Snow White

Original title:	Snow White
Director:	Marc Webb
Release:	Cinema
Running time:	109 minutes
Release date:	21 march 2025
Rating:

Disney's Snow White is a live-action remake of the 1937 classic. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. This magical adventure returns to the origins of the timeless tale with the lovable Timid, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy.

Cookie's Review

What can we expect from this new Walt Disney production of Snow White? A remake capable of bringing originality and freshness, or, on the contrary, a disappointing film that is nothing more than a pale imitation?

Marc Webb’s film opens like a classic fairy tale, with a magnificent golden book surrounded by singing birds, curious hedgehogs, and joyful bouncing rabbits. "Once upon a time..." The image then transports us to a grand castle where a good king and a benevolent queen celebrate the birth of their daughter on a snowy morning. They name her Snow White. In the nearby village, the marketplace is lively, bathed in light and life. The music accompanies this warm medieval atmosphere. But as in every beautiful story, darkness quickly emerges: the queen dies suddenly, leaving a grieving widower and an orphaned child. We know what happens next: the king remarries, but his new wife is cold and cruel, indifferent to both her people and her stepdaughter.

From the very first scenes, the film's artistic direction stands out. Kave Quinn’s work on set design is remarkable. The castle, inspired by Bavarian and Gothic architecture, perfectly captures the essence of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The village is brimming with authentic details, from the market stalls to the time-worn cobblestones, while the forest, far from being just a threatening backdrop, becomes an enchanting and mysterious space where Snow White discovers her true strength.

Music plays a central role, remaining faithful to the spirit of the original tale. Since this is a musical, we find the timeless songs that accompanied our childhood, with new arrangements and a few original compositions by Pasek and Paul. The melodies are catchy and easy to remember, enhancing the film’s magical feel.

Regarding costumes, Sandy Powell’s work deserves special mention. Snow White’s iconic dress, with its blue bodice, white collar, and yellow skirt, has been reimagined with a more contemporary touch, made of silk organza and crinoline. But it is the Evil Queen who commands all the attention with her sumptuous outfits. Her ebony black and dark green dresses, embroidered with gold thread, along with her imposing six-meter-long cape, emphasize her vanity and authority. Her aristocratic bearing, sharp nails, and majestic headpiece make her a figure as fascinating as she is terrifying.

The seven dwarfs are present, each with their distinct personality, but their CGI representation has sparked debate. Disney opted for a mix of CGI and live-action elements to avoid certain stereotypes, but the result is uneven. Some characters lack the expressiveness and warmth that made the 1937 animated version so charming. Nevertheless, their presence adds humor and tenderness, and their bickering is irresistible.

As for performances, Rachel Zegler portrays a more assertive Snow White, a young woman learning to stand up for herself and lead. Her character’s growth is evident, and her singing voice is an undeniable asset. However, some of her lines occasionally feel unnatural. Gal Gadot, on the other hand, shines as the Evil Queen. She embodies a character that is both theatrical and menacing, with her gestures and piercing gaze adding to her dark charisma. Her musical number, "All is Fair," is a highlight of the film, where she savors her own cruelty with palpable delight.

The film also introduces a new male character, Jonathan, played by Andrew Burnap, who replaces the anonymous Prince Charming from the original version. This charismatic rebel brings a political touch to the plot, but his inclusion slightly shifts the focus away from the central conflict between Snow White and the Queen. His romance with the heroine is more developed, though it does not always captivate as much as the main storyline.

Snow White oscillates between nostalgia and modernity. While some choices—particularly the special effects for the dwarfs—may be divisive, the film successfully captures the spirit of the fairy tale while offering a more assertive heroine and a more flamboyant villain. The old version is enhanced by this new approach, giving Snow White more personality, and the overall result promises a wonderful cinematic experience for both young and old. A success that, while not perfect, recalls in certain aspects Disney’s timeless magic. Our top pick for the week’s releases.

Snow White
Directed by Marc Webb
Written by Erin Cressida Wilson
Based on Disney's “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by Ted Sears, Richard Creedon, Otto Englander, Dick Rickard, Earl Hurd, Merrill De Maris, Dorothy Ann Blank, Webb Smith and “Snow White” by the Brothers Grimm
Produced by Marc Platt, Jared LeBoff
Starring Rachel Zegler, Andrew Burnap, Gal Gadot
Cinematography: Mandy Walker
Editing: Mark Sanger, Sarah Broshar
Music: Jeff Morrow (original score), Larry Morey and Frank Churchill (songs), Pasek and Paul (new songs)
Production companies: Walt Disney Pictures, Marc Platt Productions
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Release dates: March 12, 2025 (Alcázar of Segovia), March 19 , 2025 (France), March 21, 2025 (United States)
Running time : 109 minutes

