The Hunstman: Winter's War
[Warning: contains spoilers]
Compared to its predecessor, The Huntsman: Winter's War was a let-down. There was nothing, besides the reappearance of a couple of characters, that actually made this movie feel like it was part of the story of the first. It had none of the fever dream, drug-induced hallucination feel of the first one. Admittedly, I found that off-putting at first, but I walked away from the movie feeling like some part of the story was left resonating in the back of my skull. Every time I watch it I appreciate it more. The raw, mystical use of light and dark powers beyond our understanding as the audience makes Snow White and the Huntsman feel like old folklore; it's as though that film is truer to the original tale than any other retelling I have seen or heard. Of course, it is not in the least what the original tale was, but it feels like it should be.
I was disappointed first to learn that Kristen Stewart was not going to be in the sequel/prequel film. It's odd to find myself saying that, as I've never been a fan. But she was the perfect Snow White. Luckily, Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as the Huntsman. This was a major redeeming factor for the movie, and so I watched it. To my dismay, the Huntsman is almost an entirely different character from the first movie. Gone is the sombre, protective, kind-hearted man. Instead, he is jolly,arrogant proud, and perhaps a bit aggressive. I understand that this is the man he was before he lost his wife, but I don't see why his character needed to make a complete 180 between films. Was this just to make him more like Thor? We already know what he's like as Thor - I wanted to see him as Eric. Surely he didn't need to be this different.
While we're talking about personality changes, can we touch on Sara for a second. Sara, Eric's wife, is said in Snow White and the Huntsman to be very similar to Snow White. In Freya I see much more aggression, and much less gentleness. I know they're not the same person, but I didn't see as much commonality between the trusting, humble princess and the trained warrior.
In terms of plot, his movie raises a few questions. Most notably, where in the flashbacks is the brother that never leaves the evil queen's side...and where did this sister come from? Why was the Ice Queen never mentioned before? Secondly, why did Snow White and Eric not end up together when theirs was the true love? Yes, okay, it works out well considering Eric is actually still married and his wife is not dead. But we don't know that at the outset of the movie! And, strangely, no explanation is given as far as I can recall.
However, Snow falls sick because of the evil mirror (why does that thing still exist - couldn't destroy a magical object?) and it gets taken while being transported away. Eric and a couple dwarves attempt to take it to Sanctuary where it can't harm anyone. Lo and behold Freya, the Ice Queen, wants her sister's powerful mirror and sends her army of huntsman to get it. Sara, who is not dead (surprise, Eric!) saves Snow's men. In a reversal of the Once Upon a Time Snow White origin story, a couple of female dwarves trap the group and later fall for the men they trapped. (Sorry if that reference doesn't make sense to you, I just found the parallel a little odd.)
I tire of explaining this plot. Do you really want to know the rest? Freya gets the mirror, and a part of Ravenna that still lives inside it comes to life and takes over her sister's kingdom to get revenge on Snow White. Eric and his little misfit team of heroes try to stop her by breaking into the palace. Freya's entire reason for becoming the Ice Queen was the death of her baby, which she blamed on her lover, but she learns it was her sister who killed the kid. So she fights her sister.
In a weird way, this whole thing is about Freya learning to love again. She turns her heart into ice (figuratively) when she gets her icy powers, deciding that love is pain. So she trains an army of people who are to never experience love since she doesn't (or won't). Yet, essentially what she did was adopt a whole bunch of children to replace her baby. And it's clear, even while she's evil, that she loves them dearly. So maybe she didn't need to learn to love, just to acknowledge that love can be a strength? I don't want to over-analyze this. I tried to analyze it after watching it, but I felt like there were just too many holes and contradictions to make it worth my effort.
If you want a fantasy movie, this isn't a bad choice. But if you're looking for a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman then you've come to the wrong place.
Compared to its predecessor, The Huntsman: Winter's War was a let-down. There was nothing, besides the reappearance of a couple of characters, that actually made this movie feel like it was part of the story of the first. It had none of the fever dream, drug-induced hallucination feel of the first one. Admittedly, I found that off-putting at first, but I walked away from the movie feeling like some part of the story was left resonating in the back of my skull. Every time I watch it I appreciate it more. The raw, mystical use of light and dark powers beyond our understanding as the audience makes Snow White and the Huntsman feel like old folklore; it's as though that film is truer to the original tale than any other retelling I have seen or heard. Of course, it is not in the least what the original tale was, but it feels like it should be.
I was disappointed first to learn that Kristen Stewart was not going to be in the sequel/prequel film. It's odd to find myself saying that, as I've never been a fan. But she was the perfect Snow White. Luckily, Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as the Huntsman. This was a major redeeming factor for the movie, and so I watched it. To my dismay, the Huntsman is almost an entirely different character from the first movie. Gone is the sombre, protective, kind-hearted man. Instead, he is jolly,
While we're talking about personality changes, can we touch on Sara for a second. Sara, Eric's wife, is said in Snow White and the Huntsman to be very similar to Snow White. In Freya I see much more aggression, and much less gentleness. I know they're not the same person, but I didn't see as much commonality between the trusting, humble princess and the trained warrior.
In terms of plot, his movie raises a few questions. Most notably, where in the flashbacks is the brother that never leaves the evil queen's side...and where did this sister come from? Why was the Ice Queen never mentioned before? Secondly, why did Snow White and Eric not end up together when theirs was the true love? Yes, okay, it works out well considering Eric is actually still married and his wife is not dead. But we don't know that at the outset of the movie! And, strangely, no explanation is given as far as I can recall.
However, Snow falls sick because of the evil mirror (why does that thing still exist - couldn't destroy a magical object?) and it gets taken while being transported away. Eric and a couple dwarves attempt to take it to Sanctuary where it can't harm anyone. Lo and behold Freya, the Ice Queen, wants her sister's powerful mirror and sends her army of huntsman to get it. Sara, who is not dead (surprise, Eric!) saves Snow's men. In a reversal of the Once Upon a Time Snow White origin story, a couple of female dwarves trap the group and later fall for the men they trapped. (Sorry if that reference doesn't make sense to you, I just found the parallel a little odd.)
I tire of explaining this plot. Do you really want to know the rest? Freya gets the mirror, and a part of Ravenna that still lives inside it comes to life and takes over her sister's kingdom to get revenge on Snow White. Eric and his little misfit team of heroes try to stop her by breaking into the palace. Freya's entire reason for becoming the Ice Queen was the death of her baby, which she blamed on her lover, but she learns it was her sister who killed the kid. So she fights her sister.
In a weird way, this whole thing is about Freya learning to love again. She turns her heart into ice (figuratively) when she gets her icy powers, deciding that love is pain. So she trains an army of people who are to never experience love since she doesn't (or won't). Yet, essentially what she did was adopt a whole bunch of children to replace her baby. And it's clear, even while she's evil, that she loves them dearly. So maybe she didn't need to learn to love, just to acknowledge that love can be a strength? I don't want to over-analyze this. I tried to analyze it after watching it, but I felt like there were just too many holes and contradictions to make it worth my effort.
If you want a fantasy movie, this isn't a bad choice. But if you're looking for a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman then you've come to the wrong place.
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