Ensign Lestat's Film Log, 19/03/2012
'Mirror Mirror' is a retelling of the old fairytale, 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'. All the familiar people are here - evil stepmother (Julia Roberts), seven dwarfs (featuring the likes of Martin Klebba), a stunning Prince (Armie Hammer) and, of course, Snow White (Lily Collins) herself. The story has been updated only slightly - Snow White now wishes to regain her father's kingdom, and the magic mirror appears to be a dimensional portal. And, oh yes, the evil Queen also has eyes for the Prince in this version.
We have the unique opportunity, this year, to watch not one, but two renditions of this classic tale. And just to remind us of that, a trailer for 'Snow White and the Huntsman' was duly featured before the start of this film. That adaptation appears to be a gritty upgrade, something that Hollywood has taken a great liking to of late. I have no issue with that, except I don't really recall there being a huntsman in the original story. Was there one? Wasn't that Red Riding Hood?
Speaking of Red, 'Mirror Mirror' also borrows some aspects of Red Riding Hood and it appeared out of place with the rest of the re-telling, which stuck to its original guns.
This film is a campy comedy, with no desire to educate the audience, or update its story. You're supposed to laugh, and if you're an adult, you can probably find a few more things to laugh at (or about) than the kids. These things I'm talking about are the Queen's blatant and overt desire for the pretty Prince. It's hilarious, and something rarely touched upon in other film genres.
I am actually having trouble writing a word down about this film. I just don't see the point of it. Who does it cater to, if anybody, barring its cast and perhaps its director. It felt to me like the director had some sort of vision in his head and attempted to recreate it, which in reality, well, certainly didn't work. This is Tarsem Singh we are talking about. The director of 'The Cell' and 'The Fall' - both of which were extraordinary films (though one was a lot less successful than the other). I couldn't believe this film had the same director. The only tenuous link to his other creations is the mirror universe. The mirror universe retained some of the dream-like qualities and aspects found in both 'The Cell' and 'The Fall'.
The only thing I liked, or rather enjoyed, was Armie Hammer. He is very pretty, and I like how the Queen plays the audience stand-in, pointing out that Hammer, shirtless, is incredibly distracting. And that's all I can think of in the positives department.
I put this film down to a career mid-life crisis - because that's the only way I can stomach it. That or the fact that the studio just desperately wanted Julia Roberts in a film and this was the best they could come up with in a short time.
I can't talk about the acting because everyone was hamming it up. Hammer was subtle till he took the love potion, during which time his acting was required to be a little... off. Lily Collins as Snow White is, well, she's there. Seriously, not much acting chops required for her role. I expected her character to become really strong and interesting and controlling, but nothing like that happens. Also, the climactic battle comes to an abrupt halt when an alternative winning strategy is found - boring!
And what was with that ending? Please someone tell me that the entire cast and crew and studio were on a few things and hence had no idea what they were shooting. That last scene was atrocious, shocking. I watched it through my hands, sinking into the seat. Actually, I think the entire hall was in a state of shock - they appeared to be completely paralysed for those last five minutes. It took nary a second for the theatre to clear out once the credits began to roll, though.
Simply put, fairy tales do not belong in the 21st Century - we are too jaded, too tense, too disturbed, I think, to actually enjoy such light fare (it doesn't even have a message to send). We need gritty re-boots, fantastic characters, strong, powerful females and a general air of bleak despair. I fail to see how this got greenlighted in the first place.
We have the unique opportunity, this year, to watch not one, but two renditions of this classic tale. And just to remind us of that, a trailer for 'Snow White and the Huntsman' was duly featured before the start of this film. That adaptation appears to be a gritty upgrade, something that Hollywood has taken a great liking to of late. I have no issue with that, except I don't really recall there being a huntsman in the original story. Was there one? Wasn't that Red Riding Hood?
Speaking of Red, 'Mirror Mirror' also borrows some aspects of Red Riding Hood and it appeared out of place with the rest of the re-telling, which stuck to its original guns.
This film is a campy comedy, with no desire to educate the audience, or update its story. You're supposed to laugh, and if you're an adult, you can probably find a few more things to laugh at (or about) than the kids. These things I'm talking about are the Queen's blatant and overt desire for the pretty Prince. It's hilarious, and something rarely touched upon in other film genres.
I am actually having trouble writing a word down about this film. I just don't see the point of it. Who does it cater to, if anybody, barring its cast and perhaps its director. It felt to me like the director had some sort of vision in his head and attempted to recreate it, which in reality, well, certainly didn't work. This is Tarsem Singh we are talking about. The director of 'The Cell' and 'The Fall' - both of which were extraordinary films (though one was a lot less successful than the other). I couldn't believe this film had the same director. The only tenuous link to his other creations is the mirror universe. The mirror universe retained some of the dream-like qualities and aspects found in both 'The Cell' and 'The Fall'.
The only thing I liked, or rather enjoyed, was Armie Hammer. He is very pretty, and I like how the Queen plays the audience stand-in, pointing out that Hammer, shirtless, is incredibly distracting. And that's all I can think of in the positives department.
I put this film down to a career mid-life crisis - because that's the only way I can stomach it. That or the fact that the studio just desperately wanted Julia Roberts in a film and this was the best they could come up with in a short time.
I can't talk about the acting because everyone was hamming it up. Hammer was subtle till he took the love potion, during which time his acting was required to be a little... off. Lily Collins as Snow White is, well, she's there. Seriously, not much acting chops required for her role. I expected her character to become really strong and interesting and controlling, but nothing like that happens. Also, the climactic battle comes to an abrupt halt when an alternative winning strategy is found - boring!
And what was with that ending? Please someone tell me that the entire cast and crew and studio were on a few things and hence had no idea what they were shooting. That last scene was atrocious, shocking. I watched it through my hands, sinking into the seat. Actually, I think the entire hall was in a state of shock - they appeared to be completely paralysed for those last five minutes. It took nary a second for the theatre to clear out once the credits began to roll, though.
Simply put, fairy tales do not belong in the 21st Century - we are too jaded, too tense, too disturbed, I think, to actually enjoy such light fare (it doesn't even have a message to send). We need gritty re-boots, fantastic characters, strong, powerful females and a general air of bleak despair. I fail to see how this got greenlighted in the first place.
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