Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Snow White is a timeless adventure that is once again brought to the big screen in this live‑action retelling of the princess who journeys into magical woods and meets the beloved Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, and Doc, who join her quest to restore the kingdom and bring kindness to the land.

We all know and love the story of Snow White, a Disney classic that first appeared to audiences in 1937. It's a wonderful and charming animated film that is still beloved 88 years after its release. Here we are in 2025, and like several other classic animated features from their canon, Disney has opted to make a live‑action version.

Director Marc Webb and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson had their hearts in the right place; unfortunately, the decision to alter the original storyline and add five additional musical numbers has resulted in a mixed bag. I didn't feel it was a bad idea to freshen up the story, but I would have been okay with it had the implementation been better. The attempts to pay homage to the original weren't seamlessly interwoven and felt added on.

I didn't care for the idea that Snow White joined forces with a group of local rebels, one of whom happens to be her love interest. That aspect fails miserably, as there is practically no attempt to plausibly integrate the romantic attachment between him and Snow White. When the time comes for their big moment (love's first kiss), it just feels clumsy. I found the additional music numbers to be an unwelcome distraction, though I did enjoy the traditional songs.

I like Gal Gadot, and while she could easily pass for the beautiful evil queen/stepmother, it just never seems convincing. Rachel Zegler does a great job in the title role, serving as the film's bright spot. The forest‑land creatures, CGI sets/backgrounds, and the motion capture for the cast members portraying the seven dwarfs lacked the kind of visual authenticity that would allow complete absorption in the film's production.

I have enjoyed some of the live‑action offerings based on classic Disney animated films, but Snow White doesn't reinvent the magic and left me wanting to sit down and watch the original 1937 classic.

Snow White was derived from 4.5K sources and finished on a 4K Digital Intermediate for its presentation in Ultra HD.

The 4K video is of high quality, offering an appreciable level of definition and visual highlights on both the light and dark ends of the spectrum. Primary colors are beautifully rendered. The CGI shots of the earth‑toned colors in the forestlands lit up the screen. Intimate details can be seen in close‑up and mid‑level camera shots, creating a discernible sense of depth/dimension.

There is extensive use of CGI that imparts some innate softening, which isn't compromising. The use of HDR is spot‑on, driving the story's visual cues, offset by gleams of light that illuminate dark scenes. Blacks are deep—brightly lit scenes, especially those containing brilliant specular highlights, reveal ample gradations while adding visual pop. All in all, this is a pleasing video presentation that successfully capitalizes on Ultra HD's potential.

The Dolby Atmos surround mix makes fair use of the surround platform, combining the height and bed channels to effectively place atmospherics and discrete effects within the soundstage. There are key instances where sounds move through or around the listening environment, proving to be quite immersive. Dialog intelligibility is never a problem, and dynamic range and bass response are appropriate, adding thematic emphasis and resonating punch when called upon.

I generally enjoyed the presentation, finding that it complemented the source material and drew me into the film when it mattered most.

Bonus features consist of three production featurettes that go behind the scenes with the filmmakers, cast/crew, and composers to look at the making of the film, its music, and costume design. There is also a sing‑along playback option, three deleted scenes, and a blooper reel. A Blu‑ray and Digital Code are included as well. The set comes housed in an attractive limited‑edition SteelBook case, which should appeal to fans who like to collect them.

Snow White isn't a complete misfire, but it fails to capture the magic of its source material and feels like a missed opportunity. Its 4K limited‑edition release from Disney is a good one that enhances the experience.

Ralph Potts