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Disney's new live-action Snow White has sparked intense debate, with critics questioning its handling of the beloved fairy tale and the modern themes it introduces. While some fans embrace this new take on the movie, others argue it was the wrong choice and takes away from the original story people have grown to love.
Criticisms have surrounded the casting, creative decisions, modernized story, and more.
Fans of the original Snow White were disappointed with the casting of the remake. One big reason is the fact that Rachel Zegler is Latina, despite Snow White’s character being described as having “skin white as snow.” Zegler responded by saying, “...I get to be a Latina Princess.”
In addition, audiences have critiqued the public comments made by said cast members, especially Rachel Zegler, as questionable and believe they do not promote the movie in a good light. For context, the original Snow White was Disney’s first princess movie. It carries nostalgia for generations of fans and had a major influence on Disney, childhoods, and the animation industry.
Despite this, Rachel Zegler went on to call the movie “dated” and critiqued Snow White’s relationship with the prince. In an interview with Extra TV, Zegler stated that the remake is no longer a love story with a “...guy who literally stalks her.” So, there's no prince and no love story. At least, that is not the focus, as it is in the original film.
Because the remake is no longer a love story, it now focuses on Snow White becoming an independent woman. Zegler continues, “...She’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she can be.” The new film features Snow White being a woman of the people and starting a revolution against the Evil Queen, played by actress Gal Gadot.
Additionally, it is rumored that real-life tensions between the two stars, Zegler and Gadot, had allegedly created rifts in the workspace and affected productivity when shooting. The feud began with their differences in beliefs in the Palestine-Israel conflict, which spread throughout social media.
Furthermore, the dwarf community has criticized Disney’s decision to use computer-generated imagery (CGI) in portraying the Seven Dwarfs, following actor Peter Dinklage’s comments.
Peter Dinklage is an actor with dwarfism, known for his roles in Game of Thrones, Wicked, Elf, and more. He made a comment towards Disney, stating “It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that…backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together?”
In response to this comment, Disney made the decision to not cast actors with dwarfism and added the Seven Dwarfs to the final cut using CGI. This decision ultimately led to a spiral in the little person community, because actors with dwarfism were excluded from a project they could have taken on.
Adam Nayman, a Toronto Star critic, stated, “A documentary about the troubled production and cursed promotion of Disney’s new live-action ‘Snow White’ would undoubtedly be more exciting than the finished product.”
Following the movie’s release, it currently has a 1.6-star rating out of 10 on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Users on IMDb paint the picture with reviews as harsh as, “This remake is an insult to the classic. It’s devoid of magic, charm, and any semblance of storytelling. How Disney managed to mess this up is beyond me.”
More reviews are just as harsh, with one stating, “A soulless cash grab that completely misses the point of the original story. It’s as if they took everything that made Snow White special and threw it out the window.”
What are your thoughts on the new movie?
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