It’s no secret that Disney animated films have struggled in the transition to the 21st century. With a record that includes The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King, it’s hard to break out with a new classic every once in a while. Frozen, however, could very well be the best Disney movie ever made. Boasting gorgeous animation, funny and endearing characters, and a well crafted plot, Frozen is a feast to behold, one that will be remembered for years to come.

Frozen isn’t your typical princess tale. While the two heroines of the story, Anna and Elsa, are both sisters, they never assume the traditional princess roles. Anna is optimistic, yet awkward in her search for true love, as she meets a man and falls in love on sight. Elsa, on the other hand, has icy powers all to herself, and the action begins when her powers have trapped the kingdom in an eternal winter. Anna teams up with a snowman named Olaf and an ice salesman Kristoff in a race to find Elsa and stop the never-ending cold.

Frozen’s characters are where the film really shines. The plot in Frozen is well-crafted, to be sure, but it ends up feeling a bit predictable. This isn’t the films fault but rather nature’s, as there are only so many tales that can be told in the Disney world. This allows the film to focus on the excellent characters, headed by Princess Anna and Queen Elsa. These two women could not be more different, yet they occupy roles that a wide variety of children can relate to. Their relationship as sisters is something that Disney hasn’t explored much in the past, mainly focusing on the damsel-in-distress type of relationships. While this is both a societal implication and a well-implemented tool in storytelling, Frozen joins the ranks of Brave and Tangled as a more modern princess tale.

That’s not to say there isn’t a damsel-in-distress type of relationship, because that is explored but differently in Frozen. Hans and Kristoff are both suitors to the fearless Princess Anna, and they help her learn a thing or two about trust and relationships in general, another theme ripe for exploration in Frozen. Even characters like Olaf the snowman have stories to tell. While he’s mainly comic relief and a great character nonetheless, Olaf delivers the best line in the film, when he almost melts to save Anna, and he says, “Some people are worth melting for.” Every character has a purpose in Frozen, and this is where it excels.

Anna and Elsa are voiced brilliantly by Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, respectively. The two ladies give great performances, but the real shine is on the music. With fantastic original compositions, Frozen joins the ranks of Beauty and the Beast and Mulan with the top Disney soundtracks. An outstanding song “Let it Go” performed by Elsa will no doubt be remembered as the headliner, but others like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Love is an Open Door” will also join the ranks as new classics.

Frozen has some gorgeous animation, and the kingdom of Arendelle shines in the snowy blanket and warm summers. Attention to detail is astounding, almost Pixar-level, and every snowflake is unique. A menacing snow monster and gorgeous ice castle come to mind when thinking of Frozen’s visuals, as they are the best in any Disney film to date. With the added emphasis of 3D, the kingdom really comes to life even more.

Frozen is a miracle. A new Disney classic is always hard to create, yet Disney has done it again with a terrific tale of sisterhood and true love. With memorable characters and a great soundtrack, Frozen is hands down the best Disney film since the Renaissance Era, and a great holiday film for the whole family.

Overall: 4 stars out of 4



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