"You Can't Have My Heart": A Review of Snow White and the Huntsman

SPOILER ALERT

Prepare for a dark twist on the classic fairy tale.

Rupert Sanders' updated version of the fair-skinned beauty with dark hair is entertaining, twisted, eerie, and an altogether interesting viewing.

The usual elements are there - we have a wicked queen, Ravenna, played to the hilt by Charlize Theron, who has tricked her way into the kingdom. Her dark power, shape-shifting, and penchant for sucking the youth out of the local women keeps the kingdom in a state of fear and starvation. We have the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), a man who is grieving the death of his wife by drinking and getting in pub fights. Ravenna hires him to track Snow White into the Forbidden Forest. And with that, of course, we have Snow White, Ravenna's stepdaughter and rightful heir to the throne, played by a surprisingly-alert Kristen Stewart. This is one damsel-in-distress who is much more than we're led to believe, and as the film builds we find out more about her OWN supernatural power.

Visually, the film is a feast. Sanders grants viewers sweeping views of hillsides, castles, and forbidden forests only to zoom in and note three single drops of blood falling to the ground. Ravenna's dresses are stunning in their detailing. The special effects involving Ravenna's dialogue with her golden mirror are spectacular - pay special attention to the techniques used to "age" and "de-age" the Queen. The trek inside the Forbidden Forest might bother younger viewers, as there are a number of hallucinations, but these are pretty well-executed.

Charlize is perfectly cast as the wicked queen who will go to whatever lengths necessary - including bathing in milk and eating the hearts of birds - to preserve her beauty. The director gives us a tiny flashback to explain her desperation, and we start to understand the insecure girl behind the witch. It may have been more effective to keep Ravenna a cold beauty who seldom flies off the handle, as evil under control is sometimes more frightening than constant explosions, but it's done effectively.

Kristen Stewart's acting is on par - I was pleasantly surprised by her English accent. You won't find much Bella Swan here (although a certain scene involving Snow White and a rather nasty troll gave me New Moon flashbacks). The film sets her character up to be a shrinking violet but uses devices such as dwarves and fairies to show that she's much more powerful than we'd expect. Snow becomes more and more a Christ-figure of sorts, as she's persecuted by Ravenna for her beauty and purity of heart and people who remain in her presence find all their aches and maladies mysteriously vanish. As one dwarf puts it, "She is life itself. She will heal our land." The Christ-parallel is finally realized as Snow is killed by Ravenna (using a poisoned apple, of course) only to resurrect a short time later as a strong, courageous warrior who leads her people in a final revolt against Ravenna.

Overall the film is strong, but the pacing was the biggest concern. Between sword fights that are drawn out and dwarves who are fun, interesting supporting characters but are given far too much screen time, you're left wondering "what was the point?" There's also an odd encounter between Snow White and a white stag for which we're given no context. There's a massive swell in the music, slow-motion camera work, ... and suddenly it has the feeling of the Pevensie children meeting Aslan for the first time. We're not told who this stag is or why he's "blessing" Snow... it's a drive-by plot point. Those should be outlawed. Snow and the Huntsman develop some attraction to each other but it isn't quite flushed out, which I think was a smart choice. After all, it's not a love story.

The themes of the film speak largely about the definition and price of beauty, redemption, purity etc. The message of the film appears to be that true beauty comes from our character. When we offer our true God-given beauty, not just as women but as people, it's healing and freeing rather than manipulative and draining. I was also reminded of the ways that we as people feed off of each other to build up our own value. How often do we push others out of the way in order to build our own images? It's a chilling tale, but one that needs to be told. Because of some partial nudity (the Queen's naked back), scary hallucinations, and drinking, as well as other mature themes, I wouldn't recommend young children see it. But if you can stomach a fairy tale spin on our modern beauty-driven society, highly recommended.

-Grace Marita

To Follow Actively

We're called to be active in faith. This has come from many mouths of many friends, pastors, book characters, and dancers in my life in the past several weeks, which usually means God's trying to show me a new dynamic in my walk with Him.

Really. Dancers?

:) Yup. I love that God uses so many things to teach us about Himself and draw us into Who He Is and how we're designed to relate to Him.

Last month I was part of a group that got dressed up in 1940s-era clothing and went to a MASSIVE swing dance in South St. Paul that was being held in an airplane hangar.

Yes, it was just as fun as it sounds.

I'm not a frequent swing-dancer by any means... but I do fall into the category of women who have that long-held fantasy of being whirled around the dance floor by a strong dance partner, high heels clicking and long flowing dress twirling. The night didn't disappoint. Every woman in our group was approached by several different men. (Thumbs up, assertive guys!!) I didn't know what I was doing half the time, but I learned eventually to follow where my partner was leading and trust him to catch me in a dip. The night ended on a high note, despite the rain and the hangar losing power for a bit.

