SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN Blu-ray Review
By: MattInRC
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN sports an excellent transfer, but is it good enough for your video shelf?
I have to admit that I'm not a fan of Kristen Stewart. Oft maligned as pouty and just plain boyish, the star of Twilight fails to impress: watching her other bore-fests, such as Adventureland,nearly put me to sleep. But Snow White and the Huntsman, the second film in 2012 about a rebellious princess and her monstrous stepmother, is different, sporting an impressive home release that improves from its initial theatrical run.
The Movie - 4/5
While Mirror Mirror set a more fanciful tone, Snow White is very much a Grimm fairy tale. It's dark, brooding, violent, and makes the best use of each character's faults and dark corners. In the end, the product is effective and fun to watch, even if it might contain plot holes big enough to race a Bridge Troll through.
After murdering the king on their honeymoon, Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron, Italian Job) imprisons her step-daughter Snow White, plunging the once prosperous kingdom into a dreary world of mangled trees, savage tides, and human suffering. Ravenna is obsessed with her beauty - the witch craves the attention of her golden mirror, all the while consuming bird hearts and sucking the life from younger girls in an attempt to maintain her appearance. When Ravenna orders Snow White's execution after learning her heart is the key to immortality, White escapes into the densely-evil Dark Forest, representing one of the film's best, yet most intense, scenes. Enter Chris Hemsworth (Thor), who's employed by Ravenna to find White, as he is the only person known to have survived in the Forest; in exchange, Ravenna has promised to bring his wife back from dead. But soon, Huntsman begins to suspect Ravenna's lies and instead joins forces with White as she struggles to find her childhood friend and playmate William (Sam Clafin, POTC: On Stranger Tides), build an army, and run Ravenna from power.
Director Rupert Sanders makes his directorial debut, immersing us in world that feels very similar to The Lord of The Rings series. He even seems to pay homage to that franchise by utilizing similar-looking locations and quick overhead pass shots as Snow White and her team make their way to Duke Hammond's castle. But Sanders also excels in allowing his actors time to roam a bit on the canvas without wearing out their welcome. When we are introduced to a band of dwarfs led by Ian McShane (Kung Fu Panda) and Bob Hoskins (Enemy at The Gates), Rupert fills them with just enough lines for us to recognize them without making moviegoers worry about their striking similarities to Hobbits. His directorial eye and knack for molding beautiful but believable scenes appear often in the film, such as the sequence in the Enchanted Forest. Although other actors were considered for Snow White, Stewart somewhat redeems herself from the Twilight malaise, although not entirely. She and Hemsworth have good chemistry, and Theron is simply stunning as Ravenna. Her presence is as marvelous as the beautiful and elaborate costumes she dons, reminding audiences of why Hollywood has honored her with an Oscar. Composer James Newton Howard (Grand Canyon) marches us to a decidedly darker theme with several tender moments and good war pieces and as our heroes ride into the film's climactic battle.
Some films suffer under the weight of a poor home release, lessening their initial impact: not Snow White and The Huntsman. Sanders delivers an impressive first effort, even if it feels like franchises we've seen before.
The Video - 5/5
Huntsman chops, slams, and stabs with a stunning 1080p MPG4-AVC transfer that's one of the best of 2012. Colors are vibrant without looking cartoon-like, while blacks descend into shadows with a depth that makes them appear like Ravenna herself is controlling them. Rupert's band of CGI masterminds creates marvelous textures with explode onto the digital canvas, from the unique Bridge Troll to the incredibly lifelike White Stagg. Animal fur, eyes, and gestures occur effortlessly and without banding, aliasing, edge enhancement, or pixelation. Clothing and dirt on face are razor sharp, while moss on the castle looks almost 3D in places. In many ways, the transfer exceeds anything that was shown in theatres. I can find nothing wrong with this impressive effort.
