Latest news with #MagicMirror
Fashion United
01-08-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
CEO interview: Kapten & Son embarks on UK retail expansion with London store
Kapten & Son is venturing into a new realm. The German travel brand is set to embark on a new flight path in the UK, where it is due to land in London with its first regional flagship store. After achieving success in the retail market of mainland Europe, with stores in Frankfurt, Vienna and Amsterdam, co-founder and chief executive officer, Johannes Theobald, has now turned his attention to the UK, where Kapten & Son is planning to expand its reach through minimalist design and experiential retail. The store itself is scheduled to open on August 16 in the heart of London's Seven Dials on Neal Street. Here, the brand's penchant for technological innovation and practical purchasing experiences will become readily available to British consumers, alongside a selection of products designed for modern travel. To find out more about, FashionUnited spoke to Theobald about London as an initial base, the importance of technology in the physical space and what Kapten & Son's next steps are. On expansion... Why was London chosen as the location of the first UK flagship store? London is a global fashion and lifestyle hub, and its diverse, international customer base makes it the perfect launchpad for us in the UK. We've seen strong demand from UK customers through our online channels, and it felt like the natural next step to bring the full Kapten & Son brand experience to London. How does the UK market fit into the brand's broader international expansion strategy? The UK is a key pillar of our European growth strategy. We've had great success in Germany and across mainland Europe, and now we're focused on establishing a strong local presence in key cities like London. We want to create flagship experiences that resonate with our community wherever they are. What differentiates the UK consumer from those in existing markets like Germany and the Netherlands? How have these differences been applied to the new store? UK consumers are particularly fashion-forward, with a strong preference for urban, contemporary styles, especially in London. These insights have directly influenced both the product range we plan to offer in-store and the visual merchandising, which places an even greater focus on urban aesthetics. Kapten & Son London store. Credits: Kapten & Son. Do you have plans to expand further in the UK? Absolutely. London is just our first of hopefully many Kapten & Son stores in the UK. We see huge potential in other major cities and are actively exploring options for further expansion. On experiential retail... What inspired the inclusion of features like the 'Magic Mirror'? Our customers. When we were designing the new store concept, we asked our store staff about common customer challenges. One recurring theme was that customers wanted to see how the backpack looked from behind, which isn't possible with a regular mirror. So they always asked our staff to take photos of them. The Magic Mirror solves this in a fun and innovative way. How do you see technology playing a role in the physical retail experience for Kapten & Son? Technology is becoming more and more essential. From the Magic Mirror to other digital touchpoints in-store, we're always looking for ways to make the shopping experience easier, more interactive, and more personalised. We can't wait to explore even more creative solutions. Kapten & Son London store. Credits: Kapten & Son. How do you define Kapten & Son's consumer group in 2025? What are they looking for in a brand? Our customers are modern, urban individuals, mostly between 25 and 40 years old. They live active, dynamic lives — commuting to work, traveling, doing sports, and spending time in the city. They look for products that offer functionality and high quality but also expect distinctive design that seamlessly fits into both their everyday and leisure activities. How are the brand's consumers - the 'modern travelers' - reflected in the store design? Travel and commuting are at the heart of our customers' lifestyles and our product offering. We've built unique features into the store to reflect this: for example, a Size Check station where customers can easily test whether our suitcases and backpacks comply with airline hand luggage regulations. We've also designed a small part of the store to resemble the interior of an airplane, creating a subtle travel atmosphere. Additionally, we've included a dedicated packing table with plenty of space for customers to open and explore our luggage and backpacks, and to discover all the thoughtful features and functionalities in detail. On business models... What feedback from European stores helped shape the design and concept of the UK location? Feedback from our other stores showed us how much customers value the interactive and community-focused elements of our stores. That's why we placed an even bigger focus on experience-driven features, such as the Magic Mirror and flexible product displays, for the London store. Kapten & Son London store. Credits: Kapten & Son. Is your D2C model evolving with the introduction of more brick-and-mortar stores? Yes, definitely. We've always been a D2C-first brand, but our own retail stores complement that perfectly by offering our community a physical space to engage with the brand. Both channels work hand-in-hand and allow us to deliver an even better overall customer journey. How do your retail partnerships and online presence complement your owned retail footprint? What is the current sales ratio between each channel? Our retail partnerships and e-commerce channels are essential to growing both brand awareness and accessibility. Our own stores allow us to present the full Kapten & Son brand experience, but our retail partners play a crucial role — especially in new markets. They help us reach new target groups and connect with customers who may not yet know our brand. In particular, partnering with established, trusted retailers gives Kapten & Son immediate credibility and trust in markets where we are still building awareness. The balance between online, own retail, and wholesale varies by region, but online continues to be a very strong pillar alongside our growing store network. Are there any geographies that are particularly performing very well? Are there any new markets that you have your eye on or have seen opportunities to expand in? Germany was our first and remains our largest market. But countries like the Netherlands, the UK, and France have shown excellent growth, which is why we are also opening our Experience Stores in these markets. We're also watching other European regions closely for the next phase of our expansion. Next to a retail expansion, is there anything else on the horizon for Kapten & Son? Yes, we're actively working on expanding and evolving our product range, especially within the backpack category for additional use cases and target groups. We also see exciting opportunities to launch new complementary product categories that fit naturally into our customers' everyday lives. This interview was conducted in writing.
