Wraparound treatment of the characters from Snow White and the Huntsman (some of the story occurs before the original, some after) that isn’t exactly good, but is definitely better than might be expected. The story borrows from Frozen — semi-close sisters, one of whom has a chilly heart and abilities to match — and Lord of the Rings — the wicked mirror corrupts those who carry it — but still manages to sell its central conceit: the way personal tragedy can color the whole world, especially when you’re strong enough to make everyone share your heartbreak. (Paint it…white?) It turns out wicked queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron, dripping venom from every syllable) had a sister named Freya (Emily Blunt, muted by pain), and the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth, mugging) had a wife (Jessica Chastain, glowering). It also turns out that dwarves can be used for comic relief even when they’re feeling amorous. But even the good bits lack zip and verve, and the bad bits leave you wondering why director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan (who did visual effects on the first entry) isn’t doing more with the super-powered sibling rivalry that clearly and rightly sparks his interest. (2016) — Matthew Lickona