Snow White and the Huntsman Review

Much like the poisoned apple from its story 'Snow White and the Huntsman' looks great. It's colour and feel will make your mouth water but after one bite you're sure to stagger around for a dramatic moment and die. Director Rupert Sanders has given us a visually appealing film but sadly the special-effects are not enough to save this frustrating drivel.

Marred by lazy writing, off-putting performances, chaotic camera work and choppy editing the film attempts to retell the classic story of Snow White. In keeping with the audience's presumed thirst for darker and edgier stories the familiar elements are all corrupted. This actually works quite well and had the filmmakers been less lazy in the telling of their story we might have had a worthy addition to the fantasy genre. As it stands 'Snow White and the Huntsman' is a huge bore.  

The casting, however, is inspired. Charlize Theron steals the show as the evil queen, looking for eternal youth. Kirsten Stewart pales (they didn't call her Snow White for nothing) in comparison. The young actress has little to no charm, making her a very boring protagonist. 

The casting of Stewart seems to betray a level of cynicism on the part of the filmmakers. Especially, because underneath all the fairy tale stylings the film feels like a new version of 'Twilight'. For instance, the film feels the need to add a romantic subplot in which Snow White is torn between the hardened Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) and her childhood love William (Sam Claflin). Which side are you on? Team Huntsman or Team Will? Whichever way, we all lose. 

The eight dwarfs (Yes, apparently you need seven of them to get people to see your movie these days.) consist of a company of well-known Britisch actors. And even though it was fun to see them together like this, the film does not give them anything interesting to do. In fact, they act rather peculiar. It's as if the actors themselves are not quite sure about what's expected from them.  

In between the film manages to steal shamelessly from other fantasy films, such as 'The Neverending Story', 'The Chronicles of Narnia' and of course 'The Lord of the Rings'. It's sad, because Sanders certainly gets the look right. But never is there a moment of genuine wonder or excitement. The characters, except for the dwarves and Theron's queen, seem to be made from carboard, pretty cardboard, but that ain't saying much. 

The Avengers Review

With 'The Avengers' Marvel Studios has completed one of the most admirable attempts at universe building in modern film. We've been introduced to most of this film's heroes over the last few years. I wasn't too fond of most of them but Marvel should be commended for taking on such a daunting project. Before I start my review I'd like give you a rundown of the all of this film's heroes.

First off there's Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, who got not one but two fairly dull films. Chris Hemsworth is a demigod with a ridiculous accent from 'Thor'. Mark Ruffalo replaces Edward Norton as The Hulk. And Chris Evans' character originates from the best film of the bunch 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. A selection of those film's supporting actors return for 'The Avengers'. The most prominent of them being Samuel L. Jackon. I never really got Jackon's badass image, which by now feels forced to the point of being hilarious. 

The story seems like something a ten-year-old would concoct while playing with his collection of Avengers action figures. The basic ingredients and plot devices have been spoon-fed to us in the previous films. There are, for instance, other worlds that exist beside our own but can be reached by portals. Tom Hiddleston's Loki, the villain of the piece who previously appeared in 'Thor', emerges from one of these portals with the goal of subjugating earth. To do so he has allied himself with an alien force and before long an army of these nasty creatures spills forth from a massive interdimensional portal. The only thing standing between the people of earth and Loki's horde is a collection of superheroes called The Avengers. 

In short, it's a load of nonsense on top of another load of nonsense. But somehow it works. Besides, this movie isn't really about anything but watching these superheroes fight among themselves and finally side by side. Director Joss Whedon, the creative force behind TV shows like 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', 'Angel' and 'Firefly', manages to make the film an enjoyable, if somewhat silly, action-adventure romp. He knows the characters and offers them some depth. Giving them moments that outshine the ones seen in their own seperate movies. 

In itself the film is okay. There's some nice action scenes here and there, and some fun bits of comedy. Luckily, 'The Avengers' doesn't feature the kind of offensively immature humor that plagued the 'Transformers' movies. More dissapointing is the fact the movie plays it safe on pretty much all fronts. 

There's a lack of urgency and danger; a weakness of many films these days. A good example is a moment in which one of the major characters decides to sacrifice his life. What should have been a poignant scene is robbed of any drama because of the nature of these characters.   

These are supermen, they can not die, at least we're never given any hint of their mortality. They're all pretty much indestructable, which makes it hard for us to care for them. We know they're going to be alright in the end because we see them take so many beatings without sustaining any injury at all. Any sense of danger is effectively nipped in the bud. 

Aside from that major downside the film is fun, and if you like big spectacular movies you'll enjoy 'The Avengers'. Whedon makes good use of his sympathetic cast, which is this film's major attraction. Still, I'm quite sure this year's ultimate superhero movie is still waiting in the wings.