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'LGBTQ+ representation in music is essential' says festival organisers
In spite of discriminatory laws being imposed against LGBTQ+ events, an organiser of this popular European music festival reveals why queer representation is more important than ever With Pride Month in full swing, a festival has come out to champion the importance of queer performance and art. Every year, thousands flock to Budapest to experience one of Europe's most popular music festivals: Sziget, which begins August 6. As a festival with a strong history of LGBTQ+ presence with its Magic Mirror stage, they have spoken out against Hungary's recent ban on Budapest's Pride march. Earlier this year, the Hungarian government passed amendment to the constitution enabling the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, as reported by NBC. On their Instagram, Sziget stated: 'Despite the current developments in Hungary our commitment remains – and becomes more important. At Sziget, we stand for freedom, love, acceptance and expression – values we've upheld since the very beginning of the island of freedom. They added: "These aren't just festival ideals – they're human rights. That's why we believe Pride belongs in the streets of Budapest – open, visible, and accessible to all.' György Ujvári-Pintér, the program and venue manager of Magic Mirror, reveals the importance of LGBTQ+ representation at the festival, particularly in region which has faced pushback against LGBTQ+ rights. He tells The Mirror: 'Sziget Festival has a long tradition of openness, as its motto also stresses: it is the Island of Freedom (Sziget meaning Island in Hungarian).' He continues: 'This attitude is broadly communicated by the festival… [Sziget] promotes tolerance and empathy, as well as the importance of understanding of what may seem 'distant' from one's own identity in their everyday life. 'Thus, I strongly believe that Sziget vehicles values that are important for the LGBTQ+ communities and makes them feel safe in a country of which political communication tends to create social tensions on many levels and punishes those who don't follow the so-called standards.' For more stories like this visit The Gulp or subscribe to our weekly newsletter for a curated roundup of top stories, interviews, and lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. In the past, the Magic Mirror has had to fight against discriminatory regulations imposed on it by Hungary's government. In 2022, the government demanded that the LBGTQ+ stage be made inaccessible to anyone under the age of 18 due to a law banning gay people from school educational materials or TV shows for under-18s. György told Dazed in 2023 that despite the pressure placed on them, they refused to follow these demands. In this environment, ensuring representation for LGBTQ+ individuals in the music space is essential. From Gyorgy's perspective, queer identity has evolved and deepened greatly over the past 30 years. When choosing a line-up, he says: 'I always try to go with this flow and pick the newest tendencies while maintaining an overall vision on the community which is also composed of not-so-young audiences.' This year, Magic Mirror's organisers plan to increase their focus on questions that aren't so readily visible – and to spotlight queer women. Just some of the acts, Gyorgy shares, will include Butch Tribute from Norway, who will perform a lecture on the notion of the Butch in the lesbian culture, as well as Australia 's YUCK Circus, who will focus on toxic masculinity from a female perspective. Marga Alfeirao's LOUNGE – a contemporary dance – will also be featured, which Gyorgy says he programmed on International Female Orgasm Day (August 8th). There will also be a performance Queenz from London, which will see the group playing classic gay hits. In terms of safety, Gyorgy says that they have a 'solid and loyal group of volunteers composed of queer people' who watch for others during the event. He adds: 'The very pacific and civilised culture of Sziget emanates the feeling of peace and understanding, so we are not used to confronting bullying or acts of violence.' Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
The Irish Sun
20-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
All our favourite camping buys tried and tested for festivals and family holidays – starting from just 15p
