Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Sam Claflin
MPAA Rating: PG-13 / Unrated
Distributed by: Universal Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Running Time: 127 / 131 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
EXtras: 4 out of 5 stars
When I think of “Snow White and the Huntsman”, I can’t help but compare to “Twilight”, sorry Kristen Stewart. The film is a bit overly ambitious and a little slow moving but it really takes a unique view to the classic story. The visuals are very stunning and really drives the story. If you are going to compare this to the piece-of-crap “Mirror, Mirror”, there is no contest, this one is a real winner. This Blu-ray release includes both the 127-minute theatrical cut and a 131-minute extended edition. The extended version doesn’t make or break the film itself but it does deliver a few decent new scenes. Overall I just loved the dark tone of the film. Looking forward to the Huntsman spin-off with Chris Hemsworth and did I mention that Charlize Theron was absolutely awesome in this role!
The release comes as a two-disc combo pack. There is a Blu-ray disc, as well as a DVD disc. There is also two options for digital copy including an iTunes download or the UltraViolet digital streaming copy. The latter is definitely the route I will be going for sure. The 1080pd video transfer is just simply stunning and really adds so much to the film’s aesthetics, cinematography and visual effects. The real star of the film though is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. This track literally rumbled my walls in my house and really uses the 7.1 sound to the max.
Like the film, the special features are great and really deliver. There is an audio commentary: Director Rupert Sanders, visual effects supervisor Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and co-editor Neil Smith, which is very heavy on details and focused on production. There is a U-Control, Picture in Picture included with sporadic behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. “Second Screen Experience” allow you to interactive in the film with your tablet or PC using the pocket BLU app. “Around the Kingdom: 360° Set Tour” is a beautiful look at the film’s Pinewood Studios sets. “A New Legend is Born” includes cast/crew interviews as they discuss the film production and the history behind the story. “Reinventing the Fairy Tale” looks at the incorporation of the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White. “Citizens of the Kingdom” included four typical EPK-style character featurettes including “Fairest of Them All: Snow White,” “Deliciously Evil: Queen Ravenna,” “The Huntsman” and “Motley Crew: The Dwarves.” Lastly, and my favorite, “The Magic of Snow White and the Huntsman” looks into the film’s visual effects and animatics in a lot of detail.