The movie Snow White and the Huntsman, an adaption of the fairy tale, starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron, came out in early 2012 and was highly anticipated. Despite the fact that the movie only has the most basic plot points in common with the original fairy tale, watching the movie is a wonderful experience, not least because it’s a visual joyride, packed with intricate details of a dark, dangerous, war-like world, interspersed with visions of a green, lush, light-filled peace.
Ravenna, the evil stepmother, so coldly and superhumanly perfect, is almost painful to watch in her beauty, and she offsets Snow White’s very human, very natural, very warm beauty. Indeed, the story insists that her beauty comes from being pure and innocent – having a beautiful soul.
Snow White is not only beautiful, she is also kind and courageous. To help the Huntsman, who is about to be defeated by a troll (a huge, scaly, roaring monster), she jumps out from her hiding place and although she has a sword, she does not even attempt to hurt or even kill the troll. Instead, she roars back at the troll, ‚fighting‘ it on its own terms – resulting in one of the few really funny scenes of the movie.
And despite all expectations, it works: the troll, probably surprised by her action, calms down and even lets her touch it. Snow White demonstrates her kindness in many small ways throughout the story, making her something special in the rough, dark world that her father’s kingdom has become during her imprisonment.
It is no wonder that not only her childhood friend, William (played by Sam Claflin) is smitten by her, but also the Huntsman, a loner and trouble-maker, and the fierce Dwarves are willing to follow her and give their lives to protect her.
Not only humans, however, recognize in Snow White the person who can rescue the country and defeat the evil Ravenna. Nature itself acknowledges her as she wanders into a secluded glen, where animals and fairy creatures live in peace and harmony. The White Stag, a legendary personification of nature, appears and the men who watch her are surprised and touched to see it bow its head to Snow White.
With her devoted followers she finally makes it to the Duke’s castle, where she rallies the men and woman collected there to follow her into a battle to take back their world from Ravenna, her stepmother. The ensuing battle, and the focus on the fight between Snow White and Ravenna, is another visually beautiful scene. Which ends, as all fairy tales do, in the defeat of evil and the triumph of innocence over greed and egoism.
The movie is a joy to watch and it transports the viewers into a visual, sensual world and lets them take part in a story that is both touching and well told.
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all photos taken from the official website