Live-Action ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’

[Chi84]

Am I the only one who has never associated the fictional characters in Snow White, or the LOTRs, or the Hobbit with actual Dwarfism?



Is there anyone in the world who looks at this and actually associates it with Dwarfism?

Maybe people with Dwarfism?

 

[LittleBuford]

Is there anyone in the world who looks at this and actually associates it with Dwarfism?

Not in the case of Lord of the Rings, since the Dwarves (sic) there are their own race and, in the films, portrayed by actors without dwarfism. But as far as Snow White goes, yes, I’ve always associated the Dwarfs with real-world dwarfism. I can’t be alone, because we wouldn’t even be having this discussion if others didn’t make the same connection.

 

[doctornick]

Not in the case of Lord of the Rings, since the Dwarves (sic) there are their own race and, in the films, portrayed by actors without dwarfism. But as far as Snow White goes, yes, I’ve always associated the Dwarfs with real-world dwarfism. I can’t be alone, because we wouldn’t even be having this discussion if others didn’t make the same connection.

I’m just curious, but why would you not consider the Dwarfs in Snow White to be part of a mythical magical race similar to the Dwarves in LOTR? I just always classified them as the same type of magical being - they do live in a high fantasy world with magic and all - and draw on the same type of mythological traditions as Tolkien’s Dwarves (beards, working in mines, etc).

I would think people make fun of real life Little People because they think that Grumpy and company are representing “normal” members of that community but because people are just jerks and will use any means to insult others that different than themselves.

 

[LittleBuford]

I’m just curious, but why would you not consider the Dwarfs in Snow White to be part of a mythical magical race similar to the Dwarves in LOTR? I just always classified them as the same type of magical being - they do live in a high fantasy world with magic and all - and draw on the same type of mythological traditions as Tolkien’s Dwarves (beards, working in mines, etc).

I’m not talking about their folkloric/mythological origins, but about their portrayal in media. The fact that people are asking why actors with dwarfism haven’t been cast in the roles is indicative of a widespread association of the characters with real-world dwarfism, at least as far as physical appearance is concerned. I don’t recall such a debate surrounding the portrayal of Tolkien’s beings, though perhaps I’m mistaken.

 

[doctornick]

That being said, I’ve have no problem if Disney have “dwarfs” in this new film but had typical sized actors and used the same techniques as LOTR to have them appear shorter. If that is felt to be more acceptable to the Little People community than who would I be to question? But I would think there would not be a consensus in the community and many such actors of that group might actually prefer the opportunity to appear in this film especially if the Dwarfs are treated with respect and care.

 

[LittleBuford]

I’m not talking about their folkloric/mythological origins, but about their portrayal in media. The fact that people are asking why actors with dwarfism haven’t been cast in the roles is indicative of a widespread association of the characters with real-world dwarfism, at least as far as physical appearance is concerned. I don’t recall such a debate surrounding the portrayal of Tolkien’s beings, though perhaps I’m mistaken.

Let me add that Tolkien himself drew a distinction:

In English, the only correct plural of 'dwarf' is 'dwarfs' and the adjective is 'dwarfish'. In this story 'dwarves' and 'dwarvish' are used, but only when speaking of the ancient people to whom Thorin Oakenshield and his companions belonged.​

​

[. . .]​

​

It is to mark this that I have ventured to use the form 'dwarves', and remove them a little, perhaps, from the sillier tales of these latter days.​

 

[DKampy]

I am not particularly looking forward to this new retelling…but if they are going to go to that well again… I would prefer they do something different… give it a reason to exist… IMO… the live action remakes are best when the do something different(Cruella) or add to the story(The Little Mermaid) Not so much when they remake something shot for shot(The Lion King) So I will keep an open mind

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm just not as invested as you in their failing.

My livelihood is directly tied to them NOT failing which is why I want them to stop making dumbass movies.

 

[Chi84]

That honestly seems like a very hollow answer.

You are easily concerned and nodding along with healing the hate of the past when it's easy and you get social street cred for it, but when it comes to WDW you are fine with wacky dwarfs in parades and silly rides because that's harder to erase?

Movie Dwarfs = Bad
Parade Dwarfs = Fun



The reality is that the parks change according to box office results and financial sensibilities, or lately antsy Execs with the letters "DEI" in their title.

And I think we can all agree, based on the photographic evidence we've seen so far, that this Snow White remake is going to bomb big time and go the way of Strange World down the memory hole never to be mentioned again by Disney.

I'm not offended by the choices Disney made in the past under the circumstances that existed at the time and I don't find movie or parade dwarfs bad in any way. I didn’t find anything bad about Splash although the “critters” weren’t my favorites.

