Whenever a fairytale film gets the green light in Hollywood costume designers must squeal with glee.
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Regardless of the film’s overall quality, if it’s a fairytale it is going to have fantastic costumes.
The much-maligned 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman (one of two Snow White films that year) was an Oscar-nominated lesson in outstanding costume design.
Tim Burton’s regular collaborator (and three-time Oscar winner) Colleen Atwood was the sartorial specialist on that film, and she returns for the sequel The Huntsman: Winter’s War.
Like it’s predecessor The Huntsman showcases jaw-dropping gowns and stylish armour.
It has more than lived up to the standard set four years ago and will need some serious contenders to if it is to be overlooked for an Oscar nomination next year.
But of course there is more to the film than costumes.
Gone is the previous film’s weakest link – Snow White herself, Kristen Stewart.
Film-makers have filled her not inconsiderable absence with two supremely talented actresses – Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain.
The Huntsman is both prequel and sequel to the 2012 film.
It begins with the backstory of sisters Ravenna (Charlize Theron, relishing her evilness once again) and Freya (Blunt), though does not explain how the former had a brother in the previous film and now suddenly has a sister.
Freya has grown accustomed to Ravenna’s beauty and power exceeding her own, but after a traumatic event her own power is awakened and she becomes cold and independent.
She sets about conquering northern towns while her sister takes the south.
In her army are two stand-out warriors – Sara (Chastain) and Eric (Chris Hemsworth, much happier in this film) – but their ideals differ from their queen’s and they conspire to leave.
The Huntsman, like the first film, is stunningly beautiful with top notch effects.
But this time around it takes itself less seriously and there is plenty of space for comic relief, primarily on the back of dwarves played by Nick Frost and Rob Brydon.
Blunt is just as committed to deluded evil-doing as Theron was in the last film and Chastain is a fierce warrior, easily standing toe-to-toe with her male counterparts.
The action is enthralling, the drama enjoyable and the romance not too cheesy.
It is far from necessary to have seen Snow White and the Huntsman before watching this film – in fact, it is probably better to go in fresh.
And you can’t go past those costumes for quality.
The Huntsman: Winter’s War is in Hoyts cinemas now and is rated M.
