We all must have wondered about this at one point or another. How is it that Frozen has become one of the most renowned Disney films in the last few years? I thought I’d make a short list of five things I think truly puts this movie on the map.

SPOILER ALERT!

I have to warn anyone who hasn’t seen this film yet, there will be a few spoilers in this post. But it has been a while since it came out, hence me waiting a while to post this, so I do hope everyone’s seen it.

It’s not your typical love-story.

I think one thing we all love is the idea of a romantic love being subverted into one between siblings. The two sisters, Anna and Elsa both play extremely significant roles in showing that a true and real bond between family can overcome anything; and can quite literally save the day.

It has a beautiful background story

The film begins with around fifteen minutes of the protagonists’ history and family. The song ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’ is also used in such an incredible way, helping time pass faster while building sympathy and a great likeability for both characters.

What drives the story is a likeable character that we root for rather than hate.

In other fairy tales, we very often find parents or a mother passing away and leaving the children alone. And although the same technique is used in this plot, it’s done in such a subtle yet shocking way, that it stays as far away from being cliché as possible. This story is just extremely relatable as well, despite its supernatural elements.

It’s full of emotion

In the first ten minutes, I think everyone tears up. Normally, it takes the entire movie for the characters to touch the audience so strongly, but it was done so beautifully, even before the story truly begins. In addition, there is also some romance floating throughout the film, which gets turned on its head again, but is never overdone. As we all know, Disney has been dialling things up in the last few years, and humour is a big part of Disney movies presently. Well this has it too, it has clumsiness and just plain hilarity always lifting the mood.

It doesn’t have your typical villain

We don’t have an evil step-mother, wicked witch or family member seeking for revenge. What drives the story is a likeable character that we root for rather than hate. It is obviously based around the fear of what one is truly capable of, which may in turn relate to each one of us. Of course, we have a few characters that aren’t what we expect at the beginning, but Elsa is truly the one that starts the riot and the frozen state that the land of Arendelle suddenly enters into: and where our story begins.

It plays with those usual fairy tale stereotypes

If you look carefully, you can tell that it almost ridicules those stereotypes that drive typical fairy tales. For example, Anna and Hans get engaged after a few hours of meeting, which when you look at Snow White and Cinderella, also happened.

This film really has brought Disney into a new modern light.

However there’s a much more modern and contemporary perspective that truly makes this story one of a kind. It also portrays the girls in this film as strong and brave in comparison to those weak and delicate female characters we’re used to seeing in Sleeping Beauty, for example.

Besides the obviously great music and dancing, it really does bring out the best of characters and plot. The plain beauty of friendship, love and of course, nature and winter all brought together just makes this film an all-time classic.