SNOW WHITE Comes to Digital

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Digital this week and coming to Bluray from director Marc Webb and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the live-action story of SNOW WHITE.

Snow White (Rachel Zegler) is a young girl who has spent years at the hands of her evil step-mother the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). One day while scrubbing her usual floor, she hears a noise coming from the kitchen and meets Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) who happens to be stealing potatoes. Letting him go, the castle is alerted and the next time she sees him, Jonathan is in the presence of the queen.

Realizing that the people outside the palace need help, Snow White decides to have a talk with the Queen. After that doesn’t go well, the Queen has a nice little chat with her Magic Mirror (Patrick Page) who lets her know that her “fairest of them all” status is in serious jeopardy. Deciding to fix that immediately, she orders the Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) to take Snow White out into the forest, kill her and bring back proof in a box.

Making his choice, Snow White runs away and finds herself in the house of the Seven Dwarfs. Some are not happy about her presence and other want to help her all they can but she believes that looking for her father is best. Making her way through the forest, she meets Jonathan once again and his band of followers but their meeting is cut short as palace guards are looking for her.

The Queen decides to take matters into her own hands with an apple but Snow White and her new friends aren’t about to take it lying down!

Zegler as Snow White offers up her take on the 1937 classic animated film. She is outspoken and has no issue with make dwarfs clean their own house. She vamps up the film with song and taking on a Queen so she has that going for her. Burnap as Jonathan is a bit of a cross between Kristoff (FROZEN) and Ken (BARBIE). He starts out as a thief with his own goals and finds himself entranced by a girl and her dwarves. Kabia as the Huntsman is a good man being asked to do a bad thing. Page as the voice of the Magic Mirror is so cool with his deep voice and only one answer to the same question.

Gadot as the Evil Queen made me laugh. Her wickedness is on point and Gadot may not be a singer but she took control and it was hilarious. It reminded me of Melissa McCarthy playing Ursula in another meh live-action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Gadot looks like she is having a blast and doesn’t care one flick of her pointy nails what anyone thinks and I’m all for it.

As for the Seven Dwarfs, it seemed only three got the top roles and that’s Doc, Grumpy and Dopey. They are the three that fall into Snow Whites charm and find that they want to protect her from anyone who has other ideas. Dopey is a cutie and I don’t think anyone would dispute that.

Other cast includes Hadley Fraser as the King, Lorena Andrea as the Queen, George Appleby as Quigg, Colin Carmichael as Farno, Samuel Baxter as Scythe, Idriss Kargbo as Bingley, Jaih Betote as Norwich, Dujonna Figt as Maple and Jimmy Johnston as Finch.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

Bonus Features include Sing Along with the Movie: Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with onscreen lyrics, Deleted Scenes: Anguish and Opportunity, Danger in the Woods and Hunt for Snow White, Fearless, Fair, Brave, and True: Making Snow White – Take a look behind the scenes with director Marc Webb, cast and crew as they share their vision for this live-action reimagining of Snow White, highlighting how they honor the legacy of the original story, including the characters, set design and more.

Also, Merry Tunes – Go behind the songs with filmmakers and songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Hear about their new songs and how they beautifully intertwine with the classics, Fairy Tale Fashion – Get an in-depth look at the fashion and costuming for the film, featuring legendary costume designer Sandy Powell. Along with filmmakers and cast, Sandy provides insight into how she brought iconic looks to life for Snow White, the Evil Queen and more and Bloopers – Discover all the fun and laugh along with the cast as they have the time of their lives making Snow White.

The Seven Dwarfs voices include Jeremy Swift as Doc, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, Andrew Feldman as Dopey, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Jason Kravits as Sneezy, George Salazar as Happy and Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy.

SNOW WHITE is very colorful and there are new songs for the kids to learn but, let’s be honest here, everyone has to “hiiiiiiii hoooooooooo” right? The dwarves have always had a place in people’s hearts, yes even Grumpy, and those two words have been synonymous with all seven of them. I’ll say it again that Gadot just looks like she is having so much fun being bad that I almost forgot how evil she is supposed to be but, she quickly reminds us all that she is a Queen and a force for not good.

Having the film on Digital now allows those who didn’t see the film in theatres to have their opportunity to enjoy at home. It’s a chance to sing, dance and see what Disney has done to bring audiences together because everyone in the family can make it a night of fun and adventure. All the extras make it fun as well because nothing beats a bunch of bloopers at the end of a film.

In the end – the fairest of them all?

SNOW WHITE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Marc Webb and Walt Disney Studios is the live-action story of SNOW WHITE.

