New film offers a reboot of Snow White

In this age of remakes and reboots, it should come as no surprise that Hollywood eventually got down to really raiding the Grimm’s Fairy Tales cupboard. It appears that Snow White is the first of those childhood favorites to get a heavy-duty 21st century makeover with the release of “Mirror Mirror” – as well as the imminent summer release of “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

Be glad this one came first.

“Mirror Mirror” stars Lily Collins (“Abduction”) as Snow White. Her father the king was killed by the fabled “beast” of the forest, leaving her wicked stepmother (Julia Roberts, “Larry Crowne”) as Queen. The Queen keeps Snow White locked away in the castle so that she can mercilessly tax her subjects and fritter away the kingdom’s money.

Meanwhile, Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer, “J. Edgar”) is wandering through the forest, months into a search for adventure. He is beset by a band of bandits – bandits who ultimately prove to be the seven dwarves we all know and love. The Prince is robbed and left helpless in the woods, to be discovered and freed by Snow White, who has sneaked out of the castle in order to see for herself the state of the kingdom.