1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

This seems especially fitting since there has been not one but two adaptations of this story this year. It's also necessary to point out that like many of Disney's more popular films, this is not original. Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was adapted from the Grimm Brother's tale. Needless to say, Disney fluffed it a bit (or a lot). In the Grimm Brother's tale, the Evil Queen appears to Snow White three times in an attempt to kill her. You can't help but feel that by the third time Snow White might have learned NOT TO OPEN THE DAMN DOOR. Also, there's this lovely part at the end about red-hot shoes and dancing until the death.

For anyone who hasn't read the tale, here's a link:
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm053.html

Here's where some of you may disagree with me. I've never liked "Snow White." I respect it as Disney's first attempt to make a classic and by some degrees this does in fact make it a classic. But Snow White's voice annoys me and that pretty much ruins the entire movie for me. Also, just like in the story, I get annoyed with her. I mean c'mon... even GRUMPY tells her not to open the door to strangers and what does she do? She opens the door. I know a couple almost-four-year-olds who listen better than that.

I watched this film last night, before I got serious about the blog, and I'm going to watch it again now to try to remember some of the original comments made. This will probably be the most times I've watched "Snow White" back-to-back. Anyways, here we go...

Side note: the talking mirror on my dvd menu really annoyed me. Okay, now back to the movie.

Remember when movies used to roll the credits at the beginning of the film, and not at the end? I didn't until I sat down to watch this. Got me thinking... remember all those people who leave the theater when the credits start? Did people know to come late to movies, or did they actually watch the credits? Thought of the day. 

This made me smile. I wonder if he had any idea the following he'd gather, or the magic he'd start. Of course, it is important to recognize that he had created several shorts before this. This was the beginning of his full-length films, not the start to the magic completely. 

Anyone else ever wonder why the Queen was the fairest in the land? Is it just me, or is she not all that fair? Does the mirror see her without her headpiece? Also, I'm a little angry that this seems to be a beauty contest. 

Regarding the scene by the wishing-well. I'd never go near a well that sang back (even if it was just an echo. No well ever echos that... well. Well, now that the word "well" has lost all meaning to me...). 

Me: If I were Prince Charming and I heard that voice, I would have ridden off in the opposite direction, not pursued it.
T: Yeah, me too.
Me: It's also cute that he seems to know the words to the song she was singing.

Prince Charming is kind of cute... I mean, I have a thing for brunettes anyways, but give me a brunette in a cape... woof.

When the Huntsman gets his orders from the Queen and she says "you know the penalty if you fail!"... does she ever follow up on this?

When I watched this film yesterday, I laughed at how overdramatic the scene was where she runs from the Huntsman into the woods. But after rereading the Grimm Brother's version, this scene seems pretty accurate. And the logs that turn into alligators is pretty accurate. I think that was a nice touch.

Has anyone else noticed that Disney princesses all have this innate ability to communicate with animals? Snow White has the entire forest at her beck and call. And if memory serves me correctly, Aurora does too. And of course Pocahontas has Meeko.... I'm getting ahead of myself.

Ah, the beginning of Disney lessons through song.

The fact that Snow White refers to the cottage as a "doll house" makes me chuckle. Also, the fact that she's appalled by how messy it is makes me smile. Course, this also speaks to the time and the need for a Woman's Touch in a house full men. 

Pretty much the entire scene where Snow White cleans the cottage T and I blanked out for. We were sitting here trying to figure out the names of the Seven Dwarfs (it's kind of like trying to figure out the names of Santa's reindeer... there's always ONE you forget). 

T: Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy

Me: Sneezy

T: Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy...

Me: *Blank stare*

We didn't remember Bashful until Snow White goes upstairs and sees their names carved on the beds. Poor Bashful. Though T had a good point... "Maybe if he weren't so bashful, people would remember him..."

Another instance of me reading too far into things. If you work in a mine that looks like this:

Why do you live in a house with six other men? Ten minutes in there and you're rich. 