Screened on March 18, 2025 at Pathé Beaugrenelle, Dolby Cinema room

Cookie's Mark:

Mulder's Review

There are few movie memories as deeply rooted in my childhood as the first time I saw the animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My parents, always keen to share their love of classic films with me, took me to a screening, and according to them I was completely spellbound. As they later reminded me, I was sitting there, eyes wide, completely captivated by the pure magic unfolding on the screen. The lush animation, the eerie shadows of the Queen's castle and the dwarves' charming and clumsy antics: it all seemed larger than life. At home, we would always replay the scene of the dwarves' bath, projected on a large portable screen in our living room. The laughter, the gags, the lively joy of it all: it was a key part of my growing love for cinema. So when the Walt Disney company announced a live-action remake of Snow White, I approached it with cautious optimism, hoping it would recreate even a fraction of that magic.

Marc Webb's Snow White is an ambitious undertaking, a bold attempt to bring a beloved classic into the modern era while retaining its fairy-tale charm. From the outset, the film seeks to distinguish itself, reinventing key elements of the story while paying homage to its animated predecessor. Rachel Zegler plays the iconic role with confidence and grace, portraying a Snow White who is not just a dreamer, but a leader, a young woman who actively seeks to reclaim her kingdom rather than simply waiting for a prince to come and save her. This change in the character's actions is significant: the passive princess waiting for her prince to arrive has disappeared; in her place is a heroine on a journey of self-discovery and resilience.

Visually, Snow White is a complete success, although it is not without inconsistencies. The production design is impressive, with the Queen's castle rising up in dark Gothic splendor, while the enchanted forest bursts with color and life. However, the CGI elements, especially the seven dwarfs, prove to be a double-edged sword. While the intention behind their design was to modernize their presence, their photorealistic rendering seems somewhat disconnected from the otherwise realistic aesthetic of the film. Unlike the animated classic, where the dwarves were brimming with personality and charm, here they seem to be a digital art experiment that doesn't really pay off. One finds oneself regretting the hand-drawn expressiveness of the original, where every exaggerated movement, every twitch of the moustache and every twinkle in Dopey's eyes added layers to their humor and their heart.

However, the remake shines in its reinterpretation of the Evil Queen. Gal Gadot embodies the role with icy elegance, her performance suffused with vanity and silent menace. The Queen remains a force of nature, driven by her fear of being eclipsed. Although her motivations have been slightly expanded to add depth to her paranoia, the essence of her wickedness remains intact. The transformation sequence, where she disguises herself as an old witch, remains one of the most visually striking moments of the film, a true nod to the haunting intensity of the original. However, her musical number, although ambitious, lacks the unforgettable and furtive charisma of classics such as Poor Unfortunate Souls or Be Prepared.

Musically, Snow White finds itself in a delicate balance between the past and the present. Pasek and Paul's new compositions infuse the film with Broadway-worthy energy, but their presence often overshadows the timeless charm of the original songs. Whistle While You Work and Heigh-Ho make a comeback, albeit in reinvented arrangements that don't quite capture the same infectious spirit. One gets the impression that the movie is torn between respect for its roots and the desire to assert itself as something new. It is in these moments of indecision that Snow White seems most unstable, striving to be both nostalgic and contemporary, but never fully committing to either of these directions.

The addition of Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) as a potential new love interest is one of the most controversial elements of the film. Replacing the classic Prince Charming, Jonathan is a mischievous, Robin Hood-like character who adds a touch of playful banter to Snow White's journey. His dynamic with Snow White is refreshingly egalitarian, avoiding the tired trope of a passively rescued princess. While his presence adds to the film's attempt at modernization, it also highlights one of the film's greatest difficulties: its attempt to integrate contemporary sensibilities into a story so deeply rooted in tradition.

Despite its few missteps, Snow White is not without moments of true wonder. Rachel Zegler's performance is luminous, capturing the warmth and optimism that define Snow White as a character. The cinematography sometimes evokes breathtaking images, recalling the pictorial elegance of the backgrounds in the original film. And, above all, the film never loses sight of its central message: the triumph of kindness and courage over vanity and cruelty.

Yet, as the credits rolled, one couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of something missing. Perhaps it was the absence of that old-fashioned Disney magic that made Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs such an untouchable masterpiece. Or maybe it was the way the film's identity seemed caught between the past and the present, never quite embracing either. The animated Snow White is still a film to which you return with the same childlike wonder that I had all those years ago, when I first saw the dwarves splashing around in that chaotic, bubbling bathtub scene. This live-action adaptation, despite its beauty and ambition, will probably not hold the same place in our hearts. But maybe, just maybe, it will be the Snow White of a new generation, just as the original was for mine.

Screened on March 20 2025 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room IMAX seat E16

Mulder's Mark: