Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Sam Claflin, Ray Winstone
Rating: 7/10
Snow White and the Huntsman originates from the simple and well-known fairytale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. But this adaptation is far from the quaint and fairly light-hearted animated film we're used to. Sanders creates a highly intense film that kept my brow thoroughly furrowed throughout (trying saying that fast!) to accommodate the spectacular stunts and battle scenes in abundance.
Although Kristen Stewart struggles to convey a vast array of emotions and escape from the 'Bella' and Twilight stronghold, she is ultimately very believable as a girl of irrevocable beauty who inspires many to follow her on a quest to avenge her father and kill the Queen, consequently saving the whole ravaged kingdom. Furthermore, it appears Kristen instigates another love triangle that is for once, not a keen focus of the film and isn't actually emphasised or resolved at all.
Charlize Theron is brilliant as a twisted and maniacal Queen, her facial expressions and tone perfect in portraying the utter vanity and desperation of a woman hellbent on devouring the beauty of others (quite literally) in order to quench her ceaseless and conceited thirst for power, consuming entire kingdoms in her greed.
Some of the scenes were significantly reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with hoards of armour-clad men, traipsing through immense and dangerous landscapes in order to defeat the villainous power currently causing their bane. There is also a scene filmed in a frozen forest, where the pure, innocent white snow (as earlier referenced in the film) is host to sinister events, much like the frozen wasteland within Narnia.
Throughout there is some clever filming, where Sanders uses metaphors to convey brutality in a more tasteful way, such as a fallen goblet of wine or ink pot representing the blood thrust out of a body in the impact of a weapon - the contents of each representing blood and evil respectively.
I did find myself however, thinking of wittier comebacks and cleverer retorts at a few points during the film and finding that the comedic attempts were perhaps too obvious in the blatant delivery, therefore not provoking as much laughter as many of the surrounding watchers.
Another slight criticism would be the accent change. Having seen many Kristen Stewart films, it was really hard to focus on her character and what she was saying due to the stark difference in her voice. I also found Chris Hemsworth to be somewhat inaudible at points, using the other actors' responses as a way to predict what had been said, as he tries to maintain Scottish over a lazy New Zealand accent.
Summary:
- A brilliant twist on the original fairytale
- Star-studded cast makes it more enjoyable and amusing
- Theron's ruthless Queen doesn't disappoint as one of the most terrifying childhood villains
- Do not watch if you are not a fan of one of the main 3 actors, as they are prevalent!