But I'm also not bothered by Disney's decisions to take current sensibilities into account when making choices today. Something doesn't have to be wrong in the first place in order to be changed or made better. These are decisions that Disney is making; some people welcome them; others seem threatened by them; still others are upset with the decisions because they see a harmful financial impact.

I've seen one picture of the Snow White remake, which isn't enough for me to conclude anything about the film.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I'm not offended by the choices Disney made in the past under the circumstances that existed at the time and I don't find movie or parade dwarfs bad in any way. I didn’t find anything bad about Splash although the “critters” weren’t my favorites.

But I'm also not bothered by Disney's decisions to take current sensibilities into account when making choices today. Something doesn't have to be wrong in the first place in order to be changed or made better. These are decisions that Disney is making; some people welcome them; others seem threatened by them; still others are upset with the decisions because they see a harmful financial impact.

I've seen one picture of the Snow White remake, which isn't enough for me to conclude anything about the film.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs.

Oops. Your movie is pilloried on these forums for being a beat-for-beat remake of the original.

And don't think you can add, subtract, or change anything, you'll be pilloried for that, too, for not respecting the original, which was perfectly fine.

Unpleasable Fanbase - TV Tropes

Sometimes, fanbases are, or appear to be, perennially complaining not just about minute details of the Canon, but about everything. This sometimes relates to fake fannishness: some people just don't like a piece of fiction, yet insist on …

tvtropes.org

 

[MisterPenguin]

Let me add that Tolkien himself drew a distinction:

In English, the only correct plural of 'dwarf' is 'dwarfs' and the adjective is 'dwarfish'. In this story 'dwarves' and 'dwarvish' are used, but only when speaking of the ancient people to whom Thorin Oakenshield and his companions belonged.​

​

[. . .]​

​

It is to mark this that I have ventured to use the form 'dwarves', and remove them a little, perhaps, from the sillier tales of these latter days.​

I suppose hooves and leaves were also meant to distinguish a fantastical ancient versions of hoofs and leafs!!!

 

[Monkee Girl]

Am I the only one who has never associated the fictional characters in Snow White, or the LOTRs, or the Hobbit with actual Dwarfism?



Is there anyone in the world who looks at this and actually associates it with Dwarfism?

I don't associate them either as I can tell the difference between people with dwarfism and fictional fantasy characters. I am sad Disney chose to just eradicate the characters or change them into something they are not instead of just 'fixing' the stereotype it's obvious that is unwanted. I LOVE the original Disney Snow White dwarfs; they're awesome. kind, funny, and protective. But I can completely get where Peter Dinklage is coming from when he sounded so disappointed in the idea of more goofy/silly/fall over themselves clown type characters he has constantly seen as the parts for him and his fellow actors. I would have preferred it if Disney chose to make the characters more serious...more action oriented. They don't have to be all Thorins and Dwalins but something closer to that character or even Dinklage's amazing Tyrion would have given him something a little more positive to look forward to. Something to push these characters into more than just the 'let's go play with soap' silly characters. Whether Disney chose to use regular sized people to play the parts like what's done with LotR and The Hobbit is a whole different argument. But I feel really bad for the 7 potential lead roles and the stunt doubles that lost potential jobs because Disney is falling over themselves to do, who knows what and why.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Oops. Your movie is pilloried on these forums for being a beat-for-beat remake of the original.

The vast majority of fans want beat-for-beat remakes. They want exactly what they saw with the cartoon, except with live actors and special effects.

 

[LittleBuford]

The vast majority of fans want beat-for-beat remakes. They want exactly what they saw with the cartoon, except with live actors and special effects.

How do you know this?

 

[AdventureHasAName]

How do you know this?

The comments and complaints when then the films come out. You hear "I hate that they changed X" thousands of times. But you never hear "That part where they did X was exactly like the original so I hated it and think that they should have changed it."

Even with adaptations that make tons and tons of money (like the Michael Bay Transformers), the original cartoon fanbases (the men in their 30s when the films came out) still complain about the character designs. Fans of the films may love them, but fans of the original material almost universally hate them. People complained about the flames on the side of the Optimus Prime truck forever. Same thing with the comic book movies - although it is a little different because you are talking about adaptations of (in some cases) 80 years of different original comics and stories, instead of just one film.

 

[LittleBuford]

But you never hear "That part where they did X was exactly like the original so I hated it and think that they should have changed it."

Here’s a first, then: I hated the remake of the The Lion King because of its similarity to the original. I found it utterly pointless.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Here’s a first, then: I hated the remake of the The Lion King because of its similarity to the original. I found it utterly pointless.

Do you consider yourself representative of the fanbase?

 

[Disstevefan1]

I think we all can agree that TWDC should create NEW stories instead of making these live action remakes.

 

[LittleBuford]

Do you consider yourself representative of the fanbase?

I don’t think any one of should claim to speak for the fanbase.