Mirror Mirror (I) (2012) User Reviews

Better than expected

[kyrio-340-834035 · 7/10 · 10 April 2012]

After reading some of the negative reviews, I pretty much did not expect much out of this movie. While this is indeed a rather boring movie for adults, I did enjoy the show more than I had expected.

The story is simple and easy to understand, with a few twist here and there. Admittedly, I did not find the jokes funny at all. Considering this is a show for kids (correct me if I am wrong), I would have imagined that kids would love this movie.

Lily Collins is a beautiful young lady with high potential to become a great actress. The most enjoyable part was probably the ending with "Ned Stark"

Thank you Eiko Ishioka

[paulinebracq · 15 December 2019]

Incredible, amazing costumes, made me drool ! The movie itself is enjoyable, but really, the costumes, oh my !

Who's the fairest of them all?

[info-355-578727 · 7/10 · 27 April 2012]

MIRROR, MIRROR is one of two major Snow White movies coming out this year. The second one is SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, which premieres in June. From the trailers the two movies look absolutely nothing alike. While I don't have any problems with a fairy tale princess taking levels in sheer awesome being a competent woman, I'm not sure if the grim and grittiness is the best way to do it. Why does a woman have to become grim and gritty to be badass? But this is neither here nor there. I have yet to see SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN because of an unfortunate lack of a time machine so I can't compare the two. (If I did have a time machine, I'd be going to see other movies, such as THE HOBBIT in December, among other worthwhile pursuits.)

What I can do is review MIRROR,MIRROR. Directed by Tarsem Singh (who also directed THE CELL) it stars Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, Lily Collins as Snow White and Armie Hammer as Prince Alcott in a fun and often tongue and cheek romp through the fairy tale.

The movie starts with the basic premise of Snow White's father, the King (played by Sean Bean), marries the Evil Queen and then mysteriously vanishes into the dark woods while trying to find an evil and dark creature threatening his kingdom. Snow White is left with her stepmother who proceeds to lock her up in the castle, forbidden, for her own good, to leave. Snow listens to the Queen but on her eighteenth birthday things start to change from the traditional fairy tale as she meets the prince and decides to take matters into her own hands.

Julia Roberts' queen is a petty and not really malicious evil. She wants the finest things in life and will do whatever she wants to get them even if it bankrupts the kingdom. She wants to be the most beautiful in the land, and if that requires Snow White to die then so be it. She is fun to watch as she tries to get Prince Alcott to marry her.

On the other hand, Lily Collin's Snow White is a bit on the bland side. She has to play the innocent and naive waif who learns to stand on her own two feet, which generally isn't a role with much to do. However, her Snow White actually does things. She doesn't wait for her prince to come to change things. She actively goes out to try and stop the queen herself.

I think the best thing about the movie was Hammer's prince. He manages to keep an awkward straight face to the Queen's flirtations and is a capable warrior. Later on in the movie he seems to be having a great deal of fun with the situations handed to him.

One thing I have to mention is that the costumes – especially the Queen's – and the sets are utterly gorgeous, a delight to look at. Most of the sets are in shades of white and gray while a lot of the costumes are brilliantly-colored, creating an interesting and delightful contrast to watch as the characters move through the world. They aren't completely realistic, but the story isn't realistic either and so it helps create the fairy tale illusion.

The story is sufficiently different that it keeps you guessing on how it's going to turn out. You know that the Evil Queen will be defeated and Snow White will get the prince, but the how is left up in the air well enough to keep you entertained. It is most definitely not a serious movie, but one that is a nice way to spend a lazy afternoon. It leaves you with a satisfied feeling… if a bit bewildered by the sudden Bollywood style dance number during the credits.

– Gabrielle Lissauer

This review first appeared in Geek Speak Magazine - www.geekspeakmagazine.com

Julia Roberts, Nathan Lane, and Lilly Collins are pretty good in the fairy tale spoof Mirror Mirror

[tavm · 7/10 · 28 April 2012]

Just watched this fairy tale spoof of a movie with my movie theatre-working friend. Julia Roberts plays the Evil Queen who wants Snow White (Lilly Collins) killed but her henchman (Nathan Lane) is very reluctant to do so. Ms. White eventually falls in with some...well, let's just say diminutive warriors and a prince (Armie Hammer) who's being tricked into marrying the queen. What the queen does to make him fall for her is the most hilarious thing in the movie. Nothing is as funny as what I just mentioned but there's a fun atmosphere throughout even during the more intense dramatic parts. And check out the Bollywood number that ends the whole thing! Really, I'll just say that Mirror Mirror is very much worth a look.

