Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Not The Disney Snow White

In "Snow White and the Huntsman", first-time director Rupert Sanders offers a new, less than successful interpretation of the Brothers Grimm's timeless fairy tale. There are some things I enjoyed in the movie. The scenery in Pembrokshire and Marloes Sands, Wales, is lonely, rugged and spectacular. Much of the film takes place in a frightening place called the Dark Forest replete with snakes, gnarled trees, out of the way paths and strange creatures. It is a good setting in its own right as the huntsman leads Snow White through its treacherous maze. And the movie offers long scenes of crystalline yet forbidding lakes.

Kristen Stewart stars as the heroine while Charlize Theron overacts as the extrarordinarily wicked Queen Ravenna. In this version of the story, Snow White has two suitors: Eric,portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, a rugged huntsman grieving over the death of his wife, and the aristocrat William, Snow White's childhood friend, played by Sam Claffin, who is in rebellion against the wicked, usurping queen. The acting is acceptable if sometimes stilted. The dialogue frequently is commonplace.

The movie changes the usual telling by deemphasizing love and romance and making Snow White a active independent person in her own right. In the traditional tale, Snow White sleeps and much of the action focuses on the eccentric, affectionate Seven Dwarfs. In this story the Dwarfs are eccentric indeed but they are a mean group, won over to the princess with difficulty. There is an apple and an awakening kiss but little is made of it. Instead, Snow White becomes a Joan of Arc figure and leads an attack, shown in great detail, on Queen Ravenna and her well-fortified and defended castle. Love and romance get downplayed, as Snow White becomes an independent, strong willed, benevolent, and self-sufficient ruler without a man at her side.

Plotting and pacing are major issues with "Snow White and the Huntsman". At over two hours in length the movie drags. There are too many characters and special effects which, while frequently interesting in themselves, take away from the story. The story line is unduly tangled and difficult to follow with its many distractions. Romance is pushed aside in a way that does not improve or modernize the old tale. There are magic mirrors, attack birds, shards of glass, strange creatures, lots of violence and a coming of age for the heroine. But the movie is gimmicky and lacks cohesion, timing, and tension.

There are some interesting things in this movie, but it fails to enhance its classic story.

Total Time: 126 minutes

Robin Friedman