Mirror, Mirror (DVD)

There have been 2 movies about the girl who has trouble with red apples out in 2012 and this one couldn't be more different from Snow White and the Huntsman.

Firstly, the colour of Snow White and the Huntsman is all grubby and muddy browns with dirt under every fingernail and people going for weeks without getting the shampoo and conditioner out. Mirror Mirror on the other hand is bursting with colour and sumptuous costumes and sets. It is also considerably lighter in tone than the Huntsman film (wouldn't be hard) but it still plays the story fairly straight and doesn't send the fairy tale up too much. By the way it's not the exact Brothers Grimm or Walt Disney Snow White stories that are being told in this film. It shares some of the same elements as these other 2 sources but puts an original twist on them. Most notably in the parts where a kiss is used to revive a loved one and in the apple scene right at the end.

Mirror Mirror has the very gorgeous Lily Collins (daughter of Phil) as Snow White and she makes a very appealing, engaging, resourceful and intelligent heroine. A modern heroine then but one that never loses her femininity or charm. Or at least not until the end when she shows that she could be a biyatch of a Queen herself. Revenge is sweet!! Overall her character is definitely a lot more fun and appealing than K-Stew's.

Snow White is ably supported by the 7 dwarves (real dwarves here as opposed to Snow White and the Huntsman's cgi ing of normal sized actors on to small bodies) who all have distinct characters and who are very funny and wonderfully loyal sidekicks. Incidentally the dwarves in this movie don't innocently work down a mine like the Walt Disney film but instead have been forced to become thieves because the Evil Queen has banished them as ugly undesirables. But nonetheless they have hearts of gold and their heart warming but not too sentimental interaction with Snow White forms a major part of the success of the movie. In Mirror Mirror the dwarves get a lot of screen time too - much more than the "dwarves" in Huntsman do. In Huntsman the dwarves are seriously underwritten characters but in Mirror Mirror they are bursting with energy, vividness and character and I would love to see another film with them in it.

Armie Hammer who I had never heard of before, but who I now learn will be playing the Lone Ranger in the upcoming Johnny Depp film, plays the square jawed handsome hero to perfection. He also has a good way with comedy too. There's several scenes which involve him losing his clothes (steady ladies) which he gets a good few smiles and laughs out of. And the puppy love scene has to be seen to be believed!

Julia Roberts is as reliably brilliant as ever as the Evil Queen and she is ably supported by that old trouper Nathan Lane. I haven't seen him in anything in years but he is largely unchanged and as good for a chuckle or two as always.

There are some quite vivid images in the film - the concertina bouncing effect of the dwarves, and the Evil Queen's attack on the dwarves home via some sinister marionettes - but there is nothing in it that would disturb any but the most sensitive children.

There's quite a bit of Black Magic going on and I don't mean the chocolates. But I don't want to say any more on that score as it would give the game away.

I think Mirror Mirror is the perfect Xmas movie - lots of snow in it, lots of humour, a lot of action, sorcery, some very engaging supporting characters and 2 beautiful leads. Critics hated the movie probably because it is a bit too surface without all the soul searching depth and post modern analysis that films are supposed to bring to fairy tales these days, but it isn't trying to be these things and what it does do - tell the story with heart, humour, action and fun - it does very very well. Oh and there's a cool Bollywood inspired dance at the end as peace and happiness and fun returns to the stricken kingdom.

Get yourself a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine and stick it on for the kids one rainy day. You won't be disappointed.

Although not exactly a masterpiece, this film is a very pleasant, very amusing and very nice moment of cinema. It doesn't pretend to have other ambitions than to give us a merry good laugh - but in this mission it succeeds very nicely.

This is a very unorthodox retelling of the Snow White fairy tale, but the principal characters are all there.

The Evil Queen (Julia Roberts) is probably the main attraction in this show. She was "modernized" (she is in fact a gold digger exhausting financial resources of successive husbands) and "upgraded" (she can do REALLY BAD magic - it is not just disguise and poison). Her Magic Mirror is also much more powerful than earlier versions. Julia Roberts clearly had lots of fun playing this character and she is simply excellent! She is also very atractive in this film - frankly, I think even more attractive than Snow White... And the scene in which she takes care her of her body, face, skin, lips, hair etc. to better ensnare the Prince Charming is worth an Oscar!

Snow White (Lilly Collins) is of course also more "modern" than the one in Disney classical movie, but she is definitely not a modern teenager. She is brave, clever, funny and has much more ambition than just being rescued by the Prince Charming, but she is also a true lady: she is always impeccably dressed, never raises her voice, never curses, is always polite (even to the enemies) and although she can swordfight if necessary, she has also all the charm (and timidity) of a very young girl who was never allowed much out of her house... Last but not least, she is clearly a real future queen material - because with all her charm, manners and timidity she can also be ruthless, when necessary...

The Prince Charming (Armie Hammer) is a handsome young man, a little bit arrogant and conceited in the beginning, but also courageous, clever, resourceful and ultimately rather likeable. He can also quite well spank young ladies with his sword...)))

The Seven Dwarves are a very special bunch and I will not say much more about them, to avoid spoilers. But they certainly give a great show! After the end, just before the credits we learn what happened to them later - do NOT miss that part!

This film has a lot of easy and pleasant humour, with the results of magic used by the Evil Queen (magic is always a little unpredictable) and her comments on the developing story being the best moments. A good advice - never get changed into a cockroach. And if it happens, beware of grasshoppers...))) Also, before serving somebody a magic elixir, check well the notice...

Towards the end of the film Sean Bean drops by just in time to conclude the film and give away Snow White in marriage and he is a very impressive presence. And no, just for once, his character doesn't get killed in this one...)))

All in all, this is a very amusing, nice little film, watchable by all family, with two very beautiful women, one very handsome young man and seven very amusing unusually short freedom fighters! Enjoy!

Mirror Mirror is one of the best films I have seen this year!
The cast was perfect for the film; the dialogue was witty and the locations were beautifully rendered. Five stars from me and my family. Perfect for all ages.