Good for the lazy viewer

[aric-c-warner · 4/10 · 16 March 2012]

While this film seems to be perfectly tailored for some audiences, most discerning viewers will find Mirror Mirror to be lacking depth. Several plot fixtures are left unexplained, and in general this movie feels like the writers are trying to shove as many fantasy clichés into one movie as they can. The movie would undoubtedly have been better had the writers simply stuck to the original story, but they did not. The deviation from the classic story was not well done, and in many ways, it did not make much sense.

On a positive note, the acting was refreshingly good, particularly on the part of Julia Roberts. Roberts played the sinister queen quite excellently, adding a seething sarcasm to each line. Along with the acting, the aesthetics were good. Makeup could have been better, but costuming was very well done, and it played a large part in making the movie coherent.

In short, the positive qualities of this film were not nearly enough to make up for the awkward timing, unexplained plot mechanisms, mediocre dialogue, and unworkable mixture of different fantasy clichés. My suggestion is that you go see something else.

The Snow White tale

[Prismark10 · 3/10 · 16 November 2014]

With a recent glut of reimagined fairy tales Mirror Mirror takes a comedic twist.

Snow White is raised by the evil queen (Julia Roberts) who saw off her father but she escapes and lives with seven dwarfs in the woods where she learns survival techniques and learns how to steal.

The Prince (Armie Hammer) has a buff body, dim brain but the Queen wants to marry him although he has fallen for Snow White who he had met earlier.

The Queen uses her spell on the Prince to make him act like a dog and she uses the money from the villagers to live a party lifestyle. As Nathan Lane remarks, this is how your tax dollars are spent. The language and humour used is very modern.

The comedy is mixed with some action especially at the conclusion where there is a beast in the woods.

The positives are the set designs and the costumes which are fantastic.

The negatives, Lily Collins as Snow White is rather a plain actress and Armie Hammer does not cut it as a leading man and they made the film drag. Worse of all the film never really grabs you with an uneasy mix of comedy and action and different fantasy themes.

An enjoyable family film so some people shouldn't be so uptight....

[blaineanna89 · 9/10 · 28 May 2012]

I saw Mirror Mirror in theaters back in April with my niece, but I just decided to write something on it because it has come under a lot of criticism and honestly I don't know why.I saw a lot of negativity on YouTube and many other places so it got me to thinking what really is the problem with movies geared more toward children?

I think fairy tales should bring out the little kid in everybody, but I've noticed that some people find it hard to revert back to their childhood or innocence because they think it's cheesy or corny.And with the recent comparisons between the two Snow Whites (Mirror vs.Snow White & the Huntsman) it has gotten more and more ridiculous.There has already been a dark-version of Snow White (Tale of Terror) if anyone remembers so there has been done already. A comedic version is interesting and new.

I can only comment on Mirror Mirror because I saw it and I enjoyed it. Snow White (Lily Collins) is treated horribly by her wicked stepmother The Queen (Julia Roberts) who is ruling the kingdom since her father's mysterious death. Somehow with the help of the dwarfs and the Prince (Armie Hammer), Snow White begins to believe in herself and realizes she has the strength to fight off the wicked Queen.

It was a really nice retelling of Snow White because it was a coming of age story. Never knew who Lily Collins was before this movie, but I think she was spot-on as Snow White. She has this innocent beauty that was perfect for Snow White, but she also was courageous, which is a great role model for young girls nowadays. Might I add, her eyebrows fit her and there is nothing wrong with them as I've seen nasty comments about it. They add distinction to her face.

The Prince was really comical and funny. Had me laughing a lot. Never knew who Armie Hammer was before this movie also. I liked him because it was the opposite from Disney Princes who usually are perfect in every way without flaws. They can sing, dance,and sword fight, but he was pretty dense in a way, but it actually suited the movie and it was intended to be that way.

Last but not least, Julia Roberts was divine as the wicked Queen. Honestly, I love her bitchy and sneering her nose at everyone. Julia is usually seen as this sweetheart but it was great to see this side of her. I liked her little on and off British accent too and her pompous narration to the story.

Love the dwarfs, they had absolutely the best one liners. They were modern and jazzed stuff up.

So again I add, every movie does not have to be sinister and Hannibal Lector evil for it to be considered a good movie. Nor does it have to have The Hangover- type jokes and vulgarity to be considered worthy of laughter.

The critics can go to hell on this one. I will watch this movie again and again, especially with my niece.

Roberts steals the show.

[LloydBayer · 6/10 · 20 March 2012]

I can only think of one other movie where Julia Roberts is cast in a negative role. When news broke out that Roberts will play the evil queen in this Grimm's fairy tale adaptation, I just couldn't resist. Let's face it, it's not everyday you get to see the most popular actress in the world (with the best smile in Hollywood) play an evil and conniving character. In this version, the story remains true to original, if not with a wacky twist and a lot of humor.

After the king disappears under mysterious circumstances, Snow White (Lily Collins) learns that her step-mother the queen (Roberts) has been plundering and looting from the people of the land. After rescuing a prince (Armie Hammer)from seven 'little' highway bandits, and gaining his affection, Snow White is banished to the forest when the queen sees wealth and power in the guise of the unwitting prince; besides his use as her toy-boy. Snow White must now team up with the aforementioned bandits and win back her birthright, her prince, and restore her father's kingdom to its former glory. Thus begins an itchy cat-fight with a capital B.

Having just watched this movie, I can't say that this is the best adaptation thus far, given its PG classification. However, considering that there are two other versions slated for a 2012 release, including a darker version starring the emotionless Kristen Stewart, I am forced to say that "Mirror Mirror" suffices as a decent family adventure-comedy. Having cut a niche for himself in visual esthetics and art design, director Tarsem Singh creates a vivid and colorful world with innovative sets and costumes – a standard that is rapidly becoming his cinematic insignia after his work from "The Cell" to last year's "Immortals". Singh also scores with intended comic relief, given that he has had to work with a story where the audience knows what to expect. When you consider the story's comic backbone complete with slapstick moments, Roberts's sarcastic one-liners arising from a witty script and the ever amusing Nathan Lane as the queen's royal subject, this movie becomes a lighthearted stab at one of the oldest and most adapted fairy tales. That said, this version sits well with the intended audience in its narration, if you go in expecting a simple and entertaining movie.

I really can't say that I was captivated by the acting. Collins as Snow White and Hammer as the prince are just so-so as protagonists of an age old tale. Given the age of 'girl power', it is no surprise that Snow White here is a spirited young girl that not even for a moment, appears to be a damsel in distress. On the other hand, the prince is comical in almost all scenes, stripping (pun unintended) his character of any chivalry from the original tale. As the movie is narrated in the queen's perspective, it becomes apparent that the story is less about Snow White and more about the queen and her vanity. This chain of thought is what gives "Mirror Mirror" a new spin to the old yarn. Personally, I strongly feel that Julia Roberts steals the show – not because I expected her to – but simply because the story appears to have been scripted with a lot of focus on her character. It's almost as if this version was written by the evil queen herself.

For the most part, Singh's work here is a tad bit above average in re-telling a grand old tale. He keeps it simple while giving it a fresh and anti-Disney twist. Then he goes and ruins it with a totally unnecessary and bizarre ending. Did Singh copy this off Tommy O'Haver's "Ella Enchanted" or did he want to give the finale a Bollywood twist? If Singh has used this movie to say something about his roots, then he has picked the wrong movie to do so. Mixing Hollywood and Bollywood themes within the same movie is always risky. Danny Boyle may have gotten away with it in "Slumdog Millionaire" because of its theme on poverty and the hugely popular underdog factor. All said and done, if it were not for Snow White doing the "Bhangra", I would have easily rated this film as a good start to 2012. Even so, if you are willing to overcome your disbelief in the end, the greater part of this movie is not half as bad.

Quit while you're ahead ...

[rsboswell · 1/10 · 14 April 2012]

Obviously, we already know what story is being pulled off here. So ... why? This movie is so bad, I couldn't stomach watching it in it's entirety. That, and two people sitting in the audience fell asleep and were snoring through it. But seriously, Julia, Julia, Julia ... honey ... fire your manager. They did you no favors getting you in this picture. In summary, the bad CGI was hard to look at, the dialogue is flat, unimaginative and amateurish; the acting looks , no, is directionless. What's more appalling is how many recognizable names are in this movie. Why? what happened? Granted there is always going to be a line of bad movies every year, but you'd hope you wouldn't see seasoned talent in them. This film is flat, boring, and even the parts that are supposed to funny, aren't - comic timing is utterly absent. Sadly, I won't be able to see another film with Nathan Lane in it and take him seriously because of this, or any others for that matter. Even if this went straight to DVD, avoid it at all costs.

The Bulgarian dagger of Snow white

[bokoka · 7/10 · 4 June 2012]

I want to know, what is a model of Snow white's dagger. Someone tell me that he is a Bulgarian military pilot dirk from WWII. Why in the movie not make their own model. This dirk is Bulgarian historic weapon, i think. Otherwise, the movie is very nice, i enjoyed very much. Lily Collins is very beautiful in the role of Snow white, Julia Roberts makes a role that i don't expected, but i liked. The seven dwarfs is the same actors, like in most roles of dwarfs, but the idea of dwarf-giants was very fresh. Bollywood style final was very finny. Maybe watch the movie because friend told me about the pilots dirk from WWII, but i like the movie.

