《猎神：冬日之战》

    This film is a follow-up to 2012’s “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

    It turns out that Ravenna, the evil queen played by Charlize Theron in “Snow White,” had a sister named Freya (Emily Blunt) as well as a brother whose existence wasn’t mentioned in the first film. In the extended prequel* part of the story, we learn how originally gentle Freya, along for the ride* while Ravenna went with her black widow routine on previous kings, became frosty and cruel after her nobleman lover (Robert Wilfort) seemingly burnt their infant daughter alive to get out of marrying her.

    Having developed post-traumatic* ice-generating power, Freya sets herself up in a kingdom in the north, determined to use her army of abducted* child soldiers to wipe out romantic love everywhere. Two of her early conscripts are Eric (Conrad Khan, later Chris Hemsworth) and Sara (Niamh Walter, later Jessica Chastain).

    Despite the brutal* conditions of Freya’s army, called the Huntsmen, the two fall in love. However, when their passion for one another is discovered, Freya separates them with a wall of ice through which Eric sees Sara being killed by their friend and fellow soldier Tull (Sope Dirisu). That’s why Eric calls himself a widower* in the first film.

    Seven years pass, according to the subtitles and in that time all the events of the previous movie happen.

    In this film, Snow White (only her back is seen), now married to William (Sam Claflin), is troubled by the evil influence of Ravenna’s magic golden mirror around the castle.

    It falls into the hands of goblins* and Eric is sent to find and destroy it. Helping him will be Nion (Nick Frost), one of the seven to eight dwarves met in the first film, and Gryff (Rob Brydon).

    Then, Eric meets someone from his past and the team is joined by Mrs. Bromwyn (Sheridan Smith) and Doreena (Alexandra Roach), two female dwarves whose banter* with Nion and Gryff provides entertaining comic relief.

    Unfortunately, Hemsworth and Chastain — who have no chemistry as a couple — both seem defeated and miserable*, although their costumes are fantastic.(SD-Agencies)