Snow White (Rachel Zegler) is a young girl who has spent years at the hands of her evil step-mother the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot). One day while scrubbing her usual floor, she hears a noise coming from the kitchen and meets Jonathan (Andrew Burnap) who happens to be stealing potatoes. Letting him go, the castle is alerted and the next time she sees him, Jonathan is in the presence of the queen.

Realizing that the people outside the palace need help, Snow White decides to have a talk with the Queen. After that doesn’t go well, the Queen has a nice little chat with her Magic Mirror (Patrick Page) who lets her know that her “fairest of them all” status is in serious jeopardy. Deciding to fix that immediately, she orders the Huntsman (Ansu Kabia) to take Snow White out into the forest, kill her and bring back proof in a box.

Making his choice, Snow White runs away and finds herself in the house of the Seven Dwarfs. Some are not happy about her presence and other want to help her all they can but she believes that looking for her father is best. Making her way through the forest, she meets Jonathan once again and his band of followers but their meeting is cut short as palace guards are looking for her.

The Queen decides to take matters into her own hands with an apple but Snow White and her new friends aren’t about to take it lying down!

Zegler as Snow White is causing a lot of controversy but I’m betting her portrayal of this iconic princess is not going to please the larger population. For me, there is nothing that says Snow White in her portrayal and I don’t have a problem saying so. I mean you can put her in a yellow and blue dress but it doesn’t make one a Disney princess. She sings and I hear it – just not buying it. She once commented that the original 1937 SNOW WHITE was “weird” and all I can say is that the 2025 film is exactly that – weird.  

Burnap as Jonathan is a bit of a cross between Kristoff (FROZEN) and Ken (BARBIE). If you are looking for a prince, you won’t find him here. Instead, writer Erin Wilson decided to go in the opposite direction and completely remove the crown. There wasn’t enough substance in his storyline for me to find this character interesting. Kabia as the Huntsman is a good man being asked to do a bad thing. Page as the voice of the Magic Mirror is so cool with his deep voice and only one answer to the same question.

I know I’m going to get some flack here but Gadot as the Evil Queen made me laugh. Her wickedness is on point and Gadot may not be a singer but she took control and it was hilarious. It reminded me of Melissa McCarthy playing Ursula in another meh live-action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Gadot looks like she is having a blast and doesn’t care one flick of her pointy nails what anyone thinks and I’m all for it.

As for the Seven Dwarfs, it seemed only three got the top roles and that’s Doc, Grumpy and Dopey. Was I impressed with the special effects? Not in the slightest.

Other cast includes Hadley Fraser as the King, Lorena Andrea as the Queen, George Appleby as Quigg, Colin Carmichael as Farno, Samuel Baxter as Scythe, Idriss Kargbo as Bingley, Jaih Betote as Norwich, Dujonna Figt as Maple and Jimmy Johnston as Finch.

The Seven Dwarfs voices include Jeremy Swift as Doc, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, Andrew Feldman as Dopey, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Jason Kravits as Sneezy, George Salazar as Happy and Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy.

Buckle up because this is my opinion of the film – ghastly. In their attempt to be “modern”, Disney has allowed the destruction of an iconic animated story that was always meant to entertain and delight. It isn’t the first time that Disney has done it and, sadly, it won’t be the last which makes me once again believe in a 75-year moratorium on remakes, reimaging’s – blah, blah, blah so that those of us who treasure these films can die off happy.

First, if they wanted to modernize Snow White then why not have her recognizing the abuse and gaslighting of the Evil Queen and get away to start a new life. No, they have her scrubbing floors still (and the same floor if you watch carefully). Having Snow White break free would have been more entertaining. Nope, instead, she ends up at the house of seven guys and within minutes she talks them into cleaning their house? Yeah, let’s talk reality of that here for a minute, shall we?

Second, the writer has traded a prince for a criminal because, apparently, all good girls like bad boys. I mean that’s the message it is sending. Why can’t there be a prince (and no the original prince didn’t stalk Snow White Ms. Zegler)? Nope, we get a thief who creeps around the forest with his buddies stealing. He meets Snow and suddenly he wants to be a good guy because she makes him see the error of his ways? Good gawd please stop – I’ll take a “stalking” prince any day.

Next, the songs sound so familiar, I mean oddly familiar. While waiting for the film to start, the theatre piped in songs from the film and I actually heard one song that sounded like it was from MOANA. The only song I just loved was Gadot’s staircase stage production because she made it fun to watch and it did make people laugh.

