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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
Express Tribune
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Rachel Zegler wears Paolo Sebastian gown inspired by Disney's 1937 classic at the Tokyo premiere of 'Snow White'
Rachel Zegler captivated audiences at the Tokyo premiere of Snow White in a custom Paolo Sebastian gown that pays elegant tribute to the original 1937 Disney classic. The couture gown brings to life the haunting 'daggered heart box' motif carried by the Evil Queen. Crafted from Italian tulle, the white strapless ball gown features a caged corset bodice with exposed boning and took 250 hours to complete by hand. At the centre of the gown sits a bejewelled heart made entirely of crimson and garnet Swarovski crystals, pierced by a dagger formed from two mirror shards—an homage to the Queen's 'Magic Mirror.' 'This custom couture gown brings to life the iconic 'heart box' motif from the original 1937 classic,' said Creative Director Paul Vasileff. 'The daggered heart on the Evil Queen's heart box is such a powerful icon from the Disney film archive. It's a symbol of the dark fate that awaits Snow White, as well as one of triumph when the huntsman tricks his own queen.' Vasileff added, 'Rachel's beauty and strength in reimagining this beloved role proved our ultimate inspiration—celebrating our heroine overcoming the ultimate evil.' Completing Zegler's red carpet look were pointed white heels adorned with matching red hearts, and a flowing red hooded opera coat made from Italian silk faille—both echoing the fairytale's visual drama. While the Tokyo premiere dazzled with fantasy and symbolism, insiders told The Daily Mail that the UK will not receive a cinematic celebration for the film's upcoming release. Instead, Disney is reportedly keeping publicity low-key, anticipating potential backlash. Disney's live-action Snow White is set to be released in theatres on March 21, 2025.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Shrek' Fans Have Strong Opinions About the Character's Appearance in 5th Movie: 'What Did They Do to Him?'
Shrek is back — and his new look has all of Duloc, and the internet, talking. After a lengthy hiatus for the Shrek franchise, a new trailer for Shrek 5 dropped on Feb. 27, showing the return of Mike Meyer's Shrek and Cameron Diaz's Fiona as well as their pal Donkey (Eddie Murphy). Despite the reveal that Zendaya will voice Shrek and Fiona's daughter Felicia, many fans on social media have been more focused on how the characters from the magical land of Far Far Away have aged. In the trailer, Shrek and Fiona return as middle-aged parents, watching as the Magic Mirror plays a 'Shrek' montage (even including a viral TikTok gif of Shrek dancing in black leather). Since the trailer dropped, fans have taken to social media to make memes from the trailer or express surprise over the ogre and his family's new looks. Related: Shrek and Donkey Are Coming Back to the Swamp! Everything We Know About Shrek 5 So Far On X, one user wrote 'What did they do to him' along with crying face emojis. what did they do to him 😭😭😭 #Shrek5 — thomas 🫧 (@lightuupthesky) February 27, 2025 Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Another user shared an image from The Simpsons of Lisa and Bart Simpson's doppelgangers Brandon and Eliza along with the caption 'The Shrek 5 trailer.' The Shrek 5 trailer: — Aleks Phoenix (@AleksPhoenix) February 27, 2025 One fan defended the apparent changes, noting Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a spin-off from the Shrek films, featured well-received animation. Yall act like the new design is the worse thing ever when they've done it once 3 years ago and yall LIKED IT. #shrek5 — ✨Soap/Amy✨ (@SoapySoapster) February 27, 2025 Some others disagreed, though, referencing The Last Wish as a good change and Shrek 5's animation style as a not-so-welcomed shift. Me, after watching Puss In Boots: The Last Wish: Ah, that was lovely. And you know what? That ending even made me feel nostalgic for Shrek! I'd actually be ok with seeing those characters again!Me, after watching the teaser for Shrek 5: Nope, I was wrong. Kill it with fire. — Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) February 27, 2025 There have even been suggestions to encourage Dreamworks and Universal, who produce and distribute the film respectively, to make changes to Shrek 5's animation. can we bully dreamworks to change the shrek 5 animation like we did to