Critics and Audiences Divided Over Disney’s Live-Action ‘Snow White’ Film
The reimagining of the animated classic, Snow White, has premiered in cinemas, eliciting mixed reactions from film critics and cinemagoers alike. This Disney release, a musical rendition of the beloved fairy tale, has ignited debate, with some devoted Disney enthusiasts expressing disappointment, while others eagerly anticipate experiencing the film.
Poor Reception from Review Aggregators
Starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, this updated fairy tale adaptation has not resonated with critics, evidenced by its low scores on prominent review aggregator websites. At the time of writing, the film holds a dismal 1.7/10 rating on IMDb and a similarly unflattering 44% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a largely negative critical consensus.
Fan Reactions Range from Disappointment to Defense
Numerous viewers have voiced the opinion that the 1937 animated original surpasses this cinematic iteration. Expressing their dissatisfaction, one viewer posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Please let Snow White be the film that ends future live action Disney remakes.”
Critical Perspectives
Film critic Jenny Nicholson shared her perspective, commenting: “The new Snow White probably isn’t going to be good, but I think it’s interesting that they replaced the songs with inferior songs. Doing something different, even if it’s worse, is preferable to the repetitive and still substandard Disney renaissance remakes.”
Another cinema-goer recounted: “I was misled by a few individuals who suggested Snow White was reasonably good; it turned out to be the worst movie I’ve seen in recent years.”
Support for the Lead Actors
Despite the predominantly negative critical assessments of Disney’s latest ‘Snow White’ film, some fans have rallied in support of Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. One supporter argued: “Unpopular opinion: Neither Gal Gadot nor Rachel Zegler are to blame for Snow White’s failure.
“The Disney remake trend is outdated, the screenplay lacked originality and creativity, the direction was uninspired, and overall, the film lacked appeal.”
Another comment echoed this sentiment: “People attribute Disney’s Snow White’s box office failure to the actors and their political views, but few acknowledge that Snow White is an unexciting, archaic narrative and the public is weary of Disney’s live-action remakes… This, I believe, is the primary cause of its poor performance.”
A Minority of Positive Feedback
However, not all feedback was condemnatory. One admirer offered a contrasting view: “Notwithstanding the off-putting CGI Seven Dwarfs, the new ‘Snow White‘ is the finest live action Disney remake in a decade.”
Commending Zegler’s performance, they added: “Admittedly, it’s a low benchmark, but it largely succeeds – partly because it’s an actual adaptation, rather than mere nostalgic imitation. Furthermore, Rachel Zegler delivers a star performance.”
Comparisons to Previous Adaptations and CGI Controversy
Amidst the diverging opinions, some fans reminisced about the earlier ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ rendition starring Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, considering it a superior iteration of the fairytale.
One disappointed viewer shared their assessment of the new adaptation: “Snow White and the Huntsman was considerably more engaging, I regret to say. Gal Gadot and the CGI dwarfs significantly detracted from Disney’s Snow White for me.”
Prior to its release, the film garnered attention due to Disney’s choice to employ computer-generated imagery for the Seven Dwarfs instead of casting actors.
This decision by Disney, intended to “avoid perpetuating stereotypes,” encountered scrutiny after actor Peter Dinklage criticised the Snow White remake, labeling the portrayal of the dwarves as “f**king backwards.”
Lead Actress’s Pre-Release Remarks and Apology
Lead actress Rachel Zegler became embroiled in controversy before the film’s debut following a tweet expressing her desire that Trump voters in the 2024 election “never know peace.”
Zegler subsequently issued an apology for her statements, declaring: “Hatred and anger have propelled us further from peace and understanding, and I regret contributing to the negative discourse.”