Classic Movie Monday: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

After all these years it's amazing how "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "Heigh Ho" are songs that are still sung, loved, and easily recognized, and they're 83 years old.  

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the first movie I remember going to the theater to see.  It's not the first movie I actually saw, which I'll write about next week (it's a sci-fi 80's flick that mainly nerds know about and didn't really go mainstream ;0), but Snow White was the movie that cemented the enchantment of going to a theater.

Before the Disney vault rotated movies for home video release, they showed movies in theaters every 7-10 years.  In 1987 Snow White was fully restored for it's 50th anniversary and was shown in theaters.  My parents took me to this theater in Santa Barbara that was on State Street, fully decked out in grand theatrical fashion.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, through random fractured images, I still remember the theater and being in awe.  It was beautiful.  And I remember loving the movie.  

Walt Disney's first theatrical animated feature film is the stuff of legends, groundbreaking in every way.  If you want to read a detailed history of the film, the Fandom Disney Wiki page and Wikipedia has great articles.

It's wonderful that, even for a movie made in 1937, kids still love Snow White today, even with the modern advancements in animation technology and techniques.  The Disney parks help keep Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs alive with rides, princess meet and greets, and songs during shows.  Though, fun fact, the Disneyland ride has had a makeover.  The original "Snow White's Scary Adventure" has been remade into "Snow White's Enchanted Wish".  Some people may be sad over this, but I'm actually excited to see the changes.  The original ride really is kinda sad with an abrupt ending!  

Happy, happy memories from a beloved classic that will always be amazing.

Sarah

The Electrical Parade Returns To Disneyland After 20 Years

 (All pictures are from the Walt Disney World Electrical Parade last Summer)

After a 20 year absence The Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disneyland.  I was about to write "finally returns," only that it wasn't ever suppose to return.  I remember making a trip to Disneyland in 1996 just to see the Electrical Parade, back when all the advertisements stated, "Come see the Electrical Parade before it's gone for good!!!"  Or whatever was said.  It was a big deal!  I was sad.  The parade, which started in 1972, was still a classic.  A wonder.  As a kid I marveled wherever I saw it. How could they permanently take away such a treasure?

Then in 2001 California Adventure got the parade, and it lasted until 2010.  I could never bring myself to view it there as sentimentality got to me.  The Electrical Parade was meant, and will only belong, to Main Street.

Last night there was a special $95 ticketed event for people to be the first to see the parade.  Today is the official opening night of the parade to the public.  I'm hoping it goes well, as there's predicted rain throughout the day.  Accu Weather is far more optimistic over rain predictions than weather.com.

When I saw the Electrical Parade at Walt Disney World last June, which officially closed last October, there was a possibility the parade wouldn't take place due to storm clouds showing up on the radar.  The famous 3:00 parade was moved up to 2:45 pm to avoid rain.  The rain never came.  Both weather.com and Accu weather kept predicting we would be rained out, but the storm moved around us, and it was honestly very beautiful.  Thick black rain clouds, and at sunset brilliant gold light shining through peeks, wind picking up speed.  I was afraid the fireworks would get canceled as well.  But when the time came the Electrical Parade started, followed by the castle projection show Once Upon a Time, which was followed by the firework show Wishes. Three shows in a row, and I got a spot right in front of the castle for the last two shows.  A great way to end the six day trip.

I hope the weather is good tonight for all those wishing to see The Main Street Electrical Parade, taking place right where it belongs.  I wish I could join you as it's a very snowy day in Utah.  The parade runs until June 18, so we have it only for five months until it's gone again.  Thankfully I already have plans to visit the Disneyland park during this window, so I'll have the chance to see it.

I'm really very excited.

Has it really been 20 years!!!!!?????

Oh my freak, that's crazy!

Snow White and the Huntsman: Movie Review

"Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin white as snow, 

lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony"

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I just finished reading my Grimm's copy of "Little Snow White."  In this version Snow White is seven when she comes of age and is sent into the woods to beg for her life, only to be tricked three times by her wicked step-mother and die by poison apple.  She awakes not by true loves kiss, but by the jostling of her glass coffin causing the apple to dislodge.  The Prince bought the coffin from one of the guarding dwarfs (no idea how old he was) after falling in love with her beauty.  

All throughout Europe there are different variations to the Snow White tale.  In some her heart is wanted by the queen, in other versions it's her lungs.  The dwarfs are even, in one incarnation, robbers.  And as we've seen this year, Snow White has been retold three times, in three entirely different ways, and I'm sure we haven't heard the last of Snow White.  She's been around since the 1800's after all.

 

So what makes this retailing different?  Snow White and the Huntsman, according to the title, highlights the connection between these two characters, but by the end of the movie you can't help but feel this wasn't achieved.  Charlize Theron as the evil Queen is clearly the star of the movie, and it seems a movie title "Fairest of them All" would have been more accurate.  

Charlize steals the movie with her screen presence and beauty.  She commands attention and gets it, though I feel at times her need for control comes off temper-tantrum like, garnered through years of getting her way

In the movie, after Snow Whites true mother dies, the King is a total wreck, and like the great father figure he should be, he runs off to battle, leaving his daughter to be raised by others.  Because his pain obviously is greater then Snow White's.  They're fighting a dark army when a carriage pulls up.  A prisoner has been captored!  One prisoner!  It's a beautiful women!  Marry her tomorrow!  And he does, which leads to his immediate demise after she kills him.  

