New take on Snow White tale is darker than Disney
Ever since Tim Burton's re-imagination of "Alice in Wonderland" in 2010, there has been a revival of interest in classic fairy tales in the movie industry. But even before then, there were countless re-workings of the Snow White story that ranged from horror to comedy, like the poorly adapted "Sydney White" (2007) and the shallow "Mirror Mirror" (2012).
Now we have "Snow White and the Huntsman," the latest edition of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale that is completely opposite of "Mirror Mirror" in every way. It's grimmer, darker and worth more of your time despite its flaws in acting and writing.
The rudiments of the story are all there: The king and queen have a beautiful daughter named Snow White, but her mother dies while she is still young. Here we encounter the wicked stepmother, Ravenna (Charlize Theron), who fools her way into the castle and into the king's bed. Killing the king in the middle of coitus, she brings in her army and begins her evil reign.
Years later, Ravenna keeps a grown up Snow White (Kristen Stewart) prisoner in a castle tower, but the fair maiden escapes through the castle sewers and makes her way into the Dark Forest. Since her own army won't dare enter, Ravenna hires The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to find and kill her, but he becomes Snow White's bodyguard as she journeys to the fortress of a rebel army.
Director Rupert Sanders does to the lead heroine what Riley Scott did in "Robin Hood" (2010), cladding her in armor and having her wield a sword against an opposing army. Sanders inserts a certain medievalism into the film while presenting a grim visual style that rivals the work of director Guillermo del Toro. Parents may not find these dark elements suitable for their children, but they weren't called the Brothers Grimm for nothing.
Stewart, in her first major role outside of the "Twilight" series, makes an adequate attempt to portray a Snow White who is equal parts majestic maiden and modern-day Joan of Arc. But she seems to struggle a bit with the foreign accent and the script gives her nothing to do but sulk around.
Another problem with the script lies in the second half of the story when the pacing slows down to flaunt some battle scenes and special effects. We see The Huntsman and Snow White clash with a bridge-dwelling troll as well as wander into an enchanting wood opposite the Dark Forest. There are moss-covered creatures, fairies flying through the air and a large, mystical stag in the center of the forest. Yes, this is all very beautiful to watch, but let's get back to the main story.
Like every Snow White story, the romance is there, but it's mostly kept in the background of the main story. Instead of one love interest, this Snow White gets two: the Huntsman and her childhood friend, Prince William (Sam Claflin). Stewart definitely brought some "Twilight" elements with her, but this romance does come with a nice twist to the traditional kiss scene.
A few recognizable faces (Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane and Ray Winstone among others) play the seven dwarves (well, eight in this movie), who don't appear until about an hour into the film. They are intended to provide comic relief but to no avail. In fact, it's hard to enjoy these dwarves when they are given absolutely nothing to do until the final showdown.
There are many notable differences here aside from the dark tone and medieval storyline, most notably the characterization of the evil queen Ravenna. Unlike the previous portrayals of the evil queen whose reasons for killing Snow White centered on jealousy, Ravenna's actions center upon a tragic childhood that prompts her to seek vengeance on the world while attaining eternal youth.
Charlize Theron gives the film its finest performance and one that is better than Julia Robert's interpretation of the Evil Queen in "Mirror Mirror," but it isn't excellent. She brings a fair sense of menace and sexuality to the role, but she's much better in the quieter moments.
If the uneven acting and flawed script don't make this film worth seeing, Sanders' chilling and brilliantly realized world does.