My good friend (and great dancer, let's be honest) Jenna was at the dance, and the next night she decided to show us new steps. She took each girl in turn and demonstrated how to follow actively.

Wait a sec. Doesn't following mean that you go where he leads? Period, that's it? That's how I learned submission, anyway... Keep your head down, your mouth shut, and have no independent thoughts.

Not quite. We play a vital role! At times the woman needs to put her weight on the man in a certain way in order to make the spins tighter and the steps faster. If the man starts to spin the woman out, and she misses a signal and goes flying off into the crowd, it doesn't look pretty. I speak from experience :) Over the course of our impromptu dance lesson my perspective completely changed. Ladies, we're not called into marriage to be shrinking violets or limp partners. We have God-given strength as women, and we're called to be engaged with our faith walks, our ministries - or husbands. What does it mean to follow actively - it means being awake, in the moment, using our spiritual weight to offset and support our husbands! When two are moving in sync, with give and take and a sense of direction, that's the divine dance. And in fact, that's how we trust God as well. We lean on Him, trusting His direction and leading, and when He spins us out we can trust that He'll bring us back in. I like knowing that I fumble, drop things, trip over nothing at times, and He still takes my hand and brings me in for another spin. There's nothing I can do that will make God want to switch partners.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3)

Lean on HIS understanding. Not yours. Not mine. Lean on the love of a Father who saves us and then calls us to get involved!! There's nothing you can do that cause God to give up on you. If He's set His love on you, it's on you to stay. Wow. What a joy. What a powerful active God we have the privilege to follow! *Rock-step.*  Amen.

Golden-Brown Ink

Psalm 33 - Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
                 for praise from the upright is beautiful.


"What do you think?" she asked me. I looked down at my hand and tilted it slightly, to see the entire pattern. A beautiful flower wound up my wrist, adorned with petals, dots, and swirls.

"Beautiful! I love it!" I replied happily. It was my first time getting a henna tattoo, and Becca had done an amazing job. I've always admired artistic people, especially those who can pick up a brush, a pencil, or a camera, and create magic. This definitely fell under that category.

It had been a perfect girls' night, with cooking, chai tea, watching a movie, and just being with a group of my closest girlfriends. This artwork was the icing on the cake. One of my friends rose and left the living room, returning a moment later with a damp piece of tissue. "Here, what you do is you blot the ink with a wet cloth, and that lets the ink get more moisture and spread out more on your skin." I took the tissue from her and blotted gently, afraid it might smear the ink. The design was already starting to crack, and I was afraid it wouldn't last the night. Would there be any evidence it was there in the first place?

After everyone had left a few hours later, I cleaned up a bit and headed for the bathroom to wash my hands. I tried to be careful and avoid the ink, but it started chipping almost immediately.

A sudden sadness was replaced immediately by surprise and delight. "Oh!!" As the dark brown goo washed off my skin, the design lingered underneath in a faint pattern. The flower remained. The petals remained. The dots and swirls lingered! The evidence of Becca's handiwork was still there!

I immediately thought of the people we surround ourselves with - or rather, the people God puts in our lives. Each and every person we come in contact with leaves an imprint on us. Sometimes it's a harsh jagged line, sometimes it's a tiny dot that no one else can see, and sometimes it's a vibrant beautiful pattern that stays with us as a constant reminder of the time we spent with them, and the joy that followed. When we get "inked," so to speak, the rough exterior of our design is chipped away by our Maker over time, revealing a gorgeous pattern underneath. And we change. We grow. We learn to appreciate the impact that others have had on us, because God uses different relationships to shape who we are.

Life is beautiful. God is faithful. What imprint are you leaving on the people around you?

Be In Awe of Beauty

I Stand in Awe LYRICS

Item #  M4030-05-58

By Mark Altrogge

These lyrics accompany the song I Stand In Awe from the I Stand In Awe album.

Lyrics

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

© 1986 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Remember the Turtle

Carefully I move the framed photos and cards off my dresser. Dust flies everywhere - I hadn't touched these items in awhile, admittedly - as I make space for a large crystal lamp. As I lift the heavy object up onto my dresser, the hanging crystals gently clink together and create music. Music to my ears.

Now that the lamp is situated, I can return the cards and photos to their places. As I dust each item and put it back, one of them catches my eye. It's a beautiful mahogany music box SHE left me. There's a layer of dust on the lid - a twinge of guilt hits me - she wouldn't like to see it sitting unused on a shelf.

I clean the dust off and feel nostalgic. It's been three years - but still, I miss her. As I open the lid, memories flood back. She used to say "Oh dear" after laughing at something. Sometimes I got to ride in the car next to her, in between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. She was always a smart dresser. She loved her husband. She once told my sister her shoes were "sexy."

