When you have Emily Blunt wasted pretty much playing a dark version of Elsa there wasn't much promise for this in the first place. It's not hard to tell that Winters War is from the director of Maleficent either. Since you have Freya (Emily Blunt) turning bad due to a great loss and a broken heart; like Maleficent.
A Huntsman prequel to a just decent Snow White movie was never necessary. With such a great cast I expected something attracted them to the movie other than money but I was wrong. There's nothing for any true Fantasy fan other than sadly the ones who liked Frozen and Twilight.
Since you have to appreciate the lackluster young adult stuff like Twilight to enjoy this. While some Frozen fans might want to see it for a Elsa like snow queen. This one doesn't sing Let it Go though and is against anyone who believes in love.
Blunt is one dimensional as a woman scorned who has to act broken and preach about how love sucks every time she is shown. Anyone could have played the part and she should have let someone else play the part...
Despite some good swordplay there's not much that kept my attention. Jessica Chestain isn't bad at least; as well as Nick Frost as a dwarf. Most of the acting otherwise was so eh that I even missed Kristen Stewart.
Winters War made me sad that a great fantasy like Willow was so under-appreciated in 1988. Since that movie offered plenty of fun. I can't say this movie ever was fun or magical for that matter.
When it also doesn't even lead into Snow White and the Huntsman well. The movie had no true good reason for being made.