Movie Review - Bible Based: Snow White and the Huntsman

This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.

A Fractured Fairy Tale

Plot Overview

snow w/ rose Snow White was named after a weather-defying rose, floral warming in an icy tableau. When she gets older she defies her would-be rapist and escapes his grasp. Fairy tales are typically violent, this one being no exception. On-screen depictions have to be toned down, however, to preserve the PG–13 rating. Wicked Prince Finn (Sam Spruell) is a serial rapist, yet all that's given is his boast (“I remember them all”) and one attempt (“but especially the ones with fight.”) Line up for Me, too, damsels.

care bear magic
mirror His wicked sister lovely, blonde Ravenna (Charlize Theron) is a proto-feminist who has it in for men after she was discarded by one following their dalliance … as so often happens with blondes in movies. She seriously competes with other women for beauty using a magical power to suck their youth right out of them, and she uses a magic mirror to keep tabs. She employs a Trojan Horse scheme to get close to King Magnus (Noah Huntley) of Tabor, and then as a black widow she kills him to seize his throne. She locks his fair, raven-haired daughter Snow White in the North Tower to keep her royal blood on hand for future magic. There the lass plays with homemade dolls and ranging fowl.

When Snow White (Kristen Stewart) comes of age, she's an inherent threat to the evil queen who sends to have her executed, but she escapes. Here the tale diverges from an expected deliverance by her friendly prince. Sociologist Paul H. Landis writes In Defense of Dating:

It is quite logical to believe that some kind of dating is necessary to the development of the judgment and pair interaction that is at the root of real objectivity in mate selection. … ¶Those who have dated more than one person have a chance to compare and to learn some of the usual behavior patterns of members of the opposite sex. They learn to distinguish between those whose personalities seem to promise a durable compatibility and those whose personalities obviously do not. Dating is an exploratory experience through which young people learn. It no doubt contributes to the ability to feel at ease with the opposite sex and the love play sanctioned in dating may well be an important factor in the development of a normal heterosexual orientation in the psychosexual area. … ¶In most circles today, therefore, it is considered desirable that young people “circulate” rather than “go steady” from the beginning, … that some variety of dating experience is favorable to ultimate mate choice. The girl who is considered desirable as a date by a number of fellows is presumed to be the one most likely to be sought after in marriage. (223–4)

By the time the credits roll, Snow White has interacted with Eric the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) sent to retrieve her—who will have kissed her,—her friend from childhood Prince William (Sam Claflin)—who also kisses her,—and one of seven dwarfs Beith (Ian McShane) who dances with her and they share a hug. There isn't very much focus on sex but on character probe in this courting period, as was recommended by anthropologist Desmond Morris—best known for his book, The Naked Ape—writing on human sexual relations: (247)

The [sexual] preliminaries provide time for careful judgments to be made, judgments that may be hard to form once the massive, shared emotional impact of double orgasm has been experienced. This powerful moment can act as such a tight ‘bonder’ that it may well tie together two people quite unsuited to each other, if they have not spent sufficient time exploring each other's personalities during the sexual preliminaries.

This Snow White is more focused on her royal career than on marrying, so expect to see the former resolved before the latter, and that she will be happier married than is the standard ever-after princess with limited options.

Ideology

praying While locked in the tower she devotes herself to praying the Our Father: (Matt. 6:9-13) “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our [sins], as we forgive [those who sin against us.] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” This corresponds in the good book to (Psalm 103:2-5) “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.” Especially apropos to this tale is the renewal of White's youth through her purity (“The only one pure enough to save.”)

Hers is a militant virtue and she leads the troops into battle on behalf of God, like unto Joan of Arc. (Psalm 103:6) “The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”

Production Values

“” (2012) was directed by Rupert Sanders. It was written by Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, and Hossein Amini who were inspired by the classic fairy tale “Snow White” by the Brothers Grimm, adapted to the cinema and immortalized by Walt Disney. It stars Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron. Everyone seems gloomy as the kingdom is under a dark spell most of the time, so one can't blame the actors for failure to uplift our spirits. Even the dwarves refuse to whistle.

sleeping woman The kisses the men give the sleeping beauty are closed-lipped, embodying purity as in a line from a Michael Wiley story, “She kissed me long, as if she could radiate life and love into me” (214). Ravenna uses a wide open mouth to inhale youth from her victims.

anthropomorphic
tarragon winged fairy spud man The magical creatures in the dark forest are the best feature of this film, but the pageantry would be best appreciated on a big screen.

Runtime is 2 hours 8 minutes with about four additional minutes in an unrated extended version.

Review Conclusion w/a Christian's Recommendation

This was a good update of a classic story, encouraging a modern girl to stay pure. It's not as uplifting as the classic, but then our modern world is less than pure to begin with. View it at your own discretion.

Movie Ratings

Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Special effects: Absolutely amazing special effects. Video Occasion: Good for Groups. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Three stars out of five.