It's nearly midnight and I don't want to disturb the people on the other side of the wall, but I really want to see if the music box still plays. I turn it over to find the wind-up... and another memory hits me like a ton of bricks.

We visited their apartment often for an afternoon of swimming in the pool, watching golf on TV, and playing Norwegian poker. At some point during every visit, normally when Grandpa fell asleep in his chair, I would end up in their bedroom gazing down at a tiny turtle statuette on their side table.

I loved that trinket. If you could wind it up, the turtle would move, but my fingers were too little and weak to do it. I would bring her into their room and point at the turtle, begging her to wind it for me, which she almost always did. One day I remember she wound it so many times, a small dent appeared in her thumb.

Grandma was a woman of faith. She loved her family, went to church faithfully, and was a wonderful companion to her husband. I think of Titus 2 when I think of her.

Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine... that the older women be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. (v. 1-3)

 My grandmother to a tee. She taught that family was important, that fellowship with believers was crucial, that it was good to laugh.

I wind the music box and listen to the melody of a Schubert piece fill my bedroom. I weep. I tell myself I'll see her again soon.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes - and for me, for nineteen years, it came in the form of a tiny white-haired woman named Marian.

- Grace Marita

Haiyophi

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

Let's dissect, shall we?

Proverbs 31:30. Very well-known within the church, to be sure. I'd venture most women my age have this verse written on a notecare and taped to their mirror. I don't, but after doing some reading from http://studylight.org/, maybe I should. Here's what Adam Clark wrote in his commentary regarding Prov. 31:30.

Charm is deceptive...

"1. Favour, chen, grace of manner may be deceitful, many a fair appearance of this kind is put on, assumed for certain secular or more unworthy purposes; it is learned by painful drilling in polished seminaries, and, being the effect of mere physical discipline, it continues while the restraint lasts; but it is sheker, a lie, a mere semblance, an outward varnish. It is not the effect of internal moral regulation; it is an outside, at which the inside murmurs; and which, because not ingenuous, is a burden to itself. "

And beauty is fleeting...

"2. Beauty, haiyophi, elegance of shape, symmetry of features, dignity of mien, and beauty of countenance, are all hebel, vanity; sickness impairs them, suffering deranges them, and death destroys them."

But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

"3. 'But a woman that feareth the Lord,' that possesses true religion, has that grace that harmonizes the soul, that purifies and refines all the tempers and passions, and that ornament of beauty, a meek and quiet mind, which in the sight of God is of great price-

She shall be praised.
This is the lasting grace, the unfading beauty."

WOW. There's a lot here, but let me just focus on a few key points.

 - A woman who fears the LORD possesses true religion. See James 1:27.
 - Physical beauty, referred to here as haiyophi, also includes symmetrical features. The very thing that I sought after is the very thing that will fade with time.. meaning even if I achieved symmetry it would be gone in a matter of decades.
 - Clark writes that charm can be deceptive because it's often put on for "secular or more unworthy purposes." As women, we don't always seek to manipulate with our charm. But other times our need to control rises up and combines with our fear of God not coming through for us, and we use it for "more unworthy purposes." That's why it's deceiving! Because sometimes it's manipulative, and sometimes it's not!

Here's what being a Proverbs 31 woman comes down to. Are we fueled by joy in our own fleeting haiyophi - or in God's?

- Grace Marita

Do You See It?

"Do you see it, honey? Do you see the rainbow?"

It had been pouring rain for the last half hour or so. When that happens, people tend to stay away from the Recycling Zone. The idea of standing in the rain unloading pesticides and computers from your car doesn't sit well with most customers, and today was no different.

Finally there was a break in the clouds, and bright sunbeams came in through the windows. I stepped outside in my uniform and leaned against a post to get some fresh air. That's when I saw it - a beautiful vibrant display of the promise of God spread across the eastern sky. I smiled, remembering the words of YHWH from Genesis.

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth... and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. - 9:13, 16

A few hundred feet away, a man was unloading chemicals from his car while his daughter stood by the car. I watched as he stopped suddenly, knelt next to his little girl and pointed towards the sky, saying, "Do you see it, honey? Do you see the rainbow?" 

This father took time to show his daughter the beauty of the world God created; otherwise she might have missed it. It made me smile and thank God in that moment. Our heavenly Father does that too; when we are too worried or distracted to see the beauty in everyday life, He'll kneel beside us and whisper, Do you see it, honey? Do you see the rainbow?

Pray that God will open your eyes to His wonders. And this Father's Day weekend, I pray that you'll thank our Heavenly Father for your earthly one.

How have you seen the rainbow this week?


- Grace Marita