Grimm's Snow White

When we think of films based on the Snow White fairy tale, we think of Disney's version or Mirror Mirror or even Snow White and the Huntsman. However, several lesser known Snow White films exist.

Grimm's Snow White, released in 2012, is one example. Even though the title suggests the film is based on the original Grimm Brothers' tale, there are several changes to the story. One example is the addition of monstrous beasts. Elves have also replaced the dwarves. 

What about Snow White herself? While most iterations of the character have dark hair, Princess Snow of Whitevale is a blonde. That may make her stand out, but her beautiful blue dress makes her look a bit like Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Plus, even though Princess Snow speaks up and fights, she has no clear goal; Snow still gets pushed out of the castle by the evil Queen Gwendolyn.

One positive element of Snow's character, though, is her romantic relationship. She converses with her lover long before she dies from a poisonous ring. It is not the iconic poisoned apple, but the ring nods to the laces and comb from the original fairy tale. It also minimizes the consent issue from Disney's version.

The addition of monstrous beasts and replacement of dwarves with elves were more creative changes. Grimm's Snow White also successfully explains the beasts and the enslavement of elves within the first few minutes of the film. The elves' pointed ears look real, too. One problem, though, is that the elves wore outfits similar to those of humans, limiting their distinguishability. Plus, the CGI of the beasts is off; they look more fit for a video game than a live-action movie. 

Although the beasts look slightly fake, the fast-movement camera effects are impressive. The beasts are also depicted as terrifying, so much so that Grimm's Snow White is clearly PG-13. 

The color palette is bleak, but it fits the tone of the movie; a movie with "Grimm" in the title is expected to have a dark tone. Despite this, the green color of the grass gets pleasant to look at a few times. Still, those wanting more lighthearted content might struggle to engage with the visuals. 

There is nothing in Grimm's Snow White that makes it especially charming or memorable, but its deviations from the original fairy tale make it more interesting than it could have been. 

Have you seen or discovered Grimm's Snow White? What do you think about it?

Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast

Image citation: Amazon. (n.d.). [Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Disney Beauty and the Beast (Updated Edition): Inside Stories from the Animated Classic to the New Live-action Film (Disney Editions Deluxe (Film))]. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Old-Time-Animated-Live-action/dp/1484758374/ref=pd_sim_d_sccl_1_7/134-2557218-4995556?pd_rd_i=1484758374&psc=1. 

Several famous movies, such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Sound of Music, have books devoted to them. Some may believe the same could not apply to a single animated Disney movie, but film critic Charles Solomon's books have proved otherwise.

One of Solomon's books describes the making of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, from its folkloric origins to the 2017 remake. It begins with an introduction from Bill Condon, who directed the live-action film, and ends with acknowledgements. Most of the chapters in between discuss certain aspects of the animated film (creating songs, characters, world, etc.).

Each chapter is named after a set of lyrics from a Beauty and the Beast song. For instance, the first chapter on the origins is "True as It Can Be," the chapter on the initial film is "Finding You Can Change/Learning You Were Wrong," the chapter on creating the characters is "True That He's No Prince Charming," etc. There is also a related image and quote at the beginning of each chapter. For instance, the first chapter features an illustration from the original French fairy tale. 

The book, in all its chapters, features detailed information about the film's predecessors, production, and legacy. Solomon incorporates quotes from those involved with the projects, as well as accompanying illustrations. These include, of course, early concept art for the animated film. 

Solomon did not explain every aspect of Beauty and the Beast. For example, the last chapter on the live-action remake did not explain why the filmmakers toned down Gaston and Belle's dynamics. However, quotes and pictures provide several hints that suggest answers. 

One thing I could critique was the lack of mention of Clairce, Belle's would-be sister, in the chapters focusing on the animated film's production. I understand why the filmmakers removed Clarice, but Solomon forgot to provide an answer for those who do not. Since I understood why, though, the lack of explanation did not bother me.

In addition, the chapter on the animated film's release showed a picture of concepts for merchandise that were not discussed in the text; the only merchandise mentioned was a sweater given to Howard Ashman. I would have liked to learn more about the merchandise became some appeared to be household products, which Disney doesn't sell anymore. However, that's probably nitpicking.

Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast is a must-read for fans of the animated/live-action films and/or the stage production, giving almost all the information they need to know.

Have you read Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast?

Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara

Disney princesses have become more prevalent in pop culture since the debut of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Their influence has been so great that there is now a book about it. 

Emily Zemler's book on the Disney princesses features sections on their origins, reimaginings, merchandise, fashion, theme parks/resorts, fandom, and impact along with an introduction and an afterward. Before that, there's a foreword section by Ariel's voice actor, Jodi Benson. At the end is a timeline listing all the Disney princess media chronologically by year, from 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves onward. 

Besides the well-researched information, the book has pop-out colors and well-arranged visuals. There are places in which the pictures seem out-of-place (such as the unmentioned Frozen II purse alongside the Disney scary moment purses), but most of them support the text. 

It is creative how Zemler named each section of the book after a Disney princess song. The origins section is "Once Upon a Dream" (Sleeping Beauty), the reimaginings section is "A Whole New World" (Aladdin), the merchandise section is "Part of Your World" (The Little Mermaid), and so forth. A monochromatic chart repeating images from the titled musical number also precedes each section. 

As informative and insightful as Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara is, there are areas where I still have questions. For instance, in the "Part of Your World" section, Zemler wrote about how, because Walt Disney intended the animated Cinderella for all ages, the merchandise was for both kids and adults. She then wrote about the only merchandise for the Disney Renaissance films being toys. Are these films targeted only to children, then? If not, why don't they sell Disney-themed household products anymore?

There are some areas that discuss adult fans of Disney princesses, mainly the fashion and fandom sections. However, the influence section mainly talks about the films' impact on children. As someone who has only been influenced by some of the animated films as an adult, it feels lonely being a fan because these are widely perceived as being made exclusively for children. 

However, I still got some positive insights from the influence section. I enjoyed reading about how the Cinderella inspired Frozen director Jennifer Lee to stand up to bullying. Such positive influences stood out to me because early Disney princesses often get accused for giving girls "bad role models." 

I also enjoyed reading the fandom section, especially when it talks about fans cosplaying as Disney princesses in different ways. Such cosplays inspire me to reimagine the princesses in my own ways. 

As a fan-oriented book, Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara does not address criticism nor negative influences from the princesses. It also does not answer every question readers might have about them. What the book can do, though, is give fans more insight into every aspect of the Disney princesses in a way that celebrates these iconic characters. 

Have you read Disney Princess: Beyond the Tiara? What do you think about it?