The classic fairy tale turned into something...far less!

[Boba_Fett1138 · 5/10 · 24 March 2012]

You know something is wrong with a Snow White movie, when the evil queen is looking better than Snow White herself.

Basically this is movie that is a very loose adaption of the brothers Grimm story, about Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Loose adaptation perhaps isn't the best way to say it. It's more of a very own and very different interpretation of the classic fairy tale, that changes lots of things around but unfortunately not in a very good or interesting enough way.

This project definitely had some potential in it but it doesn't dare to take things far enough. It now instead comes across as a lame, half attempt, at re-imagining, the classic fairy tale. What could had been a very atmospheric and perhaps also darker take on the story, works out as a lame and odd one instead.

I don't even really know how to take this movie in the first place. It's not adventurous enough for an adventure/fantasy movie, not funny or entertaining enough for a comedy and not serious enough for a drama. It seems that they were mostly going for a comical and entertaining approach but the humor is often so incredibly lame, simplistic and predictable, that this movie is only funny to watch for some young kids, who simply don't know any better yet. I don't know, perhaps this also was the crowd this movie was going for, since it certainly feels like a live action Disney movie at times but I just can't say for sure, since this movie is taking so many different different kinds of approaches at times, to its visual style and story.

Really, I like Tarsem Singh's his style and visual approach to all of his movies but he often seems to have some problems with the storytelling and focus of the story. This movie often goes all over the place. The first half is pretty much focusing on the evil queen, played by Julia Roberts, while the second half suddenly is all about Snow White. There is not a good enough balance between each of those two characters, as if Julia Roberts demanded she would get first billing and the writers, in a frenzy, changed the script around, which certainly went at the expensive of everything and everyone else in this movie.

There are still a couple of interesting visual moments in this movie, as you could expect from a Singh movie. However, yet the movie still doesn't feel like a very imaginative one, or like it is taking place in a magical fairy tale world. Instead the movie feels and looks like it is taking place in a studio, all the time. Besides, it also really seems like Tarsem Singh was holding back this time with his visual style, which was also really another disappointment about this movie.

Not a great movie at all!

5/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

What are the other reviewers talking about?

[davepaterson1978 · 8/10 · 9 April 2012]

OK - so this is a major re-working of Snow White and in fact you could say that it is an entirely different story...bar the principle character names. But to read some of the comments here would be to be mis-led in the extreme in my terribly humble opinion. Not being a huge Ms Roberts fan I was unsure as to how I would react to her as a dominant player in fable setting - but she was capable and trod a fine line between villainy and comedy that worked. Of the other characters - as has been noted Snow White stole the show and was a capable lead and will doubtless go on to far grander things. But the actors delivering the Dwarf story-line were also in keeping with the piece - OK not hugely polished but capable of delivering in the contexts of fantasy. But the real reason for leaving this review is really because of my kids - they loved it. They were scared, amused, excited and involved throughout the film and left having sat through the credit dance sequence first. And frankly it is a film aimed more at them than most reviewers here. So let's not be too sniffy about "truth" or "thespianism" or indeed "realism" - this is a young persons film and looked great, didn't patronise them and had some great ideas brought to life - not always successfully but with a touch of humour and imagination so in my book it's a winner and not to be judged too harshly.

One of Hollywood's better fairy tale re-imaginings

[Foux_du_Fafa · 7/10 · 17 April 2012]

"Mirror Mirror" is part of Hollywood's current fascination with re-imagining fairy tales for the big screen, most likely spurred on by the success of Tim Burton's take on "Alice in Wonderland". In fact, it's the first of two "Snow White" adaptations to come from Hollywood this year; we'll see "Snow White and the Huntsman" this summer. I'm still unsure as to why either studio would go ahead with a film version of a story that is already being adapted by another studio for a release within the same window, even if the two resulting films play to two very different audiences. In any case, this one certainly seemed the less contrived of the two, and as it stands, it's not that bad a film if you take it for what it is: a campy, easy-to-watch rendition of a favourite story.

As expected nowadays, the film greatly deviates from the typical story, and much is embellished. The Queen is robbing the people of its taxes to fund her vanity and lavish lifestyle. When Prince Charming comes to town, a ball is held so the Queen can woo him to grab his gold. Unfortunately, Snow White sneaks into the ball to try and gain support for overthrowing her cruel stepmother, and the said royal instead falls for her. Spurred by jealousy and a fear of usurpation, the Queen orders Snow White to be killed in the woods. The henchman, however, lets her go. As per Grimm, the princess is taken in by a band of seven dwarfs, this time a bunch of Robin Hood-like bandits as opposed to singing miners.

