The Brothers Grimm is basically a fun adventure movie but comes off being less fun than, say, The Mummy (1999). We know from the movie trailer and website that the two Grimm brothers are the heroes and have an ally in the form of a girl ranger, Angelika. Together, they have to thwart the evil Mirror Queen’s plan for beauty and save the day. What we don’t know is how the abducted girls are to be used and how the Queen is to be defeated. But from the clues already given, one can guess that a mirror will have the same function the portrait painting in the Dorian Grey story. Despite knowing significant elements of the plot, the movie still manages to pull off enough surprises to keep the suspense and fun.
Movies of this genre typically rely on a story architecture that draws on the metaphor of a mythic journey (as in Campbell’s The Hero of a Thousand Faces) to give the plot substance. Fast pace action sequences (hopefully that are original) are used to smooth over the formularic nature of the story. The problem with The Brothers Grimm is that its action sequences aren’t fast paced enough or very original. Because of this, compared to say The Mummy (1999), it’s not as fun even though it has more depth.
Furthermore, the two Grimm brothers and Angelika get special treatment from the antagonists. The dangers they faced aren’t as real for them as for the others accompanying them. Somehow, they aren’t targeted for death blows unlike their companions. So they survive because of the pulled punches and this reduces the tension.
These flaws make the movie less fun than it could have been.
In updating the old folktales, a positive revision on gender roles is made. The two brothers Jacob (Heath Ledger) and Will (Matt Damon) saves the damsels in distress at the end but not before Angelika rescues them from certain death. Some might say, such a revision is not unnecessary. In the old folktales, when the villian is a witch, the witch kicks ass and reigns undefeated for a long time. However, this revision positions feminine power in a positive rather than negative role.
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Article comments
1 - Bob A. Booey
I know Terry Gilliam is an acclaimed director, but I knew this movie was doomed to bomb when they switched from the whimsical commercials to commercials advertising it as an action movie -- "The Brothers Grimm do not heah you!!!!"
I mean, come on. Talk about bad marketing. It's about friggin fairy tales and they're trying to sell it as some exciting action flick.
That is all.
2 - Bob A. Booey
How'd my comment here disappear? Did you delete it, hombre?
That is all.