"Frozen" Thaws Disney!

Catchy headline, hunh?
Special shout out and Kudos to our boy, Elijah!  He checked out the flick "Frozen" last week and was so enamored he ordered a blue ray copy for the family and had it shipped in plenty of time for "Family Movie Night" yesterday!  He raved about the flick, saying it was one of the best animated films he's seen in a long time, and I trust his judgment.  Scary part is, it's a traditional "Disney Musical"
So my son likes show tunes?  What's next, drapes and track lighting? 
ANYWAY!
Disney has had some hits and misses over the last few years.  I'm talking just Disney, mind you, and not their affiliation with Pixar.  2012's "Wreck it Ralph" was a hoot with traditional Disney teary eyed moments, but the 2013 Cars spin-off "Planes" crashed and burned!  2012's weak "Brave" which seemed to me to be a sorry  re-telling of "Brother Bear" lost its courage!  But 2010'2 "Tangled" had it all tied up! 
They have redeemed themselves, in SPADES with "Frozen"!
CAUTION: SPOILER ALERT TO THE NTH DEGREE!
Here's the rub courtesy of IMDB,
"Anna, a fearless optimist, sets off on an epic journey - teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven - to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. From the outside Anna's sister, Elsa looks poised, regal and reserved, but in reality, she lives in fear as she wrestles with a mighty secret-she was born with the power to create ice and snow. It's a beautiful ability, but also extremely dangerous. Haunted by the moment her magic nearly killed her younger sister Anna, Elsa has isolated herself, spending every waking minute trying to suppress her growing powers. Her mounting emotions trigger the magic, accidentally setting off an eternal winter that she can't stop. She fears she's becoming a monster and that no one, not even her sister, can help her."
I'm not a huge fan of musicals, but not even that can dampen the appeal of this film.  And a couple of the ballads they belt out really amplify the scene.  One in particular is Elsa's coming-to-terms show stopper she belts out while creating her ice castle.  "Let It Go" could easily be an anthem for any trying moment in any ones life.  On the other side, is Olaf's hilarious, fanciful mid movie romp "In Summer", the whimsical musings of a snowman as he expresses his imaginings of how wonderful Summer would be! 
Olaf, the eternally optimistic and loving snowman is wonderfully voiced and portrayed by Josh Gad.  I've never seen him in anything else but the comedic relief he provides is priceless!  Further comedy is provided by the versatile (and in my opinion today's BEST) character actor, Alan Tudyk (yes, Wash from "Firefly" so my opinion is a little slanted).  He provides the voice for the conniving "Duke of Westleton (everyone mispronounces it as Weasel Town) the neutral antagonist of a bordering trading village that besets his henchmen on Queen Elsa with orders to eliminate her, when her powers are revealed, thinking her a monster. 
In the Pantheon of Disney we have seen a long line of princesses.  Each generation they have grown ever stronger in strength of character and personal fortitude!  From the original Snow White, while having strong survival instincts, in the end still needed her big strong man to save her and make her life complete.  Alice, didn't need a prince to save her from the wicked queen, but the credit for granting her strength has to go to the stories original creator.  Belle, must be given credit for "saving" her prince, thus we begin to see a realization of a woman's power.
This movie, really seems to be the culmination of that ideology, for at the zenith of the film, as young Anna is struggling to save her own life, having been accidentally struck in the heart by her sisters icy powers, the films true villain,  Prince Hans is about to deliver the killing blow to a weakened Elsa.  Instead of reaching her "true love" (for the prescribed "act of true love")  Cristoff and saving herself  she instead places herself between Elsa and the descending sword just as the full effect of Elsa's "freezing power" overtakes her, turning her into a life sized ice sculpture. 
Part of the true joy of a film like this is watching the expressions of my own children.  And Boy, did Disney revive their Magic in this one! At this point in the film, I was compelled to watch Izabella rather then the movie, it was so heartwarming to see the range of emotions wash across her face.  Genuine concern shone across her face as Anna turned to ice.  Izzy hands clasped over her mouth exhaling a sharp gasp.  Urgently she clinged to Angi, pleading "But Mommy, they GOT to save her!"  as  Elsa flung herself over the rigged form of Anna, her love (and Anna's self sacrificing "Act of true love") began to melt her frozen heart.  We urged Izzy to watch the film, as the warmth spread from Anna's heart and began to melt the ice, revealing a revived Anna, Izzy pumped her fists, jumped up and down, mouth wide open shouting "YES!" in glorious joy and relief. 
Yes, Disney has definitely recaptured the lightning in a bottle.
I love the revelation that a sisters love can be just as, if not more then, powerful then the need for a "man" to save them! There is no stronger message then this to give to my young daughters!
And for a REAL good laugh watch the special features at the end of the flick, specifically the "Making of Frozen" short!  HILL-AIR-EE-OSSS!!!!
In conclusion, if you haven't seen it, get it!
ANYWHO!
Thanks to all yesterday for coming into pick up your repairs, I can now loosen my belt a little as it is easier to walk trough the shop!  Sent a few to new homes yesterday and managed to put out a couple more!  With a real nice tandem in my rack as we speak!
For now, I'd best get at it, heavy chores to do!
See ya soon!

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