Despite negative publicity, the enchanting film "Snow White" aims for a successful conclusion at the movie theater.
Updated Snow White Retelling:
Disney's latest live-action adaptation of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," slated for release this Friday, finds itself in a spiral of hot-button issues, despite positive early reviews and a "visual feast" that could potentially lead it to box office triumph.
The original 1937 film was an unprecedented achievement in animation, cementing Walt Disney's reputation as a trailblazer in the industry. The Hollywood Reporter, prophetically, declared Disney had "carved for himself a permanent niche in the motion picture hall of fame."
This current retelling, however, is no technological marvel, considering it's just one of Disney's numerous live-action remakes. But, with critics lauding star Rachel Zegler and describing this revitalized fairy tale as one of Disney's "best live-action remakes in years," it might just sail past the storm.
Zegler and the titular seven dwarves – Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, and Happy – have been embroiled in cultural controversies throughout the production, providing a welcome respite from the criticism with the film's promising reception.
Zegler faced racist trolling after her casting was announced, questioning her suitability as an actress of Colombian descent to portray a character celebrated for her "skin as white as snow." Responding to the criticism, Zegler remarked, "I just have to shut it all off and think, if I'm not going to read the bad, I'm just not going to read the good either. I'm just going to believe in what I believe in."
Zegler found herself in more hot water due to her political comments, for which she later apologized.
The remake was also criticized by actor Peter Dinklage, who felt the story was a "f***ing backwards" tale with seven dwarves living in a cave, suggesting it should be updated. Disney responded by stating they intended a different approach to sidestep reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film and consulted with the dwarfism community during development.
Lowering the film's title to "Snow White" and using CGI for Snow White's seven companions is Disney's attempt to take a fresh approach while avoiding reinforcing stereotypes. Additionally, the story aims to focus less on Snow White's romantic interests and more on her self-discovery and personal growth. Zegler explained, "It's really not about the love story at all. It's an inner journey she goes on to find her true self and she meets a lot of people along the way that make the journey really incredible."
A Magical Odyssey
While the 1937 film didn't grapple with modern publicity predicaments, Disney himself faced critics who doubted his ability to create an engaging animated feature. Armed with the intent to transform flat, 2D cartoons into moving, three-dimensional images, Disney revolutionized cinema forever and ushered in a new era of animated content.
The film's success inaugurated a period of prolific filmmaking for Disney, leading to the release of ten more animated feature films between 1940 and 1950 and transforming cinematic history.
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," an adaptation of the Grimm Brothers fairy tale, premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles in 1937 before a celebrity-studded crowd. It was theatrically released in 1938 and remains one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, with a soundtrack available for purchase at the time, according to Disney's website.
As the country was just recovering from the Great Depression at the film's release, Disney launched a successful product line in tandem with the film, a strategy that has since become a lucrative formula. Disney received an honorary Oscar award in 1939, recognizing the film as a significant cinematic innovation and paving the way for the burgeoning animated content industry. The award, presented by Shirley Temple at the time, consisted of one full-size Oscar statuette and seven smaller ones. The film was also nominated for an Oscar in the best musical score category at the time.
With a production budget of around $1.5 million ($33 million today), the film brought in $8 million, equating to around $174 million today. Early industry estimates predict that the Zegler-led remake will earn anywhere between $48 to $58 million during its opening weekend, which may not garner the "box office smash" title but could yet propel the film to box office glory due to the original Snow White's enduring influence on cinema history.
- The dynamic reactions to Disney's latest retelling of Snow White are likely to be varied, given the cultural controversies surrounding the casting and the film's stance on updating stereotypes.
- Despite the ongoing criticism, Disney's rendition of Snow White could potentially evoke some of the same positively charged reactions that the 1937 Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs received, kick-starting a new era in animated content.
- Rachel Zegler, embroiled in the current controversy surrounding the remake, might find a warm welcome from both critics and audiences alike, reminiscent of the acclaim Walt Disney received for his groundbreaking work in animation.
