So far it's been rough going for "Twilight" stars trying to move beyond "Twilight." Robert Pattinson's romantic turns in "Remember Me" and "Water for Elephants" haven't been much of a draw (and expectations are low for his upcoming period indie "Bel Ami," panned at the Berlin Film Festival). Taylor Lautner fared even worse at his attempt to become an action star in the laughable "Abduction."

Meanwhile, Kristen Stewart has stuck with what she was doing before "Twilight": quirky, low-profile indies like "Welcome to the Rileys" and "The Runaways." At least until now. As the star of the year's second -- and by far more intriguing -- reinvention of Snow White, Stewart is finally taking a stab at blockbuster action. Supported by Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, and Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, Stewart headlines an expensive, eye-popping fantasy extravaganza that's already being hyped as the possible starting point of a new "Lord of the Rings"-style trilogy.

That is, if audiences can buy Bella Swan as a badass warrior princess. Considering Stewart is one of the more interesting actresses of her generation, we're hoping the gamble pays off.

- Geoff Berkshire