Snow White and the Huntsman

With the release of Mirror Mirror in April, Snow White is making a second comeback to our screens in as many months. While both adaptations and the original feature Snow White, dwarves and a dark forest, that’s about all they have in common. In this latest escapade, Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is locked away in a castle tower by an evil, murderous and narcissistic stepmother who needs her for immortality and eternal beauty. In an inevitable turn of events, Snow White escapes from her tower and into the Dark Forest where, lo and behold, she runs into a band of seven dwarves willing to help Snow White in her quest against the queen. In this explosive fantasy movie, the power struggle between family members is impressively displayed with great screenplay and special effects second to none.

This is Rupert Sanders’ first foray into the world of directing, and he does not disappoint. Whilst it’s difficult to remove the cast from their original roles (I challenge anyone not to immediately think Twilight as soon as Kristen Stewart appears on screen), the acting is believable, even in some, frankly, unbelievable situations. Sanders has managed to create an endlessly watchable action-adventure film.

With a very Lord of the Rings feel to the movie, even the most sceptical customer will find it difficult not to admire the epic battle scenes, the simple plot (after all, it is a fairy tale) and the wonderful scenery and special effects that make this film what it is: a spectacle.

Sam Kidman