Snow White and the Huntsman
Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 127 minutes
First off, no, you're not imagining things. This is, in fact, the second big-budget summer blockbuster film about Snow White this year. Yeah, how sad is that? As such it's impossible not to compare the two, which would make this the darker one to the lighter, Mirror Mirror.
We start with the wicked witch cleverly marrying, then quickly killing Snow White's father, the king. Snow White, a child at the time, is thrown into the tower, assumed dead by all. Years pass and she grows up and escapes. Kristin Stewart, who apparently plays the same character in every movie, is the older Snow and as such it was difficult not to think glittering vampires were going to show up, especially when the film stopped the action for a sanctuary scene stolen directly from Princess Mononoke. I say stole because it's not like it was a tip of the hat - it was a complete live action re-creation that seemed a little odd. From there the film slips into a paint-by-numbers Joan of Arc action with Snow getting into chain mail and storming the castle.
The thing with remakes is they only work when you add things. Enrich some characters or plot points and everyone has a good time. But simply relying on generic good guy vs. generic bad guy with CGI is a bloody waste of this planet's valuable resources.
On the off chance you're expecting amazing things about this film because the only thing's you heard was that it's the "dark" Snow white film and Ian McShane is playing a dwarf. I'm sorry, but you'd better take those expectations down to "generic entertainment" and you'll survive. If, however, you are in search of the pinnacle of fairytale entertainment, might I suggest checking out HBO's "Game of Thrones"?
