Memories of Disney’s sacharine version are banished, though, as rich visuals and violent death scenes unfold. Kristen Stewart is Snow White, re-envisaged as a feisty warrior woman in debut director Rupert Sanders’ action-packed fantasy, in which she faces off against Charlize Theron’s evil Queen Ravenna. Stewart, the subject of criticism for her Twilight thesping, holds her own, although the two only appear together at the end in a David and Goliath style bitchfight.
A bit of adult humour is brought by the filthy-mouthed dwarves – which include Ray Winstone and Ian McShane (Warwick Davis is not to be seen) – and Chris Hemsworth as the huntsman despatched to kill Snow, his part far more substantial than the character’s traditional role.
There are numerous references to previous fantasy stories and films that presumably stuck in Sanders’ mind – a white horse calls to mind The Neverending Story; the fairies recall Lord Of The Rings’ Gollum; the white stag in the forest echoes Aslan’s sage omnipresence – which may frustrate those keen to see this strike out on its own. But it’s still one to catch, the action and energy engaging, the visuals stunning and the story offering a new spin on the fairy tale tradition.
Good for: Date movies where she wants more action and less rom-com
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron | 12A | 127mins
★★★☆☆
