Snow White (1987)

I've always loved fairy tales as a child, "Snow White" believe it or not isn't one of my favorates but that's just me, though I do really like the story. It really supprised me when I discovered how many live action versions of this tale there were, which shows how timeless this tale is. Yeah just like in an apple tree there are some bad apples/ bad adaptations of this tale but there are also good ones and this is one of them.This film is kinda another one of my childhood gems, I mainly saw this on home video in my second grade class and I really liked it. Watching it as an adult I still like it, what can I say I really have a soft spot for this movie.Supprising fact of this film it was from the Cannon film company which is one of my favorate movie companies as their famous for their series of action films. I honestly didn't expect them to try their hand in the fantasy genre, but most movie companies always try to branch out which I like showing that they can do more. This was a volume in this series of live action adaptions of fairy tales, this volume I honestly feel is the best one in my book.Not much to say, production value is pretty good despite the limited budget Cannon as usual works with I felt they really did will with what they had, the set pieces and costumes are all up to par, even certain effects (though not many but Snow White was never an effects show) are on par because it's all practical no CGI bull crap.Music is soild though not that memorable which is the weak point of the film, don't get me wrong the songs are fun but not exactly the kind I would play on my Ipod over and over, but that's me. Though I really did like the one song that Sarah Patterson sings, I was really supprised she could actually sing, and it's a beautiful voice.But I think what really sticks out are in the performances. Diana Rigg is soild as the Evil Queen, and yes I have seen "The Avengers" really like that show. She's a villan you love to dislike or even plan dislike as she really presses that wrong button; as usual is vein, narsistic, self centered, she's kinda funny there are bits of dry humor.The Dwarves are really good too, just like in the Disney version each of them have some distinctive personalities . Though what's interesting is each of them have all different names that rymme. It kinda makes sense they would all have different names than the one's from the Disney version since in the original fairy tale none of them had any names. Billy Barty is one of them whom is defiantly no stranger to the fantasy genere as he was also in "Willow" and the underrated "Masters of the Universe".But my favorate of course is Sarah Paterson as Snow White. When I was a kid I had the biggest crush on this actress she just radiates gogiousness, she to me is one of my favorate live action versions of Snow, she just fits the role like a glove, not just in looks but in performance as she captures the persona which is sweet, kind, but also slightly naïve and inexperienced with the outside world as she's lived a sheltered life most of her life but has like any person coming of age to get outside their comfort zone and see the world and find love. I do like from how the tale and performences are executed, despite predictable I actually found myself caring about what happens in the story and Snow herself hoping things will turn out right for her and get the life she deserves. Overall, if your looking for some really good live action versions of the classic fairy tale, this vintage version is one to check out; just like the tale itself it's timeless.Rating: 3 and a half stars