FESTIVAL and camping season is here and with that, so is the frantic rush to find items that make it that little bit easier. Whether crawling around in a cramped festival tent or away with the family in a holiday park, as much as we may love camping there are some things about it that can be a nightmare. Advertisement 15 Camping and festival season have returned Credit: AP Here are The Sun's travel team's top recs for camping this summer . Collapsible items With a limited amount of storage space in caravans and tents, making sure your kitchen equipment is as space-saving as possible is an essential. Look for collapsible items to stack and save space. This Advertisement Read more on camping Ikea does a great collapsible washing up bowl for just £5. The Pepprig bowl collapses flat and features a hole to hang from pegs. And when it comes to cooking up a storm, a stacking nest of pans is essential. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement Most read in News Travel Camping pans From £17.99 on Amazon or for a more sophisticated set that covers all bases for a family, UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard With a whopping 25 items suitable for a family of four you get a big pot and frying pan and within is stored a sieve drainer, plates, cups and cutlery. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15p Plates You don't want to waste weight - or risk breakages - by using standard crockery in a Invest in some melamine plates, cups and bowls but for me, I want to make things easy when it comes to washing up. A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15 A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and compostable plates costs around £7 for 50 from Amazon Credit: Amazon ReadyBed For £27.50 from Argos , What I personally love is that there's no risk of rolling off the airbed as you're fully zipped in. It's got a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 ReadyBed has a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine Credit: Argos Magic mirror This bit of kit is my most cherished camping item. It's a Advertisement Costing £45, it comes with a tie at the top so that it can be looped around a tent pole. The best feature is how compact it is, folding into a flat square – just be wary as a lot of Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 Magic Mirror is a foldable mirror made up of four glass squares Credit: Magic Mirror Advertisement Vango Micro Steel Chair You can probably find cheaper camping chairs out there, but Unlike some traditional camping chairs, you'll have to construct it, a bit like a tent, but that takes about 30 seconds. The steel frame of the chair relies on a tent-pole like structure which means it's easily collapsible and can be shoved in a teeny bag along with the canvas-material chair. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor Advertisement 15 This camping chair takes less than a minute to construct Credit: Outdoor World Vango Square Water Carrier Water carriers are so cheap but so useful, especially at a festival where the toilet facilities may not be anything more than a hole in the ground. Fill it up every day from the campsites water station and use it to wash your hands, brush your teeth , drink from etc. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 A water carrier is super useful for when the toilets and taps are far from your tent Credit: Outdoor World Loop earplugs As much as I enjoy a festival or two, I do need my beauty sleep otherwise I can be pretty unpleasant to be around. So when it comes to going to bed, I won't go without my Loop earplugs. Advertisement These handy little gadgets block out almost everything, muffling all background noise and thumping bass. They might be the most I've ever spent on earplugs, but they're well worth it. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 These handy little gadgets block out almost everything Credit: Loop earplugs FreshWipes We all know that as the days go on at festivals, one thing that gets worse (aside from the hangover) is people's hygiene - and I don't like to be one of those people. So what I bring is FreshWipes, the OceanFresh scent does the trick and is biodegradable too. Advertisement Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter 15 FreshWipes keep you fresh and are biodegradable too Credit: Fresh Wipes Face and body cooling spray With the hot and sticky weather we have been experiencing lately, being able to cool down is not the easiest unless you drench yourself in water. Whilst chugging water can help to keep you hydrated, sometime it just feels like your skin is about to burn off. Advertisement This is where a face and body cooling spray comes in. For years I have sworn by Superdrug's own brand And this bottle will last you the whole summer. I use it over makeup on my face for a cooldown spritz and down my arms too - it really helps to take the edge off of the heat. Advertisement I also recently discovered their Vitamin E Mist, which comes in a small 50ml bottle for £2.50. If struggling on space, definitely grab one of these and it is even in Superdrug 's '3 for 2' offer, so you can pick up some other travel minis too. