ketutar This Snow White is from 1997. It is fascinating... because one doesn't really know if the stepmother, Claudia, played by Sigourney Weaver, is a witch or just mad.The first time I saw it, I was seriously scared, and to my surprise, they managed to scare me this time too :-D If I remember correctly, this movie was received with delight as a true Grimmesque retelling and as something seriously different from the cutie-pie Disney versions. There is a point when one isn't quite sure if anyone survives...This is yet another Snow White where I like the Evil Queen/Stepmother most. Claudia was the most faceted personality, and her motivation was made very clear. As she was treated by both her stupid husband and his bratty daughter, I wish she had managed to bring her son back to life. Now, that would be an interesting story… It doesn't harm that the queen is played by Sigourney Weaver. I just adore her. I can't decide if she is beautiful or not… because she can be the most beautiful woman just as well as quite ugly. Her Old Woman is wonderful, and reminds me of the Old Hag from Disney's Snow White. So she chats, giving the harmless idea, one can imagine the old hag as a young woman… and the whole time I KNOW it's Sigourney! But, she's so good I forget her, and see the old woman as a young girl, playing around with boys, being witty and cute…I felt sorry for Sam Neill for having such a horrible role to play :-D I think half of his lines were (groaning). The actual lines were rather stupid.As Snow White's love interests, we see both David Conrad as doctor Gutenberg, and Gill Bellows, as Will, and outlaw. I know David from Ghost whisperer, where he plays Melinda's husband, and Gill from Ally McBeal. Good looking fellows.18-years-old Monica Keena plays Snow White, and does a good job in portraying a bratty teenager. And I have to give her that she plays well a scared young woman too.The manuscript isn't very good. There's things happening in the movie that are there for the effect, but are not explained satisfactory, like the wolves in the opening scene and the zombie maid? Or is she just imagination? Or what? Also the dialogue is rather stupid. But it was revolutionary 1997. :-D

Armand a classic story. in new form. beautiful images, creepy scenes, impressive role of Sigourney Weaver. a film who reminds the dark sides of a fairy tale who seems out of secrets. and it is not easy to say if it is a good or bad movie - the taste is always subjective fact - but it is an inspired re-telling. and that fact is important for the escape from Disney universe to the Grimm brothers fairy tale. the impressive thing is the mixture between fear and curiosity. the rediscover of familiar scenes, the new details and, of course, the option for Monica Keena as Lili. short - new level of a classic fairy tale. the past of characters is known, the special effects are good. and the terror from title is only crumb from childhood when, for first time, you discovers the fight between a poor young girl and her cruel stepmother.

ZachStoleMyCowsName Wow. This movie, when trying to describe it to a friend, comes out sounding so lame. Really, the concept of a horrific "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" could make anyone laugh. But when you see it, it's so brilliant.The plot is well thought out. It follows the same very basic storyline as the "classic" tale you and I grew up with (ie, Disney's interpretation), but a lot of details are changed. Her mother is no longer just an evil woman, she more like a crazy, psychotic, jealous, obsessive person. "Snow White" no longer goes by her childish nickname, but instead goes by her given name, Lilliana. Even the "Prince" she "rides off into the sunset with" is dramatically different. As opposed to a 2-D character, the writers have actually integrated him into the plot line, and given him a bit more depth (I can't say how, though, without spoiling the movie).Most horror movies are all just scare tactics and gore. This one is more like a thriller. The plot is developed, and each character has their own role to play. Take the "dwarfs" for instance. In Disney's interpretation, they're all just Sleepy, Dopey, Sneezy, Doc, Grumpy, etc. They take care of Snow White, they cry when she dies, they watch as she marries the Prince. That's basically it. This one, they each have their own well-developed personalities, and help Lilli to "grow up" in some way and face the "witch".I would love to go into more detail, but you really have to see this movie yourself to fully appreciate it. Anyone who loves horror movies or is just plain sick of that stupid Disney tale should definitely check this out.

mizbara I think it is a shame that the Disney version of this film sets the standard. I personally don't think that movie is all that great, other than being the first feature-length animated motion picture. I liked this version *way* better.First, technical detail: I loved the Gothic atmosphere. I loved the attention to historical detail, and while they didn't get things 100% accurate, what they did get right is absolutely amazing, with the fear of the plague, the power of the Catholic Church, lives of peasants versus lives of nobles, etc. The costumes were also gorgeous, especially Lily's mother's wedding dress that she wears to the party. The forested area where they filmed is gloomy and dark, and creates the atmosphere they were going for.Second: characters: I liked the way the two main characters were pulled out of the two-dimensional cliché's they are usually stuck in, and were brought into a more realistic light. The Snow White character of Lilliana was a spoiled child who resented her step-mother's intrusion into her life, and one could argue, ended up creating her own misery. The step-mother character of Lady Claudia began as a woman who knew her only value to her husband was that of a beautiful woman and an incubator to have a son. She tries hard to reach her step-daughter, but Lily keeps freezing her out. Claudia doesn't actually become evil until a very traumatic event happens to her, one caused by Lily herself. Then an evil only hinted at with the mysterious death of Lily's nanny by the mirror is revealed. The father's character is fleshed out a bit more, though not much, in how he was forced to kill his wife to save his daughter, and then how obsessed he is with having a son (typical male of his time period.) The prince character became an arrogant and clueless doctor. The hunter became Claudia's mute brother, who after her madness begins, seems to have a strange incestuous relationship with her. Personally, I liked the changes to the dwarf characters. Only one or two were actually dwarfs, while the others were embittered peasants with a legitimate grudge against the nobility, one of whom ended up a love interest for Lily, which I thought worked well.The changes made from the Disney version were a relief, in my opinion. The changes made from the Grimm version made it original. There were several scenes in the film that worked very well, especially the scene where Claudia tricks Lily into eating the apple. But this is where we get to some of the flaws in the film. The names of "dwarf" characters are hardly mentioned. Some of the transitions aren't smooth, though it does help lend a nightmarish quality to this film. I think a little fleshing out of Claudia's back story would have helped, like a little bit more about her mother. We get hints that Claudia and her mother had a bad relationship, and the mirror was Claudia's mother's. But it's not enough. I also agree with other reviewers that we needed more to see why the "dwarves" changed their minds about Lily.In spite of all these problems, though, I think this version of Snow White is the best I've ever seen, and I've seen quite a few. If you are looking for a dark fantasy film that borders on horror, look no further. This is *NOT* for the squeamish or for kids. Sex, blood, violence, borderline incest, and attempted rape are among the warning here. But this movie is *definitely* worth watching.