Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Spruell, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris, Brian Gleeson
Rating: (M)
4 stars (out of 5)
Before I saw it, Snow White and the Huntsman (Rialto and Hoyts) was ticking all my best-to-avoid boxes.
Do we really need a rejigging of a classic fairy tale?
Well, yes, when what you produce is still recognisably Snow White, but with more grit and enchantment.
After seeing Prometheus, I was wondering if Charlize Theron can really act.
It turns outs she just had to have something to act.
Here, she shows the evil Queen Ravenna as an object of pity, as well as genuine fear. But do we need another Australian muscle man attempting an English accent while clobbering everyone in sight?
Fresh from his second stab at Thor, Chris Hemsworth's huntsman is better than the first glimpse of his leather-clad frame would suggest.
An uncertain British accent booming from those strong Aussie lungs sounds right for the medieval fantasy in which this is set.
Snow White and the Huntsman is not perfect. There are plenty of silly plot holes and Kristen Stewart, while acceptable playing Snow White, is too reminiscent of Bella from Twilight to fully engage our sympathies. This is Theron's film, even if Stewart is making more money.
Best thing: There are dwarfs.
Worst thing: Annoyingly, there is room for an unnecessary sequel.
See it without: The children. Ravenna is enough to give strong men nightmares.
By Christine Powley.
