Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: January 25, 2013
5.8
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 373 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
171
Mixed:
107
Negative:
95
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
dharmaJun 5, 2013
Ridicilous, fairy tale based action film akin to Sleepy Hollow is fun in spots but feels low budget. A good thing that the film makers (and the casts) knew what they are making, and tried to have as much fun as possible. Nevertheless, it's aRidicilous, fairy tale based action film akin to Sleepy Hollow is fun in spots but feels low budget. A good thing that the film makers (and the casts) knew what they are making, and tried to have as much fun as possible. Nevertheless, it's a wonder how this became a box office hit as it is.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
singingbatmanJan 26, 2013
Going into this movie i knew exactly what to expect and i was right. its a fun movie but not a good one.. Its loud and dumb but it doesnt try to be anything else. the effects were kinda cool but nothing we havent seen before. overall i hadGoing into this movie i knew exactly what to expect and i was right. its a fun movie but not a good one.. Its loud and dumb but it doesnt try to be anything else. the effects were kinda cool but nothing we havent seen before. overall i had fun but i would never watch it again, once through was plenty… Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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6
AD_PhoenixApr 21, 2014
A contemporary, somewhat steam-punk take on the classic fairytale, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters tries to utilise the popular idea of 'what happens after the story ends'. The whole ensemble is a camp, yet entertaining film, which is similarA contemporary, somewhat steam-punk take on the classic fairytale, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters tries to utilise the popular idea of 'what happens after the story ends'. The whole ensemble is a camp, yet entertaining film, which is similar to 2004's Van Helsing. The performances are mediocre to satisfactory at best, with a poor script and short run-time limiting the cast to cardboard acting. Overall, it's style over substance, but it somewhat embraces it, with a satire-like flair. The film doesn't take itself too seriously, and is a perfect example of a 'popcorn flick', perfect for a night in.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
Darkin20Jul 2, 2013
I was really perplexed by the end of this movie. Should I forgive it's very crazy assumptions and engage myself into the lore or should I step back and shun this movie for trying to appease a simple audience. In the end I remained stuck inI was really perplexed by the end of this movie. Should I forgive it's very crazy assumptions and engage myself into the lore or should I step back and shun this movie for trying to appease a simple audience. In the end I remained stuck in the middle. The action was great but the story was way to liberal on the gadgets that just happened to do exactly what they needed to do. The acting was good but when the script is bad, it really can't fix it that much.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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4
ydnar4Dec 31, 2014
Just making it clear, I did not watch this movie just so I could give it a negative review. I wanted to like this movie but I just couldn't. The main characters were brutal. Jeremy Renner's character doesn't go through any development at allJust making it clear, I did not watch this movie just so I could give it a negative review. I wanted to like this movie but I just couldn't. The main characters were brutal. Jeremy Renner's character doesn't go through any development at all through the movie and Gemma Arterton was a useless character as well, and seemed to only be in the movie to show her body off. The costumes for the witches, obviously fake, you could tell you looking at someone in a mask. This movie could never really be a classic movie but I could've been done a lot better.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
hoops2448Aug 27, 2013
From the surreal imagination of Tommy Wirkola, the director of Dead Snow, Norway's answer to the Evil Dead, comes this unconventional and fun re imagining of the Brothers Grimm tale of Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton). TheFrom the surreal imagination of Tommy Wirkola, the director of Dead Snow, Norway's answer to the Evil Dead, comes this unconventional and fun re imagining of the Brothers Grimm tale of Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton). The film follows Hansel and Gretel as they are cruelly abandoned by their parents and taught a valuable lesson about trust by an evil witch. This gives them the strength to continue and take up the mantle of Witch Hunters. The film actually takes place years after the events of their childhood but this is still an origins story for these two characters. Renner's version of Hansel is quick witted, relentless and a born leader while Arterton's Gretel is vicious, warm and occasionally stupid as hell. The film does a decent job of depicting these characters as the crafty children who tricked and killed their first witch. However the film also tries to flesh Hansel and Gretel out with predictable backstory that is told one movie trope at a time. The film is pretty generic, its fairly slow and doesn't do a good job of keeping your attention and worst of all the films lead villain as played by Famke Janssen is awful and in the brief time she has been out of the limelight she has somehow forgotten how to act.. That being said, it is a funny feature, with Wirkola's signature dark and goofy humour shining through the films many problems and the unsettling feeling of mediocrity, making the film an oddly fun experience, not a perfect one, not a great one even but a fairly decent start to a franchise I can see getting better with age.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Bruce722Jul 8, 2013
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was actually worse than I thought it would be going in, and that's saying something considering that I didn't have high hopes for the film. I at least expected it to have a more interesting story. The actingHansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was actually worse than I thought it would be going in, and that's saying something considering that I didn't have high hopes for the film. I at least expected it to have a more interesting story. The acting was decent and Gemma Arterton is absolutely breathtaking but almost everything else about the movie was sub par. The plot, while it developed fairly well, was far too predictable, the dialogue was a mess, the gore factor felt overdone, and the action sequences were borderline laughable. The movie is pretty short and is entertaining enough, I suppose, to keep you from tuning out but just barely.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
cylentstormJun 28, 2013
This was one of the best bad movies that I've seen lately--and that's saying something. Witch Hunters was more entertaining than I expected, given the high level of cheese. Good hangover flick: the less thinking, the better.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
TheLivingVirusMar 4, 2013
After all this movie wasn't that bad. It was funny, had lots of blood and gore and an awesome soundtrack by Hans Zimmer which you recognized immediately if you watched Sherlock Holmes by Guy Richie. Sure it wasn't very deep but for a niceAfter all this movie wasn't that bad. It was funny, had lots of blood and gore and an awesome soundtrack by Hans Zimmer which you recognized immediately if you watched Sherlock Holmes by Guy Richie. Sure it wasn't very deep but for a nice evening with friends at the cinema Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters was pretty decent.

