With some or all of the politics out of the way, what do we have with the new live-action remake of the 1937 classic? Trying to outdo the original hand-drawn version was never going to happen as it is one the most beautifully drawn works of art in the world, Every frame of that film is a masterpiece and trying to do that in the present day and paying the animators their proper due would have exceeded the $270 million spent on this version.

What we have is a modern take on a classic story and while it’s not perfect, it is highly entertaining and at times visually impressive. The story was never one with excessive depth to begin with and that continues but its underlying ethos is intact and you can still add as much subtext to it as you want. The singing is well done and the earworm ditties still stick in the head. Playing something more extreme on the way home from the cinema will help, my solution was Swedish Death Metal.

Will seeing it become a rite of passage for today’s children? They could do a lot worse and one can hope that the white noise surrounding the film subsides and it can be seen for what it is, an impressive attempt to update an old-school classic for the modern day and dilute some of the previous missteps.
Rob Hudson
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The Original Soundtrack for “Disney’s Snow White” is available today as well. The Snow White Original Soundtrack was written by the EGOT® winning team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul with additional lyrics by Jack Feldman (unless otherwise noted+.) The songs were produced by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Ian Eisendrath and Dave Metzger and performed by the stars of “Disney’s Snow White” live-action film, as well as the voices from the original animated film from 1937. Walt Disney Records will release a deluxe version March 19 featuring the songs, score by Jeff Morrow and instrumental song versions, and the score album March 20. The exclusive music featurette highlights a discussion of how all the new music was created for “Disney’s Snow White” including commentary from the film’s director, Marc Webb, songwriters Pasek & Paul, and the film’s stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.

“Disney’s Snow White” is a magical music adventure which journeys back to the timeless story with Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen. “Disney’s Snow White” is directed by Marc Webb, written by Erin Cressida Wilson, and produced by Marc Platt, p.g.a., and Jared LeBoff, p.g.a., with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer.

“Disney’s Snow White” Opens Exclusively in Australian and New Zealand Cinemas MARCH 20, 2025!
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“Disney’s Snow White,” the live-action musical reimagining of the studio’s classic 1937 film, is a magical music adventure which journeys back to the timeless story with Rachel Zegler in the title role and Gal Gadot as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen. The film opens exclusively in Australian and New Zealand cinemas March 20, 2025. “Disney’s Snow White” is directed by Marc Webb, written by Erin Cressida Wilson, and produced by Marc Platt, p.g.a., and Jared LeBoff, p.g.a., with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer.

Waiting on a Wish is available now digitally on Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify. The original soundtrack of songs from “Disney’s Snow White” will be released March 14. Waiting on a Wish was written by EGOT® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with additional lyrics by Jack Feldman. The song was produced by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Ian Eisendrath and Dave Metzger, and is performed by Rachel Zegler.
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The magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) in the title role and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) as her Stepmother, the Evil Queen.

The new trailer showcases the scale and beauty of the lavish production design, the beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy, and a first look at the power ballad Waiting on a Wish, one of the all-new original songs from EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“The Greatest Showman”).
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Stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who portray Snow White and the Evil Queen, respectively, were on hand to give fans exclusive details about the production and share a first look at the Whistle While You Work scene.

“Disney’s Snow White” is a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film. The magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.

“Disney’s Snow White” is directed by Marc Webb and produced by Marc Platt and Jared LeBoff, with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer, and features all-new original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a postwar Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates.

With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman and Viola Davis

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is coming to Australian cinemas on November 16, 2023.
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Fury of the Gods mixes mythical magic with an ethos that promotes family and the value of friendship. There is still the prerequisite amount of spectacle but the heroes here have doubts and less than absolute conviction. It makes them more relatable to a younger audience.

The story revolves around gods being released from purgatory and returning to earth to wreak havoc and plant the seeds of human destruction. The trio of baddies is led by Hespera played by Helen Mirren in a rather understated performance and a miscast Lucy Liu as Kalypso.

While there are several scenes that might be too intense for the very little ones, anyone in the double digits should be fine for this thrill ride. Its lighter stance makes for a more easygoing extravaganza than the more usual dour display of physiological dysfunction.
Rob Hudson
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Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy—aka Shazam—and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world.

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars returning cast members Zachary Levi (“Thor: Ragnarok“) as Shazam; Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson; Jack Dylan Grazer (“It Chapter Two“) as Freddy Freeman; Adam Brody (“Promising Young Woman“) as Super Hero Freddy; Ross Butler (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as Super Hero Eugene; Meagan Good (“Day Shift”) as Super Hero Darla; D.J. Cotrona (“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”) as Super Hero Pedro; Grace Caroline Currey (“Annabelle: Creation”) as Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary; Faithe Herman (“This Is Us”) as Darla Dudley; Ian Chen (“A Dog’s Journey“) as Eugene Choi; Jovan Armand (“Second Chances”) as Pedro Pena; Marta Milans (“White Lines”) as Rosa Vasquez; Cooper Andrews (“The Walking Dead”) as Victor Vasquez; with Djimon Hounsou (“A Quiet Place Part II“) as Wizard.

Joining the cast are Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), with Lucy Liu (“Kung Fu Panda” franchise) and Helen Mirren (“F9: The Fast Saga”).

The film is directed by David F. Sandberg (“Shazam!,” “Annabelle: Creation”) and produced by Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “The Suicide Squad”). It is written by Henry Gayden (“Shazam!,” “There’s Someone Inside Your House”) and Chris Morgan (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fate of the Furious”), based on characters from DC; Shazam! was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Executive producers are Walter Hamada, Adam Schlagman, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Marcus Viscidi and Geoff Johns.

Joining director Sandberg behind-the-camera are director of photography Gyula Pados (the “Jumanji” franchise), production designer Paul Kirby (“The Old Guard,” “Jason Bourne”) and editor Michel Aller (“Shazam!,” “The Nun”). The music supervisor is Season Kent (“DC League of Super-Pets,” “The Addams Family 2″) and the music is by Christophe Beck (“Free Guy,” “Frozen II”). Visual effects supervisors are Bruce Jones (“Aquaman,” “It”) and Raymond Chen (“Alita: Battle Angel,” “The Meg”). The costume designer is Louise Mingenbach (“Jumanji: The Next Level,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”).

New Line Cinema presents A Peter Safran Production of A David F. Sandberg Film, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which is set to open in theaters internationally beginning 15 March 2023 and in North America on March 17, 2023.
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Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol.

With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.

But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy Gray’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is coming to Australian cinemas on November 16 2023.
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Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works); and introducing Rachel Zegler (Maria.) Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

Bringing together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood, the film’s creative team includes Kushner, who also served as an executive producer; Tony Award® winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and GRAMMY Award® winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award®-nominated composer and conductor David Newman (“Anastasia”), who arranged the score, Tony Award®-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (“Fun Home,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”), who supervised the cast on vocals; and GRAMMY®-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Chicago”), who serves as executive music producer for the film.

The film is produced by Spielberg, p.g.a., Academy Award®-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger, p.g.a. and Tony Award®-winning producer Kevin McCollum.“West Side Story” has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show. Original choreography by Jerome Robbins, based on the stage play, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, play conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein.

From 20th Century Studios, The Walt Disney Company will release “West Side Story” in Australian cinemas Boxing Day, 2021.

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