A delightful new classic from Disney

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2016)

As this Disney animated film opens it is winter in the small kingdom of Arendelle; Princess Anna wakes Elsa, her older sister, so that they can make snowmen and enjoy the snow. They don't have to go outside though as Elsa has a magical power; she can conjure snow and ice from thin air or freeze any object. As they play Elsa accidentally injures her sister, Anna is healed but has all memories of what happened and of Elsa's 'gift' erased. Elsa is cautioned that as he grows her power will become more powerful and more dangerous. Scared of hurting anybody she shuts herself away. Sometime later her parents are lost in a shipwreck and three years after that she comes of age and is due to be crowned Queen. People come from all around to attend the coronation; including the handsome Prince Hans who Anna falls in love with. After the ceremony Anna asks Elsa to give her blessing for her to marry Hans Elsa refuses and as the sisters argue Elsa's power is exposed to everybody. Branded a monster Elsa flees the country; heading to the North Mountain where she creates a castle of ice. The country is thrown into winter and Anna sets out to find her sister leaving Hans to rule. On the way north Anna teams up with Kristoff, an ice supplier, and his reindeer Sven. Their journey won't be easy and the dangers won't be over when they find Elsa.
Before watching 'Frozen' I wasn't sure what to expect; I knew it was bound to look great and had some catchy songs; I don't imagine anybody hasn't heard 'Let it Go' umpteen times even if they haven't watched the film yet. I hadn't been watching long before I was hooked; the opening was fun but quickly turned darker than I expected as first Elsa appears to reject Anna, for reasons the viewer knows but Anna doesn't, then their parents die. Just as it looks as if things will brighten up when Elsa is made queen and Anna falls in love things get even darker as Elsa leaves to live an isolated life. It isn't depressing though; Anna and Kristoff's journey north is exciting and some extra lightness is added when they meet Olaf, a living snowman. Without going into too much detail we then get more peril, a potential tragedy and a shocking betrayal before the uplifting finale one expects from a Disney film. As expected the animation was pretty spectacular; the characters were really good; great good guys and some suitably dastardly villains. Overall I'd certainly recommend watching this; it is a delightful film for people of all ages.