"Snow White and the Huntsman": Critics chime in on the action-adventure film

Charlize Theron in "Snow White and the Huntsman"

/ Universal

(CBS News) The new action-adventure film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," hits the big screen Friday, starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth.

Pictures: Summer films 2012
Read more: "Snow White and the Huntsman" extended trailer released
Read more: Charlize Theron based her character on Jack Nicholson in "The Shining"

The film, which puts a dark twist on the classic fairy tale, follows Queen Ravenna (Theron), whose fairest-in-the-land status is threatened by Snow White (Stewart).

So what are the critics saying? It seems they're straight down the middle on this one. Rotten Tomatoes, the film review site, has a 50 percent rating.

Although director Rupert Sanders' movie has received mediocre reviews, critics have largely praised the film for its stunning visuals. It's no wonder. The studio budget is estimated at $170 million, and there's already talk of a sequel.

Here's what some critics have to sayc:

USA Today gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars: "Stunningly shot and inconsistently acted and written, Snow White has enough visual fireworks to keep the film afloat, even if star Kristen Stewart can't get out of Twilight mode. A modern-day twist on the 200-year-old fairy tale, Snow White aims to be The Lord of the Rings meets the Brothers Grimm. And while the battle scenes are fitting of a Tolkien tale, the performances prevent the story from having the resonance of either movie or fable."

Rolling Stone: "'Snow White and the Huntsman' is definitely a missed opportunity. Sanders was on to something in taking the Snow White tale to its most menacing extreme. Right now, he lacks the skill set to shape and mold what's in his head to screen proportions. But the good news is that Sanders has the potential to do just that. Today's misfire just might turn into tomorrow's masterwork."

Time magazine: "Rare among the recent fairy tale adaptions (from Mirror Mirror to the dreadful Red Riding Hood) the invigorating Snow White and the Huntsman actually breathes new life into an old story."

Hollywood Reporter: "A bold rethinking of a familiar old story and striking design elements are undercut by a draggy midsection and undeveloped characters in Snow White and the Huntsman. After the campy family farce of Mirror, Mirror, this second revisionist take of the year on the 19th century fairy tale strides out deadly serious and in full armor, not to mention with more costume changes for Charlize Theron than a Lady Gaga concert."

Slate: "Snow White and the Huntsman's problems go deeper than just the casting. This over-crammed, disjointed, and lugubrious film is misconceived from the ground up."

Tell us: Do you plan to see "Snow White and the Huntsman"?

[seelie-sidhe]

I thought Charlize Theron's performance was good and was glad to see that the "evil" queen (and her bro) were given more than 1-dimension to work with characterwise - I liked the back-story of the queen, and Theron has always had such a great range of emotional expression - those aspects were well done. The actors who played the dwarves were great and the humor was not too over-done. The special effects were outstanding - gorgeous fairy sequence that should have been much longer and explained more in depth. Chris Hemsworth was good too (it's not his fault his character's lines were so lame sometimes). Ok ... now for the difficult stuff .... Kristen Stewart .... it's not that she "can't act", nor that she didn't make an effort (you can tell she has improved since Twilight ... but ....I think she just does not have a face that registers emotion very well. It's as if there are only two emotions her face can express: fear and anger, and even those look similar. When she is trying to do other scenes calling for happier or more subtle emotions, it comes off very stiff (Snow White's "inspiration" speech to the soldiers was almost too painful to watch/listen to because Kristen just could not carry it off in a believable manner). There are plenty of other actors who have faces that can't carry much emotion. Also, Sam Claflin, while handsome, cannot seem to effect a range of emotion. It is as if "pretty-to-look-at" is supposed to be an adequate replacement for acting! Think again! Sorry, but it's the truth. Now ... for the writing: this movie should have been at least 30 min if not an hour longer in order to better develop the plot and characters. It felt so rushed and slap-dash in some places, which was the biggest disappointment of all. There are so many people who would love it if movies of this genre were just a wee bit longer for the sake of character and story development. Stop underestimating the public's attention span - it's an insult to the public as well as the story that is being represented!!

[seelie-sidhe]

I thought Charlize Theron's performance was good and was glad to see that the "evil" queen (and her bro) were given more than 1-dimension to work with characterwise - I liked the back-story of the queen, and Theron has always had such a great range of emotional expression - those aspects were well done. The actors who played the dwarves were great and the humor was not too over-done. The special effects were outstanding - gorgeous fairy sequence that should have been much longer and explained more in depth. Chris Hemsworth was good too (it's not his fault his character's lines were so lame sometimes). Ok ... now for the difficult stuff .... Kristen Stewart .... it's not that she "can't act", nor that she didn't make an effort (you can tell she has improved since Twilight ... but ....I think she just does not have a face that registers emotion very well. It's as if there are only two emotions her face can express: fear and anger, and even those look similar. When she is trying to do other scenes calling for happier or more subtle emotions, it comes off very stiff (Snow White's "inspiration" speech to the soldiers was almost too painful to watch/listen to because Kristen just could not carry it off in a believable manner). There are plenty of other actors who have faces that can't carry much emotion. Also, Sam Claflin, while handsome, cannot seem to effect a range of emotion. It is as if "pretty-to-look-at" is supposed to be an adequate replacement for acting! Think again! Sorry, but it's the truth. Now ... for the writing: this movie should have been at least 30 min if not an hour longer in order to better develop the plot and characters. It felt so rushed and slap-dash in some places, which was the biggest disappointment of all. There are so many people who would love it if movies of this genre were just a wee bit longer for the sake of character and story development. Stop underestimating the public's attention span - it's an insult to the public as well as the story that is being represented!!

[RBSahulee]

I saw the movie tonight and I felt irritated at the end on the emotional rollercoaster it sent me on. The reviews by the trades are accurrate in that it needed stronger character development and was disjointed in story. However, Charlize Theron is a wickedly good evil queen. The visuals of course amazing. Nonetheless, the movie had the elements of something really good but couldn't bring it cohesively together. But I'd be curious to see how the sequel fairs.

[EmmaWeylin]

I saw it tonight with my husband. I love grown-up versions of fairy-tales. This was done well. I enjoyed the movie and left the theater feeling good. Was it the best movie ever? Probably not, it's based on a child's fairytale. I think people expect too much from a genre type and end up disappointed when the genre is true to type. I didn't notice the middle lag in the movie some reviews have mentioned. It's the first time in a while I haven't left a movie theater feeling like I wasted my money.

[Th_Future]

Just watched it on Mixvid, Pretty Good!

[credibility2]

Even as a child, I was fascinated with the evil queen and Disney's animation of her made her visually appealing and beautiful, albeit evil. If the movie holds true to the trailer, this adult version of the beloved children's story will be successful, with or without so-called critic's high praise or admonishment.

[rider1956]

Nothing new here. Just drama and sensationalism. Like Gennifer Goodwin as Snow White.

[Jay_McBee]

Yeah, I don't know anyone who wants to see this. Just... why? However, here is a hilarious review of Snow White and the Huntsman by the great Finnish film reviewer Kimmo Mustonenen.

http://*********.com/blogs/btp/2012/06/01/snow-white-and-the-huntsman-review/