Of the two Snow White adaptations that came out earlier this year, I was leaning more favorably towards Snow White and the Huntsman.
First, it seemed less frivolous than the Lily Collins, Armie Hammer and Julia Roberts starrer Mirror Mirror.
Second, Charlize Theron looked like she had a lot of fun playing the evil Ravenna and seemed to do a better job in the role of the Evil Queen than Julia Roberts did in the other film.
Third, I seriously needed to see Kristen Stewart in anything other than the Twilight series.
And last, I wanted to see how Chris Hemsworth would fare in a different character other than Thor, since I still haven't gotten around to watching Cabin in the Woods.
For various reasons, I never got to fulfill my wish to watch all my summer movie picks in the cinemas this year, so I had to patiently wait for the home media release of various titles, which included Snow White and the Huntsman. It wasn't until a couple of weekends ago, when I was looking for something to watch while wrapping my books in plastic (I like to pretend I'm a multitasker), did I remember that I have yet to watch the movie.
Queen Eleanor of Tabor wished for a child with snow white skin, lips as red as blood and hair as black as ebony, and she soon bore King Magnus a daughter that possessed the very features she wished for and they named her Snow White. After Queen Eleanor's death, King Magnus leads his men against a mysterious army of glass soldiers. They encounter a prisoner named Ravenna, whose beauty immediately catches the attention of King Magnus, who decides to marry her the following day. On their wedding night, Ravenna reveals her true nature, slaying the king, and letting her brother Finn and the glass soldiers, who were actually under her command, into the castle. Unable to escape with Duke Hammond and his son William, Snow White is captured and kept prisoner for years in the castle by Ravenna. Ravenna learns from the magic mirror that her powers are waning because Snow White has come of age and has surpassed her beauty, breaking the spell that gave Ravenna her powers. The mirror also reveals that only by consuming Snow White's heart can Ravenna attain immortality, as well as retain both her beauty and power forever. Snow White is able to escape from her fate but enters the Dark Forest, prompting Ravenna and Finn to hire the huntsman Eric to capture her.
Knowing how Hollywood handles adaptations, I already expected that this would deviate from the Disney version that many of us grew up with. Snow White and the Huntsman was promised to feature a more darker and more mature feel to its adaptation, showing the audiences a Snow White that was more than a damsel in distress and an Evil Queen who had more reasons to her actions than a quest to become the most beautiful in the land.
 |
| image from ew |
Of the cast, I felt that the most credit would have to go to Charlize Theron, who portrays the role of Ravenna/Evil Queen with more gravity than what you would expect in a popcorn film. She definitely performed those hissy fits with relish. Charlize Theron gave the audiences a Ravenna that was at times appalling and easy to hate, and at times pitiable because of the weight of her past. Chris Hemsworth may sometimes fall into the trap of playing the uncaring rogue in a manner that reminds audiences of his performance in Thor, but he excels once his character finds himself drawn to Snow White and dedicated to protecting her. And while I know that some people may disagree, I sort of enjoyed Kristen Stewart's performance as the titular character Snow White. Or at least I've convinced myself that her character's awkwardness is credited to her years of imprisonment, instead of being an indication of the real life awkwardness that Kristen Stewart usually exhibits.
As for the differences from the source material, I'm not particularly averse to nor an overt fan of any particular change. Although, I'm not sure why they needed eight dwarves instead of the original seven. I did like the idea of creating a background story for both the Evil Queen and the Huntsman, which gave Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth the material necessary for them to showcase, and for the audiences to appreciate, a gamut of emotions. This is particularly beneficial for Chris Hemsworth, whose character is part of the title, thus requiring a more relevant personality and background story, as well as a more tangible reason than simply liking Snow White's looks to convince him to spare her life.
All in all, Snow White and the Huntsman is a good film. While it delivered on its promise in providing audiences a different take on a familiar tale, I don't think it was groundbreaking in any way, nor would the moderate to great acting of its cast garner any awards unless based on fan votes (which usually involve the screaming teenage variety). It does try its hardest to properly utilize the roster of great talent that it amassed (including Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins and Ray Winstone who played some of the dwarves) and in giving the audience the action and adventure that a fairy tale is usually expected to deliver. I'm not sure why, but I felt a little shortchanged in the romance category, though, with Snow White having less than tepid chemistry with Sam Claflin's William/Prince Charming and not enough material to properly establish a romance with the Huntsman (I mean, that has to be the reason why he's part of the title, right?).
While it's not going to be a part of my must-watch recommendations, I can at least say that I can recommend it as a good no-brainer popcorn film.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Adaptation, Adventure, Fantasy, Film, Snow White and the Huntsman
