Disney's Frozen

[craigdbfan]

Tangled was absolutely gorgeous and that was CG.

 

[flickchick85]

More reviews trickling in, still sounding awesome.

I saw Idina Menzel yesterday in If/Then this weekend and she was phenomenal. I also got her autograph at the stage door and got to tell her how much I was looking forward to this, so that was cool too.

I thought this was neat (don't watch if you don't want to be spoiled for one of the big songs in the movie):

 

[X Knight]

^^ Lucky you!!

 

[smashmode]

Frozen is a wholehearted embrace of that musical legacy, even if its partially in service of the Broadway show that this film is destined to become, as well as an unapologetic re-embrace of the fairy tale genre. The film pushing the fairy tale princess story forward rather than mocking it or bathing in nostalgia. Frozen is not just a new animated classic but a turning point for the Mouse House. Walt Disney Animation has spent the last decade attempting to define what it represents in the shadow of Pixar and Dreamworks. With Frozen, Disney has made good on the promise to “keep moving forward”. It has reignited its own towering relevance by admitting what it does better than anyone else and once again doing it better than anyone else. It does iconic female-centric fairy tale adventures with terrific songs. That’s not the only thing a Disney animated film can be, but it’s what separates Disney from Pixar, Dreamworks, and and all the rest.

Frozen is both a declaration of Disney’s renewed cultural relevance and a reaffirmation of Disney coming to terms with its own legacy and its own identity. It’s also a just plain terrific bit of family entertainment.

A really good review from Forbes (Who knew Forbes would have some of the best gaming/movie reviews and commentary out there):

http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottme...-disneys-best-toon-in-years/?partner=yahootix

 

[X Knight]

^ awesome!!

And IGN has their video review up ( May contain spoilers ). They gave it a 9.3 and said it's right up there with the classics like Mermaid and BB. They also said Let It Go is a showstopper!!

http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/11/19/frozen-video-review

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

Den of Geek review. There are more glowing reviews on the net now, but I don't feel like posting them all.

During an interview for The Little Mermaid, songwriter and lyricist Howard Ashman remarked, “I just don’t think anything is quite as magical as a Disney cartoon fairy tale.” He said this as an artist who chose to leave musical theatre for what he viewed as its greatest kindred spirit: the animated film. Twenty-four years later, Disney is ready to believe that again with Frozen, a shimmering movie that unapologetically embraces its heritage, and also Disney’s reemergence as the dominating studio in family animation.

For fans waiting years to see Disney reclaim its lost animated magic, this is it. Frozen marks Disney accepting a truth that for over a decade it has seemingly avoided—nobody will ever do an animated fairy tale, let alone a musical, like the House that Mickey built. And when it is fully realized, there is nothing more enchanting. Making good on a promise Tangled made three years ago, Frozen is spellbinding.

Based loosely on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Snow Queen,” Frozen is wholly the story of two sister princesses named Elsa and Anna from the seaside kingdom of Arendelle. Elsa, the elder, was cursed with a magnificent power at birth, which allows her to manipulate the elements of snow, ice, and other wintry charms. Unfortunately, she never learned to control this gift, and after a nearly fatal accident, her parents force her to hide the abilities and her own desperate soul away from the world, including a confused and lonely Anna. The two grow up with a heavy, frigid door always between them until the time comes for Elsa to become Queen. On that warm summer day, an increasingly willful Anna will finally peer through the chilling wall constructed around Elsa’s heart.



It should be said upfront that scholars of Hans Christian Andersen are not going to be pleased. This is a terrific return to fairy tales for Disney, but it is NOT Andersen’s fairy tale. Right down to transforming the protagonists into two female princesses related by blood, as opposed to a poor boy and girl who become lovers, Disney obviously goes in a different direction. However, after attempting to make this story into an animated feature for over a decade (originally it would have been lushly hand-drawn), Walt Disney Animation Studios finally cracked the tale by making it about two sisters, thus allowing the exploration of many unique facets for the company in a familiar setting.

And for those who love that setting, there will be much to adore here. Unlike many previous efforts, this is a narrative about the love and emotion between sisters and the ties that bind, as opposed to that of a lady and her prince who only walked once upon a dream about two seconds ago (that cliché is given a knowing wink and a nodtoo). Yet, many genre staples are still sprinkled throughout the movie, including a handsome prince named Hans, a dashing street rat called Kristoff, and his best buddy, a mugging reindeer. The biggest of these hilarity-catching tropes though is Olaf, a wide-eyed snowman voiced by Josh Gad with big dreams of one day enjoying summer. This cute little sidekick has such earnest sincerity brimming from his icy powder that his stuffed animal likeness is probably already pre-sold through next Christmas.

