White As Snow

Hello readers, I hope you had a great Easter break—I certainly did! For this post, I wanted to share my thoughts on Disney’s latest live-action remake, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the conversations it’s sparked.

As many will know, Snow White was the first full-length animated feature from Walt Disney Studios. While it’s not one of my all-time favourites—films like Pinocchio, Robin Hood, or The Hunchback of Notre Dame are more my style—it still holds a nostalgic place in my heart. I remember watching it as a kid, singing “Heigh-Ho,” and even playing it on guitar. I even recall a fun Beaver Scouts activity based on the song. So despite its age and simplicity, the original film clearly left an impact.

Now, onto the remake.

The new Snow White has stirred up quite a bit of controversy—some of it understandable, some perhaps overblown. A lot of attention has been directed at lead actress Rachel Zegler, particularly her comments about the original film. It’s fair for her to have her own views, but publicly dismissing a classic that means a lot to people probably wasn’t the best move, especially when promoting a remake of that very film.

Her critique about Prince Charming being a stalker feels like a stretch. While the character dynamic may not fully hold up to modern expectations, calling it stalking doesn’t seem accurate, especially in a fairy-tale context where mutual affection is quickly established through song and story.

I agree with Zegler on some views she’s expressed elsewhere, but to mix that within the film’s promotion was likely to cause backlash, and even confusion. It’s better to separate art from unrelated topics when talking to a wider audience.

The remake itself seems to follow a growing trend in Disney’s recent track record: remaking classics with mixed results—some that seem more motivated by nostalgia or box office goals than storytelling. The trailer didn’t do much to excite me—it felt more like a cosplay event than a cinematic experience. As for the CGI dwarfs, let’s just say they reminded me more of the live-action Scooby-Doo movie than Disney magic. Why not cast real actors like Warwick Davis or Peter Dinklage?

To be fair, the film’s struggles can’t be blamed on Zegler alone. She didn’t write or direct it. At the end of the day, the creative decisions fall to the filmmakers.

David Hand’s son (David Hand being one of the original directors) criticised Disney’s approach, stating that Disney should create new characters rather than rework beloved classics. I have to say, I agree. As someone with a film background, I value originality. And audiences seem to feel the same—many are choosing to revisit the originals on Disney+ or DVD instead of heading to the cinema.

I haven’t watched the full film yet, and maybe I shall give it a go once it hits streaming. But from what I’ve seen so far, it doesn’t look like it’ll capture the magic of the 1937 original. I’m still holding out hope, though, that someday, originality will return to the Disney brand.

Thanks for reading my thoughts on Disney’s latest remake. Feel free to share your own in the comments down below—and once again, I hope you all had a Happy Easter!