I have to stop and wonder how great a King he really was.  Everyone says he's great, and yet he selfishly and foolishly leads his Kingdom to darkness and ruin.  But he's great!! We need to honor him!  And of course Snow White, at the tender age of seven or eight, is thrown into a tower, because the queen doesn't want to kill her.  Let her live and grow old in a tower . . . just because.

Enough of that, back to the review.  Snow White comes of age and is fairer then the Queen, not necessarily thanks to her looks, but her heart.  Snow White has a pure heart, and that gives her magic powers.

 Snow White flees to the forest, a Huntsman is sent to follow, only for them to become love interest!  Well, the movie is called Snow White and the Huntsman after all. We expect it.  Only Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth don't have believable chemistry.  And the plot misses opportunities to bring them together more often then not.  Then you've got the Duke's son trying to find Snow White, running with the bad guys as an archer.  Honestly I like Sam Claflin's William, the Dukes son, and by the end of the movie I felt real bad for him.

The tragedy of this movie is that there was a lot of promise.  I loved the darker tone, but it was a little too much at times.  Too many battles.  And the movie felt long.  A mark of a great movie is that you don't feel the time pass, but I did with this movie, and it was painful at times.  

The movie clearly wants the Huntsman and Snow White together.  He teaches her a fighting technique that helps her defeat the Queen.  He kills the Queens brother which weakens her.  At the end it's the Huntsman's kiss, not the Duke's son, that awakens her, only she never learns this.  Snow White just wakes up and gives a rousing speech which leads everyone to battle.  The last shot of the movie is Snow White being queened and the Huntsman looking on from the back of the hall.  It feels empty, hallow even.  

I like the idea of the Huntsman getting together with the princess.  Like I said before, there's so many versions of this tale that this would be an interesting twist, and in the story I read Snow White doesn't even get kissed.  (And if you think I read a version that appeals to children, you should read Rapunzel.  That girls got problems!!)    

What the movie gets right is the incredible CGI.  The visual affects are amazing, and I loved the fairy forest.  The dwarfs were fun.  And I heard other people say Chris Hemsworth's Huntsman felt like Thor was cosplaying.  I didn't feel that way at all.  I liked his portrayal.  I didn't care so much for Kristen Stewart's Snow White.  Gennifer Goodwin, from Once Upon a Time, wins the Snow White wars.  She is hands down my favorite.  

I can't really say I recommend anyone see this movie, though I must admit I have seen it twice.  I'm sure the producers and studio was hoping this movie had the same success as 2010's Alice and Wonderland, which grossed over a billion worldwide.  Snow White and the Huntsman, since June 1st, has only grossed $151,630,800 domestic and $370,430,800 worldwide.   Not bad, but not great. 

One last comment.  Florence + the Machine's end credit song "Breath of Life" is epic.  I've been listening to it on loop.

                     

 Have a great day!

Sarah

Battle of the Snow Whites!

I don't know if you've noticed, but there's a lot of Snow White action going on in the entertainment world.  A major, successful television series where Snow White is the star, and two movies coming out this year, one of which came out just last week.

The first movie I ever remember going to the theaters and seeing was Snow White.  Before the Disney Vault meant the movie being sold on VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, etc, every few years, Disney would re-release the movie to theaters every 7-10 years, so that a new generation got to experience the movie on the big-screen.  In 1987, which was the 50th anniversary of the original 1937 release, my parents took me to see it.  I remember loving it, and I remember being in awe of the theater.  I don't know where it was, but we were in Santa Barbara, and the theater was beautiful.  Funny how we remember little details like that.

Disney's Snow White set the standard, but how are the other Snow White's going to fare?

Once Upon a Time:

  (Show Trailer)

Once Upon a Time came out on ABC for the Fall 2011 season, and is still going strong.  I'm such a fan!  Actually, I'm getting quite obsessed.  The show is brilliant and marvelously written.  Each week it's amazing to see how they blend all the fairy tale worlds so flawlessly.  Ginnifer Goodwin is a wonderful Snow White, and I've got to admit, my favorite Snow White I've seen.  The show hasn't been renewed yet, which makes me nervous, but ABC hasn't renewed any of their shows.  It does make me worry, because, sense this show is shown on Sundays, and the fact that ABC bumps Once Upon a Time for grand events like the Oscars, I hope all the push backs won't lose audience.  For whatever reason the next episode isn't scheduled to air until April 22, and that's a little depressing.  I just hope this show gets a proper end, and lasts as long as possible.  here's a behind the scenes video:

   

Mirror, Mirror:

I saw this movie last weekend, opening weekend, and you know what's sad?  I keep forgetting I've seen it.  Not proof of a great movie.  Lily Collins was a cute Snow White, but really that's what I'm left with.  The visuals and costumes were fun, and some scenes made me laugh, but there were moments verging on the absurd that I found myself mentally checking out.  I really, really wanted to like this movie, but in the end I'm fine seeing it just once.

Snow White and the Huntsman:  

This movie hasn't come out yet, but I've gotta say, I can't wait!  The trailer is amazing, which is promising.  But I love the dark tone and the Tron like music in the beginning, though I doubt that style of music will be in the actual score.  I'm counting the days for this movie.  Though, I'm not so sure how I feel about Kristen Stewart as Snow White, but I will withhold judgment until I see her play the part.

Now, it's interesting to note that Snow White isn't the only fairytale getting makeovers. Jack the Giant Killer, based on Jack and the Bean Stock, is being released in 2013.  Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is being released January of 2013.  And there is a NBC show called Grimm, which has been renewed for a second season. 

Now, on a final note, I leave you with a really fun Once Upon a Time fan video I found:

Happy Ever Afters!

Sarah