Finally, I took my 10-year-old granddaughter to see the film and within 10 minutes she leaned over to me and said, “Naynay, I’m disappointed and bored”. Keeping my own feelings inside I replied, “well, lets wait for the dwarfs, they should be fun.” Okay, so I had hope for the disillusioned kid who waiting so long to see the film and wanted so much more. After the film was over, we spoke about it and her list of reasons for not caring for it were longer than my own. Her biggest disappointment was in the change of Dopey, she said she will “never, ever” accept that change.

All of this being said, I do feel that this ‘version’ of SNOW WHITE is for the kids young enough not to know that sometimes adults need to be told no!  Because kids, just because you can do a thing doesn’t mean the rest of us think you should.

In the end – the fairest of them all?

 

 

 

 

The Mystery is DEATH ON THE NILE

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital from director Kenneth Branagh and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is the journey of a lifetime for some and a mystery for others with DEATH ON THE NILE.

Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is living in 1937 London and at a club he meets friends Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo) and Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey). Jackie is thrilled when friend Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot) enters the room and excited to tell her that she has found the man she is to marry in Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer).

Weeks later in Egypt, Poirot runs into friend Bouc (Tom Bateman) and his mother Euphemia (Annette Bening) and is invited to join them at a wedding. He is surprised to see it is Linnet and Simon! Among the guests as well are Linnet’s maid Louise (Rose Leslie), Salome and Rosalie (Letitia Wright), Marie Van Schuyler (Jennifer Saunders) with nurse Mrs. Bowers (Dawn French), cousin Andrew Katchadourian (Ali Fazal) and Doctor Linus Windlesham (Russell Brand).

An uninvited guest appears sending the newly married couple into a frenzy – it is the jilted Jackie. Looking to find a way to get away from Jackie, Linnet takes the whole wedding group on board the S.S. Karnak and try to sail as far away from her as possible. On their way, they top to Abu Simbel and stories begin to unfold. Bouc is in love with one of the passengers, Poirot is very interested in Salome and by the time they all return to the boat after an excursion, Jackie is on board the boat.

Informing Poirot that they have decided to leave the boat, Linnet and Simon attempt to ignore Jackie. That is until Simon loses his temper, but it is Jackie that fires the shot. Wounding him the boat is now in chaos, but the next morning brings even more chaos as a death and a missing necklace on the Nile puts Poirot’s detective skills into high gear.

Keeping everyone on the boat, Poirot goes person by person to see what else he can uncover about the truths everyone seems eager to hide from him. Clearly, they have never met anyone like Hercules Poirot!

Branagh as Poirot spend most of the beginning of the film watching – people, events, body language and the way they all speak to one another. Once the chaos on the Nile begins to happen, he finds his voice and does not hesitate to speak his mind or ask the tough questions. I have always been a Branagh fan as he continues to act and create (watch BELFAST) such interesting characters and stories. Well done.

Gadot as Linnet knows she has hurt her friend by marrying her man, but it is also maddening that Jackie continues to stalk her. She gives us a beautiful woman who is living in fear until fear catches up with her. Hammer as Simon tosses Jackie pretty quickly when he meets the beautiful Linnet. Hammer gives us a charming and dapper character who has secrets of his own.

Mackey as Jackie is giving us full on psycho crazy lady but with beautiful clothes and a belief that Simon is still in love with her – but is he? Okonedo as Salome is a mysterious woman who does not hold back her feelings or how she sees things. Wright as Rosalie is equally free with her thoughts, especially when it comes to her love Bouc. As Rosalie, Wright is lovely and fiery.

Bateman as Bouc is thrilled to see his old friend in Egypt and he wants to be with his lady so much, even if his mother does not approve. Bateman gives us the romance of love, until it stops. Bening as Euphemia has a bit of bite in her attitude making it clear that everything is not as smooth as the paint on her brushes.

Brand as Dr. Linus has a chance to not only change his appearance but play a serious role. He knows the stories of the passengers and sees the worse of them all. Leslie as Louise once again puts on a servant’s apron, but it is so good to see her.

Fazal, French and Saunders offer up an opportunity to have Poirot discover their secrets as well and it is up to him to decide if they are guilty.

Other cast include Rick Warden as Monsieur Blodin, Adam Garcia as Syd, Susannah Fielding as Katherine, Orlando Seale as Captain Rens, Charlie Anson as Sgt. Verhaeren, and Michael Rouse as Private Laurin.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

The Special Features include Death on the Nile: Novel to Film, Agatha Christie: Travel Can Be Murder, Design of the Nile, Branagh Poirot and Deleted Scenes.

