Should the New Snow White Reboot get the Boot?

Some want to give the New "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho" the Old "Heave-Ho."

By Greg Rabidoux

Make no mistake, thanks to Disney's insufferable need to reboot each of its classic animated films into equally insufferable "live action dramas," there are now not one, but two Snow Whites. The new SW25 may indeed be a "visual feast" but let's make a pinky promise right now to never confuse the two.

First, the classic 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs animated film.

This was an amazing feat of technological legerdemain. Certainly, for animation, but really, for any big screen film. The dazzling colors, seamless character movements, the sound quality, script, music, and the voice-overs and effects all reflected early Disney Magic at its best. Aside from "Steamboat Willie" (Mickey's 1929 animated film debut) Snow White was the film that built the House of Mouse. Factoring in inflation, it remains one of the most popular and all-time highest grossing films, animated or otherwise. Notably, its budget was $1.4 million with earnings now passing $200 million and another estimated $1.5 billion in merch sales worldwide. Off to work we go, indeed.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered on December 21st at the famed Carthay Theater on San Vicente Boulevard in Los Angeles. Hollywood legends like Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich, along with everyone else attending, gave the film a thunderous standing ovation as the credits rolled. Adriana Caselotti, the actress who gave a lilting voice and female life to Snow White was named a Disney legend in 1994. Sadly though, the theater, a perfectly formed circle, should not be mistaken for any misguided modern metaphor of a perfect movie circle now being completed with the release of this less than magical reboot.

Now, onto the second Snow White. Mired in controversy from the start, the Snow White 2025 version first decided to go full on "woke" with its diverse band of dwarf sidekicks to Snow White, then went CGI, then back, then back again to CGI-rendered dwarfs. Ugh. Now that would make any dwarf a bit droopy. Or, as actor Peter Dinklage, himself a dwarf said, "You're (Disney) progressive in one way but then you're still making that F***ing backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together. What the F**k are you doing, man?"

Grumpy stuff but then Rachel Zegler, the new Snow White, fired off even more divisive, dopey stuff about the classic without which her reboot or acting job would not exist.

Ms. Zegler, who got her big break playing Maria in Spielberg's 2021 reboot of the classic 1961 West Side Story, has her own views about Snow White. And she hasn't been bashful (sorry) about sharing those with her audience.

She called the 1937 classic "extremely dated," noting that "no prince will or should save any girl, ever" and since she was on a roll, Ms. Zegler then dived headfirst into the politics of the day. She referred to the "deep sickness" of our nation and those who voted for President Trump, claimed he was a "man who threatens our democracy" and now we will have "four more years of hatred" because of Trump voters. At least she did say she was there with hugs for anyone who needed them.

Still heady with her future residual checks from SW2, she went on to celebrate the release of the film's trailer with an X post which demanded that all of Palestine be free.

She has of course, every right to her free speech. But her Palestine position with no mention of the massacre of Jews by Hamas, the official agent of the Palestinians in Gaza, seems especially tin-eared and cowardly (sorry, that's a different Disney classic). Why? Well, her supposed mentor and female co-star whom she apparently most admires, Gal Godot, an Israeli born Jew, has been an outspoken, courageous, and fierce defender of Israel and Jews worldwide.

Funny way to say thanks.

So, I'll simply close on this note. Gal Godot is an exceptionally talented actress who urges all of us to watch the film on its own merits. She says it's a "great film." I won't argue the point. But just as I did with the Lion King and Mufasa, I will choose the classic animation over the live action. But just so there's no hard feelings between Gal and Greg, I'll watch Wonder Woman 1984 again.

And there will always only be one Maria for me. Despite a wonderful performance by Rachel Z., I'll skip the reboot and watch the classic with the late, great Natalie Wood.

You know, come to think of it, I may just not like reboots.

Greg Rabidoux is co-founder of Valmar Films (www.valmarfilms.com) and is an award-winning writer and director.