A Heroic-Romantic Fantasy: A Lighter Take on a Familiar Tale
This sequel offers a much more cheerful and optimistic experience compared to its 2012 predecessor.
The story unfolds many years ago when the hunter Eric (Chris Hemsworth) was just a boy. His northern homeland was conquered by the Ice Queen Freya (Emily Blunt), the younger sister of the sorceress Ravenna (Charlize Theron). After Freya’s lover tragically killed their child, she gained control over ice and snow, forever closing her heart to love. She forbids love among the members of her guard, whom she raises from captured children. Eric was one of Freya’s finest warriors, but he paid a heavy price for breaking her law by falling in love with his comrade Sara (Jessica Chastain). Now, Eric lives a solitary life in the forest, mourning his lost love. Suddenly, he discovers that Ravenna’s magic mirror has disappeared, and a new threat looms over the world. Teaming up with a pair of dwarves, Eric tracks down the mirror’s thieves and finds Sara, who is surprisingly alive and well.
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
Should You Watch the Sequel?
A good rule of thumb for deciding whether to watch a sequel is to ask yourself: “Did I enjoy the previous film?” Sequels tend to follow the path of their predecessors, so if you liked the first movie, there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate the second one as well.
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
In a surprising move, the producers of this film replaced the director and star of the first “Snow White and the Huntsman” after news broke of an affair between Rupert Sanders and Kristen Stewart during filming, despite the director being married.
However, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” is the opposite case. If you were captivated by Rupert Sanders’ dark fantasy with Kristen Stewart’s perpetually gloomy Snow White, then Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s sequel might disappoint or even offend you. Where is the Snow White promised in the title? Where are the faces constantly contorted in suffering? Where is the epic battle between two powerful armies in the finale? And where is the all-encompassing darkness that obscures even scenes in bright sunlight? None of this is present in the new film. Although it revisits the Huntsman, Ravenna, and related characters, it does so in a completely different spirit.
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
A significant portion of the film was shot in the British Royal Windsor Park, which was once a private hunting ground for English monarchs.
A Shift in Tone: From Dark Fantasy to Romantic Adventure
Instead of a dark and bloody fantasy, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” offers a romantic adventure fantasy where the worst events occur in the prologue. From there, it’s all uphill, both in terms of plot and emotion. In the previous film, Eric constantly grieved over failing to save his wife. In this new movie, Eric finds his supposedly dead love, and Chris Hemsworth’s face is frequently adorned with a broad, beaming smile. His beloved redhead has returned! True, Sara doesn’t immediately embrace him but accuses him of abandoning her in Freya’s kingdom. But these are minor issues compared to what Eric felt before. And no amount of unjustified reproaches can dampen the hero’s romantic optimism. Sara thaws out fairly quickly, despite years of being frozen. So, their bickering is just playful teasing, and they entertain the audience with their rom-com squabbles.
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
To make things even more entertaining, the heroes are accompanied on their journey not by seven gloomy male dwarves, but by two amusing dwarves (the familiar Nion, played by Nick Frost, and the newcomer Griff, played by comedian Rob Brydon), who are later joined by two even funnier female dwarves (Sheridan Smith and Alexandra Roach). And since dwarven traditions dictate antagonizing the opposite sex and reproducing only accidentally and unintentionally, there are three bickering couples on screen at once. They never stop arguing, even when they have to focus on, say, fighting a goblin king. Therefore, the film fully delivers on its humor quota – judge for yourself whether that’s a good thing or not.
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
A Beautiful and Magical Climax
Of course, the main characters have no time for jokes during the film’s climactic battle, but romantic positivity prevails even there. Eric and Sara don’t have to mournfully fight their way through hordes of former comrades to reach the sorceress villains. Yes, that’s plural, because rumors of Ravenna’s death have been greatly exaggerated, and Charlize Theron’s character not only appears in the film but also demonstrates her new, highly effective magical superpowers. In turn, Freya manipulates ice in the best traditions of “Frozen.” So, the final battle, while not as expansive as in the first film, is very beautiful. Magic versus sword – what more could a fan of action fantasy want?
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
In general, the new film has plenty of beautiful elements, from Freya’s castle and Sara’s hair to the magnificent outfits of the sorceress sisters. Charlize Theron is simply captivating in the film. And there’s no creepy old-age makeup. On the contrary, Freya and Ravenna’s skin is polished almost to a shine. What’s the point of being a sorceress if you can’t conjure up flawless makeup?
.jpg “Scene from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War””)
Minor Criticisms and Final Thoughts
What can you criticize in the new film? Honestly, the fact that it ends quickly. I wish the middle part, where the six heroes travel together, lasted longer. It feels like they’ve only just met when the final part of the film separates them! It’s also a shame that the dwarves don’t participate in the final battle and that Sara accomplishes far less in it than Eric. In this kind of movie, it’s best when equally powerful and loving heroes fight together, hand in hand.
One could also mention that the film tells Sara’s story differently than in the first movie, but I don’t really want to. Because the films are so different in mood and essence that it’s strange to even think that they are connected in terms of plot. It seems to me that a smiling Hemsworth next to Chastain looks better than a sad Hemsworth next to Stewart, but that, of course, is purely a matter of taste. It’s worth noting that the film doesn’t have any super-strengths (except for Theron reveling in villainy). Therefore, whether or not to watch it should be based solely on your genre preferences.