In case anybody hasn't figured this out by now, I'm an absolute cry baby sap when it comes to movies.
I think I've mentioned it on the Pod, but basically I cry in every movie that has any substantial level of intimacy whatsoever. That being said, sometimes I cheat and try and force the tears out. Why? Who the hell knows. Maybe subconsciously I'm hoping some hot girl will come strolling by, see me crying over the end of "The Dark Knight Rises" and think I'm compassionate and sensitive. Now, that never happens because this is reality. But, I do hold the "Cry Factor" as a heavy barometer when it comes to my own appreciation for a movie. So when a flick can make me cry within the first 5 minutes, I know we're onto something. On this particular Christmas Day, FROZEN was that something.
The story follows Anna and Ilsa, sisters and princesses of a Nordic kingdom who were once close as sisters could be. As children they would play and laugh, spend all of their days together until something terrible happened. At a young age, Ilsa found out that she the ability to create ice and snow at her command; a talent that could be utilized to form magnificent creations but that power could also bring harm to the people around her. Ilsa accidentally hurts Anna which scares her from ever using that terrible power again. So Ilsa stows away from the world for years, quarantining herself away from the bright, awkward, and curious Anna who doesn't understand why her sister who used to play with every day won't open her bedroom door or come out and build a snowman. Unfortunately, one day Ilsa's power becomes too much for her to control and she spreads forth an eternal winter onto the kingdom. To try and stop anyone from getting caught in the collateral damage of her power, Ilsa runs away, secluding herself on a mountain. That means it's up to Anna to find Ilsa and somehow bring back summer. Along the way she meets up with a Ice Salesmen named Christoph and his Reindeer Sven, who guides her along a journey that encounters trolls, ice castles, and a talking snowman named Olaf.
I know what you're thinking, especially any dudes reading this. "Sounds stupid." But just hear me out here! This is a story about sisterly love, but the undercurrents are so damn powerful. It's a princess story that's also the antithesis of the actual princess story. It's a movie about the love of family, not princes or knights in shining armor. It's about the sacrifices one would be willing to make for the people they love most in the world. It's as moving a flick as I've seen in a long time, and I saw "12 Years A Slave" kids so I know what I'm talking about.
To just talk about the story and not mention the songs would be an injustice in and of itself. Easily, the best Disney musical since perhaps "Mulan". The music is rousing but not distracting and adds incredible layers of emotional depth to the film's proceedings. Could the movie have worked as a straight up film? Maybe, but the music is what shotguns it to a completely different stratosphere. In the film's first big musical number, if "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" doesn't make you cry, you have a heart three sizes too small. Don't take my word for it, check it out below!
Shit, I'm tearing up right now just thinking about the moment! The opening of this movie is easily on par with the opening of "UP", which everyone knows might just be the most heart wrenchingly emotional 5 minutes in film history. I'm ranting I know, but I just want people my age to see this flick. It's a story we can all learn from, how it's not the Prince Charming that we should be looking for, it's the people around us who gives us strength, our families, sisters and brothers. It's the first movie I've ever seen where True Love is the love between sisters, a love built on more than initial attraction of "Boy meets Girl", and it's a beautiful thing to behold.
As you can tell, I loved the all hell out of this movie. I'm not kidding, I'm still crying just a little bit. (Any ladies reading this?). Not only is the story itself amazingly crafted; the animation was flawless, the laughs spot on, and the music was the best I've seen out of Disney in years. But to truly understand my appreciation for this movie, you need to hear the backstory of the who's, the what's, and the why's.
I'm a Disney nerd in every sense of the word. I know the history and philosophy behind not only the films, but the theme parks, as well as a shit ton about Walt Disney himself. I believe that all stemmed from the barrage of Disney animated movies that I consumed as a kid. Growing up, and all 90's kids can attest to this, we were in the Second Renaissance of Disney Animation. We had "The Little Mermaid", "Aladdin", "Beauty and The Beast", and "The Lion King" all in consecutive years. Disney was the king of the 90's animation game, until a little company from San Francisco went To Infinity and Beyond. PIXAR storm right nowed onto the animation scene with a vengeance and quickly took over the Box Office when it came to animated films. Their string of hits in the late 90's/early 2000's was astounding, whereas Disney's was faltering. Disney's reliance on hand drawn animation, which is incredibly tiresome and costly to produce, was not receiving the monetary dividends that could make it viable. So after over 70 years, Disney pretty much shut down the production of animated films.
Now, why do I tell you this. Simply because Disney is back on top of their game in a big, bad way and FROZEN is an incredible testament to that. They've gone back to their roots, the classic musical and have formed a film that is so warm hearted, and lovely, and wholesome that even the blackest of hearts can be warmed. Need proof? Check out the song "Let It Go" below. Not only does it highlight some of the best computer animation I've ever seen but this song should very well go down in the pantheon of great Disney songs.
There's alot to love about this movie. At last count, I cried three times and laughed an awful lot. I know it sounds sappy as shit but honestly, that's what I've come to expect from Disney movies. They bring order to the world around us through imagination, they smooth off the rough edges of our lives through songs that make our hearts soar, that break through the day to day monotony. I see alot of movies, but FROZEN is one of the few that has stuck with me long after leaving the theater. If you get some time in the next few weeks, check it out. It'll be well worth your time. I'll stake my "Disney Nerd" status on it.
Until next time, thanks for reading
Jeremy
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