MovieChat Forums > The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016) Discussion > Better than the first film

Better than the first film

posted 9 years ago by olla
73 replies | jump to latest

Personally I found this a more satisfying watch. Full of fun action sequences, cute quips and a whole lot of costume porn. Jessica Chastain was a great addition and Emily Blunt is a very interesting ice queen. It's the only film (that I can think of) that is both a prequel and a sequel, but somehow totally works as a standalone.

I am a little surprised by all the negative reviews from critics. To each their own.

I'd recommend it if you like action adventure movies with a bit of romance and comedy sprinkled in.

[–] isundling 9 years ago

Not according to the critics nor the box office.

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[–] chrishayes737 8 years ago

So ? I think a lot of people think the same - stuff the critics ....

[–] tlm557 9 years ago

You must be insane. This is the lamest most boring piece of crap that I've seen in quite a while

[–] olla 9 years ago

sure

[–] rdongoodman 8 years ago

I sadly agree. Not having to look at Kristen Stewart with her mouth wide open all the time was a plus, but I was shocked at how bad the plot was.

[–] Viktorkrumnemesis 9 years ago

I fully agree with you.

[–] olla 9 years ago

Cool, I'm glad I'm not totally alone in my preference. I think I liked it better because it was a pretty original story while Snow White needed to follow the beats of the fairy tale, even with it's grittier take.

[–] isundling 9 years ago

I felt it was just a different take on the same story...the "suits" thought the background story of the Hunstman and the Queen would be interesting...guess not.

[–] olla 9 years ago

It takes all sorts. I'd just rather watch Winter's War, over the Snow White story. I thought it was interesting, and the female dwarves were fun and added a cute little romantic sub-plot and some good little quips back and forth.

The relationship between Freya and Ravenna was well acted. To me Freya was a more compelling 'villain' because of the root of her pain and anger was understandable, it was more humanizing. Not saying Charlize isn't amazing, she is, you just can't really empathize with a character that is truly evil and motivated solely by vanity.

The only part I didn't really like was the goblin action sequence. because I thought:
a) their character design, while unique, felt a little unpolished
b) the whole scene felt a bit rushed, with a quick-fix flammable blood explosion to tidy up that story point.

[–] FullyOperationalSamaritan 8 years ago

I thought it was a good movie. I thought it was better than the first one.

[–] darkness_surroundz 9 years ago

me too it WAS a boring superfluous film

[–] Ithilfaen 9 years ago

It's hard to be worse than the first movie. At least this one has some decent acting with the addition of Blunt and Chastain. Thor and Theron have characters that are too broad to get much juice out of them, as in the first.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] wlp325 9 years ago

It's the only film (that I can think of) that is both a prequel and a sequel, but somehow totally works as a standalone.

I am a little surprised by all the negative reviews from critics.

That's the problem with many viewers. THWW is fine as a standalone movie, but it does not mesh well with the original, and as such, has garnered much criticism. In moving forward with a sequel/prequel that would not include the Snow White character, Universal might have been better served by not advancing it as a continuation of the Snow White fairytale.

To each their own.

So true. I gave this one a 6, the first one an 8, but enjoyed both.

Rest in peace, Roger Ebert. You were the best.

[–] olla 9 years ago

I think they while it is a prequel/sequel it feelsmore like a spin-off. Mainly following the Huntsman, or Huntsmen... and fleshing out a bit more of Ravenna's story by giving her a sister with her own motivations.

I think they did at least attempt to distance themselves from the Snow White story, by changing the focus, and injecting a bit more levity into the action.

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[–] afeshs 9 years ago

I hated the film, but I agree about Blunt. Wish she had a better film around her.

[–] freshy 9 years ago

I agree with everything you said. The humor and the addition of Chastain and Blunt make of this movie a certain improvement over the previous one.

[–] olla 9 years ago

Yea, I feel like that it's an unpopular opinion. I just had more fun watching this one. Also, I liked how Chastain was believably powerful and dangerous in her role, she really sold that performance, especially in her action scenes.

[–] batmanjokercatwoman 9 years ago

I'm mixed on this movie. It's more fun than the first movie and doesn't take itself as seriously. I love the additional cast Emily Blunt is good at playing icy characters so to play it literally, Jessica Chastain is fun to watch and Sheridan Smith is absolutely hilarious. Chris Hemsworth seemed to enjoy himself in the role more than the first. Charlize Theron stole the first movie and she was just as awesome here in her little screentime. The action and visuals was decent but not as well handled as the first.