paramount to change sonic's animation? — chu (@THEHORRORGOTH) February 27, 2025 Anything is possible, as fan criticism over the first Sonic movie and its original design for the blue hedgehog actually got a response from director Jeff Fowler. That movie was delayed for three months while 'design changes' were made, as Fowler shared. The Sonic movies' TikTok account has even reacted to Shrek 5's backlash, posting a video saying 'Any green ogres looking for advice, take notes' while showing a transition from the highly-criticized original design for Sonic to the revised design of the speedy blue hedgehog that made it to theaters. While there are not many details about the plot of Shrek 5, given the franchise's history, audiences can expect a continuation of Shrek's adventures paired with humor and plenty of pop culture puns. Shrek 5 hits theaters Dec. 23, 2026. Read the original article on People
Express Tribune
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Shrek 5' Teaser Embraces Meme Culture, And It's More Meta Than Ever Before
The Shrek franchise has become an unlikely cultural juggernaut over the years, shifting from a quirky animated film into one of the most iconic pop-culture staples of all time. What started in 2001 as a cheeky parody of classic fairy tales quickly turned into a franchise with unexpected staying power. While children still love it, Shrek has particularly resonated with a generation of young adults who grew up with the films, appreciating its sharp wit, social commentary, and subversive humor. From its subversion of classic fairytale tropes to its perfectly chosen pop culture references, the Shrek franchise has aged gracefully, staying relevant through its knack for self-awareness and clever adult humor. Now, after more than a decade since Shrek Forever After hit theaters, the Shrek franchise is returning with Shrek 5—and it's diving headfirst into the very culture it helped shape: memes. The first teaser for Shrek 5 made that clear right away. In the trailer, Shrek and Donkey are seen looking into the Magic Mirror from the original movie, only for the mirror to present Shrek memes in the form of filters, like the classic "duckface" sunglasses filter, a 'buff' Shrek, and a bizarre Shrek dancing in a shiny latex catsuit. These nods to internet humor are a clear reflection of the current digital age, where memes have become a language in their own right. However, while the meme-based humor in the trailer was an amusing nod to Shrek's history of pop culture references, not everyone was thrilled. Many fans were taken aback by the new animation style and character redesigns didn't capture the same charm as the earlier films. This was especially noticeable in the redesign of Shrek's daughter, voiced by Zendaya, which some fans felt lacked the same warmth and familiarity. The new look of the characters didn't sit well with everyone, as it felt like a departure from the aesthetic that made the original films so beloved. The Shrek films have always been famous for their ability to appeal to multiple age groups by balancing mature humor with kid-friendly antics. From satirizing Hollywood in Shrek 2 to constantly poking fun at fairy tale conventions, the films never shy away from commentary. Shrek 5 seems to be leaning into this established trend by blending meme culture with its irreverent humor. The teaser's opening scene, in which Shrek questions, 'Who's making this stuff?' feels like an intentional wink to the vast amount of absurd content on the internet today. While some fans have voiced their disappointment over the animation and design changes, others are intrigued by how Shrek 5 could incorporate memes into the story. Could these internet jokes and viral moments actually play a role in the narrative, or is this just a bit of cheeky marketing to engage a more internet-savvy audience? It remains to be seen whether the memes are simply an aspect of the teaser or will be woven into the plot itself, but one thing's for sure—Shrek 5 is tapping into the digital zeitgeist. Despite the mixed reactions to the redesigns and animation, there's an undeniable excitement brewing for what the movie will bring. As the franchise continues to evolve with the times, fans are eager to see how the series will balance its beloved past with a new, meme-infused future. Will the humor still work for the old fans, or will the internet age leave Shrek behind? Only time will tell, but one thing's for certain: Shrek 5 has certainly captured everyone's attention.
