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Snow White: Who's The Fairest Of Them All?

Sarah Parvini |
November 17, 2011 | 12:07 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

 

Stewart and Collins as Snow White. (Courtesy of Entertainista)
Stewart and Collins as Snow White. (Courtesy of Entertainista)
Hollywood is getting its fair share of Snow White adaptations next year, with “Snow White and the Huntsman” debuting June 1 and “Mirror Mirror” slated for a March 16 release. 

The question is, who does it best? Both trailers have been released and the two films are completely different takes on Snow White—not only are they deviations from the classic tale, as was expected, but they can’t even be compared to each other. With that said,  “Snow White and the Huntsman” looks surprisingly impressive.

“Huntsman” sees Kristen Stewart at the helm, in a role far different from the clumsy, damsel-in-distress-prone Bella Swan.  The teaser shows a darker film, heavily influenced by its producer, Joe Roth, who also worked on Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” It boasts a more powerful score than its competitor and sets a tone that readies its audience for a twisted adaptation of the fairy tale. It’s fresh and will captivate a more mature audience looking for an epic adventure and an interpretation of the classic that holds more substance.

Charlize Theron’s Evil Queen is genuinely villainous and incredibly seductive. Julia Roberts’ version is endearing and comedic, but compared to Theron’s it seems to fall short. Unless, of course, you were hoping for a comedy.

Which brings us to the trailer for “Mirror Mirror.” While it looks too cheery and a bit campy compared to “Huntsman,” this adaptation shouldn’t be discounted.  Not everyone wants the “Dark Knight” version of Snow White; some people just want a light-hearted tale that adds zest to the original. In that sense, “Mirror Mirror” seems like it will accomplish its task. The costumes are beautiful and over-the-top; Julia Roberts is quirky and witty (and is so far the best part of the film), while Lily Collins makes a picturesque “Snow.” Armie Hammer’s portrayal of the Prince comes across rather funny as well. 

Given the two completely different approaches taken on these films, it’s hard to pit them against each other. “Huntsman” is serious and a bit scary. “Mirror Mirror” is whimsical and has a more Disney-Pixar feel. The movies don’t have the same target audience and have a stark difference in tone. In fact, their premiere dates may be far enough that the two films will stand tall on their own, without trampling each other.

I never thought I would say this (and I hope I don’t end up regretting it), but I was genuinely impressed by the trailer for “Snow White and the Huntsman,” and I am eager to see what Stewart brings to the table alongside Theron. The adaptation is planned as a trilogy, so we’ll see how it goes.

Watch the trailers and judge for yourself! 

 

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