Review of Red Riding Hood (2011) by Jeremy S — 10 Nov 2011

So Catherine Hardwicke again proves she should really just go back to doing independent movies and stay there. This isn't anything amazing. But it just hits that mark that makes it good enough to be worth watching.

Through out the whole film I started to wonder when Ledger and Damon were going to show up as the Brothers Grimm to defeat the beast. Because this movie looks exactly like it. Not that it's a bad thing.

The script is very clunky and underdeveloped. Really will be no dialogue worth remembering. The CGI wolf looked rush though better then the Twilight series since it looked more like a wolf. The three main characters don't do anything all that interesting though I don't blame them.

They have no chemistry and lack any development. I know Seyfried is more then a pretty face. Very very pretty face. Watch Chloe and you'll see she has talent. But again I put the blame on Hardwicke.

Billy Burke and Virginia Madsen talents are wasted with characters that really have nothing to do. And the climax is rather short and messy. I'm usually good at guessing and in fifteen minutes I had my idea of who it was and why I thought that way.

Then when I found out differently (even though they give a solid explanation I felt it was still lacking. Despite these many cons, there are some decent assets. The score is atmospheric enough and the costume and set design are spot on.

I loved the set pieces. Made it feel fairytalish rather then real world. It looked like a play. Plus there are two good performances, Gary Oldman and Julie Christie. Oldman does chew the scenery, but he looks as though he's having a ball, while Christie is very enchanting.