The Huntsman Winter’s War (2016, USA) is a medieval fantasy, that continues the narrative of Snow White and the Huntsman (2012, USA).

Challenging first act

The prominent character, Queen Freya, isn’t sympathetic, at first. Freya cannot have love in this life so turns into the Ice Queen. She rises up an army and overtakes her sister’s kingdom.

She has also lost her child, but she is more defined by evil than someone we may sympathize with because of her loss.

Then there’s a change in direction.

That happens when soldier Eric, the Huntsman, and fellow soldier and love of his life, Sara, are on a mission to keep the ‘Magic Mirror’ from Queen Freya who wants to use it to turn the kingdoms to ice.

 

 

Sidekicks

A fantasy film probably wouldn’t be a fantasy film without some stock sidekicks. Two dwarves, who know their way around, accompany Eric and Sara through a forest to find the Magic Mirror.

The dwarves Nion and Gryff are played by comedians Nick Frost and Rob Brydon. They appear as dwarves because of convincing computer generated imagery.

Brydon has quite a few hilarious, caustic lines that reminded me of his dry humor as host of British quiz show Would I Lie to You.

The big theme

What’s striking thematically is how a person can turn cold because of losing in love and losing a child. Freya now wants everyone to suffer the same way she did. Freya will not allow anyone to fall in love in her kingdom, but you may feel for her eventually.

In a nut shell, that can be life.  We may want family, but are somehow deprived, however undesirable.

Explanations

I can imagine a writer creating a story based on that theme, as if their life had also suffered a similar sling and arrow, and they had to find a way to explain it, by writing a story.

To find an explanation, or to philosophize about loss, themes are drawn up to explain or find comfort from the real feelings of loss or lost love.

A writer, in testing through trial, may learn that the power of love endures, but temptation to do evil is present. Therefore, loss can turn someone to do wrong.

The writer may develop a view of the world of good times marked by goodness and prosperity and bad times characterized by evil.

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Warnings—fantasy violence, rated PG-13

Notes:

This movie is available on DVD/Blu-ray, in two versions, theatrical version and extended version. This review is based on the theatrical version.

Chris Hemsworth (Eric), Charlize Theron (Ravenna), Jessica Chastain (Sara), Emily Blunt (Freya), Nick Frost (Nion), Rob Brydon (Gryff), Sheridan Smith (Mrs. Bromwyn), Alexandra Roach (Doreena)

Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (Director)