All of these characters are fitted into a surprisingly clever and twisty plot that serves them and their voice actors very well. But to the delight of parents tired of the post-modern snark cloyingly attached to almost all non-Pixar family films in the last decade, these are subservient distractions to the genuinely tender affection between Anna and the Snow Queen. Both characters are voiced with classic Disney princess optimism by actresses Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel. As the younger, more innocent of the two, Bell’s clean and luminous voice rings throughout the more traditional Disney protagonist songs of the post-Mermaid era. However, with the casting of Menzel as the frosty monarch, an actress best known for stage credits like Wicked and Rent, directors Chris Beck and Jennifer Lee take their animated project into the most theatrical of settings. Frozen is not only a return to the Broadway formula ushered in during the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s, it is the biggest evocation of it yet, as Menzel’s sinuous vocals wrap around the film’s biggest showstopper, “Let It Go,” which appears multiple times as a harmonizing reprise meant to counter the pure hopefulness of Bell’s transcendently buoyant “First Time in Forever.” If you have young daughters, be prepared to hear those songs many, many times in the near future.



This transfusion of added musicality is not that surprising with the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez being hired to inject their melodic mischief into this classical DNA. Consider that Robert Lopez co-composed the music and lyrics for Avenue Q, and collaborated with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on The Book of Mormon prior to Frozen. Together, they prove again that the relationship between theatre and animation can be as absolute as that of Anna and Elsa. A rich score from Christophe Beck of The Muppets reboot also aids their modernization of the Disney musical.

The images that the music serves are most gorgeously realized by a seemingly reinvigorated Walt Disney Animation Studios. While an ever growing number of “independent” animation houses spring up in this now totally CGI-world without any association to Disney, Pixar or DreamWorks, Disney proves that few if any can do intricate backgrounds and dizzying affects better than the epicenter of Walt Disney’s legacy. The visuals particularly pop whenever Elsa displays her cryokinetic powers across the kingdom. If it is made of ice or snow, it will literally pop out of the screen every time, whether you view it in 3D or not. However, there is some disappointment in the actual character models themselves. While they are still some of the best in any fully CG-animated film, and are miles ahead of most of the competition, there is admittedly something missing when compared to the warmth of the studio’s very own Tangled from three years ago. Indeed, Frozen's style sometimes feels a little too close to leaning on that first blast of revitalization. Plus, both are so fully realized in other departments that my nostalgic side can only wonder how they would look in the complete freedom and warmth of pencil graphite or cel-shading instead of digitized pixels.

Yet, this is nitpicking at a film that other than a specifically bizarre musical number involving trolls would appear as flawless as a newly fallen snow. This movie fulfills the promise made by Disney Animation when Tangled and Wreck-It-Ralph announced that a third coming of Disney ascension might be at hand. I would dare not say that it surpasses the Disney Renaissance at its peak, including masterworks like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, however it has more than earned the right to stand by those greatest efforts, and well above some of the lesser ones from the tail end of the 1990s.

While watching this picture, I was reminded of one of the first two or three times I ever went to a movie theater when my parents took me to a night showing of Aladdin at the age of five. The striking colors, iconic characters and euphoric music made it one of the most vivid experiences of my young life and instantly turned that animated adventure into a childhood favorite for many years to come. If you have young children, particularly daughters, Frozen will be that experience.

Den of Geek Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

 

[redhawk23]

Tangled was absolutely gorgeous and that was CG.

Did you know it is listed as the most expensive animated film ever made? Mostly because Disney tacked on the price of all the R&D work that went into developing the look of the film. Tangled is great just on its own, but its influence will be felt for a long time.

As great as Tangled looks though I really wish Disney would make use of the things they developed for Paper Man to make a feature.

 

[redhawk23]

I think the movie looks good and will be good. But they didn't go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to the animation, as it were. It's competent designs but it's so weird that something from Beauty and the Beast dance hall scene still wows me. Or something from Laika's stop motion. Or Studio Ghibli.

When CGI gives you endless possibilities, we kinda get desensitized. That's when you have to amp it up and give us something different visually.

Which is exactly what something like Paper Man excites me so much.

Frozen does look extremely well animated but it was the designs themselves that just looked stale when images from this film starting being released.

 

[JP]

I'll judge the animation once I see it. I could have said the same things about Tangled before that was released, but that film was gorgeous from stem to stern.

 

[DACrowe]

Den of Geek review. There are more glowing reviews on the net now, but I don't feel like posting them all.

It's reviews like this that make seeing the movie seem just so freaking exciting.

 

[X Knight]

Den of Geek review. There are more glowing reviews on the net now, but I don't feel like posting them all.

Mag*******nificent!!!!!

It's reviews like this that make seeing the movie seem just so freaking exciting.

Yep!! t:

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Soundtrack came out today. "For the First Time in Forever" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" are "Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Aladdin" quality. Soundtrack overall is pretty great.

 

[smashmode]

Sounds great

 

[X Knight]

Soundtrack came out today. "For the First Time in Forever" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" are "Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Aladdin" quality. Soundtrack overall is pretty great.

what about Let It Go?

hope to get the soundtrack later today! t:

 

[flickchick85]

I must say I'm a little disappointed in the album version of "Let It Go." It seems like a different arrangement from the one in the video I posted above. The percussion especially is very different. And I have a feeling the arrangement in the video is the actual (shortened) movie version.

