Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Title: Snow White and the Huntsman

Series: Snow White and the Huntsman

Director: Rupert Sanders

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2012

Personal Rating: 2.5/5

Oscars: Nominated for 2

Plot: In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
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Leaving Out Kristen Stewart
The low rating I have given this movie isn't due to Stewart. Yes, Stewart is a horrible actress that only has an expression and a half in her arsenal. But she doesn't make this movie horrible. The job of making this movie horrible doesn't lie solely with her or even mostly with her. In fact, I was looking over Stewart and the movie was still horrible.

Glaring Plot Holes
I was talking to my Dad about some of the prominent plot holes in this movie and he replied with, "It's just a movie." No, no, and no you don't defend a movie by saying plot holes are okay because it's just a movie. A movie has to make sense within its own universe. With this movie all the plot holes take away from the wonderful graphics (and they are easily the best part of the film) and the otherwise decent plot. I say a decent plot because it's simple and nostalgic (princess is a 'chosen one' who has to save her kingdom from a great evil). The first question that nagged me from beginning to end was "Why did Ravenna allow Snow White to live?" On imdb the question is answered (on the FAQ) by saying that Ravenna wanted to suck the beauty out of Snow White. This doesn't make sense due to Ravenna having a whole kingdom of pretty girls and to allow Snow White to mature (in this film the evil queen can only suck out beauty when a girl is physically mature) gives her time to cause problems. And, hey, that's what ends up happening. Listing all the plot holes in this film would be a blog post of its own.

Things Aren't Stated Clearly
Snow White is supposed to be deciding between two potential lovers: the Huntsman and William. However, this isn't clearly shown throughout a good majority of the movie. While Chris Hemsworth is a good actor, Kristen Stewart's expressions can't show any subtlety of a possible relationship. Besides that, the whole basis of Snow White being loved by the audience is stated by basically saying 'she good character, you likey'. And the last one that I will mention here: the kiss. Those familiar with the fairy tale will know that true love's kiss would wake her from the spell. But the movie DOESN'T STATE IT! You instead get the two 'love interests' just kissing her. I'm not saying people won't figure it out for themselves, but is it too much to ask for just ONE line saying what's going on? It doesn't need to be described in depth (due to everyone most likely knowing about the fairy tale and cliche), but the movie not saying what's happening is just lazy.

Final Thoughts
I wanted to like this movie. I really did. I was excited to finally see it even though Kristen Stewart was in it. She's just one actress in the movie. But there were just too many plot holes. Then there's the fact that you never really get to know the characters. You see them and spend time with them, but you never really get to know them. This is especially bad with Snow White who is the main character and the one we're supposed to be rooting for. By the end of the movie I was rooting for Ravenna (the Evil Queen) which shouldn't be the case in a good movie. Why? You're supposed to root for the good guys and wish damnation upon the bad guys. Besides the graphics (which are very well done) the song at the end of the credits ('Breath of Life' by Florence and the Machines) are the two things of this movie I enjoyed without question.