From this point on, the story tends to stop following the traditional narrative altogether, with the exception of the Queen's intention to kill using dark arts. By ignoring the plot and going in the direction of a completely over-the-top romp full of garish colours and distractingly cartoon-like imagery, some of the power of the original story is lost. Nonetheless, the film is still highly fun and entertaining, and one gets the impression that the people making it had a lot of fun doing so. Julia Roberts' Queen is fabulous in her role as a completely hissable vamp, and the other cast members, in particular the guys playing the dwarfs, are wonderful as well. None of the characters are really fully realised, though in a story like this, I think we can accept the odd archetype. In any case, "Mirror Mirror" certainly ranks as one of the better Hollywood recent re-imaginings of famous tales, and comes recommended.

Been there done that--except for wonderful sarcastic Julia Roberts scenes!!

[secondtake · 6/10 · 16 September 2012]

Mirror Mirror (2012)

Make no doubt about it, Julia Roberts earns her top billing here. She is a perfectly sassy, sarcastic, blithely harsh wicked witch and queen in this retelling of the Snow White story. But also be sure to know this isn't an imaginative retelling. It is the same story with tweaks and interpretations. For all the fast edits (it's snappy on the surface) the movie is surprisingly slow.

And yet there are these hilarious punctuations. Snow White herself is a spry and charming secondary character, played with too much restraint by Lily Collins. I'm going to guess it's the director who holds her back, as if the girlish attraction needs a womanly restraint--all too caricatured a notion of femininity for me, or for a lively film. Remember that the original fairy tale is a cutting investigation, without too much moralizing, into the problems of women aging and men being mindless suckers for the young. That doesn't get far with this film, but it's in the meat of it, especially at the end when Roberts goes through the necessary aging before the camera.

I had the weird luck of seeing both Snow White films this year (I'm no a Snow White fan, but tagged along twice). And the other film, "Snow White and the Huntsman," is a much more ponderous affair. It has higher production values than "Mirror Mirror" but it gets weighted down with archetypes that have no depth, and with action that has little really impact. And special effects, which "Mirror Mirror" mostly avoids. To its credit. (And as an aside, I bizarrely also saw the first episode in "Once Upon a Time," which is a television series about fairy tale characters, and which begins with yet another imagining of Snow White. Honestly, the t.v. version is the most inventive, but it's also stretched thin with some mediocre acting and awkward writing.)

These diversions matter, really, because the key to "Mirror Mirror" is the tale, the one we all love most from Walt Disney's version. To depart from the classic moments is to be both adventurous (good) and critically exacting (you can't screw it up). This film decides to mostly follow the old tale. The seven dwarfs have new names (the famous names were a Disney touch that the producers had the rights to) but they are the same quirky lovable bunch. And the finale is roughly what you'd expect. Which leads a viewer to wonder why exactly they are watching this new version? Shouldn't it go somewhere new or have something fresh to offer?

The one thing it does have is Julia Roberts, who makes her scenes (quite a few of them) really fun, smart, and even sizzling. If you love her you'll love at least that much. Otherwise, unless you are quite young and don't know about Snow White, or you were perhaps raised in another culture and are curious about her (as is the case with the director, Tarsem Singh) be warned. You've been here before.

Oh, and honestly, the most original part of the film? The ending credits--pure Bollywood dancing and singing. A little off key at times, but funny and fun.

Better or worse

[mariskaraeymakers · 7/10 · 8 April 2012]

Went to see the movie with friends. The idea of the movie, Snow White from the viewing point of the witch is great. Unfortunately that's not really the deal during the film. It's not even loyal to the story.

But that doesn't really matter, it's a great movie if u don't set mile high standards. It's very entertaining. The dwarfs are hilarious. And there are some funny twists in the film.

But what were the makers thinking when they put the Bollywood-scene at the end. Nowhere in the movie is there a link to it (okay, there was a link to singing and dancing, but nothing in Bollywoodstyle). It didn't fit in this movie at all. Big shame.

Not bad...

[greywolf1977 · 6/10 · 4 April 2012]

Had a day off and decided "What the heck... I will go see Mirror, Mirror." The movie is moderately entertaining. Plot devices are everywhere! I agree with those who call the prince "flat" and heartily agree that it is far from intellectually stimulating.

There are a few great lines, and a few glimpses of depth in characters proving this could have been a much better movie. Near the end in an exchange between Snow and the old beggar lady (yes, it's the queen)is an example of both.

There are many beautiful shots in the movie and the costumes are lovely but few. There aren't many costume changes leaving one to assume everything takes place in about a week's time.

I give the film a 6/10 due to the fact that it is suitable for younger audiences (having no vulgarity, no sexual scenes and no gore). The story is weak, twists take you to obvious places.

