Snow White and the Huntsman strive visually with awe-inspiring effects. Has a fantastic performance by the brilliant actress Charlize Theron as Ravenna and a great score. Then there is the lead, Kristen Stewart who is extremely miscast here as Snow White. She brings the epic film down big time with he awkwardness, which was interesting and different in the beginning of her career. Now it's just repetitive and stops the movie from being truly great.

The performances from Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth are the best of the bunch and pull you in right away. Kristen Stewart just doesn't have the charisma yet to be a leading lady in a summer blockbuster. Though you would think she would have it by now and I was rooting for her the whole time but she gave me nothing. The blank stares, lack of chemistry with most of the cast, I mean Lily Collins did miles better than her in Mirror, Mirror as Snow White. I really do think that Kristen Stewart is much better in those smaller independent films like The Yellow Handkerchief and Welcome To The Rileys. She seems much more comfortable in those type of roles than big ones like this.

Director, Rupert Sanders is off to an impressive if uneven start as a first time director. He has an artistic flare and delivers grand and haunting set pieces and divine atmospherics. He is definitely one to look out for, but too bad he chose Kristen Stewart to play the lead Snow White in this picture.

The story brings a new and intriguing dark spin on the classic fairytale, but has a lot of loose ends. The climax seemed rushed and unfinished, hinting at a sequel, which they are planning to do, though where will they go from here is kind of up in the air. I also think that some of the characters especially Snow White, didn't get a lot of powerful lines to do them justice. Kind of misguided.

The visual effects are a feast for the eyes, especially in the enchanting forest that was like out of a heavenly dream. The dark moments were also a view to behold. The film drives off it and should earn awards for it. A visual spectacle.

Overall, Snow White and the Huntsman came short of being a true classic thanks to the miscasting of Snow White and an uneven script and misguided story. It seemed self important that it came off as cold, distant and without spirit. Charlize Theron though steals the show with her powerful presence and performance as the evil queen. Chris Hemsworth gives another charismatic performance as the Huntsman and the visuals were brilliant but the protagonist just fell flat and was hard to connect to, which became a distraction to the quality of the film as a whole. See it for Charlize Theron and the visuals alone, otherwise wait for DVD.