MovieChat Forums > Snow White: A Tale of Terror (1997) Discussion > Was 'Snow White' really that pure, or di...

Was 'Snow White' really that pure, or did she have it coming?

posted 19 years ago by shannonphoenix
10 replies | jump to latest

The Disney version has the Snow White character being sweet and cutsie and all that and the "wicked" step mother being vain and evil for whatever reason. But, let's face it people, Claudia did not start out evil and Lillian was not angel herself. Actually, she was a tantrum throughing spoiled brat. Claudia began as a generally nice lady who wanted to be accepted by her new step daughter and wanted to have a child so they would be a family and Lillian basically cursed her at the ball scene, which after the miscarrage sent the Queen into a state of grief that she became suseptible to the lying mirror and eventually possessed. So, in a way, Lillian did have a lot of this comming and brought some of this on herself.

I know some of you are all into the romance and happy ending stuff, but I am sorry if this offends you (offendsensitivity,) but life is not all flowers and trees and birds and butterflies. How would you like it if some little spoiled brat cursed your child and you had a miscarriage or your child died? Wouldn't it cross your mind that they may some thing coming to them? Or would you think that they are too pretty and innocent?

[–] seree 19 years ago

lol. I wouldn't murder my servants, brother, or attempt to murder my hubby as well as my stepdaughter and then go on to eat what I assumed to think is a human heart, that's for sure!

But hey...that's just me! lol.

Actually, what I loved about this story is that the characters are human! They're all flawed, and it made them realistic. From the nutty stepmom to the pretty prince, I honestly enjoyed watching them all. Lilly was bratty as a child...but she was a child still. I think most of us sympathize with Claudia at some point, but there is nothing that justifies her sick actions. Having a crappy home life is no excuse to kill people.

[–] shannonphoenix 19 years ago

Oh yea, I agree, Claudia has a few screws loose that is for sure. But I think from watching the movie, which I agree is probably one of the better Snow White movies because of the realism of the characters, that the mirror possessed her when she was at her most vunerable. When Lilly did grow up and did seem to be sorry for what she did and learned too late that once you do something, you can't take it back. I was just responding to the other message boards that were making Lilly seem like she was this innocent little girl who did nothing wrong to deserve this and I was starting to wonder if I was taking crazy pills because I remembered a different story. I seem to remember that Claudia was more of a puppet for the evil spirit in the mirror. But, it has been a while since I have seen it, I haven't seen it on tv and I cannot always find it in the video stores.

[–] seree 19 years ago

I found my DVD at Walmart for $5. Gotta love the place.
Anyway, I agree that Lilly wasn't at all perfect, specially as a child. She was rebellious and spoiled, I understand she didn't have it easy with her mom gone and all, but nevertheless she was bratty. I think Claudia totally snapped and let the monster inside her come out. The mirror did feed into her insecurities and manipulated her at her most vulnerable. I definitely don't agree with what she did, she was after all the adult, but she just didn't have the tools to deal with all that grief and depression. I also saw her try very hard to bond with Lily and Lilly always kept her distance. It's a shame that when she seemed to want to improve the relationship, the stepmother hated her by then.

This is also my favorite version of Snow White. It's a very underrated movie, and I wish it had been longer, and also that they had included more scenes on the special feature section.

[–] whitespirit26 18 years ago

Lilly didn't curse Claudia, though; far from it. The mirror just convinced Claudia she did so she'd kill her.

[–] ricky_says_hi 17 years ago

If u ask me, it might be partly the father's fault. he did kinda shove this new woman into Lilli's life and sort of force her to get along. he should have re-married either when Lilli was a lot younger so she would be more accepting or a lot older so she would understand more. But Lilli should have at least made an effort to get along with Claudia who seemed to be very patient as she waited a long time trying to get Lilli to like her

No one likes empaths because we all like our privacy.

[–] doubleaside 17 years ago

Lilly was a little bitch. Too bad claudia didn't win in the end.

[–] morganseer 7 years ago

Funny how fwe blame a kid for being a kid. Or a hormonal teenager, if you will.

Besides, I never had the sense that Claudia was all that good and trying so hard. I kept feeling she was putting on a front, and using subtle manipulations to make her stepdaughter miserable. Like sucking on the father when she knew Lily was watching. Or giving her dresses to wear the stepdaughter didn't like, then playing all saintly and underappreciated.

BBL

[–] Rowan222 15 years ago

Actually, i'm willing to bet that she was well on her way to being evil before she ever married Lily's father. That mirror certainy wasnt just sitting around in Claudia's room, just being a mirror.

Granted, Lily's action's didn't help. Throwing the drink at her stepmother that night was definetly a bad move. and im inclined to believe that if Claudia hadnt miscarried, the mirror would have gotten her some other way.
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[–] Ahm_Shere 14 years ago

"If u ask me, it might be partly the father's fault. he did kinda shove this new woman into Lilli's life and sort of force her to get along. he should have re-married either when Lilli was a lot younger so she would be more accepting or a lot older so she would understand more. But Lilli should have at least made an effort to get along with Claudia who seemed to be very patient as she waited a long time trying to get Lilli to like her "

That is ridiculous! How can you blame the father? Blame him because he wanted to remarry? He thought the time was right and obviously he thought his daughter of all people would understand. Lilli was spoiled, bratty and jealous of her new step-mother at first, because Claudia was getting all of her fathers attention. Lilli didn't like that. Hell, she didn't even say "thank you" to Claudia for her puppy. Spoiled. I believe if Claudia hadn't miscarried, the mirror probably wouldn't have got to her. She was vulnerable. Depressed. I felt sorry for her. I didn't agree with her actions, but I understood them.

And while we're on the subject, Lilli was all about 'manners' when talking to Will, but she had none herself. Which adds hypocritical to the never ending list of Lilli's "con list".

'What I calls, enterprise. Popping pussies into pies!'

[–] filterfan86-1 8 years ago

You are right ShannonPhoenix Snow white was not pure in this. Lillian had what I called a reverse oedipus complex. She was just a ungrateful brat to her step mom who had it coming. Claudia just wanted to be accepted by her new daughter and have a child of her own but oh no the pseudo princess Lillian was not having it. She was creepy obsessing over looking like her mom to get her dad's approval. Yeah she was jealous of her step mom cause she took him away from her. She had a reverse oedipus complex.