This movie is good for a leisurely outing, just don't expect too much. It's good for a one time viewing.

Strings, Surfaces

[tedg · 19 October 2012]

I really don't care much that this is a failure. And gosh it seems to be.

It is at least a rewarding and risky approach to framing. When you try adapting a known story, the only value the new storyteller can add it the framing, and in today's mass market that means some mix of cuteness, cleverness and irony.

What we have here:

• Our mirror is not just a face, but a world that is entered by coming out of the surface of a lake through the mirror. This is much better reasoned that the concept at the end of the last Depp pirate movie where they moved up through an inverted water-air boundary.

• Within the inner world are two connected island structures, curious in their construction and we never learn anything thing about their origin or nature. The second, more interesting structure never enters the story at all except as possibly explained below. Good storytelling is enhanced by what you leave out. These structures are similar to that in the wild dream world of "Where the Wild Things Are," built of raw trees and held together by mystery.

• Within one of these structures, our evil queen enters and goes deep down a stairway. There is no indication that this is underwater, and indeed there is conscious contrast with the rooms the queen has in her outer world, including a boudoir in the clouds with an entire wall impossibly missing behind the bed. (In the original story, the implication was that sex with this woman was so profound and thrilling and the source of her magic.) This to my mind is o much better done that the underground of "Pan's Labyrinth."

• Within that underground/underwater structure is another mirror, a modest one as the portal to another dimension. This literally is the mirror's mirror. Almost certainly if we went that *that* mirror, we would be in the second structure, the one the inner queen actually lives in.

• Within that mirror is not a disembodied genie but a version of our queen, younger, more magical and introspective. She exists, as we discover, not only in an omniscient space above the action of the story within, but over the world of the viewer. (We see her in her own structure in other contexts as a whole body, not just a face.)

• Within that mirror queen's world, we have her personal world, the centerpiece of which is a combination Enochian skryer's ball and zoetrope, both composed of mirrors. (The latter is a primitive movie projector.)

• As the mirror queen gives a framing narrative, we enter the 'movie' of the zoetrope.

• In a double-frame, we have first the inner movie recount of the backstory, using porcelain dolls, and then rather seamlessly the main movie. This by itself follows what I call Ted's law where the abstraction distance from the movie to the inner movie is the same as (established) from the viewer's world to the world of the main movie.

I really liked the nested worlds of "Inception," but this seems more subtle and varied, with more delicate implied machinery. Such deeply nested construction, with multiple overlapping devices, does not happen by accident and is carefully architected.

Later, there is an entry of the mirror queen in the world of the queen. This is done via strings crossing folds and operating hostile puppets. The idea is brilliant but this sequence is the least engaging in the movie. My guess is that Julia's presence in the movie increases the risk to much that the studio operators got involved and honked up the tone and timing.

This filmmaker gave us 'The Fall," which was this same sort of egg within an egg framing with the inside being colorful filling. This time around, the container, the form, is similarly wonderful, but inside is a bunch of silliness that tries to hit the tone of 'Princess Bride' but fails. This is in the same category I put "Casper:" a worthless movie in a beautifully conceived frame.

I wish we could have something of a mind-merge between this filmmaker's mastery of framing and Danny Boyle's mastery of the actual telling of the story when we get there. So watch the beginning, and then the penultimate moments, and trash the rest.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

Not "The Princess Bride" But a Pretty Good Family Movie

[nyknights45 · 7/10 · 2 April 2012]

When I first saw the trailers for "Mirror Mirror" a few months ago, I was pretty excited. It seemed like a "Princess Bride" kind of movie that I could take my kids (ages 10, 8 and 6) to see without worry. Then I read the reviews, which were mostly negative and started to hesitate about spending the money to see the film. I finally thought that while adults might not like it, kids might, so I took them.

The result? They all loved it, and that's the most important thing.

The movie itself was pretty good, but I was a little disappointed that its not "The Princess Bride". Nowhere close, in fact. But Julia Roberts and Nathan Lane, both accomplished actors, were excellent in their scenes together, the seven dwarfs were funny and Lily Collins was very good as Snow White without overacting. In short, if you have pre-teen kids, especially girls, go see this movie. Its worth it.

Made for TV movie

[sean-x-liu · 2/10 · 31 March 2012]

In short, this one of the most disappointing movies that I have ever seen on the big screen. Despite the beautiful graphics and big stars like Julia Roberts, the film, in the end, felt like the quality of a made for TV movie. The story began with a grand idea of delivering a alternative vision to a classic fair tail, but ended filled with holes in the story line and flow. None of the characters had any depths or emotional attachment. The entire movie felt like a train wreck of random scenes and jokes. Julia Roberts did a fantastic as the queen, but the same cannot be said for the rest of the cast, whom the director probably found in the back alley of the studio. In conclusion, do not go see this movie and save your money and more importantly save your time!