At the same time I was put off by some of the contradictions to the first movie, like the omission Ravenna's brother Finn and giving her a sister who was never referenced the first movie. Also Ravenna's powers don't make sense, in the first it was a potion her mother made her drink as a child and this movie she was born with it and the mirror enhances it. Also Snow White broke the beauty spell on Ravenna when she stabbed her which is why turned to a hag when she died, so wouldn't a resurrected Ravenna be a hag too? Or does the mirror give her beauty now? Also Blunt is pretty much just playing a carbon copy of Elsa and the witch of Narnia for most of the movie, although I did like her character at the beginning and at the end. I was put off by the Snow White references and the explanation of her absence, I felt it was a bit of an insult to the character and I didn't like the cameo I mean we know it's not Kristen Stewart. I'm not sure if this should even be considered part of a prequel, since that portion was only in the first 25 minutes and played out more like an extended prologue.

Overall it's a fun movie movie on it's own. But I feel the first movie is very under appreciated, I thought it was an interesting take on the fairytale with an awesome visual style and this movie sadly doesn't come close to match it. But if you like this better than the first I understand, to each their own.

[–] olla 9 years ago

I was kind of disappointed with both of the big Snow White movies that came out. Snow White and the Huntsman and Mirror Mirror. One felt like another gritty reboot, and the other failing to be funny, clearly it wasn't aimed at me.

From what I remember, I think the Snow White and the Huntsman best moments all went to Ravenna and her beautiful costumes, Charlize is incredible in this role. She owns it and is scary, beautiful and powerful all at once. I should probably give it another watch before I dig my heels in any further... making bold thread titles like "Better than the first film"

It's possible my so-so feelings on the first film made it easy for Winter's War to exceed my expectations.

[–] Sweet-Anxiety 9 years ago

I really enjoyed this movie. I love the imagery and the world it's set in. Plus I love all the actors in this one. The only things I'd change would be improve the script and the tighten up the storyline.

I'm sure there won't be a third one, which is a shame. I'd have liked to see a series of movies set in this fantasy world.

[–] olla 9 years ago

I'd love to see Hemsworth and Chastain fight together again, but I don't see how they could bring Ravenna back or Freya, which is too bad because they're both fantastic. Maybe they could do a Red Riding Hood story, where a group of the Huntsmen and the dwarves have to track down a big bad wolf. Only none of this will happen because not enough people went to see it and the reviews are all pretty negative.

Speaking of fantasy series that aren't going to come I still wish they had done the rest of the Golden Compass films.

[–] Efrel 9 years ago

I almost completely agree with you.

I liked this film (but not the firt one). The queens where well portrayed (Theron and Blunt always deliver). I especially liked Freya, she was a tragic character, not a vanilla generic evil of the week.
I also appreciated the characters been true to themselves. Tipically when there is a female spy/double agent in a film she almost always go back an forth with her loyalties. In this one I feel she has all her s**t together from the start and her decisions are based on a solid and already established personality.

A predictable story but one I enjoied anyway.

(sorry for my english but it is not my first language)

[–] olla 8 years ago

It really would be nice to see more movies with complex villains and interesting and decisive lady spies.

And Winter's War certainly not the best movie ever, but it was noticeably better than the first film, and I'm glad that you think so too.

(your English is great, don't even worry about it! ◕ᴗ◕)

[–] wlp325 9 years ago

..., but I don't see how they could bring Ravenna back or Freya, which is too bad because they're both fantastic.

Forgetting for the moment THWW's box office performance, I thought the whole point of showing the golden crow flying away at the end was to leave a mechanism for Revenna's return in a follow-on movie to THWW.

Rest in peace, Roger Ebert. You were the best.

[–] Cinema_Love 9 years ago

I agree with the original poster. And the replay value should be fun too. It's not serious, it's loaded with fun, adventure and fantasy. Plus the women's are so beautiful !

But i'm a bit sad for them not making much money at the box office. I see it on the first day and it was full in the theatre !

Anyway, theses days if you don't have the Marvel logo or a pirate in mascara, people don't go watch the movie !

Last Movies: - CA vs IM Civil War: 5,5/10
- The Huntman: 6,5/10
- Batman v Superman: 9/10

[–] darkness_surroundz 9 years ago

you write like a Universal Publicist