100 movies: Snow White and the Huntsman

comments 21
100 movies of 2012

Every year I set myself a target, usually of about 100, of films to watch. These are new films. Not new, new films. But films that are new to me. Any time I’ve seen a new one, I post a bit of a brain dump of my thoughts on the film here. Enjoy!

Snow White and the HuntsmanSnow White and the Huntsman (05/06/12)

In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to kill Snow White turns into her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen and help Snow White reclaim the throne.

Would someone please figure out a way to get an expression out of Kristen Stewart’s face. It would have made this film a million times better! Who on Earth thought it was a good idea to put her in the lead role which required her to be charming and gracious and get some sympathy out of the audience? Show me their face!

Aside from my annoyances with Stewart, I enjoyed this film. A nice bit of retelling of Snow White’s story. Surprised that there was actually a different spin left on this story which feels like it’s been done to death already with two other Snow Whites out there with Mirror, Mirror and Once Upon a Time.

Charlize Theron is the stand out performer in this film. She gets more to do other than walking into rooms looking dramatic and pissed off (Ahem, Prometheus. Ravenna is a very multi-faceted villain, unlike our ‘heroine’. By the end of the film I was beginning to feel for the pressures that Ravenna had put on herself because of her past. Yes, a little part of me wanted her to win out.

Chris Hemsworth’s Huntsman was a good solid character too. I don’t think he was a stretch for Hemsworth to play, but I enjoyed his role. Even with his Scottish accent. Which wasn’t as atrocious as I was expecting. The Huntsman has always been such a quiet, untold character. I would have liked a bit more from him, heck, it would have been a great spin for him to have been the lead instead of Snow White. That’s just my brain talking crazy!

The film was entertaining. I believe it was trying to be massive in scope competing with the big fantasy films like Lord of the Rings. (There was one scene that felt right out of FOTR – Snow White getting chased by those black riders after her escape felt very similar to Arwen getting chased by the Ringwraithes.) I don’t think it quite pulled it off. But the film did create a rich little universe. I do like when fairytales are given a bit more of an edge.

Not as great as I’d hoped, but still a fun little ride. After the first hour or so.

Oh and fun fact, this is the fifth Chris Hemsworth featuring film I’ve seen this year. Nah… I don’t think I have a problem.
Rating: 3/5

Read on to see all the films watched this year…

44 Films so far this year

  1. The Tourist 1/5 (02/01/12)
  2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 5/5 (03/01/12)
  3. World’s Greatest Dad 2/5 (14/01/12)
  4. Haywire 3/5 (19/01/12)
  5. Dead Snow 3/5 (20/01/12)
  6. The Artist 5/5 (21/01/12)
  7. Priest 2/5 (05/02/12)
  8. The Muppets 5/5 (15/02/12)
  9. Faster 4/5 (19/02/12)
  10. Chronicle 4/5 (22/02/12)
  11. Safe House 4/5 (24/02/12)
  12. Reservoir Dogs 4/5 (25/02/12)
  13. This Means War 4/5 (02/03/12)
  14. The Royal Tenenbaums 3/5 (03/03/12)
  15. Reign of Fire 3/5 (04/03/12)
  16. Dear John 2/5 (04/03/12)
  17. Road to Perdition 5/5 (05/03/12)
  18. The Three Musketeers 3/5 (06/03/12)
  19. The Eagle 2/5 (10/03/12)
  20. Everybody’s Fine 2/5 (14/03/12)
  21. Frankenstein 4/5 (15/03/12)
  22. Love and Other Drugs 2/5 (15/03/12)
  23. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger 2/5 (17/03/12)
  24. The Big Lebowski 5/5 (18/03/12)
  25. The Hunger Games 3/5 (23/03/12)
  26. Headhunters 4/5 (07/04/12)
  27. Super 1/5 (07/04/12)
  28. The Cabin in the Woods 5/5 (13/04/12)
  29. Watchmen 4/5 (14/04/12)
  30. The Hurt Locker 3/5 (21/04/12)
  31. Avengers Assemble 5/5 (26/04/12)
  32. 22 Bullets 2/5 (28/04/12)
  33. Bad Teacher 1/5 (29/04/12)
  34. Red Riding Hood 1/5 (04/05/12)
  35. A Perfect Getaway 4/5 (05/05/12)
  36. Ca$h 1/5 (13/05/12)
  37. Kung Fu Panda 2 3/5 (14/05/12)
  38. Everything Must Go 2/5 (24/05/12)
  39. New York, I Love You 2/5 (25/05/12)
  40. Beginners 4/5 (26/05/12)
  41. Prometheus 4/5 (03/06/12)
  42. The Tree of Life 2/5 (04/06/12)
  43. The Lovely Bones 3/5 (05/06/12)
  44. Snow White and the Huntsman 3/5 (06/06/12)

21 Comments

  1. uh oh Hemsworth addiction. I gotta admit, I do find him a very impressive specimen of man. Damn Aussies! I’m going wait for this on rental. Sounds like they’ve made the story of Snow White more appealing to me personally but still not in a desperate hurry to see this.

