'Mirror Mirror' Poorly Adapts Snow White

By RACHEL PASSAR

Although a fresh retelling of the Snow White tale we all know and love, Tarsem Singh’s “Mirror Mirror” fails to do the Disney classic justice.

Starring award-winning actress Julia Roberts as the evil Queen and Lily Collins (daughter of musician Phil Collins) as Snow White, this movie seemed to be quite promising. But as I soon discovered, it didn’t live up to its full potential.

After her father’s disappearance in the dark forest, Snow White is forced to live a life of solitude. Her evil stepmother, the Queen, keeps her confined to the palace grounds. It isn’t until her 18th birthday that Snow White finally defies the Queen’s orders and escapes.

While wandering the forest in search of freedom and adventure, she runs into the dashingly handsome Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer, known for portraying the Winklevoss twins on “The Social Network”).

Though instantly drawn to one another, they go their separate ways. The Queen then meets the rich, young prince as well. Penniless as a result of her uncontrolled spending habits, she devises a plan to marry Prince Alcott for his money.

While a dull narrative, this movie does have some strong points. For instance, Julia Roberts’ depiction of the evil Queen is rather humorous.

Her unique twist on the role moved the audience to laughter every now and then. The seven dwarfs also serve as comic relief. Unlike the original Bashful, Grumpy and Happy we’ve all come to know, these dwarfs are bandits named Butcher, Grimm, and Half Pint. The amusing portrayal of these lovable characters lessened my disappointment with the movie, and therefore proved to be a much-needed addition.

Despite lacking in substance, the film has spectacular visuals. Indian-born director Tarsem Singh uses vivid colors, extravagant costumes and dreamlike landscapes in his production of the classic fairy tale. The result is beautiful images that truly captivate the mind.

While this family-friendly flick offers viewers comedy and romance against a visually splendid backdrop, it is unsuccessful in developing a solid plot. A splash with the younger crowd, this movie is sure to delight anyone under the age of 12.