Since the gates opened, things have changed in Arendelle for the better, but the season of change is far from over. Anna and Elsa need to let go of everything they thought they knew about their past and go on a journey that leads them into the unknown.
The Synopsis
A young Elsa and Anna are told a bedtime story by their parents, one that reveals the existence of the Enchanted Forest where the elemental spirits of Earth, Fire, Water and Air bless the Northuldra people who live there. One day when their grandfather goes to forge an alliance with the Northuldra people, something goes wrong, causing the Enchanted Forest to close itself off from the rest of the world.
In the present, Elsa (Idina Menzel) is hearing a voice calling to her, one that she resists answering, despite the desire she feels at the pull. However when danger knocks once again on Arendelle’s doors, she, Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Johnathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad) and Sven, are forced into another adventure with the voice leading the way.
Anna is anxious about the sudden disruption to the peace they’ve had for the past few years, terrified of loosing Elsa to whatever is pulling her. There is a lot more at stake this time around; the future of Arendelle, the bonds of friendship, and most importantly, the truth.
What my cinema companion said:
“I really liked that! What was that song called again – I’m going to listen to it in the car on the way home”
The Good
Frozen II is completely different to its predecessor Frozen, and for that I am extremely glad. Instead of duplicating a lot of the themes and paths of the first, the characters feel like they have grown – taken on the lessons from their previous experiences. It gives the film a level of maturity that makes it watchable for adults too.
I happen to love anything that involves the four elements (blame my love of The Last Airbender) and was instantly excited when I understood that was the direction they were going in. I thought the representation of the elements as the characters journeyed through the enchanted forest was really well done.
Following on from the above, this led to one of my favourite scenes in the movie; Elsa battling the Sea Horse. The music, the crashing waves, the dark sky, Elsa leaping into the sea time and time again. It all worked together so beautifully, building a crescendo perfectly in sync with the pacing of the movie.
Finally a quick shout out to my two favourite songs from the movie: Show Yourself and Into the Unknown – both sang by Idina Menzel – and as a bonus, Brandon Urie’s version of Into the Unknown.
The Bad
Not something I noticed at the time, but with a little reflection; how video game-y the middle section of the movie was, namely with Elsa ‘taming’ the elements. It did feel a little formulaic, to the point where you were just waiting for the next one to turn up for her to prove her strength against.
Of course the whole Frozen franchise is predominantly about two sisters and their love for one another, however Kristoff’s character felt like an annoying loose part in Frozen II. He does have his own task to complete, which essentially gave him a driving force, however he didn’t give much else. He disappears for a chunk of the movie and aside from a humorous number and a cute bromance he formed, I didn’t miss him… or notice he was gone.
The Conclusion
A strong sequel to the much loved and hyped original. I personally didn’t find the songs as catchy, but I thought the story was a lot stronger. I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching this, and liked that we got an insight into the past and got to see these characters again.
Film Reviews & Movie Analysis 