Miscasting Errors

Rating: 4/10 (13 January 2014)

Unfortunately, this is another film that not only thinks profanity is entertaining, but it is used extensively throughout the film ... making it, basically, a classless endeavor.
The action is plentiful, but not overdone ... and the special effects are top drawer. Unfortunately, casting was haphazard to the point that I could not really get into the experience. No matter how good the action and special effects are ... poor casting can ruin a film, and it ruins this film (for me, anyway). Frankly, the only good casting was for the part of Muriel ... Famke Janssen was excellent in the part, and basically saves the film from becoming another cheap addition to a grocery store's $ 4.99 for six horror movies on one DVD, well, for the time being anyway. By the way, I also found that good casting was done with one other actress ... Ingrid Bolsø Berdal's role suited her quite well, and I found her rather delightful.
The photography is high quality, as is the lighting, props, and scenery. Couldn't have been better in those departments ... in fact, the movie is worth all the more due to its production quality. I think what I really found disappointing with the film is the casting of Hansel and Gretel ... the teaming is totally off. Their acting is sufficient, but they just don't belong together ... they don't blend at all, and that ruined the film for me. I can't help but wonder how much better the movie might have been if Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had been cast in the title roles?! Of course, they wouldn't have looked like brother and sister either. Oh well ... no classic here!