Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

It really is a matter of what you’re in the mood for. In other moods, I’m sure I would have thought this was a real dud. But I was up for some brainless but exciting action, and it worked for me. I’m sure not saying it would work for you. Most of the critics in the US didn’t like it, but oddly enough, it played well in Europe, particularly in Germany, where it was made.

I love the premise of taking Hansel and Gretel, who were abandoned in the woods as children, abused by a witch who they then killed, and showing them as grown-ups who have vowed to kill all witches. It takes place in Augsburg in what looks like Medieval times, but H&G have some weapons no one in that time would have had. Hansel has a lot of different kinds of guns, and Gretel prefers a crossbow that shoots like a Gatling gun. They are immune to the magic of witches, but not to their superhuman strength, so there are a lot of fistfights that destroy the sets. The production design is very clever, I thought. All in all, not a movie I could ever recommend, but a pleasant way to pass an evening when I was just looking for action and adventure.