Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

A brilliant star turn by Clorris Leachman as the witch. Probably could do with being a bit shorter but an enjoyable watch none the less, some parts of the film are genuinely scary.

In the 1980s, Cannon Films made a lot of truly brain-numbing films...films known mostly for explosions, punching and similar non-intellectual and child-unfriendly faire. Because of this, I was really shocked to see that the company made some films based on fairy tales instead of Chuck Norris blowing up 100,000 no-goodnicks! And, the results are surprisingly good for Cannon. While the credits claim that the film was inspired by the opera "Hansel & Gretel", the story has no operatic singing whatsoever. There are a few annoying songs sung by the children, but they really aren't opera style in the least...which I think is a good thing. One thing you MIGHT be wondering is whether or not this story is appropriate for kids. Since these sorts of fairy tales have MANY different versions and there is no definitive and true version, the fact that this version is less bloody and child unfriendly isn't a bad thing. In most versions of the story, Hansel and Gretel are children who have been deliberately abandoned in the woods to await death because their parents are evil and poor and either don't want to feed them or cannot afford to do so. But in this one, Hansel and Gretel are just kind of dumb and wander off into the woods and are lost. And, the rest of the story is pretty much what you'd expect...minus the really evil parents. So is it any good? Yes, though I think the weakest point are the children themselves...as they are (as I said above) a bit annoying. The adult actors, such as David Warner and Cloris Leachman (as the witch) are very good and the story interesting enough to satisfy folks of neatly all ages. I say nearly because teens and the easily jaded probably will find it all a bit silly.

I have not seen all of the Cannon Movie Tales but so far I like this one best. This fairy tale was always interesting as a kid because of the house made of cookies and candy. Which kid would not love to find that! The candy house really came across as real so well done on the makers there. The story is pretty true adaptation but more elaborated. I'm glad they didn't make the mother so cold as in the original tale where she didn't seem to care about them. Nicola Stapleton was a nice little Snow White and plays the role of Gretl eagerly well but so does Hansel. But the real star is the evil witch, she is so ugly and scary, really I wouldn't want to be trapped in that house with her even not as adult. And all that sugary food shown it makes you want to have pie and cake for real! I think the movie found the perfect balance between scary (the witch) and sweet (thanks to the songs).

I remember renting this movie before at my local blockbuster and it is by far the best adaptation of the Grimm Brothers tale and with music from the Opera itself and usually i watch this around Christmas time or something, plus Cloris Leachman is remarkable as the Witch compared to Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz and David Warner is also brilliant as Hansel and Gretel's father and the songs from the Opera are outstanding, brilliant, amazing and this movie will make you laugh, it will make you cry and put a smile on your face to this classic Cannon-Fairy Tale movie.

I can't say much except the ending s*cked. I enjoyed the movie except the last 10-15 minutes. Did the producers/ directors need to add time ?

The movie you show here is the correct 1987 film but the movie that plays from your link is of the same title but not correct. That movie claims it was from 1988 but Dakota fanning is in it. She wasn't born till 94. Something is very off here. Please fix this error!

I LOVED this film as a kid. I would dream of the gingerbread house yet have nightmares about the witch. Me and my sister's watched it loads then it just seemed to disappear from TV. I recently found it on Netflix and watched it with my kids - aged 2, 3 & 5. I was excited to rewatch it and to also see their reactions as I do with all of my childhood favourites. Firstly, as the film got going, I was thinking "is that the bird from 90s Eastenders?". Sadly, I was also thinking "what is this bag of s***?!?" However much I found myself disliking this film as an adult I couldn't help notice my kids all being transfixed to the screen as I must have been when I was their age. Suddenly I found myself enjoying the film again but as a parent both sharing a memory and making one new ones for little minds at the same time. Whether child or adult, by the end of the movie I was craving some gingerbread and being badgered by the kids to make a gingerbread house. Roll on Xmas and their Aldi special!