Why I Hated the Live-Action Remake of Snow White
I hate to sound like a hater, but I recently watched Snow White, and I hated it.
The movie lacked soul.
Every time I was getting closer to enjoying it, I realized it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The main reason for my disappointment is that the movie did not appreciate the history of Snow White.
Did the filmmakers even acknowledge that Snow White was the first-ever feature-length animated film?
I don’t think they did.
Due to this lack of historical awareness, the movie missed the essence of what made the original so special.
A PR Disaster in the Making
The main character, played by Rachel Zegler, went on an awful PR tour last year, whining about how the prince rescues Snow White and expressing her desire to rewrite the story.
She spoke as though she was doing Snow White a favor by playing the role, but in reality, it was the other way around.
She should have been grateful for the opportunity.
When the lead actor is not grateful for the role they are playing, it reflects in the film.
As a viewer, I noticed this lack of appreciation, and it made the movie feel hollow.
Too Many Musical Breakouts
Musicals need to stop, or at least be toned down.
Yes, Snow White has always had music, which is perfectly fine.
But in this remake, there were more songs than in Wicked!
It felt excessive.
I understand that Disney is trying to engage different audiences by leaning into musical elements, but too many interruptions ruined the flow of the story.
Just when I was starting to connect with the characters, they would break into another song.
They should have cut down the musical numbers by at least 75%.
Shallow Characters and Missed Opportunities
One of the biggest letdowns was the lack of depth in the characters.
Gal Gadot played the Evil Queen, but I barely saw her on screen.
I wanted to understand more about her backstory.
Why was she so obsessed with being the fairest of them all?
Was there anything deeper than just her vanity?
If the filmmakers were willing to swap out key storylines, why not take the opportunity to add more dimension to the Queen?
Instead, they barely showcased her character, and when they did, her performance was eh.
A Lack of Heart
A movie’s energy starts with its lead actor.
If the main character isn’t fully committed, the audience can tell.
This movie lacked heart because Rachel Zegler did not carry herself in a way that showed appreciation for the role.
I remember that during my time in the drama club, whenever the main character wasn’t invested, the lighting team, the costume designers, and even the side characters would start slacking off.
That same dynamic was evident in this film.
Zegler came in with an entitled attitude and forced a social justice warrior narrative from the beginning,
I knew the film was doomed.
Despite relying on nostalgia, Snow White turned out to be an absolute failure.
Final Rating for Snow White
I would rate this movie a 4 out of 10.
It’s not my favorite, but at least they tried.
I hate being overly critical of creative projects because I understand how difficult they are to make.
If someone says they would give it a 9 out of 10, I wouldn’t argue with them.
I know people who enjoyed it.
This is simply my personal opinion.
The ArmaniTalks brand is built on different soft skills, one of which is storytelling.
I will be sharing more of my opinions on films as I watch them with my AMC movie pass.
If you enjoy these breakdowns and movie critiques, be sure to stay updated with the ArmaniTalks blog at ArmaniTalks.com/blog.
By the way, no offense, Snow White, and thanks for trying to tap into nostalgia.
But for future remakes, casting an actor who is grateful for the role would make a lot of difference.
For more insights into storytelling, check out the Art & Science of Storytelling book
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