Parents' Guide to Snow White and the Huntsman

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN is a visual wonder: It begins and ends with a vibrant palette, but the bulk of the movie, like the story, is clouded in the somber mood the queen casts over the kingdom. The cinematography is lush, and the landscapes -- especially the fantastically creepy Dark Forest -- are memorable. And like Tim Burton's finest, this is a film where costume plays a significant role. Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood's creations are amazing, especially Ravenna's elaborate gowns, which range from a royal wedding dress to a feathery black frock made up of crows. Even the seven dwarfs (all of whom are deliciously played by famous English character actors like Ian McShane, Ray Stevenson, Nick Frost, and Bob Hoskins) are outfitted in memorable gear.

Theron isn't just gorgeous; she's a gifted actress capable of eliciting fear or desire just as easily. A former model, she can say a great deal with just the straightening of her back or an icy scowl. Stewart is a divisive performer (some critics think she perpetually looks bored), but she pulls off the pure and fair of heart Snow quite well. As for Hemsworth, he was born to play epic heroes. But while the movie is well acted and a marvel for the eyes, it's also overlong and delves into one too many subplots that aren't properly resolved. One of the most central, obviously, is whether Snow White's destined love is her lifelong friend William or the rogue huntsman. It's refreshing that the romance isn't the movie's central preoccupation, but by the end it's clear that there would need to be a sequel just to figure out who's to be her consort -- not to mention address the substantive issues of how a leader can heal a land so broken by years of ruin.