Snow White – REVIEW - Price Prediction

Disney’s ongoing transition from animated to live-action adaptations reaches a milestone with one of their most renowned classics, originally titled “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.” In 1937, this film was a significant risk that ultimately proved profitable for Walt Disney, paving the way for his business expansion. Notably, the recent adaptation has been named ‘Disney’s Snow White,’ omitting reference to her dwarf companions to avoid potential offense and some may perceive this as a sign of increasing social awareness or “wokeness.

The story commences in a conventional manner as a book unfolds to reveal the timeless phrase, “Once upon a time…” We’re immediately plunged into the historical context of Snow White, a cherished daughter who tragically loses her mother at a tender age. Her father subsequently marries a power-hungry woman who secretly wishes for his absence, often admired by Meghan Markle as an inspiration.

In this absence, the villainous Queen (portrayed by Gal Gadot) schemes against Snow White (Rachel Zegler), relegating her to menial chores while she amasses the wealth of the kingdom for herself. The Queen is driven not only by greed and ambition but also vanity, as she consults a familiar magic mirror daily about who is the most beautiful, until one day it declares that Snow White surpasses her in beauty.

In the traditional tale, the Wicked Witch instructs a guard to escort her into the forest with the intention of being killed. However, the guard hesitates to carry out the task and instead lets her escape into the depths of the forest. There, she encounters the familiar seven dwarves in their cozy cottage, who are peacefully asleep. In the trailer, we have seen this scene, but it’s been revealed that these seven aren’t the fabled ‘mythical beings’ or a diverse mix of ethnicities, as some might expect. Instead, they are computer-generated dwarves – well-known figures, unless you’re participating in a pub quiz and need to recall all their names.

From now on, the tale takes a unique twist from the classic one we’re familiar with. Instead of a prince waking Snow White, it’s Jonathan, the head of a group of woodland bandits, who does so as he opposes the rule of the malevolent Queen. Snow White, however, doesn’t simply wait to be rescued; she takes charge and leads both the bandits and the villagers in their struggle against the oppressive reign of this tyrannical Queen. This empowering twist has sparked quite a debate among fans, yet it’s executed so elegantly that there’s little to find fault with.

In my perspective, this modern adaptation faces a couple of challenges. Firstly, it succumbs to the predicament that plagues many contemporary musicals – the tunes that quickly fade from memory. The classic numbers like “Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho” and “Whistle while you work” are still present, but the iconic “Someday my prince will come” has been omitted. In its place, there’s an abundance of new songs, which seem unnecessary and easily forgettable, serving only to extend the movie’s runtime.

Secondly, the dwarves themselves. They are all computer-generated images (CGI), which seems counterintuitive for a live-action film. I can’t help but think back to Terry Gilliam’s masterpiece, ‘Time Bandits’, where the interactions among the small characters were one of its many captivating aspects. This could have been achieved here as well, especially considering that two actual small actors are cast in speaking roles within Jonathan’s woodland gang. It’s puzzling why the creators opted for CGI, potentially pushing the film’s budget beyond $200 million.

Moving on, this production has plenty that will captivate young audiences. The computer-generated woodland creatures are incredibly endearing, and Zegler does a good job portraying Snow White with a bob haircut that changes frequently. It’s Gal Gadot who truly shines as the full-blown pantomime villain, although some purists may be disappointed by Disney’s take on Snow White. Overall, it’s a well-played adaptation, albeit perhaps a bit too lengthy.

Here’s the Snow White trailer…..

2025-03-19 20:24

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