Day two of our Advent heroines is Snow White. However not the traditional version, instead the version in the latest film Snow White and the Huntsman. I saw this the other day and was impressed by two things. First the special effects, including the magic mirror which morphs into an apparition of liquid glass. Second the fact that the two very strong female leads completely steal the limelight. There is the evil stepmother/queen played by the stunning Charlize Theron. She is thoroughly mean, a character built up in layers with an unhappy backstory of her own to give a reason for her sour hatred. The Snow White character is very definitely a heroine for today while still, at heart, possessing the well-loved traits of traditional fairy tale heroines. Sweet natured but this time with a feisty kick-ass attitude. She is locked up in a tower by the evil queen, gives the huntsman a run for his money and finally, like Joan of Arc riding to battle in armour conquers evil to triumph and save her kingdom on a trusty steed leading an army. She is as far away as you could possibly get from the Disney version but both have their place and show how old tales can have a new twist and be just as compelling. One thing this heroine proves is that as writers, we can mustn't fear taking an old theme, shuffling it about, giving it a different spin and making it work afresh.
I haven't seen this yet, Cara. But I know that womag's son was amongst the extras!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! I remember Womag saying that, Sally.
ReplyDeleteI suppose every story has been written before in one form or another.
Yep - he did two days' filming for this one! Sadly, his scene got left on the cutting room floor so there's not even a glimpse of him. It would have been at the end in the wedding scene.
ReplyDeleteBut I do have a soft spot for this film nevertheless, and we will get the blu ray disc of it to keep.
You should have seen the castle they built at Pinewood studios for this film - incredible what can be done with a bit of polystyrene and plywood!