Gal Gadot’s Snow White Song Is a Remarkable Anti-Performance

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Disney transformed the 83-minute animated classic “Snow White” into a lengthier live-action production of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It’s understandable that they used this opportunity to flesh out the film’s universe with additional lore and music. However, it wasn’t until Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen began singing that I understood what was in store for me. As the story progressed, the Evil Queen learned that the Huntsman she’d sent to kill Snow White had not done so because Snow White was too kind towards him. In response, the queen delivered a solitary performance, filled with passion and intrigue, singing about politics as Machiavelli might have described in “The Prince”.

In simpler terms, this review suggests that Gal Gadot’s song “All Is Fair” in the live-action Snow White film is complex and hard to understand due to its confusing lyrics and the strange world-building of the movie. The Queen’s song initially appears to be about her condemning the Huntsman, justifying it as fair because she wears the crown. However, the plot twist involves the Queen marrying Snow White’s father, the king, manipulating him, and turning the kingdom into a pseudo-fascist state. The reviewer finds it odd that the Queen sings about girl power and her resistance to being nice simply because she is a woman, suggesting that the song’s message becomes unclear.

As a fan, I can’t help but feel that this enchanting melody would resonate more deeply if the Evil Queen had a compelling backstory. It seems quite peculiar that this tale so rich in legend fails to delve into her past. Was she perhaps a beautiful soul who struck a bargain with darkness for her stunning appearance? Or was she once Kelsey, a humble peasant girl whose heart hardened after enduring a tragic fate and chose to seek power above all else?

Why can she summon both roses and crystal daggers with ease? Where does her magic originate from? These questions remain unanswered. A captivating villain’s song should lure the audience into empathizing with their perspective, yet the Evil Queen’s anthem falls short. Scar rightfully questions the circle of life; Ursula convincingly argues she’s aiding others and they’re to blame for misunderstanding her terms. Frollo is chilling because his madness stems from a blend of religious brainwashing and desire, making his actions somewhat understandable.

The Evil Queen may express insecurity about being the fairest, but her song doesn’t explore this vulnerability; instead, it boasts her power. Listen to me, for I am beautiful! My beauty justifies my means! A song from a character portrayed as irresistibly attractive should be enthralling, but this one falls flat.

To add to this, it’s worth mentioning that Gadot seems unable to make the song convincing. In her breakout role in Wonder Woman, the actress excelled at portraying physical dominance. However, since then, she has struggled to convey depth, and this issue is evident when she sings. Gadot’s rendition of “All Is Fair” aspires to the sultry tone of Marlene Dietrich but falls short, resembling Madeline Kahn’s parody instead. It’s unclear whether Gadot needed extensive coaching to hit the notes composed by Pasek and Paul, but one can’t help but wonder why these particular takes were chosen, and why adjustments like changing the keys or talk-singing weren’t considered.

In a somewhat exaggerated fashion on the movie set, Gadot performs with great effort, trying to impress the camera and even sing a song. However, what results is an unusual anti-performance that seems overly staged. Many things are praised excessively when they try too hard to be humorous or theatrical. But it’s uncommon to witness something as poorly conceived and forcefully executed as this, with no intention of being a parody. This might be the true essence of what we’re observing here. The scene is lengthy – a full three minutes and 33 seconds – and leaves you in wonder as it continues to unfold. Gadot moves around with her arms at odd angles, while the guards perform a dance routine. It’s worth mentioning that the costumes are also quite tacky and low-budget looking. The jewels that the Queen keeps flaunting look like cheap costume jewelry or trinkets you might find in a discount bin at a mine-themed roller coaster gift shop for 99 cents per scoop. Despite obvious budget constraints, this woman is meant to be singing about the supreme joy of luxury.

Essentially, I’ve found myself fixated, and “All Is Fair” is the melody that won’t leave my thoughts. I find myself echoing the lyrics, “ambitious girls must be vicious girls,” even to my colleagues, who are growing weary and have asked me to pen a blog post about it. This song seems to celebrate the thrill of misusing power, yet it leaves power looking distasteful instead. It’s a portrayal of glamour devoid of any real charm. The way it exposes one of the world’s largest entertainment companies as incapable of recreating the enchanting magic that made them famous is quite fascinating. Did you know there’s an encore?

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2025-03-25 20:54