Snow White and the Huntsman Directed by: Rupert Sanders Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: June 1, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: Like many, I was skeptical of the necessity for two new takes on Snow White. I figured it would come down to how effective the marketing campaign for each was before I decided whether I had any interest in seeing either of them. Well, where Mirror Mirror’s marketing has been atrocious, Snow White and the Huntsman has done just about everything right.
In most cases the excellent stylish imagery would be the most impressive thing – and there is plenty of that to go around, from the milk bath to the film's cool take on the magic mirror. On top of that, the film’s design elements – especially the look of the forest, the creatures and costumes – are all fantastic. But those elements are outshined by one thing: Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen. She is deliciously evil and owns every frame she’s in. I like Kristen Stewart more than most seem to, but this looks like Theron’s film through and through (and seriously, that shot of her face in the milk is my single favorite trailer image in a long time).
There is really only one thing I’m wary about at this point, and that is the intertitle boasting that the film is “From the producer of Alice in Wonderland.” The last thing an otherwise promising revisionist fairy tale film should do is call to mind that train wreck. Fortunately, all the other positive factors on display make that go down easier, leaving me very optimistic that Snow White and the Huntsman will be worth our while.