Frozen

[Gabe1]

Hype aside, this most definitely is the definition for a phenomenon. I don't recall when the last time a movie had this much staying power and danced around between the top 4 spots for so long especially in this day and age where everything is readily available on the web. Lets hope Disney Animation continue the strong streak they've been on.

I think part of our excitement (beyond Frozen was good) is that a good film was a long time coming so we are hanging on. The soundtrack was good, not Lion King great but good unlike the poor soundtrack from Tangled.
The marketing possibilities for Frozen is over the top for girls and even little boys, Olaf and the moose are perfect, even if moose seems to be a direct lift from the horse in Tangled.

 

[Matt_Black]

The marketing possibilities for Frozen is over the top for girls and even little boys

I can't be the only one who wants to see Elsa team up with the Avengers.

 

[SpectroMan93]

The marketing possibilities for Frozen is over the top for girls and even little boys, Olaf and the moose are perfect, even if moose seems to be a direct lift from the horse in Tangled.

*Reindeer. Sven is hardly a direct lift from Maximus, other than fulfilling the role of animal partner to the male lead, which is a fairly common practice in Disney films. Though they essentially fulfill the same purpose, there's enough differences that set them apart.

 

[Sped2424]

I can't be the only one who wants to see Elsa team up with the Avengers.

 

[Matt_Black]

*Reindeer. Sven is hardly a direct lift from Maximus, other than fulfilling the role of animal partner to the male lead, which is a fairly common practice in Disney films. Though they essentially fulfill the same purpose, there's enough differences that set them apart.

The only similarity I can see is that both Maximus and Sven have canine characteristics and mannerisms. Max is very much a German shepherd, whereas Sven is more like a lab.

 

[Gabe1]

*Reindeer. Sven is hardly a direct lift from Maximus, other than fulfilling the role of animal partner to the male lead, which is a fairly common practice in Disney films. Though they essentially fulfill the same purpose, there's enough differences that set them apart.

I see it. Side kick lead, both step it up to get the male role to save the day, both comical, same expressions, both offer something for young boys to bond with for marketing. They are both great additions to the movie but the characters are mirror image, just turn the horse into a moose. I don't object but if you look it is right there. Now Olaf, he is a unique and original.

 

[Tony Perkis]

As great as Frozen has done, and I'm thrilled that Disney has a hit that isn't reliant upon Pixar and fits nicely into the cream of the crop the company has produced, I think this weekend was the end for the film. I truly believe it's about to run into a buzz saw with The Lego Movie, which is getting outstanding early reviews and is tracking for a big $60+ million weekend.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I must've been the only one underwhelmed by Frozen. It wasn't BAD but I wasn't exactly blown away. The concept wasn't bad and I liked Elsa but overall, I couldn't get past this feeling that they only did this because they didn't think they could sell dolls to the original "Snow Queen" story. So, it's not terrible, but I think it's overrated.
Although maybe I would've liked the twists more if I hadn't had them all spoiled for me. Thanks Tumblr >>
That and I can't look at Frozen and not just see a broken promise. Guess I'm bitter.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Neat article - How Frozen Became the Most Beloved Animated Film in 20 Years

Josh Gad was interviewed at the special Frozen Sing along at El Captain

Few Quotes -

“In Frozen, the idea of true love is explored through the arc of a relationship between siblings, and siblinghood is something that resonates in a very profound way,” - Josh Gad

“Frozen is not about the prince and the princess for once, It’s not a traditional story between a man or a woman, it’s the sisters who represent true love at the end and that’s an excellent message for my girls.” - Mom at the Screening

Disney’s films have historically portrayed sisterhood in a negative light (Cinderella being the most venomous example), so Anna’s unwavering devotion to Elsa (who, in turn, exiles herself for the safety of her sibling) is one of the many reasons Gad considers the film to be thoroughly modern.

Gad adds that screenwriter Jennifer Lee made an excellent decision to contemporize the humor without injecting era-specific references. “There’s been a lot of wink-wink, nudge-nudge movies that modernize fairy tales, but Frozen doesn’t rely on any current pop culture references, so it’s created an entirely new subgenre in many ways that I think make it timeless.”

“I was attempting to watch the Mary Poppins Sing-Along with my daughter recently, which is a movie from 1964, and all these kids were singing every word,” Gad said. “I flashed forward and had this profound visual of a group of kids watching the 50th anniversary of Frozen and that idea struck me as being one of the great moments of my life. Disney, more than any company, has the ability to create these films that continue to speak to generation after generation because of the timeless themes they address, and I think Frozen might belong in that pantheon of great films" - Josh Gad

 

[Matt_Black]

That's a good point about sisters. There aren't many films in the canon where there are sisters as principle characters, certainly not the Princess films. There's the aforementioned Cinderella, and there are the sisters in The Little Mermaid, who contribute almost nothing to the story.

 

[Zweiland]

That's a good point about sisters. There aren't many films in the canon where there are sisters as principle characters, certainly not the Princess films. There's the aforementioned Cinderella, and there are the sisters in The Little Mermaid, who contribute almost nothing to the story.