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 One cooling spray bottle will last you the whole summer Credit: Superdrug Advertisement Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator Now this one may be weird to people - essentially a bottle for sun cream, despite sun cream already coming in a bottle. But if you are like me, the price of sun cream irks you each year the season gets warmer and sunnier. And if you are anything like me, the bog standard sunscreen is no good. With oily skin, a hate for tackiness and a dislike for the smell, I make sure the sunscreen I get suits me. Advertisement And to cut costs, I will often purchase the biggest bottle available. However, with this, it is hard to carry around the sun cream. This is where the The small and compact applicator can be filled with any sunscreen of your choosing and costs just £6.38 from Boots . Advertisement Despite the product specifically being designed for use by children, it is suitable for anyone who wants to carry a smaller bottle of sunscreen around with them without the risk of the bottle lid pinging off in your bag. It is also 100ml so suitable for hand luggage! Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator is 100ml so suitable for hand luggage Credit: Boots Advertisement Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Fragrance Free 30ml Whilst this little product is rather steep in price for £8, I don't go away without it. As an 'everywhere spray', The spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' - helping you to feel a bit cleaner whilst in a not-so-clean environment. It is completely fragrance free and includes thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid and inulin and Vitamins C, E and F to protect your skin - essentially no nasties. Advertisement One bottle is the equivalent of 100 wipes and it can be kept in the fridge for added cooling effects. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 This spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' Credit: Boots SPF 30 Lip Balm on a carabineer As an avid hiker and camper during my teenage years, you would not find me without a lip balk attached to a belt loop on my hip. Advertisement Just a basic SPF 30 lip balm with moisturising coconut in helped against the harsh elements of sun and wind whilst adventuring. The carabineer attached just adds convenience as you can attach it yourself as I did, the zip or side of a bag or even keys or a water bottle. They can be picked up at most outdoors shops like Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 The carabineer attached to this lip balm adds convenience Credit: Trespass Ikea lamp There are so many different camping lamps out there - from wind-up ones to battery operated. And they also can widely range in price. Ikea has just released a lamp which I cannot wait to get my hands on. Advertisement The It has a rope loop on it to hand in your tent, but also due to its flat bottom it can sit on a table easily - meaning you can move it between your If wanting something smaller, the classic lightbulb shaped lamps on caribineers are also great and can be picked up for under a fiver. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 This small table lamp which is battery-operated and donut-shaped looks stylish whilst also being practical Credit: IKEA Soft running bottles Whilst not the cheapest at £9.99 each from They can be rolled up to the size of a fist and are easy to shove in the remaining room in a pack camping back. For festivals, they are even better - as often to get into the main arena, your water bottle needs to be empty - and these can just fit in your pocket to be filled once in the area. Advertisement Even when full, they can still slide into a pocket, which means you won't be carrying around a clunky bottle. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Soft bottles can be can be rolled up to the size of a fist Credit: Decathlon These are the Advertisement Plus, 15 All these items can help make camping experiences easier and more enjoyable Credit: Alamy
Euronews
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Snow White' - The poisoned apple you're expecting?