DEATH ON THE NILE is a who-done-it one moment of chaos after another. Surrounded by the beauty of the Nile, it takes Poirot to pour water over the mystery to make clear what has happened to those on the ship.

The film is more than one mystery but instead an unraveling of things people want to hid, their feelings which they refuse to admit and knowing that money really is the root of their evil.

In the end – murder was just the beginning!

JUSTICE LEAGUE

Jeri Jacquin

In theatres Thursday from director Zack Snyder, DC Comics and Warner Bros. is the next superhero grouping that can only be called JUSTICE LEAGUE.

The world is still mourning the death of Superman/Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) and Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aka Batman knows there is something coming. Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) aka Wonder Woman knows it too when an ancient fire is lit that her people know she will recognize as a warning.

Coming is Steppenwolf (voiced by Ciaran Hinds) who is looking for the three separated boxes that once put together create the ultimate power of destruction. Knowing that Batman and Wonder Woman can not do it by themselves, the enlist the help of a begrudging Arthur Curry aka Aquaman (Jason Momoa), the eager to learn Barry Allen aka Flash (Ezra Miller) and cyborg created Victor Stone (Ray Fisher).

The first box Steppenwolf took from the Amazons and the second was taken from Aquaman’s people. That left the third box which was given to humans to guard and the hunt is on.

It soon becomes clear that the group is going to have to dig deeper than they could have ever imagined as Steppenwolf’s powers become stronger and stronger. So strong that the group decides on an idea that is not only dangerous but could have consequences that add to the destruction of the human race.

The tough decisions are needed when the world looks to the Justice League!

Affleck as Batman is dark in this film in that he obviously feels a deep sense of responsibility for Superman. Knowing that he doesn’t have time to deal with those emotions, he focuses what can happen if Steppenwolf isn’t stopped. He puts on the straight tough face but Affleck has a way of delivering little quips that I enjoyed.

Gadot as Wonder Woman is also dealing with the loss of Superman with now adding the destruction of her people when Steppenwolf takes the first cube. In JUSTICE LEAGUE she finally comes to many realizations about who she is and her protectiveness of the group is strong.

Miller as Flash is a young man who clearly has spent too much time alone. When he meets Batman, it takes a matter of seconds when Flash jumps in wanting to be part of being a superhero. I loved his sense of humor and a bit of innocence he has when realizing that being a superhero means getting in the mix no matter how dangerous.

Fisher as Cyborg is the darkest of the characters as he deals with being rebuilt by his well meaning father Silas (Joe Morton). Even though he started out with these changes, the system he is now attached to continues to grow and so does his knowledge about Steppenwolf. Fisher spends most of his time closed off but with a little help from Arrow, that is a unique new friendship that I enjoyed.

Momoa as Aquaman is clearly the eye candy of the film. Built like you would expect him to be (come on – think Drago from Game of Thrones physique wise and triple that!), he isn’t impressed by Batman or anyone else for that matter. When Steppenwolf comes to his neck of the ocean he has a change of heart and joins the group. His sense of humor comes out here and there and the audience loved it.

Cavill as Superman has made his mark in the DC universe and, like the two iconic actors who played the man of steel prior, will be remembered for this work. Momentarily there is a dark side to Superman that was interesting to see and Cavill can smile those pearly whites with the same evilness as not.

There are also appearances by Amy Adams as Lois Lane who is as straight forward as ever, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, Billy Crudup as Henry Allen, David Thewis as Aries, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, Robin Wright as Antiope, Amber Heard as Mera, and Jeremy Irons as Alfred.  

JUSTICE LEAGUE brings heroes together for a two hour ride. Batman and Wonder Woman lead the pack with the intro of Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg and working together is the best the film has to offer. The downside is there seems to be a weird disconnect in each of the characters storyline that leaves me a little unsure.

It is as if there was more to the story that needed to be told and shown but might have been left on the cutting room floor. I almost felt the need to get out paper and pen with all the questions I had. Of course the film had action and of course each super hero got to show the best of their skills but I am also a story person.

I think those deep in the comic world will have no problem with the film. Look, I get it; there is something amazingly special about seeing comic books come to life so you don’t need a character outline. Of course by doing that you leave the rest of the theatre audience trying to figure out plot points that I think might just be important.

Coming in at two hours, you can also expect DC to throw in a few surprises and it was enough to bring the audience yelling with excitement. JUSTICE LEAGUE is a darker telling coming on the heels of the highly successful THOR Ragnorok so it will be interesting to see which batch of heroes will win the weekend.

In the end – you can’t save the world alone!