Good family fun movie

[dianajeann · 8/10 · 15 April 2012]

I took my 11 yr old niece to see this movie and we both loved it. Good clean family fun. Nice to walk out of a movie singing and dancing for a change...... Julia Roberts is hilarious, Nathan Lane even more so and the rest of the cast endearing. Seems if a movie doesn't have violence or sex, not many like it. That is so sad.... life should be fun sometimes and this movie made us feel uplifted and happy.

Thanks Julia and Nathan..... I am not familiar with the actress that played Snow White or the Prince but they were both adorable and funny.

This movie was entertaining for any age, full of action, surprises and humor..... go see it, don't let the nay sayers keep you away.

Deserves a spot on the wall

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 7/10 · 8 September 2021]

When Snow White(Collins, thankfully breaking with tradition and driving a lot of her own story, fashioned into a remarkably interesting and memorable version of the the icon) turns 18, she tries to stop the abuses of power carried out by her wicked stepmother, the queen(Roberts, doing an incredible job being tremendously unpleasant. She's the only cast member who isn't overflowing with a winning charm. She turned her natural appeal off for this role, since it was necessary to do so).

If you're going to adapt a story that everyone has seen 100 versions of, that are rarely that different from one another, you'll have to bring something new to the table, and this does that. Many elements of the fairy tale are played around with. This is the third movie by Tarsem Singh that I've watched, the other two being The Fall(which is a masterpiece) and Immortals(which has compelling aspects). It's possible I will get to the last two, eventually. He is immensely talented, fascinating, and his visuals are always stunning. Unleashing him upon a fantasy story with magic, a kingdom, and multiple lavish parties... It makes perfect sense, and it works out quite well. I could write 1000 words, each, just on the costumes, the sets, the cinematography, etc.

This does a pretty good job of striking a balance between being child friendly, and not insufferable to anyone with an age in the double digits. There's definitely a little in here that's cringe inducing, but it honestly is not much. The movie has a real heart(not just that of a pig), and is legitimately sweet. It does sometimes couch this in characters behaving like immature brats, but a lot of that is just to provide some sugar for the medicine to go down easier.

I recommend this to anyone who's willing to give it a shot. 7/10.

Bottom of the barrel

[davenullstein · 1/10 · 26 May 2012]

If there was ever any magic and romance in the story of Snow White, this movie has completely destroyed it. My first complaint is with the look of the movie... gaudy and utterly fake. Perhaps this is on purpose but nonetheless it was a huge turn off. This style sort of worked for the 2004 movie Ella Enchanted which, while Saturday morning kid's fare, still bests this movie in every way. With Ella I think it was more of a budget issue. Mirror is just tacky.

And then there's the script.... oh god, the script... not funny, not cute, not original. Where the art direction seems aimed at children, the script is aimed at cynical adults, and misses by a mile.

Not that bad

[lagudafuad · 6/10 · 24 March 2012]

Mirror Mirror, takes a while getting into, but after you get over the first 40 mins the movie isn't that bad.

The comedy did hit home and I rather found the movie funny than intriguing.

Mirror Mirror is a shy away from great, but the screenplay was well carved, yes you are watching Snow White and the Seven dwarfs, but it felt different. I guess the main reason it was fun to watch was the difference in the way things played out.

Snow was supposed to be saved by the prince, but in this Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher) tale the prince was the one needing saving.

I was so impressed by the screen write by Jason Keller that I spent majority of time being captivated by the turn of events, than the events itself. Directed by Indian director Tarsem Singh, who also directed The Cell (2000) and Immortals (2011), Mirror Mirror to me was good because of the screenplay and script rather than the directing. Not saying directing isn't important but you have to see this movie for yourself to understand.

It's been long since I have seen anything done by Julia Roberts, but this wasn't a disappointment and her acting showed why she is and will always remain one of the best things that happened to the silver screen.

The plot is the same is based on 'Snow White' by the Brothers Grimm and stars Lily Collins (Phil Collins daughter and also starred in Abduction) as snow White and Julia Roberts as the evil queen.

All in all, go watch it.

www.lagsreviews.com

Nice Balance of Comedy/Story, but Not Original

[rgkarim · 7/10 · 30 March 2012]

How many times can Snow White be remade? The answer to that question for directors seems to be an infinite number of times. Today the latest remake Mirror Mirror released and so far has received negative reviews. After seeing the countless trailers for this film, I had my doubts as to whether this movie would be entertaining or just another mediocre kids movie to collect dust on the shelves. What was my verdict? Read on to find out.

