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| why is the snowman in the middle ugh he's so gr0ss |
Frozen was a Disney movie released in November 2013 (US). IMDB's synopsis: "Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter."
I had no real desire to see this movie until I was being consistently affronted with it while on Tumblr (a lot of people on there really really like it). So I finally checked it out, just to see if it was actually worth all of the fuss -- and I'd have to say it is kind of justified.
It's got all your typical Disney movie things: a handsome guy, a selfish antagonist, the revelation of true life. The staples. But what was really unique was how the protagonist (Anna)'s sister, Elsa, was written. (spoilers start) A girl cursed with power to control ice and no means of learning that needed control, Elsa could have very easily been portrayed as the main antagonist. She ends up casting an eternal winter in summer, and isolates herself in a castle of ice. From there, they could have made her the typical evil queen character, spiteful for having been pushed into solitude. But she isn't. Instead, she's shown as doing everything -- from her isolation to her hiding her powers -- for the good of her kingdom and her younger sister. She chose to deal with it all on her own rather than subject those around her to worry and harm. This was astounding to me, and very refreshing. As well, I read another person's review about how Elsa was a woman with intense anxiety and depression -- very real problems in the world for many people -- and that she dealt with it the best way she could. She is a role model for children who may develop these disorders, because she is still able to live a good life with these things. The fact that she wasn't criminalized for this made it all the better.
Another amazing, unique plot feature was that, while the solution to the movie's biggest problem was an act of true love, it was not resolved with a display of romantic love, which is typical. Instead, it was familial love, which was seen in only one other Disney movie I can think of (Lilo & Stitch). This was a very important facet, as it shows that deep familial ties are just as important and powerful as the romantic love of a significant other. (spoilers end)
I also really loved the graphics! They were absolutely beautiful, as to be expected from the Disney studios. Nothing was held back as the characters were shown tromping through incredible snow-covered landscapes -- especially when it came to the ice. I would not be surprised if every animated snowflake were unique!
I'm going to give Disney's Frozen a solid A, awarded for amazing effects and the fact that it made me cry like a goddamn infant.
That is refreshing to see Disney subliminally addresses real life issues without completely depressing the audience. It is also crucial that they showed another aspect of love, as you said familial love instead of the cliches romance.
ReplyDeleteBeau you're silly. Thank you for spoiling it. I was waiting to go see it, I heard it was phenomenal. I like the distinction of the familial love contrary to the typical romantic love. That makes me want to see it all the more. Solid review.
ReplyDeleteSolid A. I feel it. Lol, no, but, it was a fantastic movie and what also impressed me was the way Ana was written. I know we already have a kind of awkward princess in Rapunzel--who SPOILER ALERT is her cousin, she came to the coronation with Eugene--but I thought Ana was more of a quirky, weird, awkward. IDK, I really related to her and thought it was fresh that she wasn't in distress and letting the men do it for her. She took the initiative and remained herself, a strong, independent, young woman, to the end. It was very cool.
ReplyDeleteI was discussing the whole Elsa not being the bad guy thing with my brother yesterday! I really loved how different this movie was from other Disney movies. Good review :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked this movie for it's realism and animation. The story was really good and even thought when Elsa was singing let it go, she was becoming evil during the song but that wasn't the case. I thought the snow man was a bit sadistic of Disney (spoilers) when he asked for Summer. I mean Disney, wtf is wrong with you and wanting to have a character ,made of snow, wanting to die. That part made me gasp in horror while everyone around me was laughing. I now have nightmares of that snowman, Olaf, dying.
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