Disney And Snow White Comparison

The movie Mirror Mirror is based off of the classic Disney movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The story follows Snow White as she lives with her evil stepmother who becomes jealous of Snow’s kind heart and innocent looks that make her the fairest of them all. Within the modern interpretation, the storyline takes on a new perspective that molds the characters to have different traits than the original. Even though the basic concept remains, the fact that the creators tweaked each personality results in a more intense and adventurous story. Disney fans will be drawn to this movie because not only does it add more life to a classic fairytale and gives the characters a stronger personality, but is also ties in other Disney fairytales into the details. Feminism is also viewed in this film, and creates a healthy balance

of women taking charge as well as nurturing others. These two perspectives are most prominent in Mirror Mirror, and help add a new understanding to this Disney classic.

Disney fans can range from young elementary students to the elderly, but a true disney fan has seen and can appreciate the classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Bambi, and Peter Pan. They watch the film not just to entertain themselves, but to take in all the messages that lie behind the animation and characters. For example, in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs one of the underlying messages is that good will always overcome evil, but sometimes you have to be content while struggling through the darkness in order to get to the light. Disney fans will pick apart the movie in order to understand the characters and setting, researching facts that happen behind the screen and the process of animation and filming.

Disney fans will de drawn to Mirror Mirror because of the overall twist.

While classics are always cherished, Walt Disney always had a wonderful imagination that took him far and brought new life to the film industry. He took classic tales and made them into family movies that all ages would enjoy. The original version of Snow White tells a darker story, one that would not have been accepted as well as the version that Disney created. Grimm’s version of Snow White depicts the queen as more of a mad and disturbing woman rather than a evil witch. In the original tale, the queen cooks what she thinks is Snow’s heart and eats it in triumph. Once she learns of the truth, the then finds Snow White and pulls the laces on her dress so tight that the girl falls over, seemingly dead. In the end, the queen is invited to Snow’s wedding where she had prepared red-hot iron shoes and the evil stepmother danced herself to death. Walt Disney took this tale and changed it of the better, receiving much praise and standing ovation at its first showing. Disney fans will appreciate Mirror Mirror as yet another wonderful retelling of Walt Disney’s first ever animated

film.

The story is viewed from the evil queen’s perspective, and viewers get to enjoy the vain and self-absorbed comments that make the story more humorous and lighthearted. Whereas in the original story the queen was pure evil and wicked, this version gives her a stronger personality that captures the audience. Her Marie-Antoinette inspired clothing reflects her large and profligate personality, and the fact that Snow is more simple makes the queen look even more flamboyant. Fans of the classic tale can enjoy seeing the story from a new perspective, one that adds life and personality to a character that was otherwise a generic portrayal of evil.

Disney fans will also appreciate references to other well loved Disney classics that are scattered throughout the story, almost as if they are hidden pieces that add to the whole picture. Disney often leaves pieces of other movies in each film, sometimes linking different stories together. For example, in The Lion King Zazu jokes about making Mufasa’s brother Scar into “a very handsome throw rug. When watching Hercules Disney takes that line and makes it come true, by turning Scar into one of Hercules’ throw rugs. In Mirror Mirror there are similar instances. The mysterious and dark monster that terrorizes the tows is referred to as “the beast” and can be linked to Prince Adam’s curse in Beauty and the Beast. One of the most amusing lines comes from Brighton when he releases Snow White. The actor Nathan Lane was the voice of Timon form The Lion King, and in the movie Scar warns Simba by saying, ” Run! Run far away..” Nathan uses that line from the first movie that he was known for, and now says it himself as he warns Snow White to run far away form the queen.

Feminists will enjoy Mirror Mirror through the mocking of societies beauty standards as well as the empowered female characters who prove that the role of the protagonist and antagonist can be portrayed by women as well as men. Feminists are a people who seek out equality. They want society to come to a place where the word feminist swill not have a need, because no matter what gender a person is they will be accepted and praised for their strengths in any field and not be limited due to their sex. In Mirror, Mirror the standards that women used to have to go through in order to be accepted as beautiful are portrayed as a nuisance, Snow White being the most beautiful as her natural self. The story also defies the the general concept of the female character having one emotion and role throughout the whole movie. The evil queen goes through many different emotions and shows off her light side after having gave the puppy love potion to the prince, and then showing her snippy serious side when ordering Snow White to leave and return to her prison of a room. Throughout the movie there are many points where society’s standards are defied and it gives the movie a new perspective that will encourage any and all feminists.

The queen’s scheme to host a ball in order to dazzle the young prince becomes a mockery of what is considered socially beautiful and breathtaking. While balls are usually filled with rustling fabric and sparkling colors, the evil queen creates a pure white atmosphere where nearly all of the wealthy are hidden behind masks as she parades in her proud, red peacock costume. Instead of the women being portrayed as beautiful swans and butterflies, each costume represents an animal that is not normally seen as sweet and charming such as pig, walrus, cockroach, and more. The white room is deceiving as beautiful at first, until you look closer and observe the animals that it contains. Feminists will be drawn to this scene because it reflects what society is trying to make. At first glance they want everyone to seem beautiful and all alike, but as you dig deeper the true colors show through people’s attempts to create something that they’re not. The queen’s beauty ritual shows the absurdity that women used to go through in order to seem pleasing and maintain that generic beauty, such as stinging their lips to make them fuller or using the droppings of birds to prevent aging. Snow White is the only character that displays her beauty naturally, and stands out because of it. While the queen has multiple costumes of extravagant shapes and colors, Snow’s costumes are based off of her personality and environment.

Snow White also defies stereotypes by learning to take charge and create a mind of her own. In the beginning of the film she is told what to do and think by the evil queen, until a wise maid advises her to see for herself and make her own decision. This small but crucial act forces Snow White to look beyond others words and begin to take a stand for what she views is right, no matter what forces come against her. When cast out due to her vision, she works hard to gain skills needed to succeed. Once she meets and befriends the dwarfs Snow begins to train in combat. Although in the beginning she stumbles and becomes frustrated, by then end she is able to hold her own and continues on her way to claiming her rightful throne. She saves the prince more than once, and proves that women can become the rescuers without the need of a man swooping in to save her. Not only does she take bak the kingdom, but she also takes back her voice and becomes a new character though her adventure. Before she had a very submissive temperament, but by the end she is able to voice her opinions. An example would deb when she stands up for the dwarfs after they confided that the town had cast them out due to their preconceived view of their kind. Snow White’s demeanor changes as she boldly stands up and shows the true light of the men, gaining them the respect and love that they had wished for. Mirror, Mirror creates a world where feminism isn’t needed. Young princesses can become bandits and then create a life of their choice instead of obeying what the stereotypes limited them to.

The Disney audience was most interesting to view Mirror Mirror from because there were big similarities as well as discrete phrases to other Disney movies as well as real life events. The dwarfs may have differed from the original group, but the way they react throughout the movie strongly resembles the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In the original film the men are miners, who journey each day to the caves in order to collect valuable gems. The modern interpretation takes that and adds a twist, having them steal the precious valuables from any rich passerby. Viewing Mirror Mirror through the eyes of a Disney fan opens up new doorways that lead to other loved movies and gives a sense of adventure while enjoying the modern twist on a beloved Disney classic.