As it turns out, a lot more of you saw Snow White and the Huntsman (or SWATH if you happen to be cool and/or lazy) than was expected. The fairytale adaptation earned $56.3 million over the weekend, almost $20 million more than initial expectations.
Since seeing the Kristen Stewart vehicle earlier last week, I've been kicking around a few questions about the movie -- questions that lingered throughout the weekend. (Well, lingered until I watched Game of Thrones and Man Men -- yowza! Then the questions stopped lingering out of a lack of interest. But, now, it's Monday and linger again they do...)
I get it: Perhaps Snow White and the Huntsman isn't supposed to be one of those movies you think about too hard. But, regardless, I tend to fret about such things. So, perhaps we can all work though these questions together?
[Spoiler alert, obviously.]
What was that white horse doing before Snow White showed up?
After Snow White (Stewart) escapes from the city, there is a white horse just ... there. Hanging out on the rocks near an ocean cliff. Waiting. As horses like to do, apparently. If Snow and this horse had developed a lasting relationship throughout the film, I could almost sum this up to some sort of emotional bond that Snow has with nature. And maybe that's still the case. But the way it's presented, there really was just a convenient horse hanging out near the ocean. Perhaps he just went there looking for a time of quiet reflection?
Why is Eric the Huntsman so afraid of the forest?
When Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) first approaches Eric (Chris Hemsworth) about tracking Snow White, Eric gives a very long explanation about how difficult that will be because the forest is very dangerous. Fair enough. After Eric agrees, with the promise of his wife being brought back to life, it takes him -- literally -- about 30 seconds to find Snow White.
Why does Finn tell Eric the truth about his wife?
Eric agrees to track Snow White into the forest in exchange for the promise that Queen Ravenna will bring Eric's deceased wife back to life. Eric -- after finding Snow and while still in possession of her -- asks Ravenna's brother, Finn, if the deal was still on. Now, if Finn would have just said, "Um, sure. Of course it is, Eric," then Eric would have replied, "Great, here's Snow White." But, no, instead Finn decides that this is the perfect opportunity to taunt Eric for believing that story in the first place. In a very condescending, How could you be so stupid?, kind of way. Not surprisingly, Eric does not hand over Snow White.
Why does Queen Ravenna refer to the mirror as a "mirror"?
Look, I get the lore of the story and all, but I'm pretty sure that golden gong looking item that Queen Ravenna keeps referring to as "mirror" is not a mirror. You know, the "mirror" that melts into the form of a cloaked gentleman with a very deep voice? Again, fairly certain that's not a mirror. I know, semantics. But, still, it's not like it even shows any sort of reflection. Perhaps "mirror" is short for the golden glob man's full name, Mirrorolomew?
What is that mysterious stag?
At first I was thinking, Oh, is that the spirit of Snow White's father? But that doesn't seem to be the case. Director Rupert Sanders explained the Stag metaphorically as nature giving its blessing to Snow White. Which, yes, is fine, but everyone in the forest seemed to recognize this stag as some sort of king of the forest. Actually, up until this point, this is still fine -- I can accept all of this. But, then, after the stag is shot with an arrow, it transforms itself into a flock of white doves and flies away. OK? As we see later, Queen Ravenna can do the same thing, only as ravens. Speaking of...
What happens to the extra ravens?
After Queen Ravenna poisons Snow White with an apple, she transforms into a flock of ravens as a means to flee from an attack mounted by Eric and William (Sam Claflin). When Ravenna returns to the castle, she morphs back into her human persona. Yet, after, there are still a few ravens flapping around on the floor. What are these? I was under the impression that every single one of these ravens, combined, made up Ravenna in that form. How can a couple ravens still be on the floor after she transforms back? Were these the ravens that made up her tonsils and appendix?
Why does Ravenna have powers in the forest after stating that she didn't have any powers in the forest?
Ravenna, when she first learns that Snow White had escaped to the forest, very adamantly declares that she has no powers in the forest. Which leads to her hiring Eric. But, as we just discussed, while she is in the forest she had enough of her powers to, (A) transform herself into William -- to trick Snow White into eating a poisoned apple -- and, (B) transform herself into a flock of ravens. Since I do not have the ability to do either of these things, I have to go ahead and label those as special powers.
(Update: I am conceding that it was mentioned that the group left the "dark" forest and were, at this point, now in the "light" (?) forest.)
In the final scene, what exactly is Eric doing when he walks in on Snow White being anointed queen?
The film ends with Snow White accepting her rightful position as queen. Near the end of an elaborate ceremony, Eric just kinda wanders into the room before making eye contact with Snow, which ends the movie. What exactly happened here? Was he late? Was he not invited? I mean, everyone else at the ceremony looked like they dressed for the occasion. Eric still seems to be wearing the same outfit from the battle. Did he accidentally wander into the wrong room while looking for the shower? If so, was that look he gave Snow a look of anger? As in, "Hey, why wasn't I invited to this? Not only should I have been invited, I should be getting a medal of some sort."
Mike Ryan is senior entertainment writer for The Huffington Post. He has a tendency to over think things. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.