cinemajesty Movie Review: "Snow White and the Huntsman" (2012)Universal Studios, indulging on an exclusive distribution deal with Roth Films, led by New-York-City based producer Joe Roth, who commissioned a re-interpretation of the 1812 published fairy tale compilation of German-folklore-rooted writing "Brother Grimm", when screenwriter Evan Daughtery & Hossein Amini grooming a script for director John Lee Hancock, known for directing "The Blind Side" starring Sandra Bullock, to then again all-around industry surprises given the direction to feature debutante Rupert Sanders, convincing producer Roth as Universal executives with a well-executed as visually-stunning, feature pre-visualized short film to be given an high-end presumingly minimum of a 170-Million-Dollar production budget, two feminine-striking Hollywood stars with Charlize Theron as Evil step-mother Ravenna and Kirsten Stewart as cell-hidden and tortured Snow White, battling in major league décor designed by production design Dominic Watkins, to the death.Cinematography under Greig fraser's orchestration had been the chance to be awe-striking brilliant, but then with still-keeping-up to industrial possibilities searching first-time director Rupert Sanders becomes the coverage for "Snow White and the Huntsman" industry close-to-television standards, which tend to convince only through impossible-strong as expensive visual effects supervised by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, known for learning his craft on the production for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" (2006), when a further joyful ensemble cast led by supporting character "The Huntsman", performed by another-heroic-act pushing actor Chris Hemsworth, alongside an amazingly entertaining group of dwarves, digitally-shrunk performers surrounding actor Ian McShane, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Ray Winstone and Bob Hopkins (1942-2012) as Muir in his final performance.Leading actress Kirsten Stewart left in still-recovering moods from endless production cycles of the "Twilight" movie series somewhere between early 2008 and mid-2012 re-shoots, when the actress plays for the camera with haunting green eyes and white skin; nevertheless to much left alone by technically-overthrowns director Rupert Sanders to be of conviction in final confrontations with Charlize Theron's out-for-blood as overly-raging performance as Ravenna, stealing every single scene, she performs in to further at least lavishingly-accomplished Academy-Award-nominated costume design by Colleen Atwood, who won her first Oscar for designing all wardrobe in favors of Rob Marshall's musical crime-drama "Chicago".© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

Tweekums Snow White is the daughter of the king but shortly after her mother dies the king goes into battle against a strange army. He is victorious and 'rescues' a woman who was being held captive; he rapidly falls in love and marries her… that night she murders him and takes the crown. Snow White is imprisoned in the castle. Years pass and as Snow White comes of age the queen is told that by taking Snow White's heart she will gain immortality. As her brother goes to get Snow White she escapes from him, gets out of the castle and flees to the Dark Forest; a mysterious place full of danger. Her pursuers lose her so the queen acquires the services of a huntsman, promising that if he brings Snow White back alive she will bring his wife back from the dead. He manages to catch her but soon learns that the queen can't deliver on her promise so he switches sides and helps her flee. After a number of run-ins with the Queen's brother and his men they are captured by a band of dwarfs. When they realise who she is though they pledge their allegiance to her. They are later joined by William, a childhood friend of Snow Whites. Snow White determines to take the fight to the evil queen and claim the thrown that is rightfully hers… it will be far from easy though.I must admit that I wasn't expecting too much from this; I only bought it because the DVD was in the '20p box' in a charity shop… perhaps because of these low expectations I was rather pleasantly surprised. While it isn't gory there is a surprising amount of impressive battle action and there is frequently an oppressive tone; especially during the scenes in the distinctly creepy Dark Forest. The film looks really impressive with some great scenery and the special effects are of a high quality making fantastical creatures look real. Kristen Stewart does a solid job as Snow White; playing her more like Joan of Arc than the familiar Disney version of the character. Charlize Theron puts in a delightfully over the top performance as the evil queen and Sam Spruell is suitably menacing as the Queen's brother, a creepy character whose relationship with his sister seems a little too close at times… although I may be reading too much into that having watched too much 'Game of Thrones'! The rest of the cast are pretty solid; the dwarfs are made up of a number of well-known British actors who provide some laughs without being relegated to mere comic relief. Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin are decent enough as the Huntsman and William although at times these characters feel a little bland compared to the others. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to those looking for action is a fantasy setting; it is a bit too scary for younger viewers though.

rarouff In contrast to many reviewers, I really liked Kristen Stewart's performance here. She's sort of a tomboy princess, with the requisite untouchable purity that the part demands. Again in contrast to others, I find her performance subtle and intelligent--never overstated. And her beauty is iconic, which fits the classic nature of the tale. I wouldn't want some overly lush,overly "sexy" young actress in this role. Of course Charlize Theron is excellent as the evil queen, as are the rather Romanesque or perhaps Gothic visual effects. In addition, almost any movie with the great character actors Bob Hoskins and Eddie Marsen is worth watching. All in all, this movie is a fitting antidote to the saccharine nature of much Disney fare.

Stuart Whyte This is an ensemble cast although the leads are exemplary in their service of the story. Scenes are well timed and the landscapes, locations, framing and art direction are quite exceptional when compared the film-making shown in other, perhaps more generic, films released contemporaneously (and since).What the film does well is to marry the fantastical / allegorical content of the tale with a human / natural context. The locations provide suitable backdrop to the primary tone and emotion of particular scenes which should carry the viewer and the set design for close action and dialogue-driven parts are realistically executed, life-worn and substantial.Possibly what is less well achieved is the overall 'package' of the film. I watched this at home and was able to pause and return to the film. If I had been in the theatre my attention may have strayed or it may have been fatigued by the volume of the well written score.It seems unfair to haunt this film with criticism based upon the previous roles played by the cast. The optical impact, restrained visual effects, and story drive are to be most engaged with not the (unfortunately?) familiar starring actors.