Casting enchantment and delighting in the magical existence of a witch The image of a witch has long been intertwined with magic, mystery, and the supernatural. This fascinating archetype has captured the imagination of people throughout history, from ancient folklore to contemporary media. Whether portrayed as a wicked sorceress or a wise healer, the concept of a witch embodies an enchanting and captivating existence. The essence of a witch lies in her ability to tap into and harness the mystical forces of the universe. With an array of spells, potions, and rituals at her disposal, she possesses the power to manipulate reality and shape the world according to her desires. This sense of control over one's destiny is both alluring and empowering, inviting us to question the limits of human potential.
Movie Review: Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters
I’m glad I didn’t see it in the theaters… the previews were lies.. I saw a few of the scenes in the movie and another in the “recap” part of the movie.
Second, how many other movies were released with close to the same title? I wanted to watch it on Netflix.. nope.. they had “Hansel & Gretel” but not the one I wanted, Redbox had another “Hansel & Gretel” I was getting frustrated until I finally went online and found it.
Thankfully I went into the movie expecting something like Van Helsing… and that is what I got.
I like Famke Janssen, I really do. I’ve seen her in X-Men, Love & Sex, Eulogy, and one of my favorites House on Haunted Hill.
She can play evil characters really well.. but I don’t think she had enough time to develop as her character.. which no one even said her name in the movie (I don’t think) and yet the credits she’s “Muriel”.
I think she’s having a Monday..
There are quite a few holes in this movie like Hasel’s sickness, what makes high witches special, why Muriel can change from normal looking to witchy looking, what in the world do trolls have to do with this movie, white witches, where the fancy weaponry came from if it’s supposed to be olden times, how in the world did Gretel go from a dress to pants?
But suspend disbelief when watching this movie and don’t let the kids see it, it’s R for language and gore.. because there’s some words that would not have been used during that time frame and lots of gore.. and scary jumpy scenes oh and some nudity.
I don’t think I will be watching this again.. because of the inconsistencies.. I have no problems being taken to the land of Oz or seeing what’s lurking in a haunted house, but bringing shot guns into near medieval times really pushes my disbelief.
I would have gone with either being in present day or ditching the fancy guns for doing something more like Sleepy Hollow when Tim Burton remade it. It was still gory, but did a great job of staying in the past and sticking to what would have been available to use during that time.
Notable performance: The good witch Mina played by Pihla Viitala and the evil sheriff.. played by the awesome Peter Stormare.. don’t recognize him? If you’ve seen Constantine you should, he played Satan.
10 Reasons Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Is Secretly Great
I know. It's officially "rotten" with an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's stupid, silly, and insanely violent, and so was understandably shuffled off into January, a dumping ground for movies Hollywood doesn't know how to sell. I'll be the first to admit, it's a dumb movie. But if loving Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Paramount Pictures seems to have suspected critics by and large wouldn't care for Norwegian writer-director Tommy Wirkola's English-language debut, as press screenings for the film were notoriously hard to come by. This is why fellow bloggers/critics, Rudie Obias, Angie Han and Perri Nemiroff and I braved the insanely cold temperatures Friday to see the movie on its opening night. Our theater was far from packed, and we all agreed our expectations were low after the release's repeated delays and the bad reviews our colleagues had posted. But hey, Jeremy Renner and R-rated action, how bad could it be? The answer was pretty bad, but also a bit brilliant.
When the lights came up, three of the four of us confessed we enjoyed the flick for its wild and weird sensibilities. It was fun and a satisfying night out at the movies. But the more I thought about Hansel & Gretel, the more its poor reputation bothered me. Sure it's silly and there are some issues with the second act, but there are some things that make it totally worth the price of admission. In fact, there are ten of them.
1. The movie knows what it is. From its title to its gruesome opening title sequence and the gleefully audacious violence throughout, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters knows it is to be the ballsy cousin to the PG-13 rated fairy tale adventures like Snow White and the Huntsman. It's meant to be outrageous and for adults only, and it owns that.
2. It revels in its R-rating. Not only is there a bit of bawdy nudity (which elicited excited "Ooos" from our audience) and well-placed f-bombs, but also there's plenty of violence that is giddy in its gore. This includes a sequence where a rampaging troll squishes a band of men into puddles of blood and brain matter with his bare hands and a well-placed stomp.
3. The violence is inventive. There's been plenty of bloodshed in the movies of January 2013, but none has been so entertaining as this. With steampunk-inspired weapons and grimly spun traps, Hansel and Gretel tear into witches in a way that seems out of exploitation movies and anime. It's bonkers and bloody fun.
4. Its humor is deranged. If you've seen Wirkola's Nazi-zombie movie Dead Snow, you probably expected nothing less. And you won't be disappointed here. For instance, there's a scene as seen in the trailer where Hansel positions an admirer to block him from incoming viscera as a hunter explodes, keeping this witch hunter clean.
5. Hansel suffers from diabetes. It's sort of his kryptonite, and its use as a plot point is both absurd and hilarious. Also, his insulin works like spinach does to Popeye. What's not to love?
6. Jeremy Renner gets roughed up. I count myself as a big Renner fan, and recognize he's probably less than thrilled that this movie has followed The Avengers, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and The Bourne Legacy. Still, few actors are as fun to watch engaging in action scenes where they take hard hits. Here Hansel gets pounded by super-powered witches and battered by trees, and Renner makes it as hilarious as it is cringe-inducing.
