By Sarah Sluis
Hollywood's search for familiar characters and stories has led it to create movies from toys (Transformers), board games (Battleship) and self-help books (He's Just Not That Into You). Now it seems studios are going back to basics, with many getting on board amped-up fairy tale adaptations. A rundown, from the normal to the peculiar:
Beastly: This Beauty and the Beast remake is all about cashing in on Twilight. Former "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens falls in love with pretty-boy-turned-cursed-beast Alex Pettyfer (a rumored troublemaker), in what appears to be an unimaginative update. Verdict: The Clueless/Sense and Sensibility route of teen adaptations.
Red Riding Hood: This adaptation comes from the actual director of Twilight, Catherine Hardwicke, and stars Amanda Seyfried in a striking red caplet. A werewolf is terrorizing the Medieval-esque town, and she thinks she might know who the handsome predator is. No shrinking violet, she carries a knife for protection. This adaptation appears to take some liberties in its fleshing-out of the fairy tale, but it still reserves catchphrases like "What big eyes you have!" for key moments. I predict the movie will be much more appealing to those in need of a Twilight fix. Verdict: I feel like I've seen this movie before, but without such sexual overtones. Could this be like the Demi Moore adaptation of The Scarlet Letter?
Snow White and the Huntman: Kristen Stewart is in talks to play the princess, and Julia Roberts the evil queen in this "modern" adaptation of Snow White. While Internet plot reports are scattered, it seems the story centers on the bond created between the huntsman and Snow White when the woodsman refuses to obey the evil queen's orders to kill her. Verdict: With a tentpole release for summer 2012, I predict an Alice in Wonderland-type experience, with big budgets and an expanded take on a classic tale.
Maleficent, Tink: Each of these movies takes a supporting character from the Disney empire and gives her a chance in the spotlight. Maleficent will take the same strategy with Sleeping Beauty that Wicked did with The Wizard of Oz: Cast the villain as a misunderstood victim with her own reasons for her actions. Tim Burton's directing, but this film may give him an opportunity to go darker than Alice in Wonderland. Tink will take more of a romantic comedy route, with Elizabeth Banks reported to be playing the "mischevious" fairy. Verdict: Disney doesn't like to mess with its characters, so this shows the studio's more adventurous side. The iconic status of these characters is a big draw.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters: The title really says it all, doesn't it? Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton play survivors of the gingerbread house oven who parlay their witch-killing smarts into a full-time position as bounty hunters. Verdict: Weird. A fractured fairy tale in the vein of Shrek, but with promises of more action violence.
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