INSOMNIAC SONG
MOVIE AND TELEVISION REVIEWS
ANIMATION
Frozen
Starring: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad
Directed by: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Rating: PG
Run time: 102 minutes
Synopsis: Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
I was a little worried when I first heard that Disney was making a film based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. Another of Andersen’s tales, The Little Mermaid, was adapted successfully by Disney with some significant changes to the source material. I wasn’t sure what I’d hoped for when it came to the finished product. Would Disney tame the story to make it palatable to the general public? That was a certainty. However, sanitizing the story won’t necessarily make things better. There needs to be a delicate balance between keeping the essence of the source material while elevating it into something that hasn’t been seen before. Disney succeeded with Frozen. Rather than making Elsa, the Snow Queen character an instant villain, the writers chose to make her the sister of Anna, the protagonist. Choosing to make this connection between the two characters makes each much more approachable rather than going against an untouchable evil.
This isn’t to say that they’ve solved all the issues that their films have brought up. The film manages to address one major trope that has plagued Disney’s films in the form of the instant ‘love at first sight’ and quick marriage that nearly all the other princesses have faced. It isn’t completely without faults, as with most Disney films, the children are orphans. Elsa and Anna are both unique. Anna is headstrong and naïve while Elsa is fearful and reserved. The issues both girls face are directly related to how their parents handled Elsa’s powers. Elsa’s fear is compounded by her parents’ decision to keep her powers hidden away rather than allowing her to learn to control them by practicing instead of attempting to lock them away. Anna also suffers from this as she believes her sister doesn’t want to spend time with her. Really, Elsa is simply afraid that she’ll hurt Anna.
All of the reactions of the sisters from that point further are the result of those decisions. Anna wishes to be free of her gilded cage. Elsa fears her powers being found out. Ultimately, each young woman comes to a conclusion about their own life and love. It’s Elsa’s transformation, casting off the figurative shackles, made the film for me. The sequence is beautifully crafted and should stand out for Disney fans. I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Let it Go’ becomes one of the most memorable Disney songs in recent years. It’s certainly on par with the music of Beauty and the Beast.
Rating: 5/5
ANIMATION
Monsters University
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi
Directed by: Dan Scanlon
Rating: G
Run time: 104 minutes
Synopsis: A look at the relationship between Mike and Sully during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.
Monsters Inc was a cute movie. When the announcement was made that there would be a prequel, I wasn't sure that it was really necessary. Why not a sequel where Sully and Mike encounter Boo's child? How cute would that be? The problem for me with Monsters Inc was that both Sully and Mike weren't nice guys at all. One was out to coast through school on his family name and have a good time. while the other was determined to work hard to get what he wanted. Yet, Mike became a jerk in the process. He used the Oozma Kappa guys to his advantage without really caring too much about them. Was that the message we want children to see?
Rating: 2/5
LIVE ACTION
Saving Mr Banks
Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Annie Rose Buckley
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Rating: PG-13
Run time: 125 minutes
Synopsis: Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.
Walt Disney promised his children that he would make Mary Poppins into a film. He never expected that it would take him 20 years to acquire the rights from difficult author, PL Travers. She was fiercely protective of the character she'd created due to the real life connection she had to the story.The strength in this film comes from Emma Thompson's portrayal of PL Travers. She's both overbearing and sympathetic. Tom Hanks shines as Walt Disney, recreating the charisma that had people drawn to him right away. The costume department had it's hands full and fully deliver a period setting that really works. The direction from John Lee Hancock works as masterfully as it did in his previous hit, The Blind Side.
Rating: 4/5