Director: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Spruell, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Bob Hoskins
Running time: 113 minutes
Certificate: 12A
Extras: Extended Cut, A New Legend Is Born, Reinventing The Fairytale, Citizens Of The Kingdom, The Magic Of Snow White And The Huntsman, Feature Commentary
Coincidence is a dangerous word in Hollywood. However, it is one used to describe the arrival of SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN and MIRROR, MIRROR within months of each other. Whilst MIRROR, MIRROR is all bright colours and eyebrows (thanks, Lily), SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN is a gritty, rough edged take on the Brothers Grimm’s most famous tale and a million miles from Walt Disney’s definitive interpretation.
Happily, aspects of SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN make it a very pleasing update: each of the main characters – Snow White (Stewart), the Evil Queen (Theron), and the Huntsman (Hemsworth) – have clearly defined backstories and motivations. Additionally, the settings are truly gorgeous. Director Rupert Sanders has put his vision on the screen with not an inch of the camera’s lens wasted. However, it’s past the superficial that SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN begins to struggle: Kristen Stewart is incapable of carrying the film and made to look very, very ordinary next to Charlize Theron, and to a lesser extent Chris Hemsworth. Encapsulating the gulf between the actresses is a scene in which Snow White makes an apparently rousing speech (missing the mark by miles), followed by a single glance from Theron, who emits more emotion in this once instance than Stewart conjures in the whole movie. Also, the use of Will, Snow White’s childhood sweetheart, as an emotional pull, takes the film down an unnecessary path and ruins an otherwise solid second act, contributing to what really hinders SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN – just how seriously it takes itself. The dwarves arrival – all eight of them, some unrecognisable – add some much needed humour at the hour mark, but even this is short lived as they carry a moral message, and put Snow White on her path to frowning and pouting (although confused and constipated could be believed too).
Whilst this is a fresh look at a well-worn story, which aesthetically Rupert Sanders and his team should be very proud of, the tone of the movie is wrong and no amount of beautiful scenery can change that. A first hour full of potential slowly loses its way amidst one of the worst lead performances in many years.
Extras: A New Legend Is Born is an interesting look at the filming process; director Rupert Sanders comes across very well and is clearly an actors director – 20 minutes of fawning is a little much though. Reinventing The Fairytale is a short look at how the film’s story developed from the Grimm tale. Citizens Of The Kingdom looks at each of the main characters, and the actors individually. At about five-six minutes each they are enjoyable, fun, and don’t outstay their welcome. For the visual effects geeks out there The Magic Of Snow White And The Huntsman looks at how certain parts of the movie were put together, sadly it doesn’t go into tremendous technical depths. Around The Kingdom: 360 degree Set Tour is exactly what you think it might be, and whilst the sets are impressive the introductions by Rupert Sanders are less so. With three contributors – Sanders, VFX supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troya, and co-editor Neil Smith – the audio commentary is very well done with lots of information given as to the making of the film and the actors performances. A good package overall.
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN is released on Blu-ray and DVD 1st October and can be purchased here
