Courtesy of Portsmouth Events
The remake of ‘Snow White’ sparked controversy and mixed reactions ahead of its March 21 release.
As a kid, I watched Disney movies for the magic. Watching the new “Snow White” remake, however, I found myself watching more for the headlines than the fairy tale.
Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White” aimed to be a bold reimagining of the classic 1937 film, but in trying to modernize a beloved fairy tale, it ends up confused about its own message, weighed down by questionable creative choices and a tangled public response.
For those who need a refresher, “Snow White” follows a princess whose beauty enrages her stepmother, the Evil Queen. Forced to flee, Snow White finds shelter with seven dwarfs and eventually falls into a cursed sleep after eating a poisoned apple, given to her by the Evil Queen. She is awakened by a prince’s true love’s kiss and they live happily ever after.
However, this plot did not seem to fully shine through in the remake.
Rachel Zegler stars as Snow White, and while her vocal talent is undeniable, her version of the character feels stuck between eras. Before the film even came out, Zegler made headlines by claiming that this “Snow White” would not be a story about a princess being saved by a prince. That idea sparked debate, especially among fans who did not want Disney rewriting its most iconic stories for the sake of modernization.
Ironically, the film walks back that statement in the end. Snow White is, in fact, saved by a prince, but also becomes the leader after defeating the Evil Queen. The result feels like the movie is trying to please everyone, and ends up pleasing no one.
Production-wise, the costumes look surprisingly cheap for a Disney film, and Gal Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen lacks the menace and magic of the original. The whole movie struggles with tone, sometimes aiming for whimsical and classic, sometimes trying to be edgy and new, but never quite landing either. One scene features talking animals and singing that feel straight out of the original, while another has Snow White delivering lines about independence and leadership.
What makes this remake especially complicated is the controversy that has surrounded it. Fans questioned the casting of Zegler, arguing she did not resemble the original “skin as white as snow” description. Others took issue with her political posts, like when she used a fan appreciation moment to voice support for Palestine. On the opposite side, Gal Gadot faced criticism for supporting Israel, making their promotional tour feel like a walking contradiction. In many ways, the controversy around the film overshadowed the film itself.
Ultimately, “Snow White” fails to rise above its own noise. Instead of delivering a timeless update or a fresh take, it lands somewhere murky, with storytelling that doesn’t commit and a cast caught in the crossfire of real-world conflict. In the end, this remake doesn’t quite measure up to its legacy. Overall, I would give the new “Snow White” remake 3 out of 5 Falcons.
