LOVE COMES TO THE FOREST FOLK… AND TO YOU, IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST LOVE STORIES! I had forgotten about Bambi a little bit. I did see this movie many years ago, thought it was very good, and that was it. When I bought it on Blu-ray and saw it again now, I was … Continue reading Bambi: Life of a Prince
BE OUR GUEST. When her father (Kevin Kline) is taken prisoner by a beast (Dan Stevens) inside a huge, wintry castle, Belle (Emma Watson) offers herself in exchange for his freedom. Another live-action remake of an animated Disney classic. This one can’t escape a certain sense of pointlessness considering how close it stays to the … Continue reading Beauty and the Beast
THERE MAY NEVER BE ANOTHER DAWN. The Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) orders goblins to kill two unicorns and steal their horns; he will use them to free himself from his isolation. Ridley Scott’s attempt to make a fairy tale in the dark, fantastical style of the Brothers Grimm has the same problem as his … Continue reading Legend
This continuation of Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) is both a prequel and a sequel, as we get to see how Eric (Chris Hemsworth) was raised into a fighter by Queen Ravenna’s (Charlize Theron) icy sister (Emily Blunt), only to fall out of favor. Later, after Ravenna’s demise, Eric becomes involved in a search … Continue reading The Huntsman: Winter’s War
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. Chicago and Nine director Rob Marshall is the right person to bring this complex Broadway musical to the big screen. Assembling a variety of famous characters from Grimm Brothers fairy tales, the story sends them into the forbidding woods and explores what drives their actions. A few changes from … Continue reading Into the Woods
This adaptation of the old fairy tale was made by Disney and is heavily inspired by their 1950 animated version. The story of the orphaned girl (Lily James) who is mistreated by her wicked stepmother (Cate Blanchett), but gets a magical shot at wooing Prince Charming is girlishly romantic and fun for kids. Handsomely mounted, … Continue reading Cinderella
ONE BAD APPLE. When Snow White (Lily Collins) turns 18, her stepmother, the evil Queen (Julia Roberts), tries to have her killed, but she escapes and is taken in by seven dwarves in the forest… This 3D take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, which came the same year as Snow White and the Huntsman, … Continue reading Mirror Mirror
EVIL HAS A BEGINNING. After being betrayed and violated by a boy who wants to be king, a fairy (Angelina Jolie) gets her revenge years later by cursing his newborn daughter. A dark interpretation of the “Sleeping Beauty” fairy tale that turns the tables and humanizes the wicked Maleficent. As in Snow White and the … Continue reading Maleficent
Since Princess Elsa’s ability to create ice and snow is dangerously hard to control, she and her sister Anna are kept apart for safety reasons; years later, Elsa’s coronation ends in disaster… Once again, Disney heads back to a trusted well for another animated fairy tale and tweaks Hans Christian Andersen until he fits the … Continue reading Frozen
CHANGE YOUR FATE. The Scottish princess Merida refuses to be married off; after an argument with her mother, she runs away and comes across a witch in the forest who offers her what looks like a simple solution to her problem… In spite of a few issues (such as the first director, Brenda Chapman, leaving … Continue reading Brave
REVENGE IS SWEETER THAN CANDY. Ever since killing their first witch as children, siblings Hansel and Gretel (Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton) have been working as professional witch hunters; now, they’re facing a very powerful coven… Dead Snow (2009) director Tommy Wirkola’s first international feature presents a new twist on the old Brothers Grimm tale, complete with … Continue reading Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
THEY’RE TAKING ADVENTURE TO NEW LENGTHS. For her 18th birthday, Rapunzel wants to leave the isolated tower where she was raised for the first time… but she doesn’t realize that the reason why she’s there is because she’s actually a kidnapped princess. One of Disney’s most expensive animated films may be in 3D, but will … Continue reading Tangled
When Astrid Lindgren’s dark fairy tale was first published in 1973, it’s been said that Ingmar Bergman expressed a desire to film it. Who better to turn themes of life, death and sorrow into unforgettable images? However, in the end Olle Hellbom accepted the challenge after having made 15 previous Lindgren adaptations. It became his … Continue reading The Brothers Lionheart: Battle for Purgatory