But expect nothing well-written or something that will stay in your mind for a long time. It is a one-time-thing. Not bad but not good either.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
cameronmorewoodJul 25, 2013
Hansel and Gretel offers a taste of the movie this zany premise could produce. Gemma Arterton sizzles as Gretel and Renner is valiant enough, but director Tommy Wirkola thinks he's making a serious movie, when he should be showing us RobertHansel and Gretel offers a taste of the movie this zany premise could produce. Gemma Arterton sizzles as Gretel and Renner is valiant enough, but director Tommy Wirkola thinks he's making a serious movie, when he should be showing us Robert Rodgriguez-esque Grindhouse matireal.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
BrianMcCriticJun 11, 2013
The story is pretty bad, but the visuals led by the makeup and costumes barely keep it out of the red. Overall you don't really need to waste your time with this film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
AReviewsJun 17, 2013
I really don't know why this movie got so low critics and bad reviews, why all the hate, chill! I am here to resolve everything. This movie is perfect and terrible at the same time, it isn't really good nor terrible it is just aI really don't know why this movie got so low critics and bad reviews, why all the hate, chill! I am here to resolve everything. This movie is perfect and terrible at the same time, it isn't really good nor terrible it is just a horror/thriller/comedy/action movie that wants your attention and give you a good time.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
RinoFuryJul 23, 2013
Hansel and Gretel is one of the most entertaining movie in 2013. Is nothing of special, but I think that is awesome just because is the really "vision" of the novel that becomes the "novel-that-not-to-be-told" to a child, 'cause is reallyHansel and Gretel is one of the most entertaining movie in 2013. Is nothing of special, but I think that is awesome just because is the really "vision" of the novel that becomes the "novel-that-not-to-be-told" to a child, 'cause is really scary in some ways. My vote is 6/10.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
FordFanatic19Jan 25, 2014
This movie was alright. I feel it could have been made a little more intriguing than what it was. The acting was good, but there wasn't as much action as I had initially intended. Not only that, but I felt that the movie dragged on. So wouldThis movie was alright. I feel it could have been made a little more intriguing than what it was. The acting was good, but there wasn't as much action as I had initially intended. Not only that, but I felt that the movie dragged on. So would i recommend it? Most likely not, but if you got nothing to do, sit down and watch it, you might enjoy it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
WhiskeyStoriesSep 9, 2017
Hansel & Gretel is a quite good representation of it's genre: fun horror with gothic/fairy tale schlock, which hasn't really been done well since Army of Darkness. The film lacked charisma in the main characters, Jeremy Renner for me is aHansel & Gretel is a quite good representation of it's genre: fun horror with gothic/fairy tale schlock, which hasn't really been done well since Army of Darkness. The film lacked charisma in the main characters, Jeremy Renner for me is a very likable actor, but he and Gemma Arterton felt a bit bland. The movie felt like it was trying a little bit too hard to be cool (though admittedly it was, kinda cool) and some of the action scenes, though well-choreographed, were shot a bit nauseatingly, which took away a lot of potential enjoyment for me. These are my main gripes of the film.

