frozenFrozen and Disney cartoon “Get A Horse!” which play together in theaters
Cast: voices of Kirsten Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Ciaran Hinds, Alan Tudyk, Chris Williams and Paul Briggs
Directors: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Scriptwriters: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Shane Morris
Composers: Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Disney Animation Studios
Rating: PG for peril
Running Length: 108 Minutes
Scriptwriters Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee (co-directors) and Shane Morris must love ice. Their verbal description of it from one of the characters, Kristoff, who goes into rapture about the intricacy of the Queen‘s ice palace. He knows his ice from his livelihood as an iceman, complete with reindeer (Sven) to haul everything. Coming from the north country, I understood.
 
This is “Frozen” (and not the horror film with the same title of a few years ago) which retells the story of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen.”  Here is someone with the unwelcome ability to turn everything into ice and snow, and this includes hearts. I did not see the film in 3 D and was satisfied with it, though 3 D would enhance the Queen’s creations. The animation is inventive and wonderfully done.
 
Idina Menzel voices the elder of two sisters, Elsa, who has a mystery power enabling her to turn anything into ice. The younger sister, Anna (Kristen Bell) doesn't realize just how powerful her sister is until an accident, and Elsa is banished to her room. Years pass, the parents are gone and Elsa is crowned queen. Anna, the pesky sister (she would drive anyone up the wall) thinks she is in love with Prince Hans (Santino Fontana), who is there for the coronation. Anna pulls one of Elsa’s special gloves off and suddenly, there is ice everywhere. With the secret out, Elsa flees to the mountains to live in lonely, glacial splendor. In the meantime, Anna asks Hans to take care of the town while she finds her sister to made amends. On the journey, Anna meets Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his loyal reindeer, Sven (steals his scenes) and a snowman Elsa made called Olaf. Now this sidekick, Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, I could do without. It is one Disney sidekick too many. Together, they try to persuade Elsa to come back and defrost the town, but hark, in yon distance are the townspeople, up in arms (think Frankenstein in the mountains here) to take the Snow Queen down, while Hans seems to be the playboy. All this amid animation that makes you chilly to watch and yet starring at what Elsa can create.
 
Basically, “Frozen” is a story of love between siblings who have no one else. One is protecting the other, while those around them try to understand the commitment. Noted, that the siblings are princesses and thus in the Disney realm. I suspect there will be Elsa and Anna outfits soon.
 
The actors voices are what make the film, too, besides the music. From the beginning work song of cutting ice, similar to  “The Volga Boat Song” to Elsa’s song of freedom, the lyrics are clear and of purpose. Kristen Bell’s little sister, Anna, shows the mischievous side and the concerned side of the character. Idina Menzel’s Anna, older and mature, shows concern, too, and acceptance. Josh Gad's Olaf, the Snowman, just kind of  ambles along trying to make something of his dialogue. Sven, the reindeer, doesn't need a voice. His facial expressions do it all. “Frozen” isn't as cold-hearted as the title would have you believe, under the ice and snow is warmth. Perhaps, not for children under age 7 because of peril scenes.
 
 
Copyright 2013 Marie Asner
 
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Get A Horse!
Cast: this is a montage of Mickey Mouse cartoon footage from the 1930’s and on, with the voice of Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse
Director: Lauren MacMullen
Walt Disney Animation
Rating: PG for peril
Running Length: 7 minutes
 
This clever idea is the brainchild of director Lauren MacMullen. It begins with an early Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Clarabelle the Cow, taking a hay ride (awkward early animation here), only to be hijacked by the villain, Peg-Leg Pete. Going back from forth from freeing Minnie from the clutches of the dastardly Pete, the characters go from black and white to color and jump out of the screen at the audience, giving the illusion of 3-D.  It is so real and inventive, I saw people stand for a moment to see if the stage was extended or not, as black and white melded into color and back again. Walt Disney’s voice is heard as Mickey Mouse.
 
4tocks
 
Copyright 2013 Marie Asner
 
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