Reel Views: It's time to hunt some witches

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Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner in Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel, the brother and sister who are nearly eaten by an evil witch in the woods. It's a staple of children's fairy tales. But who really knows what happens after the story ends?

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters picks up the tale 15 years after the siblings' harrowing escape; they are now professional witch hunters — witch bounty hunters, to be more specific. Aside from an unfortunate case of diabetes for Hansel, which resulted from his eating too much sugar as a child in the witch's house, the siblings couldn't be in better health. In fact, they have the strange ability to resist any spells and enchantments placed upon them by witches, making their jobs much easier. When a new and strangely magical coven of witches encroaches on their territory, Hansel and Gretel set off to protect the village and perhaps learn the secret to their tragic and violent past.

Stepping into one of the two lead roles as the badass Hansel is Hollywood's new favourite action star Jeremy Renner. Renner, perhaps best known for his role in The Hurt Locker, plays Hansel like he plays everything else: hard and fast.

Playing his equally badass sister Gretel is Gemma Arterton, a British actress who's had roles in Quantum of Solace and Clash of the Titans. Arterton does an astonishing job of holding her own alongside Renner and is quickly becoming a bona fide action star in her own right.

Famke Janssen, best known as Jean Grey/Phoenix in the X-Men series, plays the head of the coven of witches, Muriel. There is rarely a role in which Janssen doesn't shine, and Hansel and Gretel is certainly one of the ones where she shines brightest.

Playing Mina, one of other witches in the coven, is Pihla Viitala, a Finnish actress who is a relative newcomer on North American screens.

Rounding out the cast as the mayor of Hansel and Gretel's village is Peter Stormare.

The story of Hansel and Gretel is an inherently dark one; parents abandon their children in the woods where an evil witch tries to eat them. So when Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters takes a dark story and makes it even darker, it serves to heighten the entire atmosphere. The dark colour scheme used for the movie amplifies this even more and the oldschool weapons used within, such as awesome crossbows, give each and every injury sustained an extra-gruesome feeling.

If you loved the old fairy tale about the children who outsmart the witch, or you're a devoted Jeremy Renner supporter, or even if you just want to see a new spin on action movies, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is worth checking out.

Rating: 4 out of 5