Can a movie still be great even when the internet tears it apart? That was the question racing through my mind as I walked into the Closter Landmark Theatre to watch the new Snow White. Surrounded by controversy and criticism by the public, the film had a lot to prove, but for me it delivered something unexpected—a pure wave of nostalgia.
Clocking in at just under two hours, the movie felt perfectly paced and was not too short or long, striking a perfect balance that kept me engaged throughout the entire film. The film producers delivered insane visuals, which were very eye-catching, especially in the number “Heigh Ho” performed by the seven dwarfs, lighting up the set of the mine in a remarkable way, which was very cleverly done and fun to watch.
That said, there’s no ignoring the controversy behind this film. One major point of criticism that I have noticed on social media is the portrayal of the seven dwarfs. Instead of casting seven actors with dwarfism, Disney chose to use CGI(Computer-generated imagery) and a diverse range of full-sized actors to be the voices of these dwarfs. This choice made many frustrated and felt like it was a missed opportunity to cast performers from the dwarfism community, who sometimes rarely get the chance to play roles that were originally made for them. I agree: Disney could’ve made a more thoughtful choice here and avoided setting themselves up for backlash.
While scrolling online and noticing the feedback given by fans, there has been a debate around Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White. Many were upset that she didn’t have the same pale complexion as the original character, which goes against the line, “skin as white as snow” and which follows the classic story. While Disney clearly aimed for more inclusivity with its casting, the hate given around her ethnicity reveals how divided audiences are when it comes to modernizing classic characters. I think Zegler did a great job with the role and brought Snow White to life. The idea that only someone with a certain skin tone can play the role feels outdated. Zegler’s voice stuck out to me, her acting was top notch, and she was very fun to watch.
Musically, the movie had some highs and lows. With all of these live-action Disney movies, they usually add new songs that can either enhance or bring down the film. I thought the newly added songs didn’t reach their full potential; the song “Princess Problems,” felt a bit cringey and unnecessary. The song that did resonate with me after the film ended was the new version of “Whistle While You Work.” I thought the added lyrics made the audience feel more engaged and also kept the charm of the original while adding fresh lyrics that actually made me enjoy it more than the classic.
One area where I was genuinely disappointed was Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen. Her portrayal of this fierce and evil character lacked depth and menace. The Evil Queen is supposed to be one of Disney’s most iconic villains, but Gadot’s version felt simply flat. Her solo number didn’t leave a lasting impression, and overall the character felt rushed and underdeveloped. Even though the film gave some background on her motivations, it skimmed the surface when there was so much potential to go deeper into the storyline.
I was also shocked about how the producers decided to end the story. The film took an unexpected turn from the 1937 version, where the Evil Queen dies from all of Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs and animals chasing her, ultimately leading her to fall from a cliff. In the live-action, Gadot instead rushes into the kingdom, gazes into her magical mirror and asks the iconic question, “Who is the fairest of them all?” When the mirror answers, “Snow White,” she lets out a furious scream, which turns her into stone and pulls her into the mirror, never to be seen again. This not only softens the conclusion but also diminishes the impact of the storyline’s climax. As a viewer, I was expecting a dramatic downfall of the villain, but the film’s alteration of the ending left it feeling underwhelming and made the film feel weak.
Overall, despite the online hate, Snow White was not as bad as it seemed. The film was visually strong, well-paced, and entertaining overall. Yes, there were some upsets that the movie had, but not enough to dismiss the film completely. Sometimes the internet is quick to jump to outrage and hate, and in this case I think people missed out on a charming movie.
