Snow White and the Huntsman
Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin
Snow White and the Huntsman is a unique and beautifully conveyed retelling of the classic fairy tale that asks the question “Who’s the fairest of them all?” The story follows the journey of a young princess named Snow White, who must rise to reclaim her kingdom after it falls into darkness under the reign of her tyrannical stepmother, Queen Ravenna.
There is an interesting symbolism of darkness and light in the film which is represented in the characters of Queen Ravenna and Snow White. Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) is the very essence of darkness – beautiful darkness, but darkness nonetheless. While her predecessor in Disney’s version of the classic fairy tale was depicted as a vain and insecure woman who feared the inevitable loss of her beauty, Queen Ravenna takes this conviction to another level entirely. Her “beauty” is ironically both her greatest power and her greatest weakness. She possesses the power to retain eternal beauty, but only until someone more beautiful than her rises to take her place. When her power is compromised, Ravenna takes desperate measures to ensure that she will not fall prey to the curse of age and death by stealing the beauty of the young and beautiful, but only one thing can truly restore her power – the heart of her stepdaughter, Snow White. While eternal beauty is her most significant power, she also possesses other dark gifts, the most evident being the ability to transform into other images to suit her purposes, and the ability to bestow life or death upon others. Consequently, the proverbial “poisoned apple” that Ravenna uses to murder Snow White is nothing more than a symbol of death. The true power which casts Snow White into a cursed slumber and that was broken by the huntsman’s kiss was initiated by Ravenna, herself.
While Queen Ravenna is the physical manifestation of darkness, Princess Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is the essence of pure light; a reflection of what Ravenna desires but can never truly possess because the essence of Snow White’s character rests not in her physical beauty but in a deep inner strength and the courage to rise and protect her kingdom from the tyrannical Queen. What impressed me the most about this interpretation of Snow White is while her Disney counterpart is a bit of a sugar-coated marshmallow, this interpretation of the fairy tale creates a more believable version of the classic character. She is a courageous warrior who carries the faith of her people, but she also allows herself a bit of feminine indulgence by allowing the Huntsman to win her heart. She fights both for her own survival and the survival of those she loves without submitting to the cold grip of fear, and in the end, she does not shrivel in the face of a more powerful adversary but stays her course to fulfill her royal duty.
There is a powerful connection between Princess Snow White and the Huntsman. (Chris Hemsworth.) Initially, the Huntsman’s purpose is to serve the Queen by retrieving Snow White from the Dark Forest and thus ensuring the Queen’s salvation. As fate would have it, the Huntsman is destined not to destroy the beautiful princess, but to be her protector. Snow White and the Huntsman, Eric, are connected by more than a happenstance encounter. Eric is a man who has been shattered by death’s cruel sting, whose guilt is numbed only by his drink. When he encounters Snow White, he resists opening his heart to her initially, but when he discovers her true identity, his desire to protect her is strengthened. In the end, his love for her is the catalyst which breaks her magic slumber. Snow White has likewise felt the painful lash of death when it steals away her parents. While at first, Eric’s cold countenance keeps her from connecting with him, she ultimately sees his true character, and her love for him restores his heart and heals him.
Not being a particularly avid follower of Kristen Stewart, I was admittedly a bit apprehensive about seeing this movie. I must admit, I was pleasantly shocked. This movie is actually a creatively done (albeit considerably darker) interpretation of the classic fairy tale. The story, while staying true to the source material, is executed in a way that retains the integrity of the story, while also strengthening some of the more essential threads that fell through the cracks in the Disney version. For example, while the Queen’s desire for Snow White’s heart in the Disney version essentially led nowhere besides allowing the Queen to realize Snow White had survived, the same thread in Snow White and the Huntsman became an essential thread to both characters. The creative design of both the costumes and the environments are stunning, particularly in the case of the Queen’s magic mirror. The casting, while a bit dry on the part of the leading heroine, is exceptional and does the movie credit. I would recommend this movie for anyone with a heart for a good fantasy drama.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin
Snow White and the Huntsman is a unique and beautifully conveyed retelling of the classic fairy tale that asks the question “Who’s the fairest of them all?” The story follows the journey of a young princess named Snow White, who must rise to reclaim her kingdom after it falls into darkness under the reign of her tyrannical stepmother, Queen Ravenna.