I think my two favorite characters in this movie are Dopey and the Turtle. Any animal that can fall down the stairs in rhythm to the background music has my vote. And Dopey... he's just too cute.

Also, the Dwarfs... not so great at sneaking around. Either their shoes are really loud, or their floorboards are out of control. Am I the only one who thinks Sneezy should probably have his sinuses looked at? If your sneeze can blow your brothers? housemates?... If your sneeze can blow six other men across the room, there's a problem. 

T: How has Snow White NOT woken up yet?

Me: Apparently she's a heavier sleeper than even you.

This whole scene also reminds me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, when the bears come home and discover Goldilocks asleep in their bed. 

I'm upset that Dopey has a voice when he screams. I mean, he can't talk otherwise but suddenly he makes a noise? I'm not really upset, just another observation for the filmmakers. 

Snow White just reminded me of Betty Boop. Something about the hair. I think I'm going crazy.

Maybe not.. T just agreed the voice reminds him too.

Grumpy talking about the Queen:"She's full of black magic! She can even make herself invisible!" 

"Does that mean I'm full of black magic too??"

I can definitely relate to how hard it is for Snow White to get the Dwarfs to clean up for dinner. Sometimes it's a fight with T, too (lol). But I think this just further underlines the differences in sex for the time period. I also wonder if the Seven Dwarfs are supposed to be representative of a typical man's personalities, personified and split into seven. Sorry, this is where my over analyzation from all those film classes starts to play in. 

I find it funny that Snow White goes from a situation where she's completely helpless (she's stuck under her evil stepmother) to suddenly being in charge. I understand that she had chores she had to do around the castle (or at least it's hinted at it), but I highly doubt she was down in the kitchens with the hired help making meals (she's not Cinderella, after all). But once she's thrown into the cottage with the helpless men, she gets it all together and takes charge of the household, all while making them feel as though they're still in charge. Thank god I wasn't born in a different time period. 

It makes me sad that when the Queen is making her poisoned apple and reads that love first kiss is the only anecdote, her first thought is of the Dwarfs. "The Dwarfs will think her dead!" Umm... lady, you saw Prince Charming singing to Snow White on the balcony. Let's have a little faith that the Fairest in the Land will be able to attract someone other than a little man. 

I love the scene where Snow White is saying goodbye to each of the dwarfs. I love that Grumpy acts up to his name and pretends to be put out by her, but in reality he's just as concerned about her as the others. Which makes me even more angry when SHE OPENS THE DAMN DOOR. Seriously! Even Grumpy told you to watch out!

T: That doesn't look sanitary. 

Me: Probably not. 

T: Seriously, gray pie dough?

Me: It's tinted with dirt from all the animals helping her. 

"Oh look, a tasty apple from a weird lady who seems more determined than normal to get me to eat it. Seems legit." 

T: STRANGER DANGER!!! STRANGER DANGER!!!!

Seriously, even the naive forest animals knew better.

T: Bitch, who's ever heard of a wishing APPLE? Wishing well, wishing lamps, wishing stones... 

(I think he's angry I'm making him watch it twice)

Also, is there nothing else going on in the kingdom that being the Fairest takes priority? 

I love when the movies use weather to help underline dramatic situations and feelings. It conveniently starts pouring down rain right as Snow White dies. Though, the lightning does come in handy since that's what actually kills the Queen. Well, that and the boulder. 

I'm sorry... but who goes around kissing corpses on the mouth? Whenever I go to a funeral with an open casket, I'm freaked out. Even with my two grandmothers, the closest I got to touching them is I kind of awkwardly patted the coffin next to their hands. So what we're saying here is that Prince Charming has a condition. Necrophilia. 

And they lived happily ever after... 

Sorry to anyone who might have just had "Snow White" ruined for them... But I do appreciate comments... too long of a commentary? Not enough? Like the pictures? Don't like them? Think I'm funny/rude/out of my mind? Let me know. 

Until next time.