Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Snow White and the Huntsman © Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

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Director:	Rupert Sanders
Writers:	Evan Spiliotopoulos
Cast:	Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane
Released:	Friday, June 1, 2012
Length:	127 minutes
Studio:	Universal Pictures
Genre:	Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating:	Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Synopsis

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Oscar(r) winner Charlize Theron) out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth, Thor) dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White's beauty and power. The breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale is from Joe Roth, the producer of Alice in Wonderland, producer Sam Mercer (The Sixth Sense) and acclaimed commercial director and state-of-the-art visualist Rupert Sanders.

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Kristen Stewart Will Reprise Role in Snow White and the Huntsman...  11/19/2012 2:27 PM EDT
Amidst rumors to the contrary, Kristen Stewart will be returning to the "Snow White and the Huntsman" franchise. The "Twilight" star has signed on to reprise her role as Snow White, now the Queen.According to a Radar Online source, "The script has already been written and production will begin late next year. However, Rupert Sanders definitely won't be a part of the project. Rupert didn't want to...  More>>

Kristen Stewart Not Part of Snow White and the Huntsman Sequel?  8/15/2012 10:58 AM EDT
Could Kristen Stewart and Rupert Sanders' affair be causing some casting backlash? One might think so, after Universal has decided to scrap a "Snow White and the Huntsman" sequel and go with a film that focuses only on the Huntsman, played by Chris Hemsworth."The studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise," said a Universal spokeswoman. "Snow White and the Huntsman" grossed ...  More>>

Snow White and the Huntsman Sequel Talks Already In The Works  4/30/2012 10:01 AM EDT
With over a month to go before Snow White and the Huntsman hits the big screen, it seems that a sequel may well be in the works. There are reports that Universal has approached the highly respected David Koepp to scribe the second installment, which apparently has been on the table for some time and would center on the huntsman character played by Chris Hemsworth (Avengers, Thor). Koepp who has...  More>>

More Dwarves Cast in the "Huntsman"  6/22/2011 9:56 AM EDT
More casting news for "Snow White and the Huntsman". Yesterday, it was announced that Ian McShane would be portraying the leader of the dwarves in the upcoming film. According to Heat Vision, more dwarf roles have been cast.Currently in negotiations for the film are Eddie Izzard, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan and Steven Graham.In this film, all the dwarves are names after ancient leaders a...  More>>

Ian McShane Cast in "Snow White and the Huntsman"  6/21/2011 10:07 AM EDT
The upcoming film "Snow White and the Huntsman" has added another to its roster. Ian McShane, who most recently starred in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides", has been cast as one of the dwarves.McShane will be playing the role of Caesar, leader of the dwarves. The new take on the fairy tale will feature Snow White escaping from her evil stepmother with the help of a huntsman, who was i...  More>>

Snow White and the Huntsman Theatrical Review

The Brother's Grimm fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" comes to the screen portraying its malevolent power and dark imagery. What makes Snow White and the Huntsman worth the watch is the exciting story, brilliant sets and scenery, inventive cinematography, nicely placed CGI and costumes. If you want to see the classic Snow White story told the way I believe the Grimm Brothers intended, then Snow White and the Huntsman would be a perfect choice for you.....

The movie follows the Grimm classic fairytale very closely adding a lot of aggressive swordplay for length, effect and action. In this story we find Snow White's mother (Liberty Ross), queen of the land, in her garden where she gets pricked on her finger by the thorn of a red rose. Three drops of blood fall into the snow. She makes a wish for a daughter with skin white as snow, lips read as blood and hair black as ebony. Shortly after she gives birth to Snow White she dies.

One day, with Snow White (Raffey Cassidy) now nearing her teens, a strange army threatens the kingdom and the intruders are quickly defeated. Ravenna (Charlize Theron) a female slave is found shackled in chains on the battlefield and taken back to the castle. King Magnus (Noah Huntley) falls instantly in love with the woman and they marry. Thus starts a story that involves treachery, war, captivity, escape, pursuit and revenge.

The darkness and deceit within the film are played out well with the actor's performances respectfully good and direction on the mark. The film features an outstanding performance by Charlize Theron who makes her character Ravenna brilliantly wicked. Her ability to command the camera with stunning posses fit for an evil queen remains omnipresent throughout. Theron's natural beauty emphasizes the role of the ‘Queen of Glamour' and when the computer graphics try to age her and in some cases make her skin look ugly, you still can't disguise her gorgeous eyes.

Chris Hemsworth (put a hammer in his hand instead of an axe and he's Thor) has been certainly ‘typecast' for the part of the Huntsman. In addition, Kristen Stewart (Twilight) as the older blanche faced Snow White, follows suit. In some circles this may be seen as a negative because one can easily loose sight of their intended characters and for example see Bella being pursued by Thor (I'm just saying).

The heroes to me of the film are the Eight Dwarfs (yes there are eight, not seven in this story) who steal the show with their antics and smart remarks saving it from being ‘just another adventure'. Here is were CGI works best taking the heads of Bob Hoskins (as Muir), Ian McShane (Beith), Johnny Harris (Quert) and the rest of the eight and putting them on dwarf bodies. The comedy comes easy with the popular actors made-up, costumed and shortened by the computer bring the argumentative Dwarfs. But, you will have to wait an hour into the movie before you will start having fun with the boisterous and blustery gang of saviors.

The movie could not have been a more perfect representation of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" with all the imagery, props (like the Mirror, Mirror on the Wall), the drops of blood falling from the Queen's finger, era imagined costumes, dark sorcery, evil looking warriors, giant stone castle and the magic that brings it all together. With their first volume the two writers of the 1800's kept their short stories dark dealing with subject matter unsuitable for children especially since most dealt with violence and death.

The Grimms collected and published 211 stories, but most of us remember tales like "Hansel and Gretel", "Rapunzel", "Cinderella", and "Rumpelstiltskin" that were glorified by making them into cartoons. Some that are not so popular with children include "The Girl Without Hands" that deals with making a deal with the Devil and "Godfather Death" involving cheating Death, both of which are even today not conducive to reciting to youngsters.

The film has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality. On the downside, there's the insipid performance by Kristen Stewart as Snow White, her foolish armor plated Joan of Arc costume in the last act, a great white deer that looked like it stepped out of The Chronicles of Narnia and a monster worthy of Revenge of the Titans. Even with these imperfections however, the film does entertain, although not for the young tikes.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A creative presentation of one of Grimm's favorite fables. (B)

-- John Delia