The Snow Queen

Starting from the beginning I wasn't sure if I could actually sit through the entire film. The special effects were bad, the dialogue was worse. The film failed to capture my attention. The plot, while probably better in other versions, did not come through properly. The acting needs works. The scenes looked like something I would see in a high school play and the green screen wasn't any better. The songs were, for the most part, unnecessary and didn't add anything to the film.

I would advise people, of all ages, to avoid this film. There are so many more things you can do with an hour.

We thought it was smashing! The style was apt. The atmosphere mystical. A work of creative genius. A modern reworking with a message that is still relevant. I,m surprised to read comments that decry this work as a television special when it is clearly a piece of work that stands on its own and needs no justification from me as to its existence.A charming tale.I think you need to watch out for this guy Gibbs as a director as he has vision, imagination and creativity and should not be buried under a weight of ill informed criticism, which hangs like an albatross around the necks of so many burgeoning British film directors with talent!

A Few years ago I saw the Snow Queen on Hallmark, I was absolutely blown away with the story and magic of that adaptation. Thinking that it was the same movie I was disappointed to find I had gotten another telling of the story. Yet I was willing to give it a chance, as I usually love anything made by the BBC. I have to say though I agree that the score of this movie was beautiful, I may have to find a copy somewhere. I was terribly unhappy with the CG animation and acting, you could just tell that the actors were filmed on a blue screen. It felt extremely fake.It was just horrible, it hesitated and you knew from the moment you began that it wasn't real snow. It just felt cheep. The BBC didn't have a winner with this film. It felt rushed as well, even though it was quit close to the original story. If you want to really experience the Snow Queen, please by all means read the story. If your interested in seeing a film that is well made and acted, I recommend the one done on Hallmark,which can be found on Amazon. Steer clear of this film, unless you feel the need to waste an hour. However, if you like classical music do get a CD of this movie the music it's self is really the only good thing in this movie.

I really wanted to like this movie, especially when I saw that Patrick Stewart was in the cast as the voice of the raven since I'm a long-time Patrick Stewart fan. I realize I'm a snob when it comes to "The Snow Queen." This was one of my all-time favorite children's stories. I also realize that anytime you read a story and create your own image of things, a movie will have a hard time living up to your creation. That being said, I really enjoyed "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" but, alas, I cannot say the same for this movie.

The CG effects were cool but distractingly obvious. It was sort of like watching somebody's first attempt at a video production using CG. Gerda's mother was played by an actress (Juliet Stevenson) I had seen before but couldn't remember where. To give a gauge as to how emotionally engaging the movie was, I spent most of the movie trying to figure out where I had seen her before.

I would say that, for young children not familiar with the original story, this would be a good 'pop it in the VCR for an hour so I can get some cleaning done' movie. But if it wins any awards, I'd be shocked.

Every generation of directors and children's TV programmers seems destined to try their hand at Hans Christian Anderson's Snow Queen, this version is one of the best.

Filmed with a mixture of animation and live acting, it manages to capture the spirit of early eastern-European animations and graphic novels, the unreal backdrops suggest a stage performance, and the jerky motion, marionettes. Combined with a wonderful score written by Paul K. Joyce (and performed by the Royal Philharmonic), this is certainly an adaptation children will love, and continue to be entertained by for years to come.

Although some parts of the story which are skimmed over could have had more time spent on them (and it's possible some adults will be expecting Disney and fail to see past the computer imagery), it's good to remember that this is a story to be enjoyed, not studied, and its for kids who probably wouldn't want it to drag on.

All in all this is a very worthy production, there are far worse ways to spend an hour of the holiday period.