Frozen is my favorite Disney movie. Here’s why;

yes. im making a movie analysis on frozen. im so insanely passionate about this movie and I have been for years

thesis statement/overall thoughts

the first time I ever watched frozen was when it had first came out when I was 7 years old. I was a kid back then, I didn't fully appreciate the art that went into frozen. however, from then on, I continued to religiously watch it every so often. 

Up until 2019, when frozen 2 came out, is when I realized this franchise is a masterpiece and I don’t think it meant to be. 

At face level, it’s like any other Disney movie. With an exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and a resolution with a fake out death. But if you take a closer look there’s SO much more characteristics, trauma, and plot than meets the eye that could have been way more than just a Disney movie.

The world building is great, especially during the 2010’s when it was mostly fantasy qualities in a realistic setting. The pacing was set just right. The character dynamics throughout the film work together well and makes sense. And I believe the music is definitely one of the best parts of frozen. 

It’s definitely a diamond in the rough and if they had more time and more patience with this movie it would have actually been for general audiences!

What they did right

Elsa

The inseparable bond of two sisters being broken out of fear of Elsa hurting Anna, while Anna is confused. The entire situation with Elsa having to control her powers was taken out of proportion. And I have to blame their dad for that. 

The troll told her to learn to control her powers, that they will only grow stronger. Not only did her dad completely missed the entire point of what he said, making Elsa conceal her powers instead of teaching her how to use it, but he completely ignored the warning of fear. Using any of her powers at all triggered her father. Which made Elsa fear her powers, fear herself, and fear what she could do to the people she love. 

I’m not saying that they shouldn’t have put that in the movie, by the way. it’s an important crucial part. it’s the reason why she was so anxious at her coronation, why she was terrified of taking off her gloves. She doesn’t know how to control her powers because she’s been concealing them for so long. It makes her character complex and all of the decisions she made by the end of the movie just made sense.

Anna

Anna is the character I really want to talk about. Her character is somehow SO misunderstood and judged. While I do agree Disney had/has a habit of making ‘quirky’ clumsy girls, Anna is NOT the same. 

Like Rapunzel, Anna has been deprived of social interactions for the majority of her life. Their parents fear of Elsa’s power caused them to close the gates and limit the staffing. During ‘do you want to build a snowman’ she is shown playing by herself, through Anna’s door, and at paintings. She was ALONE. Alone through a time where social development is CRUCIAL. 

It can be inferred through “for the first time in forever” that she lived off of fairytales, mentioning “the one” and fantasizing about being in love. In the song she also says “they’ll be actual real life people, it’ll be totally strange.” !?!?! HELLO??!!! 

Anna is NAIVE, she does not know any better. And it makes sense she would be quick to swoon over the first man that she found because in the reality she created for herself that is what love is. She wanted connection.

“What would you know about love, all you know how to do is shut people out!” A line she said to Elsa.

Kristoff

Great dynamic to Anna. Sassy, sarcastic, and just as stubborn. But Anna is more stubborn and he’ll have to prevent her from doing anything that’ll get her killed. 

You can tell by the little amount of writing that I have a lot to complain about with kristoff.

Music

Already in the start of the movie we’re hit with music. The opening scene starting out with a song was actually a great choice. We’re introduced to the cultures and upbringing on characters that will be introduced fully later on. 

The opening scene was not only cute but somehow very chilling. In a good way. Being hit with that wave of an intense song with silly undertones fueling that. 

Not only just that but the musical numbers throughout are really, REALLY GOOD. There was a reason frozen’s soundtrack was so popular. It DESERVED it. Every lyric was clever and well written, it’s catchy, it’s cinematic  when it needed to be (aka for the first time in forever reprise. that was gorgeous.)

My critical thoughts

1)

I believe a lot of what they’re lacking is because 1) it’s Disney 2) any further character or world building would not be appealing for little kids 3) there wasn’t enough time to flesh out the storyline. That all would have been fixed if it was a show with a higher rating or at least given more time to actually work.

My main critique is that they didn’t give me enough. There was a concept of a really good storyline but at the end of the day it’s what sells the most. 

2)

The lack of characterization in kristoff. 

They treat that man like a side piece and it pisses me off. There’s so much backstory he does not have. Why did he stay with trolls? What happened to his family? Why would he still work in ice harvesting if he did stay with trolls? Wouldn’t that mean he’s with his family? There are still many questions!

There was SO much they could have included. They had wanted to prove “you can’t marry a man you just met” and yet Anna ends up dating a guy she just met that week! If they wanted to show children that love takes time or you don’t need a prince to save you, they didn’t go about it the right way

Their chemistry needed to be looked on more. They had the perfect dynamic, but since they’ve ky focus on that aspect it looks weird and out of place. They needed way more time to connect. It was rushed and incomplete and that’s so disappointing. And I can’t even explain how much they nerfed him for Frozen 2. But that’s another blog 

3)

The intense Hans switch up. NO I’m not against him being the villain. I very much agree that it was needed. However it could have done it in a dramatic irony sort of way, where the audience knows and the characters didn’t. And while yes, that ruins the shock factor and the appeal of Hans being a ‘twist villain’ it really wasn’t needed for this story line.

Like I said, the movie lacks because it was rushed and not polished enough. If they had spent a little more time on his actions, subtle reactions to things not going his way or the possessiveness when they do, this film would have been way more cinematically appealing.

We know why he did it in the first place but do we know when he started the plan? When he started to carry it out? When he got more cautious? When he got more powerful? It could have been better, more impactful. But after turbo, Disney really liked twist villains.

4)

The fake out death. Come on. Disney we’re over it. We knew she wasn’t gonna die, it didn’t make sense. Elsa could have still leaned her sister loved her and love thaws in some other way. Don’t make me upset 😔

I love frozen guys it’s such a good movie. With all the potential and looking past all the imperfections it’s great for what it was. I could go in more details but I have trouble voicing my opinions on frozen because I feel so strongly about it. I’ll update when I find better ways to phrase everything!