Snow White and the Huntsman

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall...”

Snow White and the Huntsman features several set pieces that are really quite fun to look at. There are moments in particular where sheer creativity abounds, resulting in creatures and locations that are nothing short of eye candy. Such gorgeous visuals are most definitely this film’s greatest strength.

Alas, similar praise cannot be said of the story. While its efforts to remain (at least relatively) true to the original Grimm’s fairy tale were largely admirable, the script also suffered greatly at times because of it. In prose, it is very possible for a character to experience growth and change solely within the mind. The same cannot be said of film. In film, it must either be shown or spoken out loud in some way. Showing is always better, and the best way to do this is through the main character’s relationships with others.  

Snow White featured two such potential relationships: that of Prince William, and that of the Huntsman (whose real name was never actually said at any point during the film). Each worked only to diminish the other. Seeing as how both characters served essentially the same purpose, what would have been the harm in combining them? Not only would this have removed the awkwardly-placed love triangle (which was never really capitalized on, anyway), but it would have also improved the overall pacing of the film.

Speaking of pacing, there were several segments during the second act that were dangerously slow. This is often the result of ineffective subplots, which often exist for the sole reason of explaining away the unnecessary characters and/or events. Such things are best left out of the story for the sake of clarity. However, while these less effective characters/subplots were certainly big problems, they were not the worst. The worst problem here would have to be the film’s theme, or more accurately, lack thereof.

A film’s theme is essentially what the film is about, as seen through the eyes of the individual writing it. In this case, I have to wonder how the inherent theme of this story could have been so blatantly missed. The theme should have been that true beauty is on the inside. This would have made the evil Queen’s ambitions tragically pathetic, while providing the protagonist with a clear character flaw—in that she sees no beauty within herself. This could have made for a very remarkable (and very fitting) character arc.

Now enter the Huntsman/Prince, able to see in her what she cannot see in herself. This relationship enables her to realize her full potential... while the same thing happens in reverse. The Huntsman/Prince (himself a drunkard and a brawler) is also lacking in purpose and direction. But then Snow White, whose pure heart is able to see past such outward flaws, enables him to step up... and prove himself as well.   

Overall, while it may have been a beautiful and creative film to look at, its story left much to be desired.