Cinema Review – Snow White and The Huntsman
Like Buses Snow White films take forever to come out then two come at once. Scott takes a look at the second film to take a stab at this story.
Earlier this year we were treated to Tarsem Singh’s visceral and camp romp, Mirror Mirror, which I still am yet to see, but friends of mine said was a lot better than they expected. This week the UK get’s to see Snow White and The Huntsman, by first time feature Director Rupert Sanders. It is a darker, grittier telling of the fairy tale starring the eternally constipated (or that is what I get from her pout) Kristen Stewart. Unfortunately I wasn’t overly sold.
Whilst watching Snow White and The Huntsman last night I kept thinking to myself, why oh why did they cast her!!??? I am not meaning to bash Miss Stewart too hard, but there is no way I would ever choose her over the stunning and broodily sexy Charlize Theron in a million years, I wouldn’t even touch her with yours!! Even as the effects of using too much magic wreak havoc on The Evil Queens face…. I still would. Also even if she is your ‘BAG’, she doesn’t look like a Snow White. She is not Princess Beautiful. At least Lily Collins had the pale skins and red lips (OK let’s move on before we mention the eyebrows). Stewart is a pouting, one trick pony who couldn’t command alt delete let alone command an army!! If it wasn’t for the behemoth that was the Twilight franchise she would still be doing small indy films and making a living there, not taking the roles from deserving talented actresses. Shall I move on? I think it is time.
Although the film cost $70m to make (so I am informed) it seems that they were incapable of spreading the budget evenly. Some of the FX are brilliant, the opening battle was stunning, yet there is one face morphing scene that looks like it was made with pre Terminator 2 effects programming. It is a shame as apart from these glaring holes in the FX budget it is pretty good. The Dwarves were great, a broody lot, full of honour and freaky haircuts. They steal the show when they eventually grace the screen, shame they take so long to arrive.
There is however more problems with the film, or maybe this is not something that will bother others. But it seems that Sanders was heavily influenced by other films, some may say he even tole wholesale from others. Snow White and The Huntsman is like the poor mans Lord of The Rings. It is the diet coke version, and let’s face it Diet Coke doesn’t taste as good.
In one scene Snow White makes a speech to her troops to get them ready for battle, now if she was Maximus from Gladiator or even Braveheart, I would have been there in a flash armed with a sword ready to fight. But when a weedy, pouting mumbly girl who looks like she is need of a good movement rants on about honor and such, I just turned off. Strangely though her troops all roared and rushed to battle. Not very convincing if you ask me. Oops I am back to Stewart…. Sorry.
Chris Hemsworth is always great to watch, a bit of eye candy for the ladies, but whose bright idea was it to give him a Scottish Accent? He is OK at it for 60% of the time but it had me cringing for the other 40%. Theron is also excellent to watch, truly evil and scary. After this and Young Adult I think it is time she had something out that was a bit light-hearted, as I am scared that she is evil in real life now!!
At the end of the day, Snow White and The Huntsman is a fair effort with good fx (in places) as a gritty telling of a fairy tale. If you can cope with the fact that it is a poor copy of The Lord of the Rings and you can get over Stewart and her ways, then you may well enjoy this more than I did.
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN IS NATIONALLY RELEASED TODAY IN UK
About The Author – Scott Lawlor
Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer. Check out his home set up HERE
Have you seen this film? Are you interested in this type of film? Was I too harsh on it? Comment below
Scott Lawlor
Nice review, bud.
I do however relish the sight of Charlize Theron covered from head to toe in white chocolate though..
So Shallow Michael, so shallow
Nice review! I’m not terribly excited to see this film, so I will be skipping it in cinemas. I like what you said about the diet coke. If this is like diet coke, then I definitely won’t be paying to see it.
Thanks Stevee, the rant in me took over! You may enjoy it more than I
Scottish accent? Oh dear! Should have just left it with his gruff and rather sexy Aussie accent.
Still excited about seeing this. Love the look of it, despite KStew’s attempts at putting me off seeing it. I’m with you… how on earth is she “fairer” than fricking Charlize Theron!?