7. Gretel's no pushover. Played by Gemma Arterton, Gretel is a powerful warrior. She not only has a deadly aim with her crossbow, but also is treated like an equal to the male characters. In one scene, she's ambushed by a bunch of local men, and the blows come hard and fast with no punches pulled. It was thrilling to see a fairy tale heroine actually get to kick some ass. (Looking at you, Snow White and the Huntsman.)
8. Peter Stormare commits self-plagiarism. Most times repeating a performance might be a bad thing, but Stormare's manic and power-hungry villain Cavaldi was my favorite part of Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm. While that fantasy feature has a lot in common with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters--down to much of the plot—I was most thrilled to see Stormare with ridiculous facial hair and an audacious accent to match playing the thorn in the side of the film's witch hunters.
9. The witches are wonderful. Famke Janssen is clearly having a blast playing the seductive and deeply evil Muriel, who can shape shift from a beautiful woman to a cracked and wretched crone with ease. Similarly, the other witches seemed wildly deadly. They have immense strength, run like werewolves, and have looks that are the stuff of nightmares. A sequence involving a sprawling coven made me wish I could pause to take in all the cool, creative and creepy character designs.
10. Hansel and Gretel don't give a shit. While some didn't care for these sibling's blasé attitude about slaying witches, I found their smugness funny and fitting for the film. In the end, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is the honey badger of movies. You can call it crazy or nasty or stupid. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters doesn't care. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters doesn't give a shit.
This sense of control over one's destiny is both alluring and empowering, inviting us to question the limits of human potential. Beyond the mere wielding of magical abilities, a witch's existence is marked by a deep connection to nature and the spiritual realm. She is in tune with the rhythms of the earth, drawing inspiration and energy from the natural world.
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The Plot & Other Problems
So I have to admit I have a little gay crush on Gemma Arterton, there is just something about her that I find absurdly attractive. Plus she has a hot voice which makes her even more awesome! Saw this trailer like a year ago and it looked totally cool but I never got around to seeing the movie. Until now. But I had really high hopes for it – but now that I’ve seen it I liked it I felt it fell a bit flat. Like there was something missing.
Also I could have done with out Hansel’s love sub-plot with Mina. He had so much more chemistry with Gretel (Arterton) which was awesome. In the way that they made a great sibling pair but I could totally see lots of weird sexual tension there. There was actually the one scene were it almost looks like they’re going to kiss.
Not very brotherly and sisterly that pose…
Anyways, moving on.
I’d have liked more sibling interaction rather than the Mina story but other than that and the fact that it was a little short and had that “missing” feeling I really liked it. I’m totally going to watch it again. I mean it’s not going to win a Oscar or anything but it’s a really cool move. Blood, evil witches, Gemma in leather pants, steam punk guns and lots of totally dark but oh so funny jokes/one-liners.
Also this movie really made me want to write something with a cute brother and sister pair at a museum. Maybe a middle grade book or something. Don’t ask me how an R-rated movie with so much gore and blood you almost drown in it, put this idea into my head. I’m just weird that way!
Hansel’s best line; Don’t eat the fucking candy!
Gretel’s best line: I hate to break this to you, but this isn’t gonna be an open casket (funeral).
Don’t they just look awesome?
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Whether communing with the moon, dancing under the stars, or casting spells amidst the whispering of ancient trees, the witch is a symbol of the inherent harmony between humanity and the elements. But there is more to a witch than her supernatural powers and affinity for nature. She represents a rebellion against societal norms and expectations. In many tales and myths, witches challenge the established order, refusing to conform to rigid gender roles or conformist beliefs. They embrace their individuality and unique gifts, embodying the potential for personal freedom and self-realization. The magical existence of a witch is also a reminder of the importance of intuition and spirituality in our own lives. In a world dominated by logic and reason, witches call us to embrace the mysterious and the unseen. They remind us that there is more to life than what meets the eye, inviting us to tap into our own inner magic and explore the depths of our consciousness. In conclusion, the image of a witch casts a powerful spell on our collective imagination, enchanting and delighting us with the possibility of a magical existence. Through her connection to the supernatural, nature, and personal freedom, the witch symbolizes the inherent potential within each of us to embrace our own magic and forge our own unique path in life. In celebrating the witch, we celebrate the enchantment and wonder that lies within the human spirit..
Reviews for "Spells for Self-Discovery: Unleashing Your Inner Witch"
1. Jane Doe - 2/5 stars - I found "Casting Enchantment and Delighting in the Magical Existence of a Witch" to be quite disappointing. The storyline was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and didn't evoke any emotion or connection. The writing style was also quite lackluster, with overly descriptive passages that felt forced and added nothing to the plot. Overall, I was hoping for a captivating and enchanting read, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations.
2. John Smith - 3/5 stars - While "Casting Enchantment and Delighting in the Magical Existence of a Witch" had its moments, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the overall story. The pacing was inconsistent, with long periods of slow development and sudden bursts of action that didn't feel organic to the plot. The characters were intriguing at first, but their motivations and actions became increasingly confusing as the story progressed. Additionally, I felt that the world-building was lacking, leaving many unanswered questions. Overall, while the concept had potential, the execution fell flat for me.
3. Sarah Thompson - 2/5 stars - As a fan of witch-themed books, I was excited to read "Casting Enchantment and Delighting in the Magical Existence of a Witch." However, I was sorely disappointed. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, jumping between various timelines without clear transitions. The writing style was also quite verbose, with unnecessary tangents and excessive description, slowing down the pace of the story. Furthermore, the characters lacked depth and their relationships felt forced. In the end, I found myself struggling to finish the book and ultimately felt let down by the overall execution.