Bmore1984

There is so much to like here and so much that disappoints. On substances it's fleeting; on form, it's brilliant.

Its ambition is nowhere more apparent than in its remarkable imagery and environment. This stylish twist to the Brothers Grimm's classic tale of betrayal, survival and friendship is a visually stunning embrace of colors and imagination, transporting the audience from one wildly rich world to another, e.g., the opening battlefield of the glass soldiers, the death of nature, the Dark Forest, the women's village and fairy sanctuary. These settings are complimented by competent performances. First, by Hemsworth and his depiction of the tale's newest character – the Huntsman: a widowed, drunkard mercenary who is initially hired to capture and return Snow White but quickly becomes her champion. Unfortunately, as the film progresses, this character, played so effectively by Hemsworth, slowly becomes marginalized. The main course of this film unsurprising is Charlize Theron's portrayal of the infamous Queen. Her performance cannot be minimized. At times, she is terrifying, at others genuinely sorrowful but always arousing. Her performance along with the imagery almost saves this film. And despite its diversion from the original tale, the writers cleverly maintain the traditional landmarks of the original, e.g., the dwarfs, the poisonous apple and the magic mirror. Preserving these landmarks was essential because nostalgia, I'm sure for too many viewers, was the driving force in experiencing this film.

What undoes this film is the chaotic way its story progresses. The narrative more and more veers away from Theron and Hemsworth and begins to overbearingly focus on Stewart. A talented cast was present here. It was just foolish to place them on the sideline and hand the baton to Stewart and ask her to carry this baby cross the finishing line. In the end, this film devolves in a cheap medieval-type fiasco, where we have Stewart hilariously leading soldiers to battle. Obviously, the conclusion provided in the original was more rewarding.

One of the greatest and most intellectual endings in film history. A typical moviegoers' initial reaction may be dissatisfaction as the film will not deliver the shock and frights expected from the horror genre or the dynamic explosions expected in modern adventure flicks. This film is special, however, because it fits neither of those molds, providing instead a compelling narrative and moral lesson that sustains the film long after its credits roll. Don't get me wrong, there are aliens in this film and some real moments of suspense. But if you come out of this film only concerned about the special effects, then you've missed the point. In the end, this film is less about the grotesque monsters than the internal demons stalking the protagonist and his family.

Kudos to the writers for creating an unique product. This film, however, fails because it lacks execution and organization. Birding never seems appealing. I'm not a golf fan, but Tin Cup made it look fun. Lord of Dogstown, for all its flaws, was a wet kiss to skateboarding. This, however, makes the experience an agonizing futile endeavor: first, for the characters who hopelessly trek the world looking for different birds, and seconds, the viewers (us) who lose an hour and some change of their lives.

The side stories almost save the film, i.e., the relationship between Wilson and his wife, Black and his love interest, and Martin and his business partners. The main thrust of the film, unfortunately, was not compelling.