Enjoyable Tongue in Cheek Action Fantasy

Rating: 6/10 (29 January 2013)

I really enjoyed this movie. It's not without flaws and it certainly isn't going to be on any Oscar lists but it was genuinely good fun as long as you go into it knowing what to expect.
The story is pretty flimsy - Hansel and Gretel grow up and become witch hunters and have to stop an evil witch plot... that's pretty much it, really. A romance thrown in and an attempt at "troubled pasts" aside, the biggest criticism I have is that there ARE absolutely NO surprises along the way.
If anything, go and see this for the visuals. The effects are great and some real imagination went into all the different witch designs. The costumes are excellent and the set designs are pretty good too. This is a movie that does very well at creating a dark fantasy environment so if that's your thing then this is well worth a look.
Arterton and Renner are both enjoyable to watch(and both look good in leather touting crossbows!) and most of the minor roles are well played.
I'd say if you liked movies like the 2004 Van Helsing you will like this; I actually think this is a better film but it's that same slightly camp dark fantasy that relies on good looking leads and violence without ever taking itself too seriously.