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Mirror Mirror: The Untold Adventures of Snow White (2012)

Director: Tarsem Singh

Time Out rating

Average user rating

11 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Once upon a time, kids’ films relished putting the frighteners on the little darlings. But like conkers, scaring children seems to have fallen foul of ’elf ’n’ safety touchy-feely-ness. Even the wicked stepmother (Julia Roberts) in this visually stunning live action ‘Snow White’ is not so much evil incarnate as a Bitch with a capital B. A cougar, she’s got her claws set on Snow White’s Prince Charming (Armie Hammer). ‘He’s rich and built like an ox,’ she sighs lustily. Plenty seem to be taking kindly to ‘Mirror Mirror’ as a fresh and funny film that works for parents and kids, but for me, its knowing sarcasm felt like more of the same lazy humour that passes for funny in so many PG films.

Snow (she’s dropped the White) is a princess in the revisionist mould – not a simperer but a swashbuckler. She’s sent into the forest with a blundering lackey, not a huntsman, after complaining about the lot of the peasants. Lily (daughter of Phil) Collins is pleasant in the role, but it’s Roberts who’s the star, camping it up outrageously in dazzling costumes. ‘Mirror Mirror’ is as gaudily spectacular as you expect if you’ve seen director Tarsem Singh’s films, ‘The Fall’ and ‘Immortals’.

As for the dwarves, they’ve fallen into bad habits since Disney. Dressed like ninjas, they’re bandits, tricking victims into believing they’re giants with extendable legs. The swords and thievery have clearly been added to lure boys into the cinema. Judging by the dad I spotted patting his son on the shoulder (‘Next time we’ll see a boys’ film’), I’m not sure it worked.

Author: Cath Clarke

Time Out London Issue 2172: April 5-11, 2012

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User reviews of this film

Carla Volante said...

Posted on May 09 2012 22:34 I have to say my mother and I thoroughly enjoyed this film. As for the negative comments from others, I am not at all sure why anyone would find this film anything other than immensely entertaining. It really was captivating on many levels. I will look forward to seeing it again at some point. As for Ian's comments, I rather think you saw a different film from us. I reckon this film is not for killjoys like you.

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Apr 30 2012 16:39 Pleasing enough, if a little cheapo looking in places (though I'm sure it wasn't) The credits are a toe curling joy so don't miss those. On word - fun. 6+/10

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JayneM said...

Posted on Apr 14 2012 17:53 I found this a very enjoyable watch, a good all rounder for the family. I enjoyed Julia Roberts as the wicked whitch!

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At_Miles said...

Posted on Apr 13 2012 08:21 @"Miles". Are you on drugs, as you ramble? I'm not sure it was wise to correct someone else on their review when your own is a mess - incoherent, lacking in structure, and without punctuation.

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miles said...

Posted on Apr 12 2012 03:41 julia is pathetic -and archgate i hope you mean '''enunciation ''lolz .maybe the 7 dwarves ate it like they should have julia too

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miles said...

Posted on Apr 12 2012 03:37 worsy movie of the year -

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Sam said...

Posted on Apr 09 2012 20:08 The Time Out film front page précis says it all - 'visually stunning' it certainly is - the sets and CGI are excellent. The humour's good too. Judging by the packed cinema at Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue last night this is a very, very popular film. Literally no seats as the lights went down.

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ARCHGATE said...

Posted on Apr 06 2012 20:44 Julia Roberts is very good in this enjoyable yarn. Her unciation cracked me up. She crunches her vowels in spectacular fashion. The bird and the geezer who star are also pretty good. One of the dwarves is a bit pervy . but that may be understandable given his challenges in life .. but he was probably harmless. Enjoy it.

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Violet said...

Posted on Apr 06 2012 17:21 A good film for both adults and children. Though far from true to the original tale, this is a good 21st century take on it. I went to see it late afternoon and saw/heard plenty of adults and children chuckling away. The humour's dry enough for adult, with a number of very very subtle sexual innuendos kids would never twig. Great entertainment for the Easter break.
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@"Ian": Are you sure about your ability to write a simple review? That's a 55 word sentence you've got there mid-way, with no less than 4 "and"s, and no punctuation. PS What are "dwares"?

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Ian said...

Posted on Apr 06 2012 11:33 I am not sure what film Mike saw but my recollections of it are slightly different to his.
It starts well and Roberts is very good. After five minutes I thought perhaps we have another Princess Bride here with a genuinely funny and tongue in cheek fairy tale.
Sadly it goes downhill from there. Collins ia a pleasant enough Snow White yet she never totally convinces. Pretty as she is there is someting missing from her performance and Hammer whilst he looks the part struggles to act his way out of a paper bag let alone strike you as a leading man.
The dwares are both annoying and irritating and the films middle where Snow White finds her inner girl power and the really not very endearing dwarves and her bond over fight lessons strikes me as an added thought from a focus group to tick a demographic box rather than being in the film on merit.
Towards the end I was genuinely wishing it was all over.
Sean Bean seems somewhat embarassed and his scenes at the end don't really work.
Also the awfully cliched yet lets add it for no apparent reason "Bollywood" dance finale left me wanting to throw stuff at the screen.
Two stars for me. It must really make more of an effort.
If you have kids and are at a loose end go see the Pirates instead.

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Mike said...

Posted on Apr 04 2012 07:16 Cath Clarke’s Time Out review is very accurate. Over the years, Disney (and now Pixar) have turned out some very wholesome children’s movies. However, this isn’t from Disney, so “wholesome” it ain’t. Julia Roberts plays the wicked queen with such enthusiasm you’d think she’d been waiting her whole career for the role:- vain, manipulative, terrible with money, fixated with clothes, bitchy, obsessed with men, sarcastic, down-on-her-luck, and so desperately seeking husband number five.
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There are some great lines in this movie – too many to remember them all, though two of my favourites have to be the wicked queen’s “mirror mirror” reflection talking back to Roberts and telling her “I’m just like you, but with less wrinkles.”, or Roberts (to herself) on meeting Armie Hammer (the handsome prince) “Hmmmmm…. handsome and smart – how confusing.”
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This is a good movie for both adults and children. Clearly the adult humour’s dry, and finely tuned, yet there’s enough slapstick for children to enjoy – or at least those in the showing I went to were chuckling throughout.
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The casting’s excellent. Lilly Collins is a very convincing Snow White, Armie Hammer is excellent as the prince, and – not to be forgotten – Nathan Lane is superb as Brighton, the wicked queen’s butler.
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So though a far cry from her Oscar winning performance as Erin Brokovitch, Julia Roberts plays the wicked queen with such enthusiasm, she’s a pleasure to watch from start to finish. A worthy three stars (and one I’ll probably see again just to catch more of those oneliners).

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