Starring: Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Charlize Theron (Monster, The Italian Job), Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
Directed By: Rupert Sanders
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Opening Weekend: $56,217,700
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 2Hr 7Min
Synopsis: Beloved king is deceived and killed by his new mysterious bride. Kingdom of Tabor is plunged into darkness under new Queen's rule. Young, beautiful daughter of King is only person with the power to stop new Queen. Young princess befriends troubled huntsman to help rally up army to take back their kingdom.
Directed By: Rupert Sanders
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Opening Weekend: $56,217,700
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 2Hr 7Min
Synopsis: Beloved king is deceived and killed by his new mysterious bride. Kingdom of Tabor is plunged into darkness under new Queen's rule. Young, beautiful daughter of King is only person with the power to stop new Queen. Young princess befriends troubled huntsman to help rally up army to take back their kingdom.
So How Was It?: Director Rupert Sanders takes the more sinister aspects of this classic Brothers Grimm fairytale and expands on them; greed, murder, jealousy, mental illness, betrayal and heartache. Although there is still some love, happiness and goodness, this Snow White is nothing like the beloved animated Disney tale we all know and love. This Snow White is much darker.
Initially, the film is quite intriguing. It's scary. It's unpredictable. Your heart breaks for the people of Tabor. You're on their side. Charlize Theron's Queen Ravenna is absolutely terrifying. She is so evil and ruthless that you find yourself cheering on her impending demise. When it finally does start to happen though, its a bit underwhelming.The buildup of her character is too strong and the payoff of her downfall is too weak.
Somewhere around the 3/4 mark the story really looses its steam. It gets weighed down by its own fanciful nature. What started off as mysterious and interesting details (a dark magic army, a supernatural forest) soon become a bit ridiculous (tiny alien like fairies, magic stags turning into butterflies). They become a distraction and take away from the severity of the film.
The main issue with the film is its main character, Snow White. The audience never really has that moment of connection with her. There's more of an emotional connection with the huntsman and the prince than there is with Snow White. She falls a bit flat, more of a metaphor for the idea of purity than an actual physical representation of it. Maybe its because Queen Ravenna is just too much of an overpowering presence that there's no way someone like Snow White could compete with her (literally). The film's ending, hopeful as it is, feels a bit underwhelming.
Initially, the film is quite intriguing. It's scary. It's unpredictable. Your heart breaks for the people of Tabor. You're on their side. Charlize Theron's Queen Ravenna is absolutely terrifying. She is so evil and ruthless that you find yourself cheering on her impending demise. When it finally does start to happen though, its a bit underwhelming.The buildup of her character is too strong and the payoff of her downfall is too weak.
Somewhere around the 3/4 mark the story really looses its steam. It gets weighed down by its own fanciful nature. What started off as mysterious and interesting details (a dark magic army, a supernatural forest) soon become a bit ridiculous (tiny alien like fairies, magic stags turning into butterflies). They become a distraction and take away from the severity of the film.
The main issue with the film is its main character, Snow White. The audience never really has that moment of connection with her. There's more of an emotional connection with the huntsman and the prince than there is with Snow White. She falls a bit flat, more of a metaphor for the idea of purity than an actual physical representation of it. Maybe its because Queen Ravenna is just too much of an overpowering presence that there's no way someone like Snow White could compete with her (literally). The film's ending, hopeful as it is, feels a bit underwhelming.
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| Kristen Stewart as the beautiful Snow White |
Acting Wise: Best performance: Charlize Theron. There's a long list of adjectives one could use to describe her work: captivating, terrifying, stunning, mesmerizing, etc. Theron does crazy and murderous really well (and that's a good thing).
Honorable mentions: Chris Hemsworth and Sam Spruell. Hemsworth's performance is reminiscent of the one he gave in Thor; strong yet incredibly vulnerable at the same time. Audience members will find it very easy to empathize with Hesmworth's Huntsman. Spruell is wonderfully disturbing and pathetic as Ravenna's tortured younger brother Finn.
Kristen Stewart is the weakest link of the three lead roles. Her performance is patchy. She pulls off scared, sad and nervous well but has a hard time with the heavier scenes that require her to be strong or intimidating (i.e. her speech to rouse the spirits of her army).
Honorable mentions: Chris Hemsworth and Sam Spruell. Hemsworth's performance is reminiscent of the one he gave in Thor; strong yet incredibly vulnerable at the same time. Audience members will find it very easy to empathize with Hesmworth's Huntsman. Spruell is wonderfully disturbing and pathetic as Ravenna's tortured younger brother Finn.
Kristen Stewart is the weakest link of the three lead roles. Her performance is patchy. She pulls off scared, sad and nervous well but has a hard time with the heavier scenes that require her to be strong or intimidating (i.e. her speech to rouse the spirits of her army).
Technically: Lets just say that if Snow White and the Huntsman doesn't receive an Oscar nomination for special effects, it will be the biggest travesty of the ceremony. This film is absolutely breathtaking to watch.
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| Charlize Theron as the terrifying Ravenna |
Best Scene: Pretty much any scene involving Theron, most notably towards the end as her character becomes more and more emotionally unstable. Also enjoyable: the Huntsman and Snow White's kidnapping by a certain group of vertically challenged men.
Editorial Commentary: Not since No Country for Old Men has a haircut been quite as terrifying as actor Sam Spruell's for his character Finn. Kudos to Spruell for making it work and giving an excellent performance. Chris Hemsworth's haircut on the other hand? Suits him quite well, although he could probably pull off a tie dye mohawk if he really wanted to.
It's been brought up already by several critics, but the studio's choice to use regular sized actors instead of little people to fill the role of the seven dwarves is confusing and a bit rude. There is plenty of talent out there (i.e. Peter Dinklage). There's no excuse for them not to use it.
It's been brought up already by several critics, but the studio's choice to use regular sized actors instead of little people to fill the role of the seven dwarves is confusing and a bit rude. There is plenty of talent out there (i.e. Peter Dinklage). There's no excuse for them not to use it.
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| Sam Spruell as Finn, badly in need of a better barber. |
To See or Not to See?: If you can spare the money, definitely see it in the theater. This is a film meant to be seen on a large screen.
WARNING: SPOILERS
For Those Who Saw It: Was anyone else a little bored by the ending scene at the church? And are we really supposed to believe that Snow White and the Huntsman have some sort of love connection? Really?
Nothing special here but it had great visuals and a wonderful style to boot. Stewart could have been a bit better though with this performance. Good review Evelina.
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