy and other kinds of sweets that our parents restrict us of feasting on.
Unfortunately, the house was owned by a wicked witch who prefers the “Kids-only” diet and even tried her luck with the kids by caging both of them. Gretel was made to be an accomplice and Hansel was the dish but because of their quick wits and skills, they had roasted the old hag in the bout.
Their victory against the old witch made them famous among villagers and that was the start of their “dirty” job as butt-kicking witch hunters 15 years later. After reported mysterious kidnappings became associated with the “Blood Moons” ritual of an evil sorceress, part of their shady past began to resurface.
Two of today’s most sought after action stars in Hollywood, Hurt Locker breakthrough star and The Avengers’ Hawkeye Jeremy Renner and Quantum of Solace’s Bond Girl Gemma Arterton were tapped to play the infamous siblings in the modern adaptation so expect a lot of great choreographed fight sequences and awesome artillery from them.
Though Renner and Arterton’s different accents and unstriking resemblance didn’t make their relationship as siblings really believable, their great chemistry and unsurpassing action tandem made up for it.
So to those who look for a good movie for a family night, may it occur to you that there are a lot of gory witch-killing scenes, swearing parts and a pinch of nudity present in the movie.
Hansel and Gretel opens today, January 23, 2013 in theaters nationwide. The film is distributed by United International Pictures thru Solar Entertainment Corporation.
