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Movies / On DVD / The Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm

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The Brothers Grimm (2005)

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Reviews Counted:175

Fresh:65

Rotten:110

Average Rating:5.1/10

Consensus: The Brothers Grimm is full of beautiful imagery, but the story is labored and less than enchanting.

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: Director Terry Gilliam, who brought his magical storytelling talents to such films as TIME BANDITS and THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN, sets his sights on the Brothers Grimm, turning their life... Director Terry Gilliam, who brought his magical storytelling talents to such films as TIME BANDITS and THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN, sets his sights on the Brothers Grimm, turning their life into a playfully grim fairy tale all its own. Set in early 18th century French-occupied Germany, THE BROTHERS GRIMM stars Matt Damon as Will Grimm and Heath Ledger as Jake Grimm, siblings who travel the countryside as snake-oil salesmen, convincing unsuspecting towns that they are haunted and agreeing to get rid of the demons--for a price. In the meantime, they set their tales down in writing, creating a wealth of oddball, offbeat, and frightening characters. But after they are caught by General Delatombe (Jonathan Pryce) and his sidekick, Cavaldi (Peter Stormare), they are sent to the tiny village of Marbaden to solve the mysterious disappearance of a number of young girls, placing them in the middle of a fantasy world unlike any they'd ever invented. They enlist the help of a peasant woman, Angelika (Lena Headey), and they set off for the evil forest to save the lives of the girls--and themselves. Gilliam has once again built a unique, entertaining land where anything can happen, and he throws in references to such Grimm tales as Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and the Frog Prince for good measure. The movie also features Mackenzie Crook and Richard Ridings as the Grimms' cohorts, Monica Bellucci as the Mirror Queen, and Julian Bleach and Bruce McEwan as two of Cavaldi's henchmen. [More]

Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Peter Stormare, Monica Bellucci

Starring: Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, Peter Stormare, Monica Bellucci, Jonathan Pryce, Lena Headey, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Mackenzie Crook, Richard Ridings, Julian Bleach, Bruce McEwan

Director: Terry Gilliam

Director: Terry Gilliam
Screenwriter: Ehren Kruger
Producer: Charles Roven, Daniel Bobker
Composer: Dario Marinelli
Studio: Dimension Films

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Reviews for The Brothers Grimm

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Perfect family entertainment and undoubtedly well worth seeing, but somewhat of a let down.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
12/06/05
Joe Utichi
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus

Until the plot goes wrong, this is a thoroughly entertaining period romp

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
09/08/05
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Perfect material, you might think, for Terry Gilliam's brain of perpetual invention. But despite occasional flashes of dark genius, he hasn't laid a golden egg.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/11/05
Jamie Woolley
Jamie Woolley
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Brothers Grimm has its moments, but it's ultimately a very flawed film and capsizes under the weight of some hammy performances and a poorly-conceived script.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
11/02/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
12/06/05
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
12/06/05
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Observer [UK]

Gilliam hasn't lost his manic visual touch or his flair for dangerously dark humor, but the story isn't worthy of the masterful tale-tellers who gave the film its title -- and not of your moviegoing dough, either.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
08/26/05
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Gilliam transmutes familiar fairy tales . . . into something that is distinctly his own [with] absurdist humor and more than a little social commentary

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
08/21/05
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

Not bad, but certainly not Gilliam at the top of his game.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
08/25/05
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

Rises slightly above a mere effects parade.

Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
08/30/05
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

Fairy tales are all about feeding our imaginations, and Gilliam was only allowed to bring out the snack tray.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
08/26/05
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic

It might be Gilliam's worst movie, but it's still okay.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/25/05
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Sacramento News & Review

You won't want to pass this version of The Brothers Grimm on to your children. But you may find yourself coming back to marvel at parts of it for the rest of your life.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
08/26/05
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

Heath Ledger gets better with every role, and the chance to inhabit a socially maladjusted introvert like Jacob has resulted in his most winning portrayal to date.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
08/25/05
Brett Buckalew
Brett Buckalew
FilmStew.com

... an enchantingly quirky [journey]-- provided you're willing to buy a ticket and climb aboard director Terry Gilliam's flying circus, no questions asked.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal | comment Comment
08/29/05
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Director Terry Gilliam hasn't made a movie this playful since his Monty Python days, scattering visual and verbal puns throughout Grimm like Hansel and Gretel scatter breadcrumbs.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
08/25/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Gilliam is still a visual showman, a childish tease and an artist with an imagination too big for cinema.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
08/28/05
Collin Souter
Collin Souter
eFilmCritic.com

The film is as much about the process of creation, of spinning yarns and contexts, as it is about any particular yarns.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
08/26/05
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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