Writer: Jennifer Lee
Directors: Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck
Starring: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad and Santino Fontana
Review Written By: Michael Dalton (Prime Minister)
Directors: Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck
Starring: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad and Santino Fontana
Review Written By: Michael Dalton (Prime Minister)
It’s been a weak year for animated films. Whilst films such as Despicable Me 2 and Monster’s University were huge financial successes and enjoyable films, neither were outstanding, with many citing the latter as continued evidence of Pixar’s decline. Over the past few years, Walt Disney Animation Studios has slowly but surely been stealing the animated studio throne from Pixar with films such as Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh and Wreck-It Ralph. Frozen is perhaps the film that certifies and completes this triumphant rise, with it not only far exceeding any animated film this year but also any film Pixar has put out in about four years. Not only a superb animated film, Frozen is one of the very best films of 2013. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s, ‘The Snow Queen’ Frozen is a tale of two sisters (Elsa and Anna) who are separated due to the older child’s magical abilities. When Elsa (Voiced by Idina Menzel) can no longer hold in her powers and lets it go, she flees and leaves her kingdom in an eternal winter. Anna (Voiced by Kristen Bell) must then embark on a quest along with an ice salesman (Jonathan Groff), a reindeer and a snowman (Josh Gad) in order to reunite with her sister and end the winter threatening their kingdom.
Being a musical, as with all of them, Frozen flies or falls based on the strength of its songs. Thankfully, musically, Frozen may just best the Coen Brothers’, ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ to the best soundtrack of 2013. With most musicals there are at least one or two songs that don’t really work or are rather unspectacular. However with Frozen every single song is a winner, though naturally some stand out more than others, with the three highlights for me being, ‘For the First Time in Forever’, ‘Love is an Open Door’, and of course the show stopper that is, ‘Let It Go’ (Surely this year’s Best Original Song winner at the Oscars?) I have listened to the entire soundtrack multiple times since watching the film and I am sure I will continue to do so. The songs are not only fantastic taken as individual pieces, but all work wonderfully in context and move the story along brilliantly. Frozen may in fact be one of the best original musicals to grace the big screen for a very long time, perhaps since the classic days of Disney.
The brilliance of Frozen doesn’t just stem from the music however, but also Jennifer Lee’s script. Frozen has a very compelling story that while simple and adhering to certain conventions of this genre, does so with a wink and an enthusiasm that means even in the film's rare unoriginal moments it never feels tired. The film is also surprisingly subversive and self-referential. What perhaps surprised me most about Frozen however, was just how funny it was. I’m an eighteen-year-old male and I was laughing louder than any of the children in the cinema. Olaf the snowman (Voiced by Josh Gad) is a character that could have been so annoying in other hands, however in this he becomes one of the funniest characters of the year. There are lines and moments from his character that will have me laughing to myself every time I think of them.
The voice cast all do a fantastic job and never distract you or take you out of the film. And as is to be expected in this day and age, the film is beautifully animated. The 3D is as always a superfluous addition but is not a distraction and not to the detriment of the film. If there are flaws to be found in Frozen, then the big twist I saw coming a mile off and there are certain additions (Wolves, snow monsters and trolls) that some may find rather strange, unnecessary and forced…however I happened to find all of those things awesome myself.
Overall Frozen is a film I enjoyed immensely whilst watching it and it would be easy to write it off as just a good kids film. However the more you listen to the soundtrack and the more you continue to laugh at its jokes and think about it, you realize that Frozen is one of this year’s most rewarding films. Frozen is not just the best animated film of this year but the past few years and stands right up there as one of my favourite films of 2013. Beautifully animated, well-voiced, well-written, great songs, funny, heartfelt and inspired…Frozen is a great movie.
Being a musical, as with all of them, Frozen flies or falls based on the strength of its songs. Thankfully, musically, Frozen may just best the Coen Brothers’, ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ to the best soundtrack of 2013. With most musicals there are at least one or two songs that don’t really work or are rather unspectacular. However with Frozen every single song is a winner, though naturally some stand out more than others, with the three highlights for me being, ‘For the First Time in Forever’, ‘Love is an Open Door’, and of course the show stopper that is, ‘Let It Go’ (Surely this year’s Best Original Song winner at the Oscars?) I have listened to the entire soundtrack multiple times since watching the film and I am sure I will continue to do so. The songs are not only fantastic taken as individual pieces, but all work wonderfully in context and move the story along brilliantly. Frozen may in fact be one of the best original musicals to grace the big screen for a very long time, perhaps since the classic days of Disney.
The brilliance of Frozen doesn’t just stem from the music however, but also Jennifer Lee’s script. Frozen has a very compelling story that while simple and adhering to certain conventions of this genre, does so with a wink and an enthusiasm that means even in the film's rare unoriginal moments it never feels tired. The film is also surprisingly subversive and self-referential. What perhaps surprised me most about Frozen however, was just how funny it was. I’m an eighteen-year-old male and I was laughing louder than any of the children in the cinema. Olaf the snowman (Voiced by Josh Gad) is a character that could have been so annoying in other hands, however in this he becomes one of the funniest characters of the year. There are lines and moments from his character that will have me laughing to myself every time I think of them.
The voice cast all do a fantastic job and never distract you or take you out of the film. And as is to be expected in this day and age, the film is beautifully animated. The 3D is as always a superfluous addition but is not a distraction and not to the detriment of the film. If there are flaws to be found in Frozen, then the big twist I saw coming a mile off and there are certain additions (Wolves, snow monsters and trolls) that some may find rather strange, unnecessary and forced…however I happened to find all of those things awesome myself.
Overall Frozen is a film I enjoyed immensely whilst watching it and it would be easy to write it off as just a good kids film. However the more you listen to the soundtrack and the more you continue to laugh at its jokes and think about it, you realize that Frozen is one of this year’s most rewarding films. Frozen is not just the best animated film of this year but the past few years and stands right up there as one of my favourite films of 2013. Beautifully animated, well-voiced, well-written, great songs, funny, heartfelt and inspired…Frozen is a great movie.
Summary: Containing the year's best soundtrack and perhaps the year's funniest character, Frozen is a modern Disney classic.
Movie Parliament Rating: LANDSLIDE
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
Michael Dalton
Disagree with this review? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.
Movie Parliament Rating: LANDSLIDE
By Movie Parliament Prime Minister,
Michael Dalton
Disagree with this review? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.
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