Recently, Disney released a live-action remake of its 1937 animated classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Instead of being a fairytale hit, the film sparked criticism from many sides. Some viewers believed it was too politically correct or ''woke,'' while others thought it didn’t go far enough in updating the story. The movie changed key elements, such as removing the prince and the traditional romance, which upset longtime fans.
The remake also replaced the seven dwarfs with CGI-created magical beings. This decision angered people with dwarfism, including actor Peter Dinklage, who felt the film took away roles from actors who identify as little people. Critics also mocked the film's attempts at social commentary, such as explaining that Dopey's name isn't meant to be offensive and pointing out that Sleepy’s condition is medical.
The film performed poorly at the box office and was labeled by some as a disaster. In response, Disney scaled back its marketing and canceled the London premiere. While the original Snow White is remembered as a classic, the remake has become an example of how trying to please everyone can backfire, especially when revisiting much-loved stories.
Vocabulary:
• lucrative (adj): producing a lot of money.
• remake (noun): a new version of an old film or story.
• woke (adj/informal): socially aware, especially of issues around equality and inclusion.
• spoiler alert (phrase): a warning that important plot details are about to be revealed.
• dubbed (verb): given a title or label.
• feat (noun): a remarkable achievement.
• dwarves (noun): small human-like characters in the original story.
• chronic (adj): lasting for a long time or constantly recurring.
• narcolepsy (noun): a sleep disorder that causes people to fall asleep suddenly.
• dampen (verb): to reduce or weaken.
• consent (noun): permission for something to happen.
• commentary (noun): discussion or opinion about current events or issues.
Source: The Project