There are a few twists to this fairy tale, made famous by the animated Disney film in the late nineteen thirties. The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) essentially takes the place of the prince in this movie. He is a widower who at first is given the assignment to capture Snow White (Kristen Stewart) but instead his heart is captured by the virtuous and beautiful princess. And this is definitely a darker version of the story. There are many sword fights in the film, although they are very well done. The dwarves are sword fighters in this one. You won’t find Dopey or Doc or Grumpy in this movie. Despite the well- choreographed sword fights it is mainly within the action of these fights that the violence level rates a three in our content rating, disqualifying it from receiving our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal. It certainly didn’t help when the queen (Charlize Theron) took a bloody heart from a bird and ate it. To her credit, Theron plays the queen as icy cold and evil, a woman who takes the youth of young women in order to sustain her youthful look.
Although the blood isn’t seen throughout the film, there are almost non-stop fights or moments of violence which include many characters receiving arrows to the back and dying. So, despite the themes of true love’s kiss winning over death, and good triumphing over evil, plus purity and innocence being recognized as virtues, the movie can’t receive our Seal. The Lord’s Prayer is even recited early on by Snow White. It’s too bad the dark mood and consistent violence knocks it out of our “family-approved” arena.
