“He was watching her close-up and she was really going for it, like, and the intensity, and it was just one of those heightened scenes”, Emily Blunt said about Jackson when the latter was at “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” set. As such, it falls between two stools – with a resounding thud.
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How do you solve a problem like the absence of star Kristen Stewart in the new prequel/sequel to “Snow White and the Huntsman” (2012)? It boils down to a derivative mash-up of fantasy films like The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Disney’s smash hit, Frozen.
Someone replacing Sanders named Cedric Nicolas-Troyan delivers a fairy tale for children of Game of Thrones fans, a primer in renaissance festival fashion, syntax and supernatural action. In addition to two time frames, there are now a duo of wicked queens, a pair of rival kingdoms and a brace of fearless huntsmen. A perfunctory dose of romance leads to an equally expected moment of horror, only for the action to leap forward to the aftermath of Snow White and the Huntsman in time for a comic adventure to begin. “She said, ‘Don’t bother sending it to me unless I get to kick (butt),’ ” he laughs. As if to avoid getting sued by Disney, “Huntsman 2” quickly shifts from the story of sister queens, one who can summon snow, and delves into the unwanted backstory of Eric the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth). Hemsworth reprises his role as Eric, the fearless (and, need it be said, hunky) huntsman. Everyone else looks mildly lost, like they can’t quite locate the person who’s supposed to be the main character of their movie.
A dalliance between Freya and a nobleman, the Duke of Blackwood (Colin Morgan), produces a child.
The script is credited to Evan Spiliotopoulos and Craig Mazin, and apparently their marching orders were to ignore the first film’s story and just use whatever elements they like to craft something loosely connected.
Despite the Ravenna and Freya’s savagery, the tone in the new film is lighter.
Freya’s reaction is unexpected: her profound grief releases a dormant power to control ice and snow. Their love for one another so offends Freya that she separates them.
“My son is in love with her”, Theron told TV’s “Extra”. “It is a sin and I will not have it”. When they try to escape, Freya separates the spouses, and Eric is banished.
That movie, titled “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”, opens this Friday (April 22).
The path is paved with goblins looking like gilded CGI rejects from a Planet of the Apes flick, dwarf sidekicks with familiar heads (Nick Frost, Rob Brydon) digitally glued onto little people bodies and fireballs not singeing a single lock of Hemsworth’s luxurious hair.
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Once upon a time, the cinematic fairy tale components were pretty simple: a damsel in distress, villain, hero and usually some animal friends for good measure. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned.