ADVERTISEMENT Magic Mirror on the wall, is the latest cynical Disney live-action remake the shittiest of them all? It seems like a fair line of inquiry considering the amount of hatred directed at the remake of the 1937 animated classic Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs . First, there was the casting of Rachel Zegler, the breakout star of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story , whose part-Colombian heritage irked both Disney literalists and race purists. Dogmatic fans and rampant racist abuse would have been easy enough to dismiss had Zegler not embarked on what can only be described in PR terms as a complete catastrofuck, appearing to diss the original tale and indulging in some eye-rolling 'girl boss' posturing on red carpets which turned the whole internet against her. Then there was the representation issue, with Disney initially replacing the seven dwarfs with seven 'magical creatures'. This prompted accusations of 'wokeness' - a term which originally signaled a positive level of awareness and compassion but is now a death sentence due to the political right's disparaging co-opt of the word. Regardless, the ensuing backlash led the House of Mouse to rejig some things (more on that in a bit) and not cast actors with dwarfism to avoid perpetuating stereotypes. Instead, Disney opted for CGI – which cheated the same actors out of work. Lose/lose. As if that wasn't enough controversy for one film, Israeli actress Gal Gadot has advocated for her home nation, while Zegler publicly backed Palestine. This fuelled rumours of a rift between the two leads. Rewrites, reshoots, ballooning budgets, a scaled back press tour, a low-key premiere and an exhausting-to-read laundry list of polemics later, and Snow White finally hits theatres. So, let's get back to the original question: Is it the shittiest of them all? Surprisingly, no. Granted, the bar is so low with the live action likes of Alice in Wonderland , Dumbo , The Lion King and Pinocchio that elevating Snow White above these disasters is damning with very faint praise. However, it's not the cursed slumber it could have been. Just a passably fair reimagining. Snow White Disney Directed by Marc Webb ( 500 Days of Summer , The Amazing Spider-Man ), from a script by Erin Cressida Wilson ( The Girl on the Train ), Snow White ends up sticking to the familiar template – with a few tweaks here and there that aren't as daring or smug as many were led to believe. A princess is born during a snowstorm - hence 'Snow White'. Nice touch. She's beloved by her parents and the kingdom. Sadly, saintly mommy Queen (Lorena Andrea) snuffs it and is replaced by a wicked stepmother (Gadot). Then, benevolent daddy King (Hadley Fraser) mysteriously disappears and the tyrannical harridan effectively lives up to her name by becoming the Evil Queen. She who hoards the riches of the kingdom, leaves the people to starve, and makes Snow her housemaid. Our heroine grows into a young woman (Zegler) with a Lord Farquaad bob haircut. She isn't waiting for her prince to come but wants to be a good leader for her people. Snow does, however, meet a young rapscallion with gorgeous hair named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap). That vanilla dreamboat replaces the prince figure as a Robin Hood-like character who steals food from the rich to give to the poor. Then, a magic mirror informs the Evil Queen she'll never be the fairest of them all if Snow White continues her pesky oxygen habit. In another neat little rewrite, the Queen's magical powers derive from her beauty, hence the threat Snow poses is more existential than pure vanity this time around. Thankfully, the woodsman (Ansu Kabia) changes his mind when it comes to cutting out Snow's heart as ordered, and helps her escape to the woods, where she takes refuge with seven... Oh, the horror... Oh, the CGI horror... ADVERTISEMENT Snow White Disney Despite a committed performance from Rachel Zegler, who almost *almost * manages to make you forget that Gal Gadot simply cannot act or convincingly read a line, there's no getting around the skin-melting CGI monstrosity of the seven dwarfs. Granted, the film was between a rock and a hard place when it came to casting, but the end solution of having creepy digital avatars that are both photorealistic and Uncanny Valley-levels of distracting is misjudged in the extreme. How this nightmare fuel got past the unsharpened pencils in the quality control committee will remain a mystery for the ages. Once you've accepted your new sleep paralysis demons, Snow White snowballs into a tonally discordant and overly long clutter leading to a rebellion that involves Jonathan's bandits – those aforementioned 'magical creatures' who were clearly at one point intended as substitutes for the original septet. It's fourteen scamps for the price of seven in the revolution to liberate the kingdom from Queen Charisma Bypass and restore a time of fairness when "the bounty of the land belonged to all who tended it". Highly commendable though monarchy defiance is - and this is the closest Disney has ever gotten to seeing the benefits of a communist utopia, so well done there - many of the empowerment-by-buzzword beats still land with repeated thuds. Snow White Disney At the end of the day and all controversies aside, Snow White is not the total calamity many expected - or hoped for. So, everyone relax and remember that Tim Burton's Dumbo exists. ADVERTISEMENT However, that doesn't stop it from being another clumsily executed, nostalgia-pandering update that joins a never-ending conveyor belt of inessential Disney back catalogue retreads. It may have its Broadway energy and heart in the right place, but as evidenced by the new tune 'Waiting On A Wish' - which replaces the original film's leading song 'Some Day My Prince Will Come' - it's alright when its playing but completely forgettable once the moment's gone. "Now, a formula to transform my beauty into ugliness," schemed the original animated Evil Queen in 1937. 88 years later and it's clear that Disney could use a new formula too. Unlike that memorable villain, however, the corporate behemoth is in dire need of a potion that transforms their ugly practice into beauty once more. Our advice? Call up Emilie Blichfeldt - she knows how to compellingly and daringly reimagine a fairytale. ADVERTISEMENT Snow White is out now.
