Henrick Vartanian
At Brave New Hollywood, we are going to go out on a limb and say RED RIDING HOOD (Warner Bros.) on itunes was an exciting colorful feast, only because we are usually used to our habitual movie viewing, on our premium cable channels like HBO and Showtime, and on NetFlix. So, the itunes experience was actually refreshing, fun and drama-free, especially given the fact that the computer we chose to view on was not that fast.
Starring Amanda Seyfried as Valerie, Red Riding Hood is a daring re-telling of a timeless classic, where “Red” (aka: Valerie) is older, stunningly beautiful, but not as innocent or naive as we remember in the stories told by our grandmothers. This Red’s got boys fighting over her.
The residents of Valerie’s small village are disturbed by the violent visits of a big black wolf that seems to have a specific prey in mind. The men of the village mostly helmed by Solomon, a religious type (played by Gary Oldman), rise to the occasion in fighting the mean beast. But the key to a peaceful resolution may lie in the hands of the younger generation.
The film is directed by Catherine Hardwicke who is no stranger to angst ridden, sexy “tween” dramas without going over board, such as: “Thirteen,” “Lords of Dogtown” and of course the first “Twilight” movie, believed by many fans to be the best of the franchise, so far.
This is the director’s most colorful picture yet, thanks to the contrast of saturated colors against the white and gray mountains and the wood-colored village where the heroes of the story reside.
The DVD, Blu-ray combo pack is also a treat. It is loaded with get this, a different ending, plus additional unseen scenes. There is a special commentary about the secrets behind the red cloak worn by Amanda Seyfried, including music videos, and everyone’s favorite, a gag reel. All digital and easily transferable to your favorite portable gadgets.
The itunes experience: it was quite impressive. Great sound, crisp picture and colors that jump off the screen, all credit to cinematographer Mandy Walker, who between all that computer generated imagery, managed to frame a great looking picture. The thick forest, and the wide snowy landscape, punched by Valerie’s red cloak look dazzling. Adding to the aesthetics is the eye-candy in the form of Amanda Seyfried (Valerie), Shiloh Fernandez (Peter), and Max Irons (Henry). 
A scene-stealing presence by Max Irons, as Henry. The new comer pulls off the strong silent type, and the heroic saver of the day, with a sex appeal, all his own, without turning into a cliché action-star character. Hmm, are we still talking about things that add to the visual quality of the film? You betcha!
The production design is top notch. The set design and costumes all get their chance to showcase themselves during this itunes streaming, holding their colorful palate.
To watch RED RIDING HOOD on itunes, CLICK HERE.
For more RED RIDING HOOD on Brave New Hollywood, CLICK HERE.