There is an interesting symbolism of darkness and light in the film which is represented in the characters of Queen Ravenna and Snow White. Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) is the very essence of darkness – beautiful darkness, but darkness nonetheless. While her predecessor in Disney’s version of the classic fairy tale was depicted as a vain and insecure woman who feared the inevitable loss of her beauty, Queen Ravenna takes this conviction to another level entirely. Her “beauty” is ironically both her greatest power and her greatest weakness. She possesses the power to retain eternal beauty, but only until someone more beautiful than her rises to take her place. When her power is compromised, Ravenna takes desperate measures to ensure that she will not fall prey to the curse of age and death by stealing the beauty of the young and beautiful, but only one thing can truly restore her power – the heart of her stepdaughter, Snow White. While eternal beauty is her most significant power, she also possesses other dark gifts, the most evident being the ability to transform into other images to suit her purposes, and the ability to bestow life or death upon others. Consequently, the proverbial “poisoned apple” that Ravenna uses to murder Snow White is nothing more than a symbol of death. The true power which casts Snow White into a cursed slumber and that was broken by the huntsman’s kiss was initiated by Ravenna, herself.
While Queen Ravenna is the physical manifestation of darkness, Princess Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is the essence of pure light; a reflection of what Ravenna desires but can never truly possess because the essence of Snow White’s character rests not in her physical beauty but in a deep inner strength and the courage to rise and protect her kingdom from the tyrannical Queen. What impressed me the most about this interpretation of Snow White is while her Disney counterpart is a bit of a sugar-coated marshmallow, this interpretation of the fairy tale creates a more believable version of the classic character. She is a courageous warrior who carries the faith of her people, but she also allows herself a bit of feminine indulgence by allowing the Huntsman to win her heart. She fights both for her own survival and the survival of those she loves without submitting to the cold grip of fear, and in the end, she does not shrivel in the face of a more powerful adversary but stays her course to fulfill her royal duty.
There is a powerful connection between Princess Snow White and the Huntsman. (Chris Hemsworth.) Initially, the Huntsman’s purpose is to serve the Queen by retrieving Snow White from the Dark Forest and thus ensuring the Queen’s salvation. As fate would have it, the Huntsman is destined not to destroy the beautiful princess, but to be her protector. Snow White and the Huntsman, Eric, are connected by more than a happenstance encounter. Eric is a man who has been shattered by death’s cruel sting, whose guilt is numbed only by his drink. When he encounters Snow White, he resists opening his heart to her initially, but when he discovers her true identity, his desire to protect her is strengthened. In the end, his love for her is the catalyst which breaks her magic slumber. Snow White has likewise felt the painful lash of death when it steals away her parents. While at first, Eric’s cold countenance keeps her from connecting with him, she ultimately sees his true character, and her love for him restores his heart and heals him.
Not being a particularly avid follower of Kristen Stewart, I was admittedly a bit apprehensive about seeing this movie. I must admit, I was pleasantly shocked. This movie is actually a creatively done (albeit considerably darker) interpretation of the classic fairy tale. The story, while staying true to the source material, is executed in a way that retains the integrity of the story, while also strengthening some of the more essential threads that fell through the cracks in the Disney version. For example, while the Queen’s desire for Snow White’s heart in the Disney version essentially led nowhere besides allowing the Queen to realize Snow White had survived, the same thread in Snow White and the Huntsman became an essential thread to both characters. The creative design of both the costumes and the environments are stunning, particularly in the case of the Queen’s magic mirror. The casting, while a bit dry on the part of the leading heroine, is exceptional and does the movie credit. I would recommend this movie for anyone with a heart for a good fantasy drama.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.