 

[CaptainCanada]

It's reviews like this that make seeing the movie seem just so freaking exciting.

Yeah, I was initially skeptical of the early people saying it was like Beauty and the Beast/Lion King level, but as more and more people keep saying that, it's genuinely exciting.

 

[X Knight]

I must say I'm a little disappointed in the album version of "Let It Go." It seems like a different arrangement from the one in the video I posted above. The percussion especially is very different. And I have a feeling the arrangement in the video is the actual (shortened) movie version.

I hope the one in the video you posted is the shortened version, and the actual version matches the song in the album.

the version in the video didn't have all the lyrics and seemed heavily edited.

 

[flickchick85]

I hope the one in the video you posted is the shortened version, and the actual version matches the song in the album.

the version in the video didn't have all the lyrics and seemed heavily edited.

Well I hope it's shortened too (I'm sure it is), but I also hope the arrangement in the film is closer to that of the video because aside from the shortened length, I much prefer the sound of that one over the arrangement on the album. The different percussion and mix on the album really takes some of the "oomph" out of the song for me.

 

[X Knight]

Well I hope it's shortened too (I'm sure it is), but I also hope the arrangement in the film is closer to that of the video because aside from the shortened length, I much prefer the sound of that one over the arrangement on the album. The different percussion and mix on the album really takes some of the "oomph" out of the song for me.

well, to be fair, the video one was kind of hard to hear the background music.

I would be kind of disappointed if the movie version didn't match the album version.

and if I remember, the clip they showed during Idina's interview with Kelly and Michael had Elsa singing the part " Let it go. Let it go. I'm one with the wind and sky." while she was creating/running up her ice stairs.

in the other video, they cut to that part right away after she threw her glove up.

that's why I felt that video was shortened/edited.

 

[flickchick85]

well, to be fair, the video one was kind of hard to hear the background music.

I would be kind of disappointed if the movie version didn't match the album version.

and if I remember, the clip they showed during Idina's interview with Kelly and Michael had Elsa singing the part " Let it go. Let it go. I'm one with the wind and sky." while she was creating/running up her ice stairs.

in the other video, they cut to that part right away after she threw her glove up.

that's why I felt that video was shortened/edited.

I think we're having a bit of a miscommunication here. I'm saying I know the song is edited down/shortened in the video. I think that's a given, and the movie version will almost certainly be the full version (like on the album). No disagreement there. What I'm HOPING is different, though, is the instrumental mix. Because regardless of the sound quality, the percussion is definitely different in the video, and it's also mixed to where the orchestra is more prominent. I much prefer that take on the song vs. the album version, as I find it to be significantly more powerful that way.

 

[X Knight]

I think we're having a bit of a miscommunication here. I'm saying I know the song is edited down/shortened in the video. I think that's a given, and the movie version will almost certainly be the full version (like on the album). No disagreement there. What I'm HOPING is different, though, is the instrumental mix. Because regardless of the sound quality, the percussion is definitely different in the video, and it's also mixed to where the orchestra is more prominent. I much prefer that take on the song vs. the album version, as I find it to be significantly more powerful that way.

ah, got you. Yeah, I guess I was misunderstanding. sorry......lol

there have been instances where the album/soundtrack version does differ slightly from the movie version.

guess we'll find out in a few day! t:

but I doubt I'll be paying much attention to the orchestra arrangement while I'm watching the film......lol

I'll be too busy watching Elsa and waiting for that moment when she lets her hair down!

 

[flickchick85]

ah, got you. Yeah, I guess I was misunderstanding. sorry......lol

there have been instances where the album/soundtrack version does differ slightly from the movie version.

guess we'll find out in a few day! t:

but I doubt I'll be paying much attention to the orchestra arrangement while I'm watching the film......lol

I'll be too busy watching Elsa and waiting for that moment when she lets her hair down!

Yeah, I can't wait to finally see that full sequence.

 

[X Knight]

I'm also really looking forward to For the First Time in Forever and Love Is an Open Door.

Knowing Anna, those songs will be Pinkie Pie crazy and nuts!!

 

[pepper]

I'm in love with the Soundtrack ...it's beyond beautiful.

I liked every song on it, but the most memorable ones are 'Let it go', 'For The First Time In Forever' and 'Do you want to build a snowman?' ...These are seriously on par with the greatest Disney classics ever.

Also 'Love is an Open Door' is freaking hilarious and soo adorable.

Now I'm even more excited for the movie, if that's even possible.

 

[flickchick85]

I'm also really looking forward to For the First Time in Forever and Love Is an Open Door.

Knowing Anna, those songs will be Pinkie Pie crazy and nuts!!

Yeah, I was mostly excited about Elsa/Idina in this but after reading this line from Drew's Hitfix review:

Kristen Bell gives one of the year's very best performances in a live-action or animated film as Anna, with a level of commitment that is dazzling.

I'm now equally excited for Anna, especially as a fan of KB since her Veronica Mars days. I've always felt she was such an underrated actress, so it's always nice to see her in a role that gets her some recognition.