Australian Penthouse

DIRECTOR: Rupert Sanders
STARS: Charlize Theron, Kriseten Stewart, Chris Hemsworth
UNIVERSAL

ONCE upon a time, in a Hollywood executive’s ritzy office, it was decided that Snow White would be brought back to life and the result has been a recent glut of films and television series based on the classic fairy tale heroine.

Hot on the heels of Mirror Mirror comes Snow White & The Huntsman. A more traditional take on the Brothers Grimm’s 1812 story, it stars Kristen Stewart (Twilight) as the titular princess and Charlize Theron (Prometheus) as the wicked Queen Ravenna. Rounding out the cast is Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers), who plays Eric The Huntsman.

Set in an alternative Medieval world similar to that of hit HBO TV show Game of Thrones, the production values are impressive and the visual effects are good. Plot-wise, all the main points are there, including the magic mirror and the poisoned apple, but some have been altered. One of the most notable changes is the seven dwarves – gone are the cute, colourful characters popularised by Disney, replaced here with a band of eight warriors who reluctantly agree to help Snow White and Eric defeat Ravenna.

If you can get over Hemsworth’s faltering and entirely unnecessary Scottish accent, he does a solid job as The Huntsman and Stewart is perfectly adequate if not spectacular as Snow White. The cast standout is Theron, who as well as looking the part manages to give the evil queen real pathos.

First-time director Rupert Sanders does well with the material, so if you’re in the mood for a fresh take on a fairy tale, check out Snow White & The Huntsman. We can’t promise you happily ever after, but chances are you’ll be entertained for 127 minutes.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN is in cinemas 21 June, 2012.

Review: Cameron Murray