Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

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Snow White and the Huntsman still

Inevitably when someone mentions Snow White, the image conjured up is Disney's pure and sweet icon surrounded by cute and cuddly forest animals. Disney's Snow White is dependent on a hunstman to take pity on her, dwarves to provide shelter and a prince to save her from an evil queen. However, the fairy-tale archetype of the vulnerable female in need of rescue by a dominant male is not a stereotype any self-respecting contemporary woman would indulge in. 

Taking a more up-to-date approach is Snow White and the Huntsman, the latest cinematic interpretation of what is actually best known as a Brothers Grimm tale. Yes, Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is at the mercy of an evil queen, but so are all who cross paths with the evil enchantress Ravenna portrayed wickedly by Charlize Theron. Ravenna's unquenchable lust for power is only matched by her obsession with retaining her youth and beauty. In this retelling, a backstory lends a complexity and understanding of her evil motivations.

With the loss of her mother to illness and her father to Ravenna's enchantments and knife in the wedding bed, Snow White has suffered more tragedy than happiness in her life. However, her purity serves to fuel her determination to take back what is rightfully hers and restore the kingdom to one of peace and prosperity. 

The secret to Ravenna's timeless beauty is quickly revealed, as she drains the life force of wayward travellers and the local townspeople. However, it is not enough to sustain her beauty for as Snow White comes of age, her purity and beauty threatens Ravenna's spell. With the help of her dastardly brother, Finn (Sam Spruell), Ravenna sends The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) into the woods to locate and kill the fugitive Snow White and bring back her heart. The reluctant huntsman who drowns his inconsolable sorrow in drink reluctantly takes on the task, but only with the threat of death and a promise from Ravenna of the return of his dead wife.

When things don't go according to plan, the Huntsman and Snow White flee from Finn and begin their quest to find those loyal to her dead father's reign including Duke Hammond and his son, her childhood friend William (Sam Claflin). Along the way are the requisite trolls, fairies and dwarves but each creature is more grizzled and jaded than their previous Technicolor, family-friendly incarnations.

Snow White and the Huntsman is a complex albeit grim magical journey. The characterization of the lead females and the strength of their performances are the driving force in this film. Theron's portrayal of Ravenna evoked more fear in me as an adult than Disney's Queen did when I was a child. However, a few times the uncontrollable anger is a bit over the top.

Stewart is well-balanced as Snow White, although I've had no doubt in her acting abilities ever since seeing her portrayal of Joan Jett in The Runaways. With the right direction, Stewart is capable of an emotional depth far beyond the summation of her Twilight series stint. The male actors, including Hemsworth as the Huntsman, provide more supporting roles than romance or heroism, for which the film does not suffer in the least.

The cinematography of Snow White and the Huntsman embraces the sprawling and often bleak landscape of Ireland, lending to the raw and dark nature of the movie, and often reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Quest film fans will enjoy the road journey as well as the various sub-populations of this kingdom, but the movie is not as epic as Lord of the Rings

Still, Snow White and the Huntsman is a compelling movie for adults that I recommend. However, be warned that this film is not family friendly due to fairly graphic violence and adult situations.