RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 2012 and directed by Rachel Goldenberg, "Grimm's Snow White" is a loose adaption of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale about an evil queen (Jane March) who takes over her husband's kingdom after his dubious death. Upon discovering that her beautiful stepdaughter, Snow (Eliza Bennett), is a rival for the attentions of a valiant prince (Jamie Thomas King) she tries to kill her, but Snow escapes into the enchanted forest where she finds reluctant sanctuary with some elves (Sebastian Wimmer, Alan Burgon, Frauke Steiner, etc.). Meanwhile war is brewing. Otto Jankovich is on hand as the prince's adviser.
The Asylum (film company) is known for making low-budget knockoffs of major films (always for less than $1 million) and thus "Grimm's Snow White" came out eleven weeks before "Snow White and the Huntsman" to steal some of its thunder. While it lacks that film's production polish, I found the story at least as engaging and Eliza Bennett is just all-around more fitting in the title role than the nigh impassive Kristen Stewart. Sure, she looks like Alice in Wonderland, but who cares? As for Snow's blonde hair, there have been renditions of the story where she has blonde ("golden") hair. There's also at least one other film version where she's a blonde. Jamie Thomas King is also preferable to the hulking Chris Hemsworth simply because he's more of an 'every man' and is just plain more likable.
Moreover, the locations and authentic castles are awesome, shot in the heart of Europe; and the emerald forests are to die for. Sure, the CGI dragons and canine beasts are hopelessly cartoony, but that's to be expected in a TV-budgeted flick.
If you don't mind low-budgets and like fantasy adventures that feature all the elements noted in my title blurb, you'll find this movie entertaining. Remember: Imagination and legend are about good and evil and the power of selfless courage against impossible odds. There is nothing more heroic than man (male or female) against monster. This is what you get in "Grimm's Snow White."
Yes, some Asylum movies suck (e.g. "30,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Mega Piranha"), but some don't (e.g. "The Land That Time Forgot" and "6 Guns"). "Grimm's Snow White" ranks with the latter.
THE FILM RUNS 90 minutes and was shot in and around Vienna, Austria. WRITER: Naomi L. Selfman.
GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)
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