Movie Review - Brothers Grimm
I'm a big fan of Terry Gilliam. I loved Monty Python and really enjoyed Brazil and Twelve Monkeys. So needless to say, I had a few expectations coming into this film.
The Grimm Brothers in this tale are con artists, taking advantage of local superstitions with elaborate costumes, wires, and gags. The two brothers pretend to rid a town of ghosts while they secretly have two other performers help them rig the whole shebang.
After ridding the town of the fake nuisance, they become heroes. Their luck changes however when they come across a real undead queen.
I loved the sets. The sets get ten dead zombies. I'll probably buy this DVD just to take some scribbles of the sets.
The movie though sucked. None of the dialogue was memorable. The character development never really developed and the editing just didn't seem right. I can't dislike the movie because it was so visually neat.
Yet another reason I hate the rating system, the movie had a PG-13 rating. I'm not faulting Gilliam and company by any means for they have no control of the rating. But you got to see the ripped-up top half of a man, two beheaded people, and a some very brutal deaths as well as cruel medieval torture. Also a few young girls get captured in situations young children shouldn't see, like one girl getting swallowed by a horse.
Some parents brought in their three-year-old kid and the kid was squirming the whole movie, literally ducking his head so he couldn't see over the chair in front of him. Nice going MPAA, you jack***es.
It's worth seeing as a matinee or when it comes on cable, just to see the superb Bavarian fantasy scenery. I strongly caution not letting young children seeing this though. Too bad Gilliam didn't do a better job with it, for it was a wonderful concept. Five dead zombies
Favre rules by the way. Just wanted to let you know. Sure the Packers lost last night, but they fought hard until the very end.
posted by The Zombieslayer @ 9:00 AM
18 Comments:
I almost saw this movie but decided on The 40 Year Old Virgin instead - I needed to laugh.
I will rent this when it's available through Netfix. Nice review!!
Some parents brought in their three-year-old kid and the kid was squirming the whole movie, literally ducking his head so he couldn't see over the chair in front of him. Nice going MPAA, you jack***es.
Wait! Don't fault the rating system, Zombie. It's rated PG-13. Which means the MPAA thought that children under the age of 13 might not be mature enough to see it. That's how I read the ratings. PG-13 is that gap between R and PG. Most PG movies are decent enough for children.
PG-13 movies are really iffy, they don't quite warrant an R but can't get tame enough for PG.
I'm surprised a parent brough a 3 year old to that movie anyways--even the previews looked scary. My 6 year old would cover her eyes if it came on.
Parents are really to blame when it comes to what children should watch. They should be doing their homework first.
My 8 year old boy wanted to see Batman Beyond but after seeing it myself, first--I decided it was way too scary.
Yep - Gilliam is a genius.
I love Munchausen (sp?) and Time Bandits.
I need to go rent them both - thanks for the write up.
Ben O.
Ben O - You're one of the few who liked that one. I thought it wasn't bad but the critics hated it. I still think his best work besides Monty Python was Brazil.
Sadie - Yeah, you're right. But I really think with that level of graphic violence, it should have been an R. I'm not against graphic violence for adults, but even a 13-year-old probably shouldn't see this film. The parents that brought the 3-year-old, now that's just dumb. Star Wars III probably should have had an R rating.
Snavylyn - Was 40 year-old virgin good? I haven't seen it yet.
Yeah, you're right. But I really think with that level of graphic violence, it should have been an R.
And you're probably right about that one. I took my son to see the second Harry Potter movie when it came out and while I don't think it should have been rated R, it was too scary for my son and I regret that I took him to it. I have been way more careful about what I take them to now.
BTW--I loved Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
My parents rented it for us because Sarah Polley was in it and we were following her TV series "Road to Avonlea" on the Disney Channel.
i don't go to many movies, but i remember wayyy back when Blade came out ... some whole family with 3 boys and 2 girls, i think, ranging from 3 to 13ish ... i thought that was poor poor parenting ... but what can ya do ?
I'd been curious if that movie was worth seeing or not. Thanks for review.
That's the second blog review I've read that calls The Grimm Brothers story and dialoge under developed. Thanks for the review ZS. Of course I'd go see it just because Matt Damon is in it. Yowsa! ;)
Moni - Matt Damon was kind of scraggly in it. He did an all right job. Not much to work with though, so I'm not blaming him.
Bsoholic - Heh, and I probably didn't help. If you go into it knowing it will be bad and just go to see the sets, you won't be disappointed.
Thom - As I've said before, not everyone should be a parent.
Sadie - I've never seen Time Bandits. As for HP, I really hope Harry Potter 4 has a PG-13 rating, especially since we know what's going to happen.
i would like to see tori spelling get eaten by a horse. that would be funny.
SME said the same thing about this flick. I was expecting more humor from Gilliam. I opted to wait and rent it.
You MUST see Time Bandits; it's a classic!!
Tshsmom - Okay, that's 3 for Time Bandits. I'll definitely have to rent that one then.
Dave - Imagine being 90210's original director.
"What a !@#$%^& idiot! Whomever did the casting needs to be slapped."
"That's my daughter you're talking about. You're fired!"
We went to see that movie and I fell asleep through the second half - I was not impressed. :-/ The next movie I want to see is Serenity, even if it's fluff. :-P
Bridget - Sure thing. :)
ZL - I'm losing it. I can't believe I forgot to mention my dream woman. What's wrong with me?
She was the best part of the movie. Oh, I know why. It's because she had such a tiny part. For such a significant character, they only gave her like five lines. It pissed me off so much I forgot all about her.
Notta - Will we get a review of Serenity?
Of course - any movie I see will get a review. Unfortunately, I don't see that many. :-P
I totally agree with your review Zombie. Actually The Brothers Grimm was probably my worst movie-going experience ever due the rudeness of the theater crowd, but that's another story.
I've been very dissapointed in Gilliam lately. Brazil is one of my all-time favorite films for so many reasons but one of the best aspects of that film is the characters. You love Jonathan Pryce in that movie and have an emotional connection to him. Not to mention that Kim Girst is mysterious and beautiful as Jill. There were some really soaring, magical moments in that film. And it was all balaced with Gilliam's maniac style.
The Gilliam who made Brothers Grimm is all maniac no magic. He seems to be into style over substance and the results are not pretty. He should take a look at Tim Burton to see a director who takes the macabre and gothic and makes something uplifting and beautiful. The Gilliam who made Brother's Grimm didn't know how to do that.
I agree with most of your points, ZS. Awesome set, bland movie. But I really dug the mud-guy scene!
Dude - I totally forgot Brazil - great flick.
I just love the believable unreality he creates.
Good director
Ben O.
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