Frozen

Originally Posted By dagobert

After seeing the trailer I've never expected that Frozen will be so popular.

It looks like that the word of mouth is also helping to boost the box office.

Unfortunately I still have to wait for another week to see it.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

>danayoung, the troll song was easily my least favourite bit in the movie too. But there's been some horrible villain and sidekick songs in the past - I thought this song was still decent, just not up to the rest of the movie.<

Completely agree, except for the part where you called me dana.

And mawnck, good for you. Stick to your guns - you like what you like, and don't what you don't. No need to let public opinion sway you!!!

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

<But there's been some horrible villain and sidekick songs in the past>

Just curious: what past villain/sidekick songs in the past did you think were horrible? Just going from "2nd Golden Age" on, I quite liked "Poor Unfortunate Souls," "Gaston," and "Hellfire," off the top of my head... maybe the bad ones just aren't coming to mind because they were so bad/forgettable. I thought the PATF and Pocahontas ones WERE pretty forgettable, and "Be Prepared" was only so-so, but I'm struggling to remember ones I thought were downright bad. Maybe I just put them out of my mind?

 

Originally Posted By mapleservo

Whoops! Sorry Dan. That's what I get for typing at 1am.

Dabob2, you named a couple of the songs I was thinking of with the villain songs from Pocahontas being top of the list, along with "Be Prepared."

The other 3 you mention are great.

Also wasn't thrilled with Phil's song "One Last Hope" from Hercules, or "A Guy Like You" from Hunchback even though I love those movies. Horrible IS likely overstating though. Sorry.

 

Originally Posted By dagobert

Did Frozen well over the Thanksgiving Weekend?

 

Originally Posted By utahjosh

It broke the record for Thanksgiving Weekend openings.

It did better than Tangled's opening weekend.

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Originally Posted By plpeters70

I saw it last night, and like pretty much everyone else enjoyed it a lot. I did think the songs were kind of weak - at least on first hearing them. I bought the soundtrack last night, and am liking them more now that I'm hearing them again. I still think they're not Disney's best, but a couple of them are good.

One thing that absolutely stood out as a negative for me was Anna using the word "totally" in a couple places, and singing about having gas. I just really don't like when they mix in obvious modern usages into something that looks more like a period piece. I know that's being picky, and they wanted her to be more of a modern girl, but it just sounded off.

 

Originally Posted By utahjosh

Wait, What?

 

Originally Posted By utahjosh

I swear that the phrase "What, what?" is used a dozen times in the film.

 

Originally Posted By mawnck

Well alrighty then!

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Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

Well now I'm excited to see this! I was kinda looking forward to it, but hell, even MAWNCK likes it?!

 

Originally Posted By mawnck

>>hell, even MAWNCK likes it?!<<

Even more than "Foodfight".

 

Originally Posted By basil fan

>>The disclaimer was HILARIOUS! Totally unexpected and totally fantastic.

I was looking at the darn production babies, so that when the disclaimer came on, I only had time to read part of it. Nuts! Nuts! Nuts!

>>if it wasn't in the movie it shouldn't have been used for a trailer!

That's been pretty much the norm since The Incredibles. I'm getting better at spotting those "fake" scenes.

A Christmas Carol Quiz
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Originally Posted By leemac

Having seen various versions of this movie during production it has turned out a lot better than I'd have thought possible at some point.

It is still a very generic family animated movie. The characters are a lot more fully formed that Tangled (especially Groff's brilliant Kristoff) even though that rounded look is still prevalent - just too perfect with even flaws being perfect.

The story benefits immensely from Kristen. Her lyrics helped immensely with the imagery in the script - like the door allegory. I still wish that a more talented screenwriter was involved - I miss Linda Wolverton's touch. There are a couple of jarring moments with modern speak that were unnecessary. It just brings you straight into the present day. Also there were a number of things that bugged me like the lack of explanation of how Kristoff goes from working the ice fields to being raised by the trolls.

The music is near perfect. It has a common theme without being falling into the Menken-style trap of simply being a pastiche (sadly his only motif these days). Frozen Heart may be similar in tone and imagery to over features from the second golden age but it works well. Vuelie is an absolute gem with its Norwegian chanting. Let It Go is pure magic - advances the storyline with some stunning visuals. Also it is the first time that proper reprises have been used in an appropriate fashion since Hunchback.

Olaf worked well. I don't think he has the charm of other sidekicks but he is a nice device. I'd have preferred Sven to have a bit more personality that didn't make him just another steed (even as a reindeer). However I loved Baby Sven (where's the plush Disney?!?!) - up there with Baby Pegasus for me! Not Meeko cute though.

All in all it definitely is a move in the right direction and a massive step up from The Princess and the Frog and Tangled. I would have preferred a more unique visual style that wasn't quite so same-y and glossy as Tangled but Disney just doesn't have those type of animators any more - sadly.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<The disclaimer was HILARIOUS! Totally unexpected and totally fantastic.>>

I liked that too. The Ice Monster was an unnecessary plot device IMHO though. I just couldn't buy Elsa hating her sister enough to try and kill her with a big hunk of ice. It also looked like a Titan from Hercules.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<if it wasn't in the movie it shouldn't have been used for a trailer!>>

Actually it was in an earlier version. I don't remember when it was cut but there was a desire to have interplay between Olaf and Sven that is now entirely absent.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<I quite liked "Poor Unfortunate Souls," "Gaston," and "Hellfire>>

All three are absolute masterpieces. However Hellfire is hands-down the most stunning scene from any Disney animated feature from that generation (and arguably ever). Animated to perfection by the Brizzi brothers, full of sexual tension that exposures Frollo for the fraud he is and musically the darkest thing ever written. Schwartz is a master lyricist. Counterpointing it with Heaven's Light showed two writers at the peak of their powers. Menken has never recovered from those heights.

Then the Brizzis go on to make my second favorite scene of all time - Fantasia 2000's The Firebird Suite.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<Especially for the Mickey short that precedes it. Very clever use of 3D.>>

I enjoyed it immensely. It was incredibly clever. I did think it was a tad long - but a minor quibble! Anything that reminds a new generation of the power of Mickey Mouse is good in my book!

 

Originally Posted By utahjosh

<The Ice Monster was an unnecessary plot device IMHO though. I just couldn't buy Elsa hating her sister enough to try and kill her with a big hunk of ice>

I never saw the Ice Monster as a threat of death. It's only purpose was to keep them away. Even when he caught them, he just said "go away" or something like that and let them go.

 

Originally Posted By utahjosh

leemac, what are the brizzis doing now?