'Mirror, Mirror' Lets Julia Roberts Get Evil

Fairy tales are still the biggest trend in Hollywood, whether it is the small screen, with "Once Upon A Time" and "Grimm," or the big screen, with two upcoming films riffing off of Snow White, "Mirror, Mirror" and "Snow White and the Huntsman." Proving that a well-known story in different hands can yield very different results, all of these modern takes on the classic tale are each quirky and original in their own way.

The fairy tale of Snow White doesn't just feature the prototypical fair maiden and handsome prince, but also the ultimate evil stepmother, the wicked Queen, a witch obsessed with maintaining her renowned beauty at all costs. She is vain and her best friend is her mirror - until it begins to tell her that she is losing the game against aging and gravity and the next generation's beauty, Snow White, is about to surpass and supplant her.

The role of the Queen enables an actress to play all sorts of things - glamor, fear, sadness, anger and revenge. The latest actress to sink her blood-red nails and poisoned apples into the part is Julia Roberts. In the trailer from "Mirror, Mirror" she seems to be having a great time being bad. Another testament to her star status is that in this version, the Queen is a romantic rival for the Prince - a new take on the Evil Queen/Snow White dynam! ic.

< p>Where "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Once Upon A Time" have their Evil Queens taking things to a very dark place, "Mirror, Mirror" looks to be playing on Roberts's strengths by offering up a more comedic look at one of the world's most famous fictional wicked ladies. With the very funny Nathan Lane as her sidekick, the focus of the film also seems tilted towards the Queen's story, although Snow White (Lily Collins) and the Prince (Armie Hammer) will eventually find each other and reign triumphant. But the balance seems right, considering the casting of such an A-list Queen.

The PG-rated family-friendly film features elaborate costumes by Oscar-winning Eiko Ishioka, and should bring in both fans of Roberts who will enjoy her sarcastic, quipping Queen, and their kids, who will be thrilled to see Snow, and the Prince, and the seven dwarfs. The film opens wide on Friday, March 30, 2012.

Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network here to start publishing your own articles.