Courtesy of The Wrap
Thanksgiving weekend marked a new obsession from Disney, with “Frozen II” premiering on Friday, Nov. 22. And, as happened with the original, fans are going wild.
The new story takes the familiar characters – Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf – through a new magical adventure far from Arendelle. Elsa (Idina Menzel) finds herself being called by a mystical voice and she needs to find out why. The group of friends ventures out into the beyond to discover what lies ahead. While on their journey, new faces emerge along with fresh, fantastic songs.
The graphics, a huge success, brought life to every part of the movie. The pastel color scheme compliments the gentle nature of the scenery, but also explodes with vibrance when a change in mood occurs. The movie overall is lifted to another level by the instrumental music which personifies the natural elements of the film’s setting. There is a constant, tangible energy throughout the movie, even when the plot takes a solemn turn.
The group journeys to an enchanted forest that is home to four spirits. The four elements – air, fire, water and earth – control life in the forest. In the past, the spirits and the Northuldra tribe inhabited the area, living in harmony until a terrible battle broke out between the Northuldrans and Arendellians. This battle upset the spirits and cast a curse upon the forest, trapping those inside and locking others out.
Seeking to resolve the conflict and repair the relationships between the Northuldrans and Arendellians, Elsa feels her powers growing and awakens the spirits in the enchanted forest. Upon arrival, Elsa and her younger sister Anna discover information about their family that changes their perception of the past. This compels Elsa to travel forward on her own to discover the truth about herself and her powers.
In addition to the exciting plot line, the film’s new, powerful songs will have everyone singing for days. Elsa has two jaw-dropping solos: “Into The Unknown” and “Show Yourself.” The two chilling songs showcase Menzel’s vocals, and also illustrate Elsa’s vulnerable side.
Anna (Kristen Bell) has many highlights in the movie, including finding her independence and desire to do the right thing, especially when her friends and kingdom need it most. Her bond with her sister grows stronger and the audience gets to see a deeper connection grow between them when they become separated later in the story. Her solo song, “The Next Right Thing” showcases a love-hate relationship between the lonely darkness growing inside her and her light that still shines. This is shown through a battle between those strengths and weaknesses which metaphorically matches the visuals on the screen. All in all, this moment for Anna is necessary in order for her independence to grow.
Kristoff (Jonathon Gross) gets a solo song, “Lost In the Woods,” that has an ‘80s instrumental vibe, featuring Sven and some other cuddly faces. The audience sees an emotional side of Kristoff while he expresses his feelings for Anna. Olaf (Josh Gad) delights us with his bubbly and upbeat solo song, “When I’m Older.” Olaf tries to convince himself that the strange but magical experiences are part of his journey. The frozen friend cracks jokes throughout the film and lifts everyone’s spirits, including those of the audience.
This movie will have you dancing in your seat and singing too loud, but remember to bring tissues because it is nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. “Frozen II” is another Disney success that will have kids and adults obsessing for years to come.