    • Damn Aussies indeed! Hemsworth addiction leads to watching abominations such as Cash!

      It’s a nice retelling. I’m wondering how much “retelling” Snow White has left in her.

  2. I’d like to think the entire Internet at the moment has a Chris Hemsworth addiction, Jaina.

    Aside from that, your complaints and praises with the film seem to line up with most reviewers; not surprisingly the majority do not approve of “that face”, and Theron was the highlight of the film.

    I keep reading about the dwarves in the film, what did you think of them personally :D?

    • And so the entire Internet should! ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Ohhhh the dwarves! I totally forgot to mention them! Maybe that speaks volumes about what I thought of them? No no.. I did love them. But they felt like a bit of a throwaway addition. That bunch of guys Snow White & Huntsman meet in the woods could have been absolutely anyone.

      Sad, seeing the casting for them was top notch. Ian McChane, Toby Jones, Nick Frost, all fantastic actors. They were amusing though.

  3. hehe as I am without a Hemsworth Addiction, I think I liked this less than you. Although we felt very similar on lots of points!! Great review Jaina

  4. OK, that scene you mentioned with that especially reminded you of LOTR with Snow White on the white horse getting chased — totally reminded me of Arwen in LOTR. Glad I’m not the only one who was brought back to that movie when I saw that!

    I thought the film disappointed, but still had a lot of cool stuff. Just a poor lead that didn’t really follow through. Good summary and review, Jaina.

    • But what that scene lacked was a sense of fluidity that LOTR’s was packed full with it’s awesome steadicam and staying with the action. Loved it.

      It feels like they might have chosen the lead just because of her potential box office pulling powers. Oh and she has dark hair and fair skin, but come on… there is definitely a better choice than her out there!

  5. Jaina,

    You already know how I felt about the movie.

    I thought the film was fairly decent, but by no means was it perfect. The biggest issue I had, much like you, was with Kristen Stewart. Aside from the fact that her acting is so bland, dry, and dull, she’s just not the “fairest in the land”; especially when you put her against the ever so beautiful Charlize Theron.

    I’m also sick and tired of the endless pursuit of the next great franchise. Why is it so difficult to just make a stand alone film? UGH!!!!

    • Exactly – Charlize Theron is kinda a goddess and would say no match for KStew’s Snow White.

      Yes! What is it with studios and their need for franchises. Yes I get the money aspect of it, but I love just seeing a standalone film, and being able to just enjoy it for exactly what it is.

  6. You definelt don’t have a problem – Hensworth really choses good flicks to be in, Avengers and Cabin in the Woods are some of the most entertaining I’ve seen this year and the latter would probably find a place in my top 200 of favorite films, as a horror junkie I adored it. I agree about Lord of the Rings parallels in SWATH, hey maybe I’ll do post about it once the DVD is released ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Oooo! You should do a set of parallels for it for sure! Hopefully it’ll be out on DVD before The Hobbit, so you could tie LOTR in there!

      Cabin in the Woods was awesome… Hemsworth has done some FAB films this year!

  7. I thought about catching this one at the $5 cinema over the weekend, but I think I’ll wait for a rental. Chris Hemsworth really does seem to be everywhere lately, doesn’t he??

    • I think this year is called year of the Hemsworth. 3 films in the cinema. Natalie Portman’s got a better record though hasn’t she? Black Swan, No Strings Attached and Your Highness in the same year… no?

      • I was thinking Fassbender… X-Men, Shame, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Haywire. The man has been busy lately!

        Can’t forget about Gosling either.

  8. Ahahaha, I’m so with you about K-Stew. How could someone so devoid of expression make it as an actress??? And again she’s not even that pretty!! I just heard there’d be a sequel to this, ugh!!

    I do like Hemsworth here, even with his awful Scottish accent. Might as well let him keep his Aussie accent, ahah.

    • His Scottish accent wasn’t too bad! It did slip a handful of times. It was better than I was expecting. Though yes, I would have much preferred a gruff Aussie Huntsman, though I guess he wouldn’t have fit in with all the Northern accents.

      Since bloody Twilight K-Stew has been riding some magical carpet that’s elevated her well above her talent.

  9. I know, what’s wrong with Kristen Stewart right?? No problems with Thor, as I’ll call him :). And I LOVE Theron! Can’t wait to see this.

    • If you love Theron, you will definitely get something out of this film. Just ignore Kristen Stewart!

Leave a Reply to JainaCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.