Thanks Jaina, the Scottish accent was a wee bit weird and strained in places. I hope you enjoy it
A diet version of LOTR doesn’t sound all that attractive. I might get to see it anyway, but I consider myself warned.
hehe It is just a low calorie version is all!! I hope you get more from it then I did Jessica
Haha you sure don’t like Kristin Stewart! I thought she was great in Into the Wild and Speak but haven’t seen her in anything else. I’m not too fussed about this one anyway, good to know I’m not missing much.
I know… I am a bad person. She was OK in Into The Wild, but her part didn’t demand much from her did it? Just the pout and hair flick.
My friends are going to see it tonight, so I am taking advantage of the Orange Wednesdays offer, too! Can’t wait to see Theron in action. Great review, I think I will be on the same page as you were with KStew, I really don’t like her!
I am glad I am not alone, I was feeling a bit bad after I let it all come out in my anti KStew rant… I hope you enjoy it Diana
Interesting to see you weren’t as in love with this movie after seeing it. Great review. Glad I got to read it before going to see the movie. Helped lower some of my expectations so that hopefully I will enjoy the movie as I expect to!
Thanks Scott. I look forward to you watching Mirror Mirror and letting me know what you think of that then.
Thanks Terence. I hope you DO get more from this than I did.
“not taking the roles from deserving talented actresses”
I think Stewart is very talented, it seems like you have a grudge against her. Then again most reviewers do, which is a shame.
I know. I am bad huh Sati? I think we better agree to disagree about her talents…..
Thanks for commenting
Nice review, Scott. I don’t know if I will bother with this one, though I am intrigued by Theron’s role.
Theron is one of the best bits Eric. I hope you enjoy it
I saw the trailer for this again last night, on the front of MIB3, and I admit I think I’ve had to revise my opinion of it. I didn’t like the look of the film the first time I saw the trailer, but now I’m actually intrigued by what I was shown……
But I’m not getting my hopes up – it IS Kristen Stewart after all…..
The trailer is better than the film, well for me anyway. I hope you enjoy it more Rodders!
Wow….Kristen Stewart takes a real bashing in this one Scott. Your review made me chuckle. I’d forgotten all about this film with Prometheus on the horizon so at least my expectations were pretty low anyway. Now they are even lower.
HAHAH I know right? I am a naughty boy!!
Nice review, I’m looking forward to checking out Mirror Mirror and will probably also watch this one.
I want to see Mirror Mirror too now, just so I can compare
Nice review Scott.
I think I am just going to see this in DVD along with Mirror mirror. Steward will irritate me the most than the other lackness in this movie
I felt eager to see this when I saw Florence & The Machine soundtrack. But it seems that they didn’t learn much from Alice in Wonderland. And Stewart didn’t evolve much. Hmm, think I want to see Mirror Mirror more now than this. Thanks for sharing, Scott!
I think ‘Mirror Mirror’ is more of a rental, but I’m excited for this, I’ll see it this weekend if I can. Ha..ha.. Hemsworth has a Scottish accent?? Maybe they wanted to get Gerry Butler but he’s too busy? They should just let him use his Aussie brogue, I mean what does it matter what accent he uses, he’s a huntsman!! Yeah I have a feeling Stewart is entirely unconvincing in this role.
I was liking the look of this one, but it doesn’t seem like it comes together all the way through. Still want to see it at some point, and i’ve felt Kristen was decent in everything i’ve seen her in.
Hey Scott, I’m back at my blogging ways.
I found your review of this film especially great, above all your “rant” about Stewart, which I would describe as “acute observations” about an overrated pouting, oh yes, pouting actress. I’m not surprised she was the weak link on this one, especially considering that she is supposed to be Snow F***** White, the prettiest of them all. May I be forgiven but Charlize Theron in all of her matureness commands every frame of every film she is in (with the exception of Monster that is) by not only using her talent but by displaying her natural and flawless beauty.
I’ll probably still give this film a watch as part of my planned double feature for next weekend, right after my glorious and anticipated date with Prometheus.
I invite you to check my preview of the other BIG Charlize film in my comeback post of today.
I tried to see this on Friday morning, but the theater I was at was terrible. I’ll try to catch tomorrow night since the fiance would like to see it, but expectations are diminished significantly.