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
A parent's guide to 'Snow White': Is Disney's movie suitable for little kids?
Just like in 1937, a generation of movie kids has its own Snow White. The latest in Disney's growing supply of live-action redos, "Snow White" (in theaters now) changes up some aspects of the original animated classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." It also adds new songs, courtesy of Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and casts "West Side Story" breakout Rachel Zegler as the "fairest of them all." (Naturally, the Evil Queen, now played by Gal Gadot, has something to say about that.) The OG "Snow" has entertained children for almost a century. But is the latest musical take suitable for younger audiences? Here's what parents need to know about the new "Snow White": Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. What is 'Snow White' about? There's a lot familiar from the original movie, with some narrative tweaks and a meatier character arc for Snow. An orphaned princess, Snow is a scullery maid for her stepmother, the Evil Queen obsessed with asking her Magic Mirror who's the fairest of them all. When Snow begins to question the villainess about how she treats the kingdom's people, and it's clear Snow is the fairest, the queen orders her huntsman to kill Snow and bring back her heart. He doesn't, she escapes into the magical forest, and Snow befriends Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), the bandit leader, as well as Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy, Dopey and Doc. Her new allies help hide her and also plan a move against the queen's forces, though the disguised antagonist delivers a poison apple to Snow, putting a wrinkle in her rebellion. Who plays Snow White in the new movie? The new Snow is 23-year-old Rachel Zegler. She won a Golden Globe for her breakthrough role as the lovestruck Maria in Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of "West Side Story." New fans should also check her out in the superhero sequel "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," "Hunger Games" prequel "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" and the Netflix animated fantasy musical "Spellbound." What happened to Snow White's parents? In the original "Snow White," it's left rather vague. The new film digs into that a bit with a backstory that begins with kid Snow and her parents in a musical number with pies and lots of dancing before things turn bleak. Snow's mom dies at a young age, her father unfortunately remarries Gadot's character and Dad ventures off to another kingdom to never return. His fate remains a mystery for most of the movie and Snow holds out hope that he will return one day. What age rating is the 2025 'Snow White'? While the original animated classic is rated G (for general audiences), the new "Snow" is PG for "violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor." Movies are rarely rated G anymore, and the film is not only appropriate for most ages but also delivers an important message for kids. "Snow White" champions kindness and empathy over cruelty and tyranny – Zegler's character even benefits from the simple lesson of making sure she remembers someone's name. What's the controversy with 'Snow White'? People have been angry about something or other with this movie for two years now. First, Internet trolls were angry about Zegler, who's of Colombian descent, being cast as a character that the Brothers Grimm fairy tale describes as being 'white as snow.' Then she got backlash for criticizing the original film as "weird" for having a cartoon prince who 'stalks' Snow White, adding that this new version is 'not about the love story at all." "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage also took Disney to task for retelling a "backward story" about dwarves. More recently, the two lead stars' political beliefs have been brought into the conversation, with activist groups calling for boycotts because of Gadot's pro-Israel views of the war in Gaza while Zegler has been very pro-Palestine and anti-Trump on social media. Not that your child is likely to care about any of that if they're coming to see a Disney princess sing songs. Is 'Snow White' too scary for little kids? Not overly, though there are a few moments where moms and dads might need to hold the hands of very little ones. When Snow escapes into the magical forest, the branches try to grab her, she runs into a very angry-looking monster tree and then goes on a perilous journey through some raging rapids. (She comes out OK, though, with just a little wet hair.) The scene where Snow bites into the poison apple and "dies" is a smidge traumatic, though obviously she gets better. And as for that Evil Queen, Gadot plays her more campy than scary, and she meets a fate that's different from the original movie but is a tad freaky. Grown-ups might be bothered by the CGI Grumpy and Co., who are just really weird and don't fit in the movie at all, but kids will love 'em. Where can I watch 'Snow White'? The new film is in theaters and those who prefer to watch things from their couch will need to wait. If it follows a similar path like recent Disney releases "Moana 2" and "Mufasa: The Lion King," "Snow White" will likely be available on-demand in late May or early June and on Disney+ sometime this summer. Contributing: Patrick Ryan
