A little more on Snow White and the Huntsman

Since I haven’t seen any movies lately I thought I’d add two things about Snow White and the Huntsman.

I have read many comments about how the movie dealt with the issue of female power coming from beauty.  To be sure it is an element in the story, but no one commented on a couple of things that I saw.

For one thing, there were criticisms that in no way is Kristen Stewart more beautiful than Charlize Theron.  Putting aside whether or not that is true, the movie deals with it.  Snow White is not said to be more beautiful, she is called more fair and her beauty is explicitly stated to be of her heart and not her appearance.  So, yeah, not so much supporting the evil queen’s position that only physical beauty confers power.

Also, the idea that men use women and throw them away.  The king doesn’t do that, and neither do either of the two main male characters in the movie.  The childhood friend William, who becomes friends with Snow White when they are children, spends his life regretting not being able to save her even though he was a child.  There is nothing sexual about this bond.  When he learns that she is still alive he rides off to rescue her not because he wants her for sex (he may but that isn’t the stated motivation) or to be his bride but because he has a chance to finally redeem what he sees as the single greatest failing of his life: he let down a friend – and now he can help his friend.

Then there is the Huntsman.  When he is brought before the Queen there is a brief scene where he explains why he is a depressed drunk who doesn’t care whether he lives or dies – and who would welcome death though he isn’t the type to commit suicide.  He tells the Queen that he is miserable because he was unable to keep his wife safe after she had saved him from depression after the war.  He sees himself as unworthy of her and is devastated because she died when he was away.  His life is worthless because his wife is gone.  He is nothing without the woman he loves.

The Queen has what turned out to be a throwaway line where she is surprised that the Huntsman cares for his wife.  They didn’t do anything with that which I think is a shame, but it was in there.

Is this all very male-centric, yes, but only until Snow White gets her chance to show that she is not a damsel in distress and everyone around her sees that as well.  She doesn’t do much fighting, but she dons her Joan of Arc costume and helps lead the charge.  And of course she is the one who confronts the queen.

It’s not a perfect movie, but I am amazed at how much was missed by the people who reviewed it.