UhVyn

*Spoilers Ahead!* 

Despite all the critics’ opinions, I feel like this is the best iteration of Snow White so far. If I were given the option to watch this version or the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), I’d choose this one every time. The classic version is, in fact, outdated. It’s dull in comparison to this fresh spin on it. In terms of live-action remakes, this is one of the best that Disney has given us in recent years.

It seems easier to appreciate new live-action adaptations when they update films that are nearly 100 years old. Their existence feels more justified when there are fewer people alive to relive the original film’s debut yet again. That way, nostalgia doesn’t play as big a factor in your enjoyment of the film.

Snow White – Played by Rachel Zegler

Let’s face it: the old Snow White is two-dimensional and bland as far as Disney princesses go. Rachel Zegler brings more life to the character than anyone has seen so far. I’m not even the biggest fan of her as an actress, but she portrayed this role very well. Not to mention, she has a great singing voice, which is why she keeps landing musical roles. Her scenes were all enjoyable, and her focus on a love interest took a slight backseat to the overall plot. Every interaction between Snow White and the dwarves was a delight as well.

The Evil Queen – Played by Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot is notoriously known for her shallow portrayals of most of her characters, with few exceptions. Her best role by far is Wonder Woman, and unfortunately, her portrayal of the Evil Queen follows her usual acting trends. There are some cringeworthy moments, and her solo song is just the worst.

That being said, she does effectively capture the Evil Queen’s obsession with vanity. Her scenes with the magic mirror are interesting to watch, and her costumes—featuring a variety of colors and jewels—are eye-catching. However, her monologues filled with jewel-related analogies are incredibly basic and boring.

The Seven Dwarves

These guys were the most interesting characters in the whole film. It’s always exciting to see how Disney expands on their story and personalities. Their songs were choreographed and performed perfectly. I especially loved the side story about Dopey being mute, choosing not to speak until he feels something is truly worth saying.

Notably, each dwarf undergoes character development that really shows by the end of the film, especially Grumpy. However, during the climax, there’s a strange moment when the dwarves sneak into the castle to help—but then just stand there and do nothing. I expected their mining expertise to play a role in aiding Snow White, but instead, they remained idle.

Visually, the CGI used for the dwarves is well done and avoids the uncanny valley effect I feared. The finished product is definitely better than Disney’s original plan to have them portrayed by full-sized actors instead of little people. That was a huge controversy on its own but I am happy Disney chose to  portray them in this way.

Conclusion

I stand by my opinion that this is one of the best Disney live-action adaptations so far. These retellings are hard to nail, but Disney has succeeded with a few—looking at you, The Jungle Book (2016) and Peter Pan & Wendy (2023). I’m happy to have this new Snow White because the old one is nearly 100 years old, outdated, and, frankly, boring. This film breathes new life into a classic, and I hope to see more live-action adaptations of this caliber for older Disney films that truly need updating.

Our next remake is Lilo & Stitch, and I have a really low bar for that one since it’s such a recent film to retell. But I still have hopes that it could be great. Stay tuned for that review in a few months!