The Huntsman: Winter’s War Movie Review

By: Lynn Barker

If you saw Snow White and the Huntsman, ever wonder who hot huntsman Eric’s deceased wife was? And, is evil queen Ravenna really dead? In The Huntsman: Winter’s War, this and more will be clear. It’s a prequel and also a sequel to the 2012 film.

Queen Freya with her sister RavennaCourtesy of Universal Studios

Long Ago Evil

Long before Snow White (Kristen Stewart) entered the picture, evil sorceress Ravenna (Charlize Theron) learned that her younger sister Freya (Emily Blunt) had an affair with the Duke of Blackwood (Colin Morgan) and is carrying their child. When Freya gives birth to her daughter, the Magic Mirror predicts the baby girl’s beauty will surpass Ravenna's. Conveniently, the Duke makes sure this never happens and Freya, who has been suppressing her Elsa-like ice powers, kills him in a grief-fueled, dark magic rage.

Ravenna in the early daysCourtesy of Universal Studios

Child Army

Freya leaves the kingdom and creates an ice palace in the far north from where she wages war on neighboring kingdoms and steals their children to train as her hard-hearted, elite huntsmen army. When two of her most promising warriors Sara (Jessica Chastain) and Eric (Chris Hemsworth) fall in love (since Freya’s heart is ice, she forbids love of any kind) and swear vows as man and wife, she separates them, giving each a vision. Eric sees Sara die and she thinks he just walked away leaving her in danger.

Hot Huntsman Eric Courtesy of Universal Studios

Years Later

Seven years later, King William (Sam Claflin from the Snow White movie), tells Eric that Ravenna’s magic mirror was trying to control Show White so she sent it away with her men only it was stolen and the men are dead. William asks Eric to find and hopefully destroy the mirror. Eric is joined by dwarves Nion (Nick Frost) and his bro Gryff (Rob Brydon), allies of Snow White. Freya has secretly been watching everything through her cool “spy owl”.

Ravenna (bkg.) and Freya in their magic battleCourtesy of Universal Studios

Dangerous Journey

On their quest, the trio are attacked by a legion of Freya's huntsmen but are rescued by Sara whom Eric is dumbfounded to find alive. She hates him, thinking that he just walked away and abandoned her. The group is joined by female dwarves Bromwyn (Sheridan Smith) and Doreena (Alexandra Roach) whom Nion takes a real shine to. They find the mirror in the Sanctuary Woods in the possession of huge Goblins. They retrieve it but the gang is ambushed by Freya’s loyal huntsmen who take it. Has Sara betrayed Eric and the good guys?

Eric, Sara and the dwarves on their questCourtesy of Universal Studios

Freya’s Snow Fortress

Freya does the “Mirror, mirror on the wall” thing freeing Ravenna who has been trapped inside the mirror all along waiting to be freed. Eric sneaks into the castle but is captured by his fellow huntsmen. Freya realizes that Ravenna only loves herself and wants to rule all kingdoms, including hers!  Will the two queens duke it out with magic? Will Eric, Sara and dwarf friends survive? Who will win the magic battle and what secrets of the past will be revealed?

Freya in her kingdom of iceCourtesy of Universal Studios

The Huntsman: Winter’s War Trailer

Wrapping Up

The Huntsman: Winter’s War is beautiful to look at in production design, costuming and props. Coleen Atwood’s costumes are amazing. Great actresses Charlize and Emily are yummy as Ravenna and Freya. I wish there were more of their “Queen Off” magical battle. Charlize isn’t in much of the film.  Emily has few actual outbursts but you can see, just in her face, that she is barely holding it together whereas Charlize is just wacked-out nuts, power-mad and good at it. Jessica Chastain is fine in her part as Sara but she just doesn’t have too much to work with and Chris Hemsworth.. hey, as hot as ever!  Funnyman Nick Frost is humorous as dwarf-in-love Nion and it is a plus that the film has a bit more humor than Snow White and the Huntsman.

Ravenna threatens SaraCourtesy of Universal Studios

One can’t deny the obvious connection to Disney’s “Frozen”. Both films are based on the fairy tale “The Ice Queen” and the Freya/Elsa character comparison is a little disturbing. Not sure I buy the Sara/Eric romance as played by Jessica and Chris. They seem more buddies than lovers. Also, maybe more could be made of the interesting story development that Freya is conquering kingdoms then taking their children as basically forced-labor as she makes them become her soldiers. The film plays like three short movies back-to-back since each “section” really doesn’t flow well into the next.

Eric and Sara in a tender momentCourtesy of Universal Studios

If you are into fairytales, really cool costumes or are a Chris Hemsworth (wow, he’s gorgeous) fan, go see the film or, wait till it comes out on video. We go three stars.

The Huntsman: Winter’s War Movie Rating:

The Huntsman: Winter’s War PosterCourtesy of Universal Studios

The Huntsman: Winter’s War is in theaters now!

Have Your Say

Will you go see The Huntsman: Winter’s War in theaters or wait till it’s out on video? How much do you love fairytales? Leave a comment!