Review of The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016) by Thequietgamer — 11 Oct 2016

If this sequel has one thing going for it, it's that there is much more optimistic than it's predecessor. The tone isn't as bleak and everything isn't so moody. It actually has some fun with itself this time around and is a pinch better because of it.

However, it's greatest strength ends up being it's greatest downfall as well. This is just too silly too take seriously. The result is a goofy Lord of the Rings wannabe. At least the dwarves are funny.

Watching Chastain and Hemsworth go up against these implausible odds makes no sense. Especially when the latter fails to come off as a highly trained warrior and moves through the events like bumbling buffoon. How they actually managed to come out on top in the end is baffling. Oh wait, love is what got them through it.

The movie is constantly spouting off the same generic message that love conquers all. Expect to hear a lot of dialog about how love is pointless and only leads to hurt in the end, only to have Hemsworth be like "no, love is great and will help us defeat the evil!" The movie even goes as far as to have main baddie Emily Blunt ban love from her kingdom. Seriously, the movie actually has an evil queen that makes love illegal. Wow. This is seriously aimed at adults?

Holding this all together is the totally cliché romance between Chastain and Hemsworth. It's the kind of love where the sexual tension comes from Chastain constantly holding weapons to Hemsworth's throat, and then having him manhandle her on the ground. Romance.

Really, the whole thing is predictable. We've seen all these plot elements before. At least the cast is committed and hey, there is some pretty solid action and flashy visuals to add some sort of entertainment to things. None of that makes for a good movie though. In the end, this is just bad fantasy.