The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Director:

Terry Gilliam

Writer (WGA):

Ehren Kruger (written by)

Release Date:

26 August 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

Eliminating Evil Since 1812

Plot:

Will and Jake Grimm are travelling con-artists who encounter a genuine fairy-tale curse which requires genuine courage instead of their usual bogus exorcisms.

Plot Keywords:

Village | Curse | Forest | Con Artist | Creature

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Petr Ratimec	...	Young Will
Barbora Lukesová	...	Mother Grimm (as Barbara Lukesova)
Anna Rust	...	Sister Grimm
Jeremy Robson	...	Young Jacob
Matt Damon	...	Wilhelm Grimm
Heath Ledger	...	Jacob Grimm
Radim Kalvoda	...	Gendarme
Martin Hofmann	...	Gendarme
Josef Pepa Nos	...	German War Veteran
Harry Gilliam	...	Stable Boy
Miroslav Táborský	...	Old Miller
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Mayor
Marika Sarah Procházková	...	Miller's Daughter (as Marika Prochazkova)
Mackenzie Crook	...	Hidlick
Richard Ridings	...	Bunst

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, frightening sequences and brief suggestive material.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | Czech Republic | USA

Language:

English | French | German | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIB | Finland:K-11 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:PG-13 | Norway:11 | Brazil:14 | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | Belgium:KT | Slovakia:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Argentina:13 | Malaysia:U | Hungary:16 | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Czech Republic:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ledec nad Sázavou, Czech Republic

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Matt Damon and Heath Ledger were originally cast in opposite roles. They petitioned and switched their roles.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the film, when Cavaldi is approaching the bed where Will and the twins are sleeping, the twin in Will's right arm is sleeping on her left side, almost completely over on her stomach, yet a frame later, as she reacts to Cavaldi's presence by looking up at him, she is lying flat on her back.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sister Grimm: Mama, it's so cold.
Mother Grimm: It's very, very cold. Will. Put another log on the fire, lad.
Young Will: There isn't any more firewood, mama.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HypaSpace: (#4.170)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Rock-a-Bye Baby

Fine Adventure, Fun Fantasy, But Too Dark For The Kids.

I have to begin this review by letting you know right off that I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I haven't adored everything Terry Gilliam has done, but I don't hate his style, either. Rather, I judge each movie by its own merits.

This work is adventurous, exciting, and story-driven. Most would probably consider this work action-driven, but I find there IS a good solid story behind the action. It has moments of suspense, breath-taking imagery, and stylized humor. It is a great movie.

A great movie, which has obvious flaws.

Regardless of how much I enjoyed this movie, there was one element which nagged at me the whole time I was viewing this work. Mind you, I have not seen this on DVD, so I am unaware if they have created the DVD "fix" for this yet, or not. I could not help but notice, in several places, the editing seemed stiff.

I am fervently hoping that this came from a paring down of those scenes. If such is the case, then I am also (just as fervently) hoping they give us (the US & Canada) a Region 1, 2-disk Director's Cut with those scenes edited BACK IN! I hate it when they include the deleted scenes outside the movie. Put those back where they belong!

On the flip side...

With the release of Underworld in 2003, the sub-sub-genre of Action/Horror has taken a turn at the box office. Just as, "The Worst Witch," revived the interest in Magick and fantasy, and generated an audience for the later, "Harry Potter," series, so did, "Underworld," revive the Horror genre and the appreciation for the blending of Horror and Action.

This work, "The Brothers Grimm," as an Action/Horror, does not foot the bill. There is too little Horror and the action is sometimes a bit subdued. There are places where CGI and/or choreography is obvious thereby breaking the Spell so competently woven by the story and virtue of the characters. However, it IS too dark for the kiddies, and still quite enjoyable.

I was not disappointed, but I was not elated over the final product, either. Here's hoping for a GOOD "fix" (and a timely release) of the 2-disk Region 1 Director's Cut DVD release.

It rates an 8.6/10 from...

the Fiend :.