Since the start of its production in 2016, the Disney live-action movie remake of the 1937 classic “Snow White” has experienced significant backlash due to culture wars, controversies, delays and production.
One of the pressing issues was the casting of American actress of Colombian descent Rachel Zegler as the main heroine. While this was a huge opportunity for a new and upcoming actress in the film industry, audiences have stated that her appearance does not resemble Snow White at all, especially when one of the princess’s determining traits is “skin as white as snow.”
“I have no issues with the casting of a ‘nonwhite’ actress, but I do think there were better choices out there. Rachel Zegler’s personality doesn’t match Snow White’s at all. I think they did a much better job when they casted Halle Bailey for The Little Mermaid,” sophomore Elizabeth Perez said.
Audiences are also questioning the choice of using CGI for the seven dwarves. Audiences have brought up the possibility of casting people with dwarfism as it is difficult to get positions in the film industry with this health condition. In this light, inclusive casting would’ve been a much clearer sign of empowering members of those communities to step into the light of the silver screen.
“I think they made a terrible choice when they decided to CGI the seven dwarves. The acting industry is extra difficult for dwarf actors, so why not give them a chance to appear in a Disney movie?” Perez said.
Another factor that may have led to a smaller earning off this film, an estimated $194 million worldwide compared to its production price of almost $270 million according to Forbes, was its deviation from the original tale. The original, while telling of Snow White’s intelligence, charm and love for nature, ultimately focuses on a love story between her and a prince who heroically saves her. The live action remake, however, transforms her origin story along with key plot points from the original plot.
Her name is an acknowledgment of the weather conditions when she was born, and instead of waiting for a prince, Snow White dreams of becoming a fair leader, according to Business Insider.
“The movie deviates from the whole idea of what it’s supposed to be. It loses its spark and the whole concept of what the story “Snow White” is supposed to be about,” junior Irene Wong said.
Audiences are also interested in seeing new creations from Disney, as opposed to regurgitated content. Instead of seeing a remake of the same story line, students expressed their wish for new stories.
“I don’t like them because I would prefer actual new creative works as opposed to remakes. Remakes tend to be more heavily subject to criticism because [audiences want new stories]. I just don’t think everything needs to be live-action because some of the whimsical nature is lost,” senior Rajam Arunprakash said.
All in all, the movie had its ups and downs in terms of executive decisions, casting, production and expressed political views. While the movie adhered to the original Brother Grimms story the most as opposed to similar Snow White remakes like “Mirror Mirror” starring Lily Collins, Disney needed to devote more attention to the overall message the company delivered when it released the remake.
Another key plot point that changed in the live-action movie was what the huntsman brought back as proof of Snow White’s death. In the animated movie, the huntsman brings back the heart of a pig as proof of Snow White’s death. In the remake, he brings back an apple. “Although this small change doesn’t affect the plot, it avoids the unnecessary murder of an animal to trick the queen,” senior reporter Olivia Singh wrote for Business Insider. (Graphic/Alina Sukhovskaya)