There are a lot of things I loved about Hansel & Gretel: The last act is pretty awesome, with the blood-moon giving an amazing visual style and weight to the scene and a really satisfying action piece really make that scene stand out. The set design and props were pretty neat and the whole film had a great sense of ambiance and atmosphere. Also Famke Janssen was probably the best thing about the film, she gave a very great over the top performance which really fit the movie.

Overall it's a really enjoyable flick with a very strong sense of style and a lot of fun bloody action. It could have been a little better, but it's a fun romp and a great Halloween movie. I would most definitely be interested in a sequel.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
timpfelFeb 8, 2018
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a fun and dumb movie. Guilty pleasure indeed.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
FilipeNetoAug 22, 2021
Once again, the Grimm Brothers' tales are the basis of a blockbuster. I am particularly remembering the 2005 movie "The Brothers Grimm", because it was a film that came a lot to my mind while watching this movie. I found them very similar,Once again, the Grimm Brothers' tales are the basis of a blockbuster. I am particularly remembering the 2005 movie "The Brothers Grimm", because it was a film that came a lot to my mind while watching this movie. I found them very similar, both in tonic and in structure: two brothers who are dedicated, in a way, to the supernatural, and who have to prevent an evil ritual involving a series of children in a city anywhere in the center of Europe.

The film's plot hardly needs any introduction, we all know the original tale. The film builds on that base and tells us how Hansel and Gretel grew up to become the most fearsome witch hunters of their time. It also explores the past and the unresolved relationship with their parents, but it doesn't go beyond that. The film was directed by Tommy Wirkola, who I had never heard of, and seems quite amateur in his way of directing. Suffice it to say that the movie doesn't know if it's horror, action or adventure. It could be an action-adventure blockbuster for teens and young adults, but the director abused the gore, the blood and graphic violence. I felt like I was watching a violent video game and not a quality movie, and the violence of the carnage scenes leads me to advise against it for underage teenagers (you, parents, read this well).

The cast is led by two young actors, Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton. Both seem to be fully up to the challenge put to them, are elegant, attractive and charismatic enough to ensure the leadership. The most palpable problem here is the uninteresting and amorphous material they received, and the absence of a competent director, able to guide them in order to bring out the best in their effort. The result is a duo of actors who look like cowboys, for their attitude. Much more convincing, Famke Janssen presents us with a work loaded with malice and pleasant perversity, which fits with her character and the film in general. I also liked the work of Peter Stormare and Pihla Viitala, two supporting actors who help the film get some life and movement.

On a technical level, the film bets everything on quality CGI, realistic enough to look good and give us a visually elegant and credible cinematography, to which are added good sets and visually impressive costumes (particularly Arterton's). Being a fantasy story, there is some room for the use of imagination, and this was reflected in the costumes and also in some props, such as the weapons used, which range from crossbows to what appear to be shotguns and heavy machine guns. The opening credits look very well done and make a good introduction to the film's theme. The soundtrack initially seemed a bit histrionic, but I ended up concluding that it fit satisfactorily into the final set.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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