Krishna
This movie is fun. A musical like the old Disney musicals reminding one of The Jungle Book or The Little Mermaid in style but fully animated 3D fare, corresponding to today’s technology and tastes. The result is a very enjoyable romp and it works beautifully. Disney has taken to introducing twists in its movies – witness The Princess and the Frog, where the Princess-to-be is of African ancestry (since the story does not take place in America, I cannot call her an African-American, now, can I?) and when she kisses the frog, expecting it to turn into a prince, the unexpected happens. In addition, that one is an old fashioned cartoon in the world of 3D animations. But enough about that movie!
Similarly, there is a deadly twist in this movie, and if you have not read reviews with spoilers, you will find it unexpected and refreshing.
The story revolves around a King and a Queen of the Kingdom of Arendelle. They dote on both daughters as do the daughters on each other, but find that the elder, Elsa, has a power to freeze anything (create ice). The royal couple fears that this power will cause panic in the kingdom and keep the elder daughter isolated and behind closed doors, separating her even from Anna, who is puzzled as to why her sister is pushing her away.
The doctor (a troll) advises to keep it a secret and warns that Elsa should control the power and keep it hidden.
When the parents are lost at sea, Elsa, as the elder one, has to rule as the new Queen and all hell breaks loose, as any emotional outburst causes Elsa to create snow and ice. The populace finds out and Elsa runs for her life, creating a Winter World far away up in the mountains, where no one can reach her. Finally, she is free to live as she likes.
Meanwhile, Anna vows to find her. She falls in love with the handsome prince Hans, who is everything that Anna wanted in a man. Elsa, prior to her disappearance, has forbidden Anna to marry Hans for no apparent reason.
Anna goes after Elsa to rescue her and bring her back, taking the help of a lumberjack Kristoff and his reindeer Sven. (All names are Norwegian?). She meets with resistance and almost dies, with only an act of true love that can save her. It is not a kiss from Hans as you think. There is a double twist in the story.
Well, the characters are amazing, Olaf the Snowman who dreams of life in the sunny tropics (“Somebody should tell him”, says Kristoff). Lovely animations of frozen empire especially where Elsa runs over water and creates steps to climb up to the mountains, trees with frozen raindrops reminiscent of the ice storms in Toronto (ironically, this movie was running at the same time), very nice characters with Anna being the goofy, exuberant girl, Olaf the clown, Kristoff the man unsure of himself, Sven who always tries to eat Olaf’s nose (a carrot, of course) and Olaf always mistaking it for affection, the sleazy Duke of Westleton (“Weasel Town”) and his minions… Just lovely. Just when you think that Kristoff is totally bonkers for pointing out a field of boulders as his friends and family, you are shown what they really are. Nice.
The songs are excellent, especially ‘Let it Go’ by Elsa and ‘In Summer’. Lovely picturization and excellent narration and direction make this a very enjoyable experience. Loved every moment of it.
I would say it gets easily a 8/10
- - Krishna