Film review: The Huntsman – Winter’s War (12A)

I must admit, I wasn’t really expecting there to be a follow up to 2012’s Snow White and The Huntsman.

Sure, the Rupert Sanders-directed action epic starring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart did a good job of re-imagining the age-old Snow White story – but I didn’t think that world was exciting enough to host another similar tale.

But The Huntsman: Winter’s War grabbed my attention by adding talented duo Emily Blunt (Sicario) and Jessica Chastain (Interstellar) to the cast, joining the returning Chris Hemsworth (Avengers Age of Ultron) and Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road).

That’s a pretty impressive collection of actors to strut their stuff in this prequel come sequel, with the omission of Stewart the only negative when it comes to the cast.

Winter’s War begins as a prequel to the events of the original, with the backstory of Evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) and her seemingly nicer sister Freya (Blunt) told.

A pretty nasty chain of events leads to Freya turning heel and becoming the Ice Queen, where she moves to the north and begins rounding up the area’s children and grooming them to become her army, or huntsmen if you prefer.

Oh, and she freezes the once green land too.

She’s essentially what Frozen’s Elsa would be if she were allowed to grow up and shake off the Disney PG tag.

Among her huntsmen are Eric (Hemsworth) and Sara (Chastain), who break the queen’s number one rule of allowing themselves to fall in love. If you remember the original, Eric talks of the wife he lost – and that story is explained here (I’ll not offer up any spoilers).

The story then moves into the future, with Ravenna dead and Snow White ruling her former territory. However, The Evil Queen’s powerful mirror remains… and is beginning to corrupt Snow White (who we don’t actually see).

Enter Eric, who is tasked with coming out of his self-imposed exile and destroying the mirror before it wreaks havoc on the now peaceful land. He’s joined on his travels by four dwarves played by top British talents Sheridan Smith, Nick Frost, Rob Brydon and Alexandra Roach.

Unfortunately for the Huntsman and his crew, Freya also has designs on the mirror as she looks to expand her empire in Snow White’s territory. War looks on the cards – and once again Eric The Huntsman is in a little over his head.

Winter’s War stays true to the original and left me with the same feeling afterwards.

It’s solid, if not spectacular, stuff that will keep you entertained without ever getting close to blowing you away.

The impressive cast all deliver strong showings, with the excellent Blunt proving how versatile she is.

Theron once again revels in her villainous role, but doesn’t get as much screen time as in the original.

When it comes to the action, both Hemsworth and Chastain excel. They have solid chemistry too, but their attempts at Scottish accents are pretty rubbish.

I’d rather Hemsworth had just reverted to his trademark English accent as Marvel’s Thor, but it wasn’t to be.

Smith, Frost, Brydon and Roach bring the comic relief and are all do an admirable job in what is an otherwise standard story.

The visuals are decent and the world-building pretty solid, but don’t be expecting much more than an average story.

There are, however, a few good twists to keep you interested and enough action to make this follow-up worthwhile.

Voice Verdict: 7/10
+ Very strong cast
+ Good action and visuals
– Dodgy accents
– Bog-standard story

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Friday, April 22 to Thursday, April 28)

FILMS SHOWING

**CAPTAIN AMERICA MARATHON (12A)
2pm (Thurs)

**CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR 3D (12A) (Midnight showing)
12.01am (Friday, April 29)

**THESE DAUGHTERS OF MINE (18)
8.30pm (Tues)

**FRIEND REQUEST (15)
2pm (Thurs), 2.10pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Weds), 4.15pm (Daily),6.30pm (Daily), 8.45pm (Daily)

**BASTILLE DAY (15)
2pm (Thurs), 4.20 pm (not Mon), 6.30pm (Daily), 8.45pm (Daily)

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE 2D (12A)
1pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Weds)

EYE IN THE SKY (15)
6.25pm (not Thurs), 8.45pm (Daily)

EDDIE THE EAGLE (PG)
11.45am (Sun), 3.30pm (not Mon/Thurs), 8.25pm (Fri/Sun/Weds)

THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR 2D (12A)
4.15pm (Mon), 5.50pm (not Mon)

JUNGLE BOOK 2D (PG)
12.20pm (Sat/Sun/Weds), 3.15pm (Thurs), 4pm (mot Sat/Sun/Thurs), 4.15pm subtitled (Mon), 8pm (Daily)

JUNGLE BOOK 3D (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.50pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Weds), 5.30pm (Daily)

KUNG FU PANDA 2D (PG)
10.30am (Sat/Sun), 12.45pm(Sat/Sun)

ZOOTROPOLIS 2D (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.15pm (Sat/Sun), 2.45pm (Sat/Sun)

**FREE LIST SUSPENDED

KIDS’ CUB
Saturday/Sunday 10.15am – Capture The Flag 3D (U)

SILVER SCREEN 
Wed 11.30am – The Huntsman: Winter’s War (12A)

EVENT CINEMA

**RSC – SHAKESPEARE LIVE (12A)
8.15pm (Sat)

**ROH – LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (15)
7pm (Mon)