The major catch in getting most people to go to Snow White and the Huntsman was its non-traditional approach to the fairy tale we often remember as a Disney movie. The entire movie, with a couple exceptions, has the darkness of the fifth Harry Potter installment, and the boredom of the third Transformers.
What can be admired about Snow White? Perhaps the visual effects, strong in execution and largely consistent throughout the film. Besides that? Little.
For a movie which should be priding itself on its story, the plot of the new Snow White was dull. it didn’t really add much to the original story, and its exceptions to the original (the hunter sent to kill Snow White actually protects and guides her) were so insignificant and unmoving, the need for a recreation just wasn’t present.
Sequences were muddled and grossly executed. No clear story could be followed, which might explain the masses of people that left not even halfway through the movie.
The dialogue doesn’t do the story any justice though. Lacking in most vocal communication, we sit through the movie listening to the breaths and grunts of Snow White (Kristen Stewart.) When she’s not making panting noises, the lines exchanged are either vague or sadly cliche, i.e., at one point Stewart says to a crowd, “I’d rather die today than live another day of this death.” What?
The film, intentionally not meant as a joke, might have done better if it tried to include some wit. What were these characters that remain austere and boring their whole lives? Are these characters we’re supposed to relate to?
From a glance, Snow White looks like an imitation of The Lord of the Rings with a Pirates of the Caribbean approach, except Pirates held its audience’s attention longer and deliberately tried to appeal to children.
Almost all departments of this film suffer. Unless you go to movies with the sole intent on judging the visual effects, skip Snow White and save your money.
Rating: 2/10
