Review - Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

           Hey guys, Chuck here. And, you know what I find puzzling? How is it that we're in the year 2024, and the Grimm's fairy tale of Snow White is a topic of controversy? 

         Well, not the original Grimm's fairy tale, specifically, but a live-action remake that isn't due for release until March 2025. Yeah, evidently, Disney's 2025 Snow White, set to star Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen has gotten a ton of flak from a circle of YouTubers for Rachel's comments about how screenwriters Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson have crafted an interesting new take on the classic tale, to the point that far-right political commentary site The Daily Wire announced that, for their family-friendly platform Bentkey, they are producing a Snow White movie starring YouTuber Brett Cooper in the title role. 

          Now, I'm not going to go to go and say which one I think will be better. Although, I am personally more willing to see the Disney one in 2025. But, then again, that's MY choice. Just like how in 2012, both 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures put out two competing Snow White movies in theaters, in the forms of Mirror Mirror with Lily Collins and Julia Roberts (Fox), and Snow White and the Huntsman with Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron (Universal). And, guess which one I saw back then? The one with Kristen Stewart, which is the subject of today's review. 

        So, Snow White and the Huntsman tells the story of Snow White, the only daughter of King Magnus and Queen Elinor. Sadly, Queen Elinor falls ill a few years after the birth of Snow White, and King Magnus is drawn into a conflict with a shadow army conjured by an evil sorceress named Ravenna, who becomes the new Queen upon marrying Magnus. On the night of their wedding, Ravenna kills Magnus and take the throne. And, while trying to escape with her friend William and his father Duke Hammond, Snow White is nabbed by Ravenna's brother Finn, and Snow White is locked up. 

      Many year later, and the kingdom has fallen into a state of decay under Ravenna's rule. Snow White has grown into a beautiful young woman, who is kind, brave, and fair. In fact, when she asks the Spirit of the Magic Mirror of who is fairest, Ravenna is enraged to learn that Snow White is more fair than the Queen herself. But, the Spirit reveals that if the Queen consumes the heart of Snow White, then the Queen will become immortal. So, the queen sends Finn to collect Snow White, but she escapes and flees to the Dark Forest, where Ravenna has no power. 

        Needing help navigating the Forest, Ravenna hires the services of Eric, a huntsman who has lived a solitary life after the death of his wife. Eric agrees to help, in return for reuniting him with his wife. At the same time, Duke Hammond and William have also learned that Snow White is alive, and William goes to find her to bring her to safety. 

          In addition to Snow White, Eric, and William, we also have a group of eight dwarfs, the eldest of whom is able to recognize that Snow White has the power to defeat Ravenna and save the kingdom. And, of course we get the poisoned apple scene, and Snow White recovers from the curse when she gets a kiss from both William and Eric, as unlike in most adaptations, two kisses of true love are needed to break the curse instead of just one. Now recovered, Snow White suits up in armor, leads an army on an attack against Ravenna, and ends the reign of the Evil Queen for good. 

        Something of note with Snow White and the Huntsman is that it has a dark tone very akin to Guillermo del Toro's film Pan's Labyrinth. And, honestly, it works pretty well here. Especially when compared to the more goofy and lighthearted Mirror Mirror earlier that year, the darker and more mature take on Snow White really worked well, and director Rupert Sanders made a fantastic movie as a result. 

        The main trio of Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth as Eric the Huntsman, and Sam Claflin as William were fantastic. I, especially, enjoyed the performance of Kristen Stewart, as she definitely showcases the qualities that make Snow White who she is: kindness, fairness, compassion, and bravery. And, I thoroughly hope to see Rachel Zegler exhibit all of these qualities when she takes on the role of Snow White in 2025. 

         Both Hemsworth and Claflin as Eric and William were fantastic, as while both had a built connection to Snow White, neither really felt like a romantic interest. Now, we later learn that Snow White and William did eventually marry after the events of this movie, but it isn't a focus in this movie. And, there is nothing wrong with not having a romantic subplot in a fairy tale story if it doesn't fit into the story being told. Shoehorning in a romantic subplot where there's no room for one really detracts from the story being told. And, in a manner of speaking, I am saying that there's nothing wrong with the upcoming Disney Snow White movie with Rachel Zegler not focusing on romance if it doesn't fit into the story narrative. 

         As for our villains, Charlize Theron as Ravenna and Sam Spruell as Finn were definitely a dastardly duo. Honestly, I think that Charlize Theron redefined the role of the Evil Queen, and it's going to be a tough portrayal to beat. And, I do like the idea that the Queen has a brother that handles the Queen's dirty work, and Sam Spruell as Finn was an outright slimy scumbag and very easy to hate. 

       And, unfortunately, the dwarfs were, much like the upcoming Disney movie, a source of controversy for Snow White and the Huntsman. You see, while Disney is using CGI to make the dwarfs look like their cartoon counterparts, THIS movie has actors of average stature, and simply places their heads on small bodies digitally. Now, that's really bad given that there are so many actors in the dwarfism community that could have filled those roles. Now, the actors portraying the dwarfs, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Ray Winstone, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris, and Brian Gleeson all gave good performances, but again, why not cast actors within the dwarfism community? Mirror Mirror did it. Yeesh. 

          Overall, this was a very enjoyable movie. I think that Rupert Sanders gave a very unique take on the classic tale of Snow White, and it's a personal favorite of mine, especially when you take into account that this movie happened while Kristen Stewart was still involved with the Twilight franchise. I'm giving Snow White and the Huntsman a rating of 4/5. Check this movie out, it's worth your time, especially if you love Chris Hemsworth. 

        Now, as far as the two upcoming Snow White movies, Disney's Snow White with Rachel Zegler and Bentkey's Snow White and the Evil Queen with Brett Cooper, which one will turn out better? Well, in truth, that's up to the audience. I think that the Disney one will be more profitable, to be sure, but I will leave it to the viewers to decide which is better in terms of storytelling. And, that's what happened back in 2012. The people chose, and they made Snow White and the Huntsman more profitable at the box office than Mirror Mirror. So, I say that the people will be the deciding factor in this debate as well. 

        Anyway guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll be back tomorrow with my review of the 2016 follow-up to Snow White and the Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter's War.