Red Riding Hood

The classic fairytale gets a redo. Not set in modern day but still with a modern sensibility.

When a film becomes hugely successful everyone else tries to copy it. The success of 'Twilight' has meant we now get romantic stories with supernatural elements. This film is really similar to 'Twilight'. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they share the same director. I suppose that because she did not get to direct anymore 'Twilight' films that Catherine Hardwicke had to do this as compensation. The love story is almost identical except that we don't know if the guy is a supernatural being or not. This is pretty much the only thing keeping the film from descending into complete boredom. We are kept interested by wondering who the wolf is amongst the towns folk. The rest of the story is really boring and the type of thing you've seen so many times before. It is not even filmed in an interesting way. I must say that it looks like the most dangerous set ever constructed. With sharp spikes on all the trees in the forest and on the buildings in the village. I'd like to know if there were any serious accidents on set or almost accidents.

Amanda Seyfried has the potential to be a good actress but she insists on doing these teen dramas. Hopefully she does it for the money. The two love interests Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons do there best to look moody. The only ones who look like they are having any fun are the experienced actors Gary Oldman and Julie Christie. They have pitched their performances at just the right tone that they don't look like they are taking all this silliness very seriously.

If you want to see an excellent revision of the Little Red Riding Hood story then see an early Reese Witherspoon film 'Freeway'. Avoid this one.