SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN - archive from 27th June 2012.

Saw 'SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN' and was a little sceptical about doing so, but the critics have been generally kind so gave it a go at the local multiplex. I was pleasantly surprised to see our image of young Snow and the evil Queen morphed into something far more sinister, bleak, foreboding & menacing!

This delivers the storyline you will remember from the saccharine infused Disney animated feature but brings it up to date and back closer to the origin tale. Evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), learns from her Magic Mirror that when Snow White (Kristen Stewart) comes of age she will gain the power to overcome and destroy her once and for all unless the evil Queen can consume the young girls heart, and in so doing become immortal. 

The Queen learns that Snow White has escaped to the Dark Forest where Raveena has no power, and so sends her men aided by a Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) into the foreboding woodland to capture Snow White and return her. In the Dark Forest the Huntsman tracks down Snow White but quickly learns that Queen Raveena has spun him a yarn, and has no intention in keeping up her end of the bargain by letting him walk free when the job is done, and so he turns against the Queen's men and escapes with Snow White. 

In doing so they eventually meet up with a bunch of dwarves (who are the real the stars of this show and read like a who's who of male English acting talent - Bob Hoskins, Nick Frost, Ian McShane, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones and Ray Winstone amongst others who clearly relish being miniaturised!) who assist in various pitched battles that eventually leads to Snow White biting into a poisoned apple given to her by the disguised Queen Raveena, which results in her falling into a deep sleep. The Queen flees however, when her true identity is revealed by the Huntsman, who then takes the seemingly lifeless body back to the Castle of her former childhood friend.

The Huntsman is now plagued by regret at not having saved Snow White, and in his sorrow he kisses her, and so breaks the spell, leaving Snow White to rally an army, storm the Castle of the Evil Queen and eventually overthrow her - good overcoming evil. In doing so Snow White is crowned Queen, the lands and its people are restored to peace and harmony, and everyone lives happily ever after!

This film was made with a budget of US$170M and took a worldwide Box Office haul of US$397M. Along the way is garnered 13 award wins and 31 nominations including two Academy Award nominations for Best Achievement in Costume Design and Visual Effects and a BAFTA nomination for Costume Design too. There has been speculation about a sequel since then, but it was announced earlier this year that in fact a prequel will go in to production for an April 2016 release - called 'The Huntsman'. It will not star Kristen Stewart, and will have another Director assigned to it after Rupert Saunders who Directed this feature was caught in an extra marital scandal post release.

In conclusion, this is a traditional story of good versus evil, the performances are solid enough - Hemsworth and Theron especially, not forgetting the merry band of dwarves, and you know the ending . . . or do you - it all ends abruptly and a little too quickly but nonetheless enjoyable action fantasy that adds a 21st Century spin on the Brothers Grimm fairytale!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Bob Hoskins - dies aged 71 - R.I.P.

It was reported earlier this week that British screen legend Bob Hoskins passed away in hospital surrounded by his family following a bout of pneumonia - he was 71 years of age. He retired from acting two years ago having been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Robert William Hoskins Jnr., first major TV role came in a Sunday evening educational piece called 'On the Move' aimed at tackling adult literacy - that was 1975/6, and at one point  was reported to be reaching a national audience of 17 million viewers. His real breakthrough on the small screen came two years later in 1978 in the BBC's 'Pennies from Heaven'. 

Toward the back end of the 70's he appeared in a number of lesser films, but it was the 1980 'The Long Good Friday' that really put Hoskins on the cinema map and which garnered him much critical acclaim  - for his portrayal of London crim, Harold Shand alongside Helen Mirren. This film still stands up today as one of the archetypal British Gangster films. From there more key roles beckoned - some successful and some not so! 'Pink Floyd's The Wall', 'The Cotton Club', 'Brazil', 'Mermaids', 'Hook', 'Super Mario Bros', 'Nixon', 'Enemy at the Gates', amongst many others, and his last film 'Snow White and the Huntsman' in 2012. It will though be for 'The Long Good Friday', his award winning 'Mona Lisa' in 1986 and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' in 1988 for which he will be most remembered.

He was nominated for the Best Actor award at the Oscars; he won the Golden Globe for 'Mona Lisa' and was nominated two other times; and he won the BAFTA too for 'Mona Lisa' and received three other nominations also. Over the years, 22 award wins and 14 other nominations.

Often cast as the Gangster type, the happy-go-lucky Cockney, or some fantasy character - Bob Hoskins left an indelible mark on British cinema especially, but was equally home rubbing shoulders and sharing screen time with the best of what Hollywood could offer.

Bob Hoskins - Rest In Peace
1942-2014

-Steve, at Odeon Online-