Mirror, Mirror, like all the Snow White remakes, starts out with a back-story about the white skinned maiden and the evil queen who is jealous of her looks. The lovely Snow White (Lily Collins) is a prisoner in her own castle forced to obey arrogant queen's (Julia Roberts) rules. However as fate would have it, the prince (Armie Hammer ) of a very rich kingdom shows up at the palace after having a run in with the dwarfs and soon the queen's plans begin to unfold. One of the major twists to this story is that the dwarfs are no longer miners, but thieves and attempt to bring Snow White into their career. I don't want to say too much more though, as I fear I will ruin too much.

What do I have to say about this movie? Well perhaps the biggest thing I want to say is how much I laughed in this movie. I know a surprise right, but Mirror Mirror had a variety of comedy that was funny for both children and adults. The dwarfs in particular had such a wide range of personalities, which led to some very amusing dialog and actions that did not grow stale for me. I was impressed with how well the production team developed their characters, and how well balanced the characters were, with not one dwarf hogging all the attention. The other characters themselves also had some clever one-liners, with Brighton (Nathan Lane) perhaps being my second favorite character of the bunch. Lane's natural sarcasm and ability to be spineless allowed for some well timed lines that had the audience and me laughing hard, and his character seemed to be a bridge to the other characters. Roberts' portrayal of the queen was fine, but this role made the queen more a royal snob, than an evil sorceress with a vengeance to destroy her rival. Collins on the other hand nailed the fair maiden role and her quaint, politeness seemed to come naturally to her, plus she was very cute to look at. However, she does have some work to do on the crying/sad role, as her acting for these kinds of scenes felt overacted and simplistic.

What else does this movie have that made it fun? The pace for one thing is pretty good. It doesn't take long for the back-story to be told, and the humor pretty much starts ten minutes in the movie and doesn't stop until the end of the movie. To my surprise there was some action in the film, juvenile action mind you but still action, that was both humorous and well choreographed. Some of these scenes even allowed for some character dialog that helped with the character development without being too slow. Another factor is probably how cute this movie is. Whether it is the positive humor, the beautiful maiden, or even the playful nature of the dwarfs, this movie is one that is supposed to make you feel good. I would also say there is a good balance in this movie, not just in pace, but in comedy and story as well. It's definitely not the best I've seen, but Mirror Mirror kept the story going without going overboard in humor.

There were some things in this movie that still needed some work though. One thing would be that this story is still another Snow White remake and although there were some twists to classic tale, it still was the same tried and true story. Those who go in here expecting it to not be predictable should turn around now, because you can pretty much see every major thing coming in this film. Another thing is although there is humor for both adults and children; there is still a shift towards the younger audience in this film. Many of the situational comedy scenes were of exaggerated punches, smacks on the butt, or even some over exaggerated running into trees. Finally the romance that takes place in this movie is also more preteen fantasy like as well, which of course means a bit cheesy and over magical, though that wasn't too big of a problem for me.

Overall Miror, Mirror wasn't that bad of a movie and is definitely a good family film for those with younger children. The comedy of the dwarfs and Brighton were definitely the highlights of the movie, and the acting for the most part wasn't bad. However, the fact that this is a remake and more for the younger audience really makes it hard to recommend as a must see in the theaters, unless you want a cute date movie to go laugh at. My scores for this movie are as follows:

Adventure/Comedy: 8.0-8.5 Movie overall: 7.0

So until next week my friends this is Robbie K. signing off and reminding you to enjoy the movies.

Not as bad as I though it would be, just boring.

[kdnor2011 · 4/10 · 25 March 2012]

When I saw the trailer for this movie, I just thought it would be absolutely horrible. The dwarfs looked annoying,and Julia Roberts seemed annoying. So after seeing it, is it as bad as I thought it would be. Well no, it's just really boring.

Let's start with the good stuff. It's looks pretty good. The colors against the snow work really well. The set designs are great, and at times the special effects look pretty cool. And Julia Roberts looks likes she's having a lot of fun. She is so ridiculously evil and does get a funny line now and then. And Nathan Lane can also make a funny line once in a while.

But the stuff I don't like, it isn't that funny. The seven dwarfs aren't as annoying as I thought they would be, but they didn't make me laugh once. Like I said, Roberts and Lane make a funny line once in a while, but that's it. A lot of the characters are annoying. Some scenes don't make any sense. And maybe this is just me, but what is up with Snow White's eyebrows, she's hot, but those eyebrows are huge. Really, the big reason this movie didn't work for me is that it was boring, the action isn't interesting, I didn't care about the relationship between Snow White and the Prince, and like I said, it isn't really that funny.

This movie isn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, but part of me wishes it was, then at least it would have gotten an emotional response out of me.

3.5/10