Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Simply A Masterpiece

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Crappy film

A Masterpiece!

It has been common to release films that seek to update old fairy tales, which seem to have gone out of style. So we never quite know what we're going to find when we're going to watch a movie based on a fairy tale: personally, I still prefer movies closer to the original tales but my taste, I acknowledge, doesn't seem to agree with the preferences of most people. However, I liked this movie, and it seemed to me good enough, turning the original tale into a story about revolt and resistance, in which the princess turns into a political and military leader, a mixture of Martin Luther King and Joan of Arc. This has its merit and its potential, although I think it was an option that wasn't taken to improve the film but only to transform the fragile princess of the original tale in a woman more acceptable for today's youngsters, removing the misogyny with which feminists usually accuse traditional tales. Nothing against, but if that was so, it was a good choice made for the worst reasons.Although I enjoyed the film overall, there are points in the story that I think the script sank, starting with love. The film shoots in all directions and misses all: the love story between the Princess and the Prince is never more than a teenage platonism while all the attempts made to suggest an infatuation of the Huntsman end up looking ridiculous for never materializing in something. Another problem is the Dwarfs, who have been stripped of their dignity and transformed into mere props, very convenient for solving one or two complicated situations but totally irrelevant to the story itself.Visually, the film is wonderful but that was to be expected in a film with much of its budget was for technical issues. The CGI is good but sins because its excessive, being so strong and abundant that at times it becomes clearly unrealistic. Its great, but we never feel danger or fear... this is evident in action scenes, where fightings looks like dances. I liked the medieval look, reminded me a little "Game of Thrones". Cinematography, sets and costumes also fit very well and was magnificent, especially with the excellent soundtrack, by James Newton Howard.As far as the actors and characters are concerned there is so much to say that I decided, contrary to my writing habits, to leave the subject to the end. I may start by saying that I find the characters generally undeveloped. The only characters that really get room to develop are Queen Ravenna and the Huntsman. Both have some common characteristics, like their painful personal past, with very strong psychological notes. This allowed the actors (Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, respectively) to have better material to work with, which had an immediate impact on their performance. In fact, Theron dominated the film, in one of her best performances to date, while Hemsworth proved to be able to do much more than he did in "Thor". All the other characters were very vague and had no personality at all. The dwarfs, as I've already said, were stripped of relevancy, so the actors who gave them life (some of them as prestigious as Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane or Ray Winstone) didn't have much to do. Sam Claflin also tried to do something good but his character seems to exist only to "fill the sausage" (as we usually say in Portugal when something is placed only to occupy an empty space) and therefore is quickly discarded. The same thing applies to Sam Spruell, whose character is totally redundant.And what can we talk about Kristen Stewart, who played the lead role? Personally, I've always disliked this actress. Those who watch her early works ("Zathura", for example) are able to see some potential, but the truth is that she wasn't able to develop it and become a good actress. She was very deified by "Twilight" in an irrational attitude by fans driven by the impulse and not by an analytical judgment. Personally, I have nothing against her, I just think she's in the wrong profession, has no talent and is not as pretty as people say. She has a very strange look, being too thin and having such weird eyes that remind me of a half-dead lamb. As an actress, she looks like an ice-cold robot, being unable to create some chemistry with her colleagues or showing a trace of human emotion. So the choice of this girl for the lead role was an epic casting error, only amenable to an explanation: the attempt to conquer the audience that liked "Twilight" and turned the girl into a teen idol. Its the only explanation for a decision that completely ruined the main character and compromised the entire film. I think it would have been preferable to continue the whole movie with little Raffey Cassidy (the little girl who gave birth to the main character as a child), who made an excellent interpretation. Since they changed the whole story, why not?Moral of the story: there is no love equal to the first one. Those who grew up listening to the original tale will never do without it in favor of a modern rereading. Visually great, the film is an unbelievable but gorgeous CGI overdose, with a remarkable but under-appreciated cast, poorly developed characters, a great Charlize Theron and a satisfying Chris Hemsworth. Unfortunately, a casting error compromised all the movie and, instead of a great actress in the lead role, we had Kristen Stewart, who I eagerly want to see spending more time fishing than acting.

Another Maleficent knockoff, meh.Good CGI, good cinematography, average everything else, plot quite warped from the fairy-tale.Quite dark and disturbing in parts.Watch it if you want to, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Snow White is the daughter of the king but shortly after her mother dies the king goes into battle against a strange army. He is victorious and 'rescues' a woman who was being held captive; he rapidly falls in love and marries her… that night she murders him and takes the crown. Snow White is imprisoned in the castle. Years pass and as Snow White comes of age the queen is told that by taking Snow White's heart she will gain immortality. As her brother goes to get Snow White she escapes from him, gets out of the castle and flees to the Dark Forest; a mysterious place full of danger. Her pursuers lose her so the queen acquires the services of a huntsman, promising that if he brings Snow White back alive she will bring his wife back from the dead. He manages to catch her but soon learns that the queen can't deliver on her promise so he switches sides and helps her flee. After a number of run-ins with the Queen's brother and his men they are captured by a band of dwarfs. When they realise who she is though they pledge their allegiance to her. They are later joined by William, a childhood friend of Snow Whites. Snow White determines to take the fight to the evil queen and claim the thrown that is rightfully hers… it will be far from easy though.I must admit that I wasn't expecting too much from this; I only bought it because the DVD was in the '20p box' in a charity shop… perhaps because of these low expectations I was rather pleasantly surprised. While it isn't gory there is a surprising amount of impressive battle action and there is frequently an oppressive tone; especially during the scenes in the distinctly creepy Dark Forest. The film looks really impressive with some great scenery and the special effects are of a high quality making fantastical creatures look real. Kristen Stewart does a solid job as Snow White; playing her more like Joan of Arc than the familiar Disney version of the character. Charlize Theron puts in a delightfully over the top performance as the evil queen and Sam Spruell is suitably menacing as the Queen's brother, a creepy character whose relationship with his sister seems a little too close at times… although I may be reading too much into that having watched too much 'Game of Thrones'! The rest of the cast are pretty solid; the dwarfs are made up of a number of well-known British actors who provide some laughs without being relegated to mere comic relief. Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin are decent enough as the Huntsman and William although at times these characters feel a little bland compared to the others. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to those looking for action is a fantasy setting; it is a bit too scary for younger viewers though.

What is the different between this and ANY tween and twerp wish fulfillment fantasy out there? And I mean for both gender. The main character (which is Bella, NOT Snow White since it is obvious that she also had everything handed to her and not have to work for them) is just another damsel in distress and had to rely on the men around her for everything. Feminist? The queen is a hypocrite who killed and mistreated other women, and had a RAPIST brother. Snow White become the leader while not doing anything to earn the rebel's respect. How can a girl who was locked away for almost all her life suddenly became a general? And how did she win without any strategy, tactic or preparation? And somehow won the duel with some tiny training? How does she know how to rule a kingdom? It is painfully obvious that this is just another Twilight.