‘Gretel’ glitches, ‘Quartet’ crumbles and ‘Memphis’ moves in theaters

Among the new movies that were released Friday, Jan. 25 in theaters throughout the Valley are a new twist on an old fable, Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut and a documentary about the West Memphis Three.

‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’

Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton play vigilantes who, after getting a taste for blood as children, must face an evil far greater than witches - their past. (R - 88 minutes)

“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” starts off in a fast and furious fashion with practical special effects reminiscent of 80’s disasters such as “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” and “Howard the Duck,” one-liners that are more likely to make you roll your eyes than laugh and unadulterated violence that forever defiles the basis behind children’s fairy tales. In other words, writer/director Tommy Wirkola’s action-packed fantasy flick begins as a very good bad movie. But, before long, the good goes away as the flick evolves into a strangely sober “Saturday Night Live” skit that overstays its welcome and exhausts its cheesy charm. (Grade: D)

‘Quartet’*

Maggie Smith plays an eternal diva whose arrival disrupts a home for retired opera singers' annual concert. (PG-13 – 95 minutes)

“Quartet” - the latest movie that appears to be riding the newly formed wave of entertainment aiming to appeal exclusively to aging audiences - is so sweet and conflict free that it makes “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” look like an extremely complicated and complex motion picture. Granted, one does not want to upset the apple cart of viewers who venture out of their retirement homes on field trips to the picture show too much, but the new drama from director Dustin Hoffman - yes, that Dustin Hoffman in his inaugural effort behind the camera - is in desperate need of more weight. (Grade: F)

*Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5.

‘West of Memphis’*

Filmmaker Amy Berg examines a catastrophic failure of justice in Arkansas, telling the story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. (R - 147 minutes)

One would think that Amy Berg, the director of “West of Memphis” - a remarkably well-researched documentary that essentially condemns the criminal system for taking too long to grant justice to the wrongly convicted - would have found a way to tell the story of the West Memphis Three in less than two-and-a-half hours. All irony aside, this motion picture packs a powerful punch - both intellectually and emotionally. Prepare to be disturbed. Prepare to be angry. Prepare to be inspired. The movie is as compelling as it comprehensive, drawing those who are familiar with the case as well as newcomers deep into the difficult ordeal. (Grade: B)

*Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5.