Snow White Remake Earns Four of Five Stars

I really enjoyed watching the new Snow White movie, directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.

Courtesy Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

This live-action remake pays homage to the classic Disney film while thoughtfully updating it to reflect modern sensibilities. It strikes a nice balance between nostalgia and fresh perspective.

First of all, Gal Gadot-aka Wonder Woman-was fantastic as the Evil Queen. She brought just the right mix of elegance and menace to the role.

One of the things I appreciated most about this version is how it gave Snow White more agency. In the original, she's sweet and gentle, with a kinship to animals and a knack for tidying up for the dwarves. That aspect is still present here, but this Snow White is also deeply concerned about the state of her kingdom and the suffering of her people under the Queen's rule. Rather than cleaning for the dwarves, she works alongside them to help them clean up their act-literally and figuratively. It was a refreshing and empowering take on the character.

I was a little disappointed that the dwarves were animated or CGI rather than live actors, but they still brought charm and humor. Grumpy, in particular, has a great line about being misunderstood that was hilarious.

The romance is included but takes a backseat to Snow White's quest to reclaim her kingdom. Personally, I wish the love interest had been a bit more swoon-worthy, but I appreciated that the film didn't make romance the central storyline.

Musically, they kept the two most beloved songs from the original and reimagined the others, which I thought struck a fair balance. I was absolutely delighted when the dwarves made their entrance and "Heigh-Ho" started playing-it was a true crowd-pleaser.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable film. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.