Snow White & The Huntsmen (**1/2 out of ****)

So here we have the second Snow White movie of the year a few months after the Tarsem helmed children's version. However Snow White & The Huntsmen isn't here to bring goofy smiles to our faces or warm our hearts. Here is a a welcomed re-imgaining of the classic fairy tale that is darker, bigger and all the more hostile. Of course you might wonder why re-imagine it at all? That's a question to take up with Hollywood, the movie itself is more than acceptable.

We have a backstory here that in the grand scheme of fairy tales is quite interesting. The Evil Queen Ravenna (Chalize Theron in a wicked turn) was once a girl who was abused and stolen from her family by men. Now in adulthood she is a vengeful swarm who betrays Snow White's father and take the kingdom for her own. She locks away Snow White (Kristen Stewart) in a tower for years until one fateful day she makes her escape into The Dark Forest (which is brimming with shadowy atmosphere). Ravenna sends The Huntsmen (Chris Hemmsworth) who has survived these woods before to return her. Of course things are never that easy.

Snow White & The Huntsmen has dripping with despair in scenery. So the contrastt with brighter parts of the film are all the better. It's a pretty fun adventure with a refreshing look. It's a welcomed blockbuster in the era where the better film must be the bigger one. How else could you describe the need for  Battleship, an orgy of explosions. Snow White & The Huntsmen has a fine story and luring visuals, but it's rather simple. It's expected so long as the movie is PG-13 and can still be views by many children without covering their eyes. It has the elements to go to the extreme but holds it self in check The final product is still quite fine.

PS: How will Kristen Stewart ever grow up to be as fair as Charlize Theron? That's the film's wildest claim.

**1/2 out of ****