No, not in Virginia's weather. There's been hardly a day in the Tidewater when the high temperature wasn't above the freezing mark, a far cry from years in Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin when the high might not exceed freezing for up to thirty consecutive days.
But I'm posting about the movie Frozen. We decided to take LaDonna's young friend Gina to the Disney production Frozen New Years Eve, which is about as much excitement as we're up to nowadays. While a bit slow at the beginning and leaving a number of holes in the plot and character motivations, Frozen nonetheless stood out for three reasons: the superb singing of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, who provided the voices of Anna and Elsa, princesses of the "Norwegian" city of Arendelle; the important role of females in the writing and production of the film; and the "day was saved" not by a kiss or even a sacrifice by a "Prince Charming" but by the deep affection of Anna for her elder sister Elsa.
Frozen's plot is drawn loosely from "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen that was adapted for the movie by Jennifer Lee. Lee also co-directed the film with Chris Buck and notwithstanding the love interests of a handsome prince (who turned out to be a bad guy) and an honest and upright (and handsome) ice cutter, the film's heroine was Anna. Anna and Elsa had been orphaned as young children and the elder Elsa had separated herself from Anna because of a gift-curse of the power to create cold, ice, and snow at will. Or even against her will when Elsa grew angry. Notwithstanding Elsa's abandonment and eventual involuntary cursing of Anna, Anna generously sacrificed herself to save Elsa's life.
Giving female leads a greater power of direct agency has become a theme in recent films but Frozen stands out because that agency is exercised by non-romantic love, not power. A good film for anyone with younger children whether male or female.
But I'm posting about the movie Frozen. We decided to take LaDonna's young friend Gina to the Disney production Frozen New Years Eve, which is about as much excitement as we're up to nowadays. While a bit slow at the beginning and leaving a number of holes in the plot and character motivations, Frozen nonetheless stood out for three reasons: the superb singing of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, who provided the voices of Anna and Elsa, princesses of the "Norwegian" city of Arendelle; the important role of females in the writing and production of the film; and the "day was saved" not by a kiss or even a sacrifice by a "Prince Charming" but by the deep affection of Anna for her elder sister Elsa.
Frozen's plot is drawn loosely from "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen that was adapted for the movie by Jennifer Lee. Lee also co-directed the film with Chris Buck and notwithstanding the love interests of a handsome prince (who turned out to be a bad guy) and an honest and upright (and handsome) ice cutter, the film's heroine was Anna. Anna and Elsa had been orphaned as young children and the elder Elsa had separated herself from Anna because of a gift-curse of the power to create cold, ice, and snow at will. Or even against her will when Elsa grew angry. Notwithstanding Elsa's abandonment and eventual involuntary cursing of Anna, Anna generously sacrificed herself to save Elsa's life.
Giving female leads a greater power of direct agency has become a theme in recent films but Frozen stands out because that agency is exercised by non-romantic love, not power. A good film for anyone with younger children whether male or female.
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