I am an unabashed fan of the story of Snow White, whether I’m watching it through the gorgeous animation of Walt Disney or the reading it in the dark, bloody and horror-laced version from the Brothers Grimm. I even rather enjoyed the recent silly and sappy “Mirror, Mirror.” So initially I was looking forward to watching director Rupert Sanders take on the ‘fairest of them all’ in spite of the casting of Kristin Stewart and all of the media gossip that followed.
The world of “Snow White and the Hunstman” takes place in the kingdom of Tabor which, up until the time of this story, was a pretty nice place to live. But when the king (Noah Huntley), saddened by the death of his queen, marries the woman we all know to be the ‘Evil Queen’ (Charlize Theron)…. everything pretty much goes to hell in a hand basket. The only good thing still remaining in Tabor is Snow White (Kristen Stewart), and even she decides to run away when she is old enough. Of course, we all know that Snow White is a threat to the Queen’s plans, so she sends a Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to kill her. He doesn’t of course and with the aid of a band of dwarves (Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Johnny Harris and Brian Gleeson) the pair set out to make things right.
In all fairness, “Snow White and the Huntsman” is a mess. Not an unwatchable mess, but a mess nonetheless. The visuals alone make the movie worth watching, as they are often breathtaking and awe-inspiring. But where the film falters is in its ability to tell the story. The overall feel and tone of the film seems to be in constant flux, often making it feel as though you are watching several different movies all at the same time. There isn’t a coherent style you can grab hold on, and this is jarring at best. Again, it is not a terrible film, but watching it forces you to accept the very bad along with the very good. If you can forgive the missteps, then what good the film has to offer is quite worthwhile.
Some of the disjointedness also comes into play with our actors. Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth pick up the slack where Kristen Stewart is as wooden as always. I really wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but in truth… she is just not a good actress by any stretch of the imagination. Or rather, at least not the actress for roles as demanding as one like this (ie; showing emotion). Hemsworth is truly the heart of the movie and sports the charisma needed to lead the way. It’s no wonder that he has been called on for a sequel minus Snow.
Universal’s Blu-ray release is a wonder to behold in terms of video and audio. As the movie’s visuals literally steal the show, the 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer offers splendid details throughout and never falters, no matter the type of scene you are watching. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track takes over your sound system and every little nuance, from the flutter of wings to the crack of a tree branch, can be heard with stunning clarity and direction.
The combo pack includes the theatrical version and an extended version (adding about 4 minutes) as well as an abundance of special features. An audio commentary by director Rupert Sanders, visual effects supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and co-editor Neil Smith delivers quite a bit of information on the little details that make up the film. It is actually a good commentary, never a bland listen at all. The U-Control PIP offers snippets of information throughout as you watch the movie.
There are also several featurettes including a tour of the massive sets, a look at the story as a whole and how it compares to other versions, a brief piece about the fairy tale aspects that were brought in from different sources, and character features on Snow White, the Huntsman, the Evil Queen and the Dwarves. Additionally, you’ll find a feature on the visual effects and concept art. All in all, it’s a pretty nice collection of behind the scenes material.
For the most part, I enjoyed “Snow White and the Huntsman,” but I can also be pretty forgiving if a film offers enough to keep me entertained. It is without a doubt a flawed film, but one that I would consider watching again. I do not recommend it for younger kids as it is a very dark version, much more akin to the Grimm Brothers. Teenagers would probably like it, but I’m going to wait a couple of years before I let my 9 year old watch it.
Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Sam Claflin
Extras: Reinventing the Fairy Tale; Citizens of the Kingdom; The Magic of Snow White and the Huntsman; Around the Kingdom: 360 Set Tour; Feature Commentary
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 9/11/2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
