“Frozen” is Disney’s latest animated movie and addition to their long line of “princess movies” However, unlike the past few films (excluding “Brave”), this is not one of those stereotypical princess films. Based off of Hans Christian Andersen’s book “The Snow Queen”, “Frozen” is set in the faraway land of Arendelle. The people and their outfits are based off of those of the Sami people who are the nomadic reindeer herders of Northern Norway and Sweden.
The story revolves around two sisters: Elsa and Anna. The story starts off with Anna waking Elsa up in the middle of the night begging her to show her magic powers. Elsa has the power to create and control ice and snow. They rush down to the ballroom and Elsa begins spreading snow everywhere. But after Elsa accidentally hits her with a blast of magic, their fun is cut short. Their parents then come down and quickly take her to be healed. This is when Elsa is forced to hide away from her sister, to never speak of or show anyone her powers. What lies in store is an incredible tale of how the love between two sisters can melt even the coldest of hearts.
This is by far the most well-told, animated and visually stunning of all of Disney’s movies. The animators spared no expense with this film. The characters move as if they were actual people, they almost look motion captured. From each strand of hair to the subtle movement of the flowers on the maypole, the feel of a winter wonderland is so apparent, the audience almost shivers. The visuals and special effects are amazing―no, awe-inspiring. The snowflakes look like many small diamonds flowing through the air. The amount of time and detail that went into the ice and snow effects makes one wish that snow in our world was that beautiful. While some stories take many chapters and sometimes even books to convey a certain feeling or emotion in the reader, “Frozen” is able to make the audience feel for Anna and Elsa in just a matter of minutes. Before the first 10 minutes of the movie has passed, the viewer will get a feeling for how truly alone Elsa is and how sad Anna has become after seeing her sister shut her out for most of their lives.
In the end, “Frozen” surpasses all of Disney’s previous movies. The story, the visuals, the music―heck, even the attention to the cultural detail of the Sami people amazes me. For those who want to go see a movie that was advertised for children but plays out as if it was intended for adults, 10 bucks to go see this fantastic film is well worth it.