What I Learned From "Snow White and The Huntsman"

A recent topic of conversation on my local Christian radio station was the newly released "Snow White and The Huntsman."  The drive-time DJ read a review of the movie and then opened the phone lines for listener opinion.  I didn't hear him read the review; I didn't come into the "conversation" until caller participation had started.  You know, it doesn't take a whole lot of intelligence to share an opinion.  (Says she who shares her own quite frequently via Internet blog.)  The only thing required in this instance was access to a phone.  In this part of the world, that eliminates most inmates and of course, the Amish...beyond that, it's a free for all.  There's always one....ALWAYS one...who needs to stop before they start...but then if they did, what would I have for blog fodder???

Remember, I didn't hear the review, but after three years of listening to this station, I'd be hard pressed to believe that this DJ or any of the others would purposely say anything on-air that would be dishonorable or would besmirch the station's reputation.  Word vomit happens...you sit in a chair, in front of a mic for five hours...talking to fill up airspace and see how well you do.  Right...I'd last the first hour, TOPS, before I was asked to turn in my headset and snappy radio name...something feisty like Ginger or Piper or Dixie.  I digress....back to the caller.  This one particular listener stated that she had not seen the movie, nor did she intend to.  Her purpose for calling was to reprimand the DJ for reading this particular review.  She thought it was offensive and highly inappropriate and said that if her mother had been in the car with her, she'd have been so embarrassed for her mama to hear what was said.  She was not loving, she was not gracious, she was not tactful.  She was rude...on air, which I wonder if she realized just how far this station broadcasts and just how many people were auditory witnesses to her public tirade.  To his credit, Mr. DJ was everything this caller wasn't.  He was gracious and humble and accepting of the tongue lashing that had been heaped upon him.  He didn't write the review...he was simply reading it.  The words that she found so offensive were key elements to the story of "Snow White"...witch, trickery, murder, evil, black magic, spells, potion.  Even in its most innocent Disney form, all of these elements are present.  I'm guessing it's been awhile since Sister Snipesalot has seen "Snow White." 

I went to see SWATH and I enjoyed it.  Would I recommend it for little kids...nope.  I might have taken Y1, if he had been interested, but he wasn't.  It was a good, modern retelling of the classic fairy tale.  Here are some of the things that jumped out at me...if you haven't seen it and are planning on it, don't read any further...I don't want to ruin it for you.

  • A mother's dreams for her child start before the child is even born.  Snow's mother wished for her daughter to have certain physical characteristics, as well as "the strength of that rose."  During a winter walk through the garden, the queen saw a rose in bloom and understood that rising above one's circumstances and being true to self, despite how hard things get, is a mark of great inner strength.  Gee...that sounds nearly Biblical!  Oh, wait...it is...check out Hebrews 12:1-3.
  • We are often shaped, or misshapen, by circumstances beyond our control.  For some, rising above the hurt, letting go of the past never happens.  These people stay on a life long path of bitterness and anger.  They can only be happy or satisfied when those around them are suffering and will go to great lengths to ensure that it does. They become intent on stealing, killing and/or destroying any bit of joy or happiness that might exist.  Hmmm....that sounds Biblical, too!  Guess what?  IT IS!!  Read John 10:10 and 1 Peter 5:8.  When you watch the movie, you will see the background on Snow's step-mama, Ravenna.  Ms. Charlize Theron absolutely chews up the screen in her performance as the Evil Queen.  I hope that she's just a phenomenally gifted actress and doesn't actually have a personal relationship with this kind of anger!
  • All that glitters is NOT gold.  Pretty is as pretty does.  Outer beauty can't hold a candle to the beauty that comes from a heart that is filled with courage and compassion. Proverbs 31:30
  • Looking at the world around you, with the green eyes of that monster called Envy will bring ruination upon your life quicker than you can say "Bob's your uncle!"  Envy, aka Jealousy, doesn't travel alone.  Never more than a few steps behind are pride, self centeredness and discontentment.
  • There is evil in this life.  There is also good in this life.  And until the very end of time, the two will be in a constant state of struggle.  Even in what seems the darkest, we must persist and never give-up.  The greatest evil is in losing hope and surrendering the battle. 
  • Love is a powerful thing.  I'm not necessarily talking about the romantical kind of love, either.  Love...of life, of humanity, of creation...just love.  Without love, there is no hope...without hope...well, there is nothing. 
  • My favorite scene in the movie is at the very end...when Snow and Ravenna have their final showdown.  Ravenna would very much like the heart of her step-daughter...it will give her the youthful immortality that she she so desperately wants.  Snow has won the day..."only by fairest blood undone"...and she says to the dying Ravenna..."You cannot have my heart!"  That just struck me.  Not just a physical denial, but a spiritual one..."You cannot have my joy.  You cannot have my peace.  You cannot have my hope.  You cannot have my life." 
This is a fairy tale.  Everyone knows that you cannot have a good fairy tale without good and evil.  They define each other.  You cannot have a fairy tale without magic and mayhem.  It just won't work.  Without the magic and mayhem, it's just a story and is too much like reality.  I'm sorry that Sister Snipesalot got her nose out of joint over that movie review.  My advice to her would be not to see the movie since she has such strong objections to it.  I would also advise her to think twice before calling the radio station and broadcasting her ignorance all over the listening area.  As well, I would also encourage her to dig into her Bible a little deeper.  When she does, she might find stories involving murder, evil queens and oh, a particularly interesting story about a certain baby that was conceived outside the bonds of holy matrimony.

But then again, maybe she'd find those stories offensive, too!

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