"'Snow White' Premieres with Mixed Critical Reception - Understanding Its Contentious Issues"
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Headline
Disney's reimagined tale of "Snow White" hits cinemas this weekend amidst a whirlwind of debates and lukewarm reception, with criticisms ranging from the film's lackluster visuals to its controversial handling of iconic characters.
Important Facts
"Snow White," featuring Rachel Zegler as the titular Disney princess and Gal Gadot as the wicked queen, premieres in theaters this Friday, though select preview screenings will take place Thursday afternoon. The film is projected to dominate the box office this weekend, with industry analysts like Variety and Deadline projecting a domestic box office gross between $45 million and $55 million. However, this projection falls short of other Disney live-action remakes, such as "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid."
The movie's Rotten Tomatoes score is one of the lowest among Disney live-action remakes, receiving a 47% critics rating based on 101 reviews. Disney, known for hosting grand red-carpet events, hosted a scaled-down "Snow White" premiere last week with minimal photographers and interviewers present, according to Variety. The smaller event sparked rumors that its size was a response to the film's controversies.
Principal Critics
Numerous reviewers slammed the film for its uninspiring visuals, failure to live up to the original animated masterpiece, and mediocre performances. In a scathing one-star review, Toronto Star critic Adam Nayman described the film as "an unwarranted dark art spectacle," particularly criticizing Gal Gadot's "disastrous" performance that lacked "self-awareness" or "campy pleasure." The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw panned the film in a one-star review, declaring it "exhaustingly awful" and criticizing the lifeless performances of both leads, while lamenting the "pseudo-progressive" approach to the CGI-animated dwarves. Rolling Stone critic David Fear also took issue with Disney's "cringe-worthy" modifying of the dwarves, stating they were referred to as "magical creatures" in the film, thereby missing an opportunity to create truly diverse and interesting characters.
In Defense of the Film
Some reviewers believe "Snow White" is one of Disney's better live-action adaptations. Variety critic Owen Gleiberman praised both Zegler and Gadot, while acknowledging the CGI dwarves "bring the movie to life." The Hollywood Reporter critic David Rooney described the film as landing on the "upper end of the spectrum" of Disney's live-action remakes, complimenting the actors' performances and the visual effects team for creating an "enchanting story-book world."
The Casting Controversy
The selection of Latina actress Rachel Zegler to play Snow White has caused a stir among some critics who argue that the character, as originally written by the Brothers Grimm, is described as having "skin as white as snow." Zegler defended her casting in a 2022 interview, stating "Snow White" is popular in Spanish-speaking countries, and she was proud to represent her heritage, adding that her character's origin story includes surviving a snowstorm as a child.
The Dwarf Portrayal Debate
Emmy-winning actor Peter Dinklage, who also has dwarfism, slammed Disney for remaking "Snow White," given the seven dwarves characters. He criticized the decision to maintain the storyline while casting a Latina actress, suggesting that Disney should make bolder choices to avoid reinforcing outdated stereotypes. Disney responded to Dinklage's concerns, stating they are consulting with the dwarfism community to "avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film." In 2023, footage from the production surfaced online, depicting just one actor with dwarfism, while the other six were actors of different races, sparking criticism from both the right and the dwarfism community.
The Controversial "Feminist Update"
Star Rachel Zegler generated heated debate when she suggested that the "Snow White" remake would offer a more feminist perspective than the original 1937 film. Zegler's comments, in which she stated Snow White was leaving behind her dream of true love and becoming a leader, drew backlash from conservative critics like Ben Shapiro, who ridiculed the idea. Zegler later clarified her comments, stating the film's love story remains integral and expressing sadness that her initial remarks were interpreted as critical of the original film.
The Stars' Political Views and the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Rachel Zegler has generated controversy by publicly supportings a pro-Palestine stance, as expressed on various platforms since 2021. This position has led some conservatives to call for boycotting the film due to Gal Gadot's pro-Israel stance. Gadot, who is Israeli and served in the military, has been open about her support for Israel, particularly in response to the October 2022 attacks. Despite these disagreements, both actresses have been committed to promoting unity and understanding through their work.
Box Office Prospects
While the critical reception for "Snow White" has been mixed at best, expectations are high for the film's box office performance. The Hollywood Reporter projects that the film will earn approximately $53 million during its opening weekend, which would place it second in terms of opening weekend earnings this year, trailing only "Captain America: Brave New World."
A Quick Detour
"Snow White" hit theaters less than a month after Disney's latest film, "Captain America: Brave New World," also stirred controversy. The film sparked debates when Anthony Mackie, the Black actor who portrayed Captain America, argued that the term "America" should not be one of the character's representations. His comments led to further discussions on American identity and patriotism. The film also generated controversy over its Israeli character, portrayed by Israeli actress Shira Haas, who in the Marvel comics is a member of Israel's intelligence agency. In the film, the character is modified to be a U.S. government official, leading to criticism from both Israelis and pro-Palestinian protestors.
Additional Reading
- Disney Scales Back 'Snow White' Hollywood Premiere Amid Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot Controversies (Variety)
- 'Captain America' Becomes One Of Marvel's Worst-Reviewed Films Amid Protests From Progressives And Conservatives (Forbes)
- Rachel Zegler, the actress playing Snow White in Disney's new adaptation, defended her casting, stating that the character is popular in Spanish-speaking countries and that her portrayal allows her to represent her heritage.
- Peter Dinklage, an Emmy-winning actor with dwarfism, criticized Disney for remaking "Snow White" and maintaining the storyline of the seven dwarves, suggesting that Disney should make bolder choices to avoid reinforcing outdated stereotypes.
- Despite the mixed critical reception of "Snow White," expectations are high for the film's box office performance, with projections stating it could earn around $53 million during its opening weekend, making it one of the year's top-performing films at the box office.
