Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Snow White and the Huntsman - movie review




If there is anything that I am thankful for about the movie “Snow White and the Huntsman,” it's that it’s not a typical fairy tale story where the heroine Snow White (Kristen Stewart) and the hero (Chris Hemsworth) fall in love, get married in a huge castle filled with extravagant, unnecessary props that are too expensive for anyone to have, and live happily ever after.

The movie is centered on the Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron). Her goal is to hold on to her youth and to live forever— as if aging is a horrible thing—thus confirming to women all over the world that it is okay to fear aging. I hate, no wait, despise that attitude, it puts a damper on being sexy over 36, which I happen to believe 36 is the new thirty-sexy. 

With that said, Queen Ravenna does own the film because she commands your attention. I will say that I believe Charlize Theron deserves an Academy Award for her role.

Much like the fairy tale you’ll see at Disney, the wicked Queen speaks to her mirror, “Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

Unlike the cute Disney movie, the mirror is a gold plate, and gold, brass object that becomes a statue when he responds to her.

To hold on to her youth, Queen Ravenna must find a way to age - or to kill -  all the young beautiful maidens of the land.

Snow White happens to be the one maiden who can destroy the Queen, but more importantly, if the Queen steals Snow White’s heart, the Queen will live looking like a 25 year old her whole endless life.

As if 25 is the best age, it’s not. Trust me.

I do hate that Queen Ravenna fears aging instead of finding a way to age gracefully, and the film makers made it out to seem that the older a woman gets, the less appealing she is. But I do love that they put Snow White in a position to fight for her life, alongside the Huntsman, as opposed to making her a helpless young lady who fears breaking a nail.

The film is not one for younger audiences, and I’m thankful for that. It’s also not one looking for a hopeless romantic comedy for those who get lost in fairy tale stories that are about unrealistic romance and the unrealistic Prince Charming. It’s a scary, dark science fiction film that’s violent, and Snow White isn’t pretty either, well, not until she cleans up anyway, then she’s beautiful. She’s vicious, almost stronger then the Huntsman, and her nails are dirty.

In the end, we’re left guessing, is she with the Huntsman, or with the Duke? Who knows? Who cares? She regained the power that was rightfully hers; she becomes the Queen of the land, the one in charge of the townspeople, whom everyone adores. She did it by fighting for her life, by stepping out of the norm that women are supposed to be rescued by a man that’ll do it for her.

As for aging, Queen Ravenna needed to learn how to make older look sexy …just saying.


****  I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars solely because of excessive violence - and I don't like sci-fi! 







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