A nice twist on the standard Disney Princess tale

Rating: 8/10 (28 January 2016)

Disney's newest adventure, Frozen, is a spectacle unlike any we've seen in a long time. The animation studio's venture into the cold is pure magic, twisting on the theme of true love that the Disney princesses are known for.
Frozen is loosely, and I mean LOOSELY based on Hans Christian Anderson's classic story of The Snow Queen. But this version doesn't pit the two girls as rivals for a male's affection. They are sisters. Within the first few minutes, thanks to a lot of quick yet touching storytelling akin to the opening of Up, you understand their complicated relationship completely. These characters have so much depth, in fact, that they, arguably, give some of the best and most believable performances in Disney's long history of animation.
The combination of design, animation and voice acting for both Elsa and Anna create two very strong and well rounded characters that both complement and contrast each other. Elsa, the older sister, goes from being a kid princess to a young queen with much more responsibility than her younger sister Anna can understand. But the two have very similar story arcs through- out the film as they both grow into their confidence.
The movie almost has feminist qualities with how strong the sisters are presented. Anna and Elsa, after all, are the only two main female characters with silly, bumbling, lovelorn and/or conniving men all around them. On top of that you have the juxtaposition of the freedom of woman in nature versus the stigma of witchcraft. It's about what helps you to find what's important and who you really are as opposed to who others want you to be.
Anna and Rapunzel, from Disney's earlier film Tangled, are somewhat different versions of the same character. They have the same personality and plight, but Anna's method of achieving an outcome is far more in charge. Elsa, on the other hand, stands on her own as a scene stealer. I don't think we've ever seen a Disney character quite like this before. She is a powerhouse.
All this before even getting to the visual artistry of the film. Stark snow reflecting vibrantly colored skies and glossy ice creating mirrored patterns are showcased beautifully here, to realistic effect. You feel a chill in the air with every gust of wind and every falling snowflake. Even Elsa's Bob Mackie-esque gown coldly glitters around her.
Frozen is soft and dramatic at the same time, giving it the styling of a music video. In fact, the movie is tailor made to be Disney's most spectacular stage musical to date, if they were to follow through on such an idea. The songs flow in and out of the story in a way that if most of them were taken out, the audience would have a lot of questions. At the same time, they are catchy enough for you to be humming one or two on the way out of the theater.
Overall, Hans Kristoff Annaderson's.er, that should be Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen has been adapted and transformed into something of an instant classic for Disney, with playful music, lush visuals and a strong story and characters that should inspire confidence in being one's self. Else has quickly leaped into my handful of favorite Disney characters. Now excuse me while I go watch her againin 3D.