The most famous adaptation of Snow White, and the one that will always be my favourite, is the classic 1937 Disney film. This 1987 Cannon Movie Tales adaptation is not in the same league, but for low budget this is pretty good and is one of the better Cannon Movie Tale films.Snow White (1987) does have a few problems, with the biggest problem being some of the pacing, the film does drag at times with scenes that go on a little too long. This is particularly true of the scene in the woods, necessary but goes on too long and devoid of terror, it was a scene that was terrifying in the Disney film but is pretty interminable here, and it is further disadvantaged by the fake-looking animal stock footage. The low budget does show in the costumes (like with most of Cannon's film, with Beauty and the Beast being a notable exception), with some of the Queen's costumes like her horrendously kitschy disguises being particularly hideous and do not flatter Diana Rigg at all (one may argue that it suited the type of character, this viewer would argue that they don't do anything for a character who is meant to be one of the most beautiful women in the land). There are a few spots where the humour, courtesy of the Dwarfs' slapstick pratfalls, is a touch out of place as well, though most of it is very amusing and endearing.However, generally Snow White is one of Cannon's better-looking films, with some of their most lavish set design, especially the Queen's bedroom and the scary forest setting, and very rustic and beautifully lit photography. The make-up is also good, and there is a visually and dramatically imaginative touch with the Queen's demise at the end (see it for yourself, it is one of the most imaginatively done demises for any villain in a Cannon Movie Tales film). The incidental music is enchantingly whimsical, and the songs are lively and catchy, can listen to them all again with little problem. It's wittily and charmingly scripted, with a light touch without dissolving into over-cutesiness and a darker one without being traumatising, like the Disney film there are a couple of emotional parts like the aftermath of the poisoned apple. The story while not as dark as the Grimm version is still more faithful generally in detail and spirit than Disney's version, which some may like. While there are pacing issues it's not the case like The Emperor's New Clothes or The Frog Prince where the film is trying to extend a short story to feature length and not quite succeeding, Snow White's story is very strong and actually has a good amount happening.Performances are good, with a sweet Nicola Stapleton and a radiant and touchingly innocent Sarah Patterson as younger and older Snow White. The dwarfs do amuse, with the most memorable being Billy Barty, have sweet personalities and you can at least tell who's who. Diana Rigg is great sinister fun as the Queen with wonderfully arch delivery, and steals the show quite easily. The prince has very little screen time, but James Ian Wright gives the role a lot of poise and charm. All in all, not bad at all for a low budget Snow White adaptation, and one of Cannon's better outings. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Cannon Movie Tales were a low budget string of films that had remarkably big stars in them, but were really much too corny for most people's taste. I highly urge everyone to avoid the clunky adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast". The only other one I've seen is "Snow White", which is marginally better... but that's damning with faint praise, considering this version of "Snow White" isn't particularly good and has a considerable list of faults.Take, for instance, Snow White and the Prince's meeting. He meets her right after she is awakened from the poisoned apple (instead of a revitalizing kiss, the piece is jostled out of her mouth). Instead of a courtship, they immediately marry in what is easily the most joyless and mechanical wedding to ever appear in a children's film. Neither couple looks remotely happy. It could be because they haven't had a properly dated; but then, when has that ever been important in fairy tales? Couldn't one of them at least crack a hint of a smile? As the Evil Queen, Diana Rigg seems to channel Gloria Swanson from "Sunset Boulevard". In every scene Rigg was in, I waited with baited breath to hear her say, "All right, Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up!" Rigg also has a dreadful musical number (and the poor dear can't sing a note) and an appallingly hideous wardrobe. We're talking foot-high headdresses and shapeless, sequined tunics. Don't you think someone as vain as the Queen would be a little more fashion savvy than this? The editing is also inexcusably poor. When little Snow White (Nicola Stapleton) is running from the hunter trying to kill her, there are random, stock footage close-ups of animals that play no part in the scene whatsoever, like the lingering shot of a python that has no payoff at all. And for such a climactic, pivotal scene, it was rather boring and ineffective.The dwarfs are at least partially amusing, acting like a bunch of aging vaudevillians, and painfully attractive brunette Sarah Patterson ("The Company of Wolves") plays Snow White. She brings nothing new to the part, but since Snow White isn't supposed to be interesting, that's to be expected.Normally, I write reviews warning people against bad movies. However, this version of "Snow White" is worth a watch for its corny screenplay, bad acting, and some of the most ridiculous sequences ever. Remember when I mentioned the poisoned piece of apple coming out of Snow White's mouth? It actually flies out of her mouth, in a hilarious, bad blue screen effect, and soars through the sky and hits the Evil Queen in the head. Words fail me.Grab a movie buddy and have a some MST3K-style quips ready for this delightfully campy fairy tale.

Diana Rigg IS the evil queen.The songs"Were am I going","Beautiful Hair",and "Every Day" should have been in every version of Snow White ever.The queen's disquises are wonderful.The first one was terrible.Anyone could tell it was her.The others were strange.She even dresses up as a chinese woman once.Of course the old woman is one.She uses that one with the apples.Sarah Patterson is as beautiful as Snow White ever could be.I strongly recommend buying a copy.IF your store has it rent it.Go NOW GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!