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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, a review by addicted2dvd

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters: Unrated Cut (2013/United States) Trailer |IMDb |Wikipedia | Paramount Home Entertainment Director: Tommy Wirkola Writing: Tommy Wirkola (Writer) Length: 98 min. Rating: Unrated Video: Widescreen :1 Audio: English: Dolby TrueHD: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

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Stars:
Jeremy Renner as Hansel
Gemma Arterton as Gretel
Famke Janssen as Muriel
Pihla Viitala as Mina
Derek Mears as Edward
Robin Atkin Downes as Edward (Voice)

Plot:
Get ready for a twisted take on the classic tale as Hansel (JEREMY RENNER) and Gretel (GEMMA ARTERTON) have turned pro, coping with the trauma of their childhood captivity by slaying witches for hire. But when seemingly unstoppable bounty hunters meet their match in an enemy so evil, it'll take all their training, weapons and courage to survive. PAYBACK IS A WITCH!

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Digital Copy

We decided to watch this one last night. I know a lot of people don't like this kind of film where they mix action and horror together... but it is a genre I have always liked. And this film is no different. While I wouldn't say it is the best I have seen in the genre... I definitely enjoyed it quite a bit. This film has an interesting take on an old story and the cast all did a great job. I also was happy they didn't feel the need to make this a 2+ hour movie... like a lot of films are anymore. Anyway... definitely recommended.



(From The Alphabet Marathon: Blu-ray Edition on July 11th, 2014)

The Student of Prague, a review by Danae Cassandra

The Student of Prague  (Der Student von Prague)
Year of Release: 1913
Directed By: Stellen Rye
Starring: Paul Wegener, John Gottowt, Lyda Salmonova, Grete Berger
Genre: Drama, Horror

Overview:

Balduin (Paul Wegener) is a penniless student in 19th century Prague who, in a chance encounter, rescues the beautiful Countess Margit Schwarzenberg and becomes romantically obsessed with her. Scapinelli, the sorcerer, lures the student with a bargain - 100,000 gold pieces - a vast fortune - in return for which "...he shall take from this room whatsoever he chooseth for his own use..." and Balduin hastily signs the contract. Much to the student's astonishment, the old magician approaches a large mirror, extracts Balduin's reflection and departs with it! Intoxicated with his new-found wealth, the student is unaware that he is now doomed to a horrific fate.

With its Faustian theme, 1913's The Student Of Prague is one of the first "horror" movies and a true classic of German expressionist cinema. Alpha Video is pleased to present this landmark film with an original score by Paul David Bergel and completely restored title cards.

My Thoughts:
Early though this film may be, there's still a disquieting, uneasy atmosphere to it. The concept of the doppleganger is still frightening, and the scene where he is drawn out of the mirror is haunting. It's unfortunate that only Baldwin is well-developed as a character, and that the plot is only loosely held together. Also, as good a job as Paul Wegener did playing his character, he is really too old to be convincing as a student. That seems to be an issue for early films like this (Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan comes to mind here). Recommended if you like silent films, especially German Expressionism (as this is a precursor). The story concept is intriguing, and I look forward to watching the 1926 remake at some point in the future.

Bechdel Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on April 7th, 2016)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Waking the Dead - Series One

Pilot - Waking The Dead
A new team of detectives, the Cold Case Squad, is put together to re-examine evidence of unsolved murders using advanced technology. In their first investigation DCI Peter Boyd has a second go at nailing the murderer of Alice Miller, a young girl who disappeared five years ago. Trouble is, the perpetrator is as keen as Boyd to act again, and abducts another girl...



Led by Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd (Trevor Eve) the Cold Case Squad investigates serious crimes which have gone unsolved. Armed with the latest technological advances and old fashioned hard work, Psychological Profiler Grace Foley (Sue Johnston), Forensic Pathologist Frankie Wharton (Holly Aird), Detective Constable Mel Silver (Claire Goose) and Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan (Wil Johnson) wake the dead for clues and answers.

Brutishly long 2 part pilot special, the near 2 hour marathon was quite a slog and the epsiodes felt padded out. This very popular UK series did not hook me with this first episode, I did not warm to either of the 2 leads, Eve and Johnston, and felt they were too old and past it for the roles intended. The actual storyline was ok but surprisingly unoriginal, and there was very little suspense built up over the kidnapping drama.
Altogether not very inspiring.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 17th, 2009)