When Gritty Fairy Tales Go Just Far Enough
I’m torn when it comes to all these grim and gritty re-imaginings of classic fairy tales. Take Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, for example:
This is a pure action film. But it comes off as such an action film that it almost seems like a parody. However, after watching that trailer, I don’t think it’s a parody. It doesn’t seem to have even a modicum of self-awareness. It’s just a pure, unfiltered fairy tale turned action film. We all know that’s the trend these days. I’m torn in that I kind of like the idea of making grim & gritty reboots of these classic fairy tales…but I don’t think Hollywood has the wits or charisma to make one that’s really good, that really explores the subject material.
I’m pretty sure this film is going to be as by-the-book as possible. But is that a good thing or a bad thing? We always need new action movies. So why not borrow from some interesting source material?
Though after The Avengers and Bourne: Legacy, does Jeremy Renner really need work this badly?
Posted on September 5, 2012, in Movies and tagged Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Henchman-4-Hire 
I think Renner was cast in this long before he was cast in Avengers. Also he needs to set himself up as the new generation of action hero. You have two groups: the old guys in Expendables and all then all the young action stars (like Renner, Chris Evans, maybe Girard Butler). In twenty years, they’ll re-make the Expendables and it’ll have all the new action heroes of now. So also the Rock would be included.
And I’m fine with gritty fairy tales. The only part that bothers me is how everyone decided to do fairy tales at exactly the same time. Grimm, Once Upon a Time, Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Huntsman, Hansel and Gretel, Jack the Giant Killer, and Maleficent all occured within minutes of each other. Oh and Red Riding Hood came out. And I’ve heard that they all stink (except maybe the Huntsman.) It just seems odd. I assume someone at Disney kicked it off by wanting to adapt the fables comic book, then the other companies got wind and tried it for themselves. But it just seems like a silly fad that historians are going to look back on and think “Fairy tales? Seriously?! What a weird 6 months.”
That’s how Hollywood works. Somebody has an idea, then everybody else copies that idea, regardless of whether or not it’s a good or profitable idea.