A timeless fairy tale gets a shot of adrenaline in “Snow White and the Huntsman.”

More adventure than romance, this re-telling takes us to a mystical land conquered by Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) and her magic. And, yes, there’s a mirror on the wall, and he says all Ravenna needs to do to receive eternal life is to consume the heart of Snow White (Kristen Stewart).

The adventure starts when Snow White escapes the castle and runs into the dark forest. The romance starts soon after, when the Queen sends the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) after her.

The Huntsman is a broken man with a memory full of horrors. Snow White has her own painful memories, but there’s not much time for psychoanalysis because the Queen’s psycho brother (Sam Spruell) is on their trail.

Along the way, they encounter a band of dwarves. In an interesting switch, “Snow White and the Huntsman” features full-sized actors and shrinks them to dwarf size.

I was impressed by the nuanced work from Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris and Brian Gleeson as the dwarves. They add a shot of humanity, and let us know the Huntsman and Snow White aren’t the only ones who’ve suffered under the Queen’s rule.

Theron is well cast in her role. She exudes beauty and menace, even when delivering that iconic line, “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall ….”

Stewart does OK as Snow White. Part of the problem is the camera tends to linger on her for long periods of time, and she reverts back to fluttery uncertainty from her “Twilight” days.

There are some plot points that don’t make sense, and the movie is on the long side, but I was surprised at how much I got caught up in a story that almost everybody already knows. If you don’t expect greatness, you might enjoy the ride as Snow White, the Huntsman and the rest take you through a land of fantasy and adventure.

I give it a B.

It’s showing at the Cinemark in Tupelo, as well as Malcos in Oxford, Corinth and Columbus, Hollywood Premier Cinemas in Starkville and Movie Reel 4 in New Albany.

Look for movie reviews in Scene on Thursdays, and listen each Tuesday morning on Wizard 106.7 between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.

Kelli Karlson Wizard 106.7. She gives “Snow White and

the Huntsman” a D.

“Not at all what I expected, but the special effects,

costumes and sets"

were amazing.”