The Audio - 5/5
Another solid aspect of the release, Snow White and the Huntsman arrives with DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 tracks that's as powerful in its booms as it is in its atmospherics. There are few examples that will hold up against it, with a lossless track that hits its mark each and every time. While the front speakers perform perfectly, lending a hand to deliver clear dialogue and a beautiful score, it's the rear speakers which stand out, creating a perfect mixture of environmental effects, arrow shots, shattering glass, forest sounds, and ocean spray. It simply feels like you are there to witness Snow White's travels, and that's the beauty of this booty. The LFE is thunderous at times, rumbling through each battle scene with technical perfection. But, dialogue also gets a chance to shine without forcing the audience to play Remote Games between loud action scenes and important dramatic exchanges. Howard's soundtrack soars at many points, finding its place among the smashing of castle doors, the oozing movement of The Mirror, and the whimsical nature of the fairies (which gladly do not overstay their welcome). To see this audio marriage in practice, check out White's meeting with the White Stagg, or the epic battle at film's end. This is a perfect demonstration piece for your home theatre, so don't be surprised if friends ask to stick around to enjoy the rest of the show. The audio transfer is sure to lure them in.
The Supplements - 4.5/5
While some elements are missing here, such as a discussion of Howard's excellent score, there is much to celebrate from this Universal release:
Theatrical and Extended Editions - Clocking in at 127 minutes and 131 minutes respectively, there's not much difference here in terms of story, but each added scene looks as polished as the theatrical edition.
U-Control, Picture in Picture (HD) - Only available on the theatrical version, these informative pieces provide nice insights such as behind-the-scenes footage, pre and post-production materials, and cast and crew interviews.
Audio Commentary - Director Rupert Sanders, visual effects supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and co-editor Neil Smith share various aspects of the film, from casting, performances, set construction, costume design, visual effects. After listening, you learn just how pinched for time the team became, but how that never made its way into the final cut.
A New Legend is Born (HD, 20:50) - Director Sanders, Producer Joe Roth and members of the cast and crew discuss several elements of the story, characters, production, and the historical elements which are woven into things.
Reinventing the Fairy Tale (HD, 6:06) - One of the most fascinating elements is Sanders' "Tone Poem" which he shot to convince the studio to finance the project. It looks terrific here, and serves as a good anchor for this featurette.
Citizens of the Kingdom (HD, 23:37) - A series of four featurettes including "Fairest of Them All: Snow White," (5:46) "Deliciously Evil: Queen Ravenna," (5:35) "The Huntsman" (5:03) and "Motley Crew: The Dwarves." (6:41)
The Magic of Snow White and the Huntsman (HD, 13:22) - A good breakdown of the visual effects and concept art, including the creation of "Mirror Man," Ravenna's lifeline to her vanity. Other elements include discussions of the creation of the Dark Forest, the impressive Troll, and the beautiful Enchanted Forest.
Around the Kingdom: 360° Set Tour (HD) - Explore several sets from those created at Pinewood Studios, reconstructed from panoramic photographs. Simply choose a 'lit' icon from "King Magnus' Courtyard," "Village Near Castle Tabor," "Duke Hammond's Castle Encampment," "Queen Raveena's Throne Room" and "Queen Raveena's Mirror Room," and you'll be treated to introductions by Sanders and short video clips. A wonderfully unique presentation.
Second Screen Experience: A second, more interactive experience is available via your tablet or PC after downloading the pocket BLU app and syncing it with your playback of the film.
My Scenes - With this feature, you can bookmark favorite scenes from the film to enjoy later.
D-Box Motion Code - According to the description, you can enjoy enhanced motion/sound by sitting in a D-Box chair. We didn't have one to test with the film, but we're sure it's a good time.
Our evaluation copy came with an embossed slipcover, a single 50GB BD and one Dual Layer DVD. This edition included UV and Digital Copy, which allow you to take the film on the road or store it in the cloud. Several packaging versions of the release are offered, including three from Target with character slipcases and a book, as well as a steelbook from Best Buy. While I like Target's, Best Buy's version is superior, as it is offered at the same price as the vanilla release that all stores received.
The Final Word - 4.5/5
Considering the tight schedule and numerous challenges along the way, Snow White and The Huntsman is an enjoyable ride made more appealing by a very solid home release. Audio and video transfers are some of the best of the year; and while some elements were missing in the Supplements, others stood up to take their places. I liked this movie better the second time around, and therefore recommend it for purchase. Snow White and The Huntsman is rated PG-13 for intense and brief sequences of violence and sexuality.
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