The Huntsman: Winter's War

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Nick Frost, Rob Brydon, Sheridan Smith, Alexandra Roach, Sam Claflin, Liam Neeson (narrator)
Directed by: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
2016

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) goes to war against his former master, the Ice Queen (Emily Blunt).

Review:

Tim: I'll totally admit I went into The Huntsman: Winter's War with extreme skepticism. Snow White and the Huntsman was a fairly good movie, but I assumed some of the originality would have worn off. Plus, Kristen Stewart as Snow White was jettisoned to focus more on the Huntsman. This seemed like a blatant cash grab. It probably was, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy the movie as much as I did. This is certainly not a classic, but it does enough right to stay fairly entertaining throughout. I didn't expect to, but I walked away having enjoyed this movie.

It's interesting, because this film is really a prequel and a sequel crammed into one. It makes sense when you're watching the film, but it's interesting how it really wraps around the first film. The story is fine, but the movie is elevated by the strong cast. Nothing you see is especially remarkable, but director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (making his directorial debut) keeps things moving. I remember remarking to my wife several times, "I can't believe I'm actually enjoying this movie!" She felt likewise, also surprised at her reaction.

As I said, the cast was crucial here. Chris Hemsworth is good as Eric. I still don't think he is a great actor, but he looks the part and doesn't take himself so seriously. He'll probably never be a truly great leading man, but he worked in this role. Jessica Chastain was a terrific addition to the cast. She's probably too good for a film like this, but her presence made it better. She and Hemsworth have good chemistry together. I enjoyed watching them on screen. Charlize Theron likewise elevated the material. I wasn't too keen on her returning originally, but it made sense within the context of the story. I really enjoyed the addition of Emily Blunt. She's a strong actress and did good work in the film. Her scenes weren't among the most interesting of the film, but it was fun seeing two females as the chief antagonists here. They are both strong characters. Really, the cast as a whole worked well together and made this movie significantly better than it could have been.

I'm getting a little tired of these "gritty fairy tale" reinventions, but it helped that this story felt unfamiliar. I didn't know where the story was going, so that helped to hold my attention more. The absence of Snow White was a little odd, although they do try to address that in the film. The special effects were fairly decent. One other thing I enjoyed about this movie was at least the attempt to tell more than a straightforward fantasy film. The movie explores the themes of love and betrayal between Hemsworth and Chastain. It takes a deep look at family and sisterhood between Theron and Blunt (in a villainous way, but it's interesting). The movie may be predictable at times, but it tells an interesting enough story that I was seldom bored.

The Huntsman: Winter's War certainly has its flaws, so I can understand why people might not like it. However, it felt like a much stronger movie than it easily could have been. It's a worthwhile sequel. This will never be anywhere close to the best movies of 2016, but it was a pleasant surprise nonetheless.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror Mirror