Movie Review ~ Snow White (2025): A New Take on an Old Tale
Hey Movie Lovers!
Have you ever asked yourself what it would be to read one of the most ancient fairy tales once more, but characterized by the modern-day sensibilities and with an entirely different, creative vision in mind? That is what exactly the new version 2025 Snow White attempts to do. It is not an ordinary redo in live action by the Disney company, but a total reimaging of the story that has been well known over the generations. This version is not limited by nostalgia, as it also tries to emphasize such themes as empowerment, independence, and new values.
At the second I sat down to watch it, I already felt that this film will be one of the ones that polarize the audience. There would be those who would congratulate the ability to introduce changes and others would be disappointed due to the fact that it did not adhere to the traditional ideologies. To me, it was a mixture of old-wonder and new ventures, at times glowing with its beauty and at others times desperately trying to find a point of touch with its identity.
Story Summary and My Review
The narrative starts in customary fashion. We are introduced to Snow White, a young chirpy girl who has lost her father and is stuck in the tyranny rule of the Queen. The Queen continues to work her traditional character in jealousy and obsession in being the fairest of them all. However, this time Snow White has not only a reputation of the beautiful and nice lady, she is ambitious, curious and wants to determine her own way of life.
This adaptation makes certain freedoms with the narration. It does not rely as much on the issue of a princess in waiting to be rescued and depicts Snow White as someone who was willing to rescue herself. She does not merely run away into the woods and crouches, she is undergoing the process of maturity and self-improvement. The images on the forest are visually pleasing with a perfect combination of real scenes and the use of CGI. The cinematography is colorful and deep making it look as though the forest is alive.
One significant alteration which elicited a lot of discussion is how the seven companions are treated. Rather than showing them in the dwarfty literal sense of the classic story, the movie settles on showing a more eclectic group of misfits. They are somewhat less cookie cutter defined as a comedy relief collective, and more like distinct characters with distinct personalities, and their struggle in life and character. Not all the viewers will appreciate this change as it takes out the dynamic that many people loved the original, but I could see why the studio took that decision. They wanted to re-tell the tale in present-day sensitivities, where sensitivity and representation is to be considered.
As the narration progresses, we discover that Snow White has to struggle not only the moves of the Queen, but also the doubts of herself. She has to learn how to be courageous and a leader. This makes the character more dimensional, and at other times it is uplifting. Nevertheless, the balance is not always reached by the writing. Other times, the dialogues are giving me unnatural vibes as it tries too hard to seem empowering and instead of flowing the moment comes out unnaturally.
The most engaging figure is the Queen which is played with angst-filled drama. Her vanity, cruelty and fear of loss of power is very loud in all the scenes she is present in. The famous magic mirror is displayed in darker and more mysterious visuals, and thus they have a chilling touch to those conversations. She has the same motivation as the old fairy tale, but this aspect is still performed more grandiose and sinister giving me a chill in some places.
The one thing that I admit is that there can be uneven pacing of the movie. There are scenes that close rapidly to some pivotal developments, and there are scenes that drag with repetitive emotional dialog. The subplot about romance is so subtle in this retelling and the concept about a Prince Charming as prospective solution is not so much in the picture. That choice will not please the readers expecting the traditional love story but it is what makes this variant peculiar. It provides Snow White with an ending that she owns rather than sitting and awaiting to be saved.
The movie has its impressive and inconsistent visuals. The costumes are constructed with a mixture of modern and fairytale magic where they are beautiful at times, and awkward at others. The music score aims at paying tribute to the original music and introducing some new pieces, and the score does include some familiar numbers, nevertheless, it is awfully forgettable. The performances are the greatest asset. Snow White is depicted as taking on the new role with a sincerity and energy; the Queen is very strong. The corner characters are colorful, but they do not always get the screen-time they need to stand out.
As a person I am torn between the feelings of this. On the one hand, I like its courage to redevelop such an epic tale. On the one hand I felt something was lacking. The charm of the fairy tale, the innocence and that magic of the past, is sometimes too thin: they tried to make all of that modern. I found myself comparing it to the animated classic more than once and in that sense the remake does not hold up well. The original was simple and emotionally pure and this one is meant to be big and in time but fails to capture that essence.
Despite such a statement, it has moments which are truly moving. There is a scene where Snow White is singing alone in the woods and it has a very sweet vulnerability. A scene when the Queen implies that her fear is becoming irrelevant and that it could define her at the end of her life felt also very human despite her antagonist status. These pages demonstrate that the film is not entirely empty as well, it has some fragments of integral richness.
On the one hand, Snow White (2025) is a successful experiment; on the other hand, it is a failed one. It matches the task in criticizing the preexisting patterns, by providing a heroine who establishes herself, and it creates the visually splendid moments. It lacks in uniformity, it lacks in emotional appeal, and it lacks in simplicity, that made the original immortal. It is not the best remake I have ever watched, but still far not the worst. It is the movie that will elicit debate more than love.
Recommendation?
Would I suggest watching Snow White (2025? It depends on what are you interested in. However, if you need a nostalgic visit to the same fairy tale you used to read as a child, you are likely to leave quite unsatisfied. In this version, things are modified, too much so, particularly with the companions and the disappearance of the romantic plot. However, in case you are up to receive a re-telling that is risky, one that comments on current times and puts more emphasis on being independent rather than saved, then you may enjoy it.
It is a mixed experience for families. Children could like the colorful images and the magic that takes place, but adults would be somewhere between envy and disappointment. As a casual observer it is worth watching at least once to give yourself an opinion on it as this movie has become such a hotbed of conversation.
I think that the most enjoyable way of watching it is looking at it as a totally different story based on Snow White and not as an alternative to it. That way you are able to view the courage in the decisions made even when they fail to deliver. It is no masterpiece, but it is an enterprise, and an enterprise should, at least, be witnessed once.