Disney’s Snow White was an absolute bust, pulling in a mere 43 million USD compared to the 230 million USD spent on the movie for opening weekend. It’s no secret that Disney’s live action films have only gone downhill the more they’re produced. While it’s hard to pinpoint when exactly the downfall began, especially since so many people disagree on it, I can point out what each movie got right and wrong, and how Snow White could be fixed.
Style of Filming
Snow White, like many of the other live action films Disney has produced, was filmed digitally rather than on film. This was likely due to the fact that film is more expensive than digital. In fact, 11 minutes of screen time filmed on film would cost roughly a few thousand dollars, changing based on the type of film and more. Digital is much cheaper, since filming with cameras and equipment purchased is typically less expensive than paying for strips of film.
However, Cinderella was filmed on film. Many can agree that Cinderella was more aesthetically pleasing than Snow White, and this is largely due to the type of filming used. Film, because it produces a grainy effect, automatically provides a softer, more fantasy-feeling to the movie, and digital makes everything look sharp and harsh on the eyes. This results in an automatic thought process of “this is fake” and makes everything feel more plastic-like. Great for The Barbie Movie, not great for a fairytale.
Coloring
Speaking of aesthetics, another thing people pointed out on social media was the coloring. This problem isn’t limited to Snow White either. Movies like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mulan suffered greatly from this, but in different ways. The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mulan were all severely desaturated, and felt too bland in terms of color, which may have resulted in Snow White’s issue in peculiar coloring. There are scenes that feel like the viewer is wearing colored glasses. It’s hard to make a movie feel real when everything is so… yellow. Or green or whatever color the lens is. It ruins any potential aesthetically pleasing scenes.
Movies that used color well are movies like The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, and once again, Cinderella. The colors are vibrant and bright, but not too harsh on the eyes. There are no (or minimal) tinted scenes. Belle and the Beast’s dance still feels magical, even with all the CGI used. Watching Mowgli run through the forest from Shere Khan is breathtaking. Ella arriving at the ball puts the audience in her glass slippers and adds a feeling of awe and wonder rarely experienced in real life. The coloring can determine whether or not a movie looks good. Too much and it looks ugly, too little and it looks bland. While Snow White is more vibrant than, say, Mulan, the vibrancy is forced and feels lazy because of the tinted lenses the world is filtered through.
Costumes
When making a fairytale, obviously the costumes aren’t realistic, but the audience wants them to be. This means the costume designer needs to find that right balance, where it wouldn’t be worn on a Wednesday, but someone would wear it if it were in style. Snow White’s dress is commonly considered a costume instead of a dress. People on social express their different views on why this is an issue. Some claim it’s the straight-cut waistline, others say it’s the coloring, or the fact the design diverts from the original in ways that feel cheap.
Cinderella, Maleficent, Beauty and the Beast, and of course, Cruella heard the word “costumes” but made outfits. Aurora’s dresses in Maleficent not only feel real, like they’d be worn by a real person. They also look nicer and fit Elle Fanning well. Plus, the coloring is well done, and the same can be said for Maleficent and her dresses. Belle’s dress stuck to the original version, but it still felt magical, and CGI was used for it! Cinderella’s dress feels like a ballgown made by magic, because that’s what it is. The shimmer on it made it feel like it was otherworldly, but it fit the actress well, and had a nice waistline. Then there’s Cruella. It was vital to get Cruella’s costumes right, considering the movie is based around the fashion industry. All the costumes can be perceived as fashion statements. Out of the ordinary, but not so out of place they feel forced or fake.
With designing costumes, the attention is in the details. The soft embroidery in Aurora’s dresses make it look like it was created by fairies. The different patterns in Cruella’s dresses make it look like she stitched it together for hours. Snow White’s dress looks like it was ripped off a page in a low-budget children’s book.
Changes Made
Changing the story can be touchy, especially with classics. You want to keep it relatively the same while also removing the outdated beliefs of the time. Snow White and sexism was a big deal. The only problem here is that it felt as though Disney was trying too hard to make a statement. Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella both have strong, female leads, but neither of their characters are overly feisty. Instead, Belle’s strength is in her mind and stubbornness. Cinderella’s is her kindness and beliefs. These are strengths real-world women have, and it’s communicated perfectly that just because you can’t physically fight, doesn’t mean you’re a damsel in distress.
Snow White’s strength felt forced. It was like Disney was saying: “Look at this strong and independent woman. She stands up for herself and doesn’t need anyone. She doesn’t want help and can do everything by herself!”
However, in the end, the final advice I can give is this: Disney should drop the remakes. Instead, look for original stories. Forget the past, no one wants another live action movie flop. There are so many people who have wonderful story concepts, and at this point, it just feels like Disney is fresh out of ideas.
