Snow White and the Huntsman, the trailer analysis

A few days ago we published the first teaser trailer of Snow White and the Huntsman, the Universal Pictures blockbuster directed by Rupert Sanders that will come out in theaters in June 2012 (you can see it again here).

The clip has surprised everyone as we have finally been able to see what the style of the film is going to be, half way between Alice in Wonderland and The Lord of the Rings! Excellent visual effects, and a spectacular character in the Evil Queen played by Charlize Theron, who on the web has attracted the greatest number of positive ratings.

Let’s try to analyze the trailer in detail, revealing details and  curiosities about the project. Let’s start with the music, which in many occasions can determine the success or failure of a trailer.

[UPDATE 12/11/11, h 22.02] Methodic Doubt, which recently have also created the theme for the trailer of X-Men: First Class, Source Code, Transformers 3, informed us that their song called Hero’s Blood is NOT used in the trailer. Not the original, nor an adapted version. Initially it seemed that the song has been modified and adapted, because the rhythm and melody are similar for us, but it is not. We apologize for the mistake.]

The theme music is particularly convincing, but it now seems that the trailers of major blockbusters all have a similar soundtrack. Personally, it reminds me a lot of the theme created by Zack Hemsey for the trailer of Inception (many people think it was made by Hans Zimmer, but it wasn’t), so that in the end you can almost sing the same melody over it. All this is further mixed with some themes created by Duft Punk for Tron: Legacy.

Let us now start a detailed analysis of some frames of the trailer. Here’s a look at the Queen’s castle viewed from above (click on images to enlarge). In the trailer there are a total of three images of castles, which may in fact be only two, such is the similarity of some details.

The Queen has an army of soldiers, who look like mass-produced mechanical robots. There is a war going on, and another army, consisting in this case of soldiers in the flesh, seems to fight against the sovereign. It looks like the soldiers belong to different fiefdoms, since their banners don’t belong to just one kingdom: they have probably gathered against the evil Queen.

In the next scene a real soldier pierces one of the “clones” and the latter dissolves into a thousand pieces like a robot, without bloodshed. Sure, it’s a PG13 movie and this is also an excuse not to show blood (as in Sucker Punch and Tron: Legacy), but it also reveals the true nature of the soldiers of the Queen.

Meanwhile, the Queen is saying these words: “Do you hear that? It’s the sound of battles fought and lives lost. It once pained me to know that I’m the cause of such despair. But no, their cries have given me strength. Beauty is my power.”

The beauty is her power, and she shows it in the next scene. The Queen raises a young girl with a hand and seems to steal her beauty and energy, gaining her strenght and power.

It also seems to need some kind of magical treatment with a milky white liquid, a kind of energy mask that returns beauty and power to her in each “session”. The price to pay is certainly high, and it is no coincidence that the Queen is hated and feared by everyone.

Although it is a particular adaptation of the Snow White fairytale, the mirror is present and seems to have a significant role. Its realization is very original: it is not made with silver but with liquid gold.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the fairest of them all?“, is the sentence, pronounced respecting the tradition perfectly.

The golden mirror comes alive and takes form and life. There is not a face appearing in the mirror like in the Disney cartoon or other adaptations: the Mirror is an entity that is real and tangible and talk face to face with the Queen.

“You are the fairest but there is another destined to surpass you. Consume her heart and you shall live forever. ” advises the Mirror. Obviously, it is talking about Snow White, aka Kristen Stewart.

Then we are shown images of Snow White in different clothes and settings. The costumes –  both of the girl and the Queen – are truly magnificent.

“Find me someone who does not fear the dark forest to hunt her down.” says the Queen, and they bring before her the Huntsman, played by Chris Hemsworth (Thor). I remember that initially the role was given to Hugh Jackman and then to Viggo Mortensen, but both have renounced.

“Why is she of such value?”” asks the naive Huntsman. She answers, “That is not of your concern.” and threatens to kill him if he were to refuse to perform the task.

The Huntsman goes in search of the girl with his aides. They are the famous Dwarves of the fairytale, but at this point there seems to be a mystery …

In fact, counting the heads of the Dwarves, which appear in only two short sequences (in particular in the frame below), it seems that they are not seven, but eight! I remember that in mid-July we announced the entry into the cast of the actor Nick Frost (here is the post), and it was unclear if he was chosen to play the eighth dwarf in addition to the classic seven in the tale, or to replace a previously selected actor.

The hype around the film is increased dramatically since yesterday, and we look forward for new materials to come out. What do you think of the project? What do you like of the trailer, and what don’t you like?

I remind you that Snow White and the Huntsman will be released on June 1, 2012. For more information you can see our News from the Blog, click on the Like button below or go to our Facebook page.

HERE you can find the Italian version of this article.