Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

When it’s over, Snow White and the Huntsman had all the elements of the fairy tale I've grown up with as a child - the apple, the kiss, the mirror, the dwarfs – with the added intensity that made it feel darker, creepier, and edgier. The new take on the classic story has Snow White (Kirsten Stewart) on the run from her evil stepmother, Ravenna (Charlize Theron), who wishes to claim her heart in order to remain the fairest for all eternity.  However, Snow White isn’t so keen on handing her heart over, forcing Ravenna to enlist the services of the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), who must track Snow White down and bring the princess back to the castle.  Hemsworth trades his hammer in for an axe as the heartbroken rogue who becomes Snow White’s protector.  He looks and fits the part, and even in his drunken state, he’s still likable.  Stewart was decent, an improvement from her role in the Twilight series, but I still feel she was miss-casted and doesn’t fit the bill as the “fairest of them all” who goes from beautiful princess to fighting warrior.  Theron was right on as the evil queen.  She did a fabulous job and her performance stands out amongst all the others.  Theron’s successful portrayal was aided by her amazing costumes created by Colleen Atwood, whose brilliant designs captured the sinister heart of the evil queen.  Costumes often help an actor encompass a character lending to stronger performances, and Theron uses the costumes to her full advantage.  The details in each gown tied in perfectly with the film’s references to birds, which were a constant symbol throughout the film depicting the main themes –  hope, despair, life, and death.  The visuals were wonderful and worked to set the mood and tone for such scenes as the Land of Fairies and the Forbidden Forest.  Also, I really liked the visuals done on the droplets of blood, always three drops, and always in contrast to the background.  One thing I was disappointed with in the film was the lack of a love story.  When I think of fairy tales, I generally associate them with some form of love story, especially more so in this case than other tales.  The love story has to be strong, and has to make sense.  The film had the hint of a love story, had the idea of a love triangle, but never really developed it fully.  I was left assuming it, perhaps even knowing it, but never fully engaging in it.  If the love story was really between Snow White and the Huntsman, I certainly didn’t feel it, and that was a let down. 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5