How about Lilo and Stitch?

 

[Matt_Black]

How about Lilo and Stitch?

Well, you'll noticed I used the quantifier "not many". Lilo & Stitch certainly does qualify, but it's not a Princess film.

 

[englanddg]

Let it Go sung in 25 languages.

 

[englanddg]

I just watched Frozen again...and...it is such a bad movie.

I really didn't like it much at all.

1) The parents were terrible people, isolating their daughter and creating this complex. I don't care how romantically they died. I don't care how you spin it, locking your daughter in her room because she has a power she can't control due to her age and that you don't understand so you turn to smurfs...er...trolls to "solve" the issue is just wrong.

Now, I'm ok with the corrupted childhood theme, had they used it all. Instead, the whole first act is about how Anna wants to play and Elsa "can't"...without taking even a few minutes to develop either character outside of the fact they love each other (duh, that's a given, they are sisters!).

Meh, bad show.

2) Elsa never truly becomes evil. The whole eternal winter is more like she just got a bit overexuberant and just spilt her soda. No one says anything after that (who is a good guy). The villian attempts on her are all shallow. How would the normal person feel about her mutated abilities?

There is no depth. Which leads me to #3.

3) There is no back story as to HOW Elsa got these abilities. This isn't like, say, the opening of Beauty and the Beast, where the enchantments were laid out. Or Little Mermaid, where it's also laid out with Fathoms Below. In this movie it's just not explained or addressed at all.

I really don't think this movie is worth all the hype it's getting, box office returns aside. I truly hope this doesn't foreshadow future Disney productions. This isn't much deeper than Oliver and Company in terms of character and story, and is probably on par in terms of music.

To those of you who enjoy it, power to you, please don't take my comments as critique of your own personal opinions.

But, for me...the movie was full of shallow characters, lame plots, bad (and some low brow) jokes, and forgettable music.

 

[Matt_Black]

I 1) The parents were terrible people, isolating their daughter and creating this complex. I don't care how romantically they died. I don't care how you spin it, locking your daughter in her room because she has a power she can't control due to her age and that you don't understand so you turn to smurfs...er...trolls to "solve" the issue is just wrong.

They didn't lock her in the room. Elsa kept to her room at her parents' suggestion. Furthermore, they were trying to protect Anna from another accident and Elsa from possible public outcry. They obviously chose the wrong path, but their intentions were good; "people make mistakes when they're mad or scared or stressed."

3) There is no back story as to HOW Elsa got these abilities.

Actually, they DO explain, albeit very succinctly.

Troll Elder: "Was she born with the power, or cursed?"
King: "Born."

Do we need more exposition? Granted, I'm coming from a comic background where superpowers are usually by birth or accident, so I just rolled with it.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I can't be the only one who wants to see Elsa team up with the Avengers.

I hope you're kidding. It's hard to tell with you.

 

[Magenta Panther]

*Reindeer. Sven is hardly a direct lift from Maximus, other than fulfilling the role of animal partner to the male lead, which is a fairly common practice in Disney films. Though they essentially fulfill the same purpose, there's enough differences that set them apart.

Yeah, one's a horsie.

 

[Magenta Panther]

I must've been the only one underwhelmed by Frozen. It wasn't BAD but I wasn't exactly blown away. The concept wasn't bad and I liked Elsa but overall, I couldn't get past this feeling that they only did this because they didn't think they could sell dolls to the original "Snow Queen" story. So, it's not terrible, but I think it's overrated.
Although maybe I would've liked the twists more if I hadn't had them all spoiled for me. Thanks Tumblr >>
That and I can't look at Frozen and not just see a broken promise. Guess I'm bitter.

I think Disney replaced all of the elements in the "Snow Queen" story with elements from the stage production of "Wicked". And it worked, I'll give it that - at least at the box office, if not in regards to producing a good movie. But I think other factors are in play when it comes to "Frozen"'s success. It really did have the entire Christmas season pretty much to itself. A Disney animated movie with snow and ice in it at Christmas time. Pretty irresistible for families. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm really happy that Walt Disney Animation has had such a blockbuster hit. But I'm sad that we'll never see a really good version of "The Snow Queen" from that studio. All because the Disney scripters were scared of the story. Too bad.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think Disney replaced all of the elements in the "Snow Queen" story with elements from the stage production of "Wicked". And it worked, I'll give it that - at least at the box office, if not in regards to producing a good movie. But I think other factors are in play when it comes to "Frozen"'s success. It really did have the entire Christmas season pretty much to itself. A Disney animated movie with snow and ice in it at Christmas time. Pretty irresistible for families. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm really happy that Walt Disney Animation has had such a blockbuster hit. But I'm sad that we'll never see a really good version of "The Snow Queen" from that studio. All because the Disney scripters were scared of the story. Too bad.

I'm not sure where you are getting the Wicked connection, but you go on ad nauseam about how Walt created his own version of existing stories and now you're going on about Frozen not following The Snow Queen closely.

 

[flynnibus]

Again... people hating on things because of what they are NOT vs accepting what they ARE.