Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Produced by: Ryan Kavanaugh, Bernie Goldmann, Brett Ratner, Kevin Misher
Starring: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer, Nathan Lane, Mare Winningham, Michael Lerner, Sean Bean
Music by: Alan Menken
Release date: March 30, 2012 (United States)

Plot: A widowed king marries an evil enchantress named Clementianna, who is the most beautiful woman in the land. One day, the king leaves to fight a great evil that has invaded the land, but never returns. Clementianna becomes Queen and rules in his absence, while confining her young stepdaughter, Snow White, to the palace. Ten years later, Snow White, now a young lady, desires to explore the kingdom and sneaks out. Walking through the forest, she meets the visiting Prince Andrew Alcott, a prince from the Kingdom of Valencia, who has been robbed by a band of Dwarves; she and the prince are instantly smitten with each other. Snow White arrives in the town, and finds the people are destitute due to the Queen's heavy taxation.

Meanwhile, Clementianna is introduced to Alcott and plans to marry him for his wealth. Clementianna throws a ball to woo the Prince, and Snow White secretly attends, planning to ask the prince to help her restore the kingdom. Clementianna notices Snow White and the prince dancing and orders her manservant Brighton to take the princess into the forest and feed her to the beast. Brighton leaves Snow White in the forest, but she runs away from the beast, collapsing at the door to the dwarves' hideout. The dwarves take her in and introduce themselves as Grimm, Butcher, Wolf, Napoleon, Half Pint, Grub, and Chuck. When Brighton collects more taxes levied by the queen to pay for her expensive parties, the dwarves rob him. Snow White takes the money and returns it to the townspeople, crediting the dwarves, whom the people hail as heroes.

Clementianna informs Alcott that Snow White is dead. When the prince finds out that the bandits have robbed Brighton, he goes after them. In the forest, Alcott discovers that Snow White is alive and in league with the dwarves, who have trained her in combat. Each believing the other to be in the wrong, Snow White and Alcott duel. Alcott returns to the palace defeated and informs the queen that Snow White is alive.

Review: Intriguing as it is, stories can take on new reflections and in themselves create new stories. This in the case with Mirror Mirror. I enjoyed watching this movie while traveling from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Sydney New South Wales. The fact that the person who I sat next to was a female Muslim who as soon as I sat down started frantically looking for another seat to move to. Then as the flight took place took every chance to make it known she hated me. She of course didd not know me. Nor did she ever take time to get to know me. All she had in mind was what a retributive scum she was tuck sitting next to. For her it was a trip of great discomfort

The story was amusing and constantly with it's surprises. The new slant on the old story was one that gave it new strength and vitality. Even the rather quaint Balliwood dance at the end was a refreshing new slant on the story. Sleeping beauty was given a new and revitalized personage. While the seven Dwarves where given new and more or less acceptably real personalities.

Over all the story was well crafted and presented. Ac fables go, this is one that would go well with the family. Watch and enjoy. Though you might want to share with the kids the story you had grown up with.

M J Flack