Frozen, The Disney Musical That Keeps you Singing

Frozen (2013 PG) is a wonderful animated musical from Disney.  It is more than just a movie with songs. The songs carry the story and continue the conversation between characters.  And some of them stay with you.

From the previews, I thought it would just be a silly snowman making jokes around the story of the sisters.  Fortunately, the snowman, Olaf (Josh Gad), is not annoying.  And he has a great solo in which he sings about all the things he dreams of doing as a snowman (sing along with me) “In Summer!”

As a child, Elsa (Idina Menzel) has powers to create ice and snow. Unable to control her powers, she accidentally hurts her little sister, Anna (Kristen Bell).  Her parents, the King and Queen of this northern Nordic kingdom, decide that the sisters must be kept apart from each other, and from the outside world.  Time passes through a song in which the sisters grow up, and Anna continues to beg Elsa to play with her, singing “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?”  It’s really a sad scene, where sisters are kept apart because Elsa is afraid to hurt someone again, and Anna doesn’t even know why her sister stays behind her closed door.

The sisters grow up, and it’s time for Elsa to become Queen.  Of course, she is terrified that she will make something freeze and people will know. Anna is overjoyed at finally having people around, singing “For the First Time in Forever.”

At the ball, Anna meets Prince Hans (Santino Fontana), and have an amusing whirlwind singing courtship (“Love is an Open Door“).

Later, Anna needs help finding her sister, and enlists reluctant Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), the local ice man and his trusty reindeer Sven. They battle snow monsters (not frightening), freezing ice and various bad guys, with the help of snowman Olaf.  Fun movie!

Not only can you sing with Frozen, you can dress up like Frozen characters!  Check out the links below to see some amazing costumes that people make and wear!

http://angiviper.tumblr.com/post/72874239535/the-debut-of-my-frozen-cosplay-group-at

http://rebloggy.com/post/disney-disney-cosplay-frozen-elsa-elsa-cosplay/72471103801

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/frozen/images/35289854/title/anna-elsa-cosplay-photo

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/frozen/images/35984977/title/anna-kristoff-cosplay-photo

My teenaged daughters already have plans for their own Elsa and Anna costumes.  Fun movie!  Fun for the family, fun for all!

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Did You Read the Book First? The Book Thief

I had not read the book, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.  Or even heard of it.  Why should I go see the movie, when there are so many choices in theaters?

This clip is why I wanted to see this movie.  Watch it here.  It’s beautiful and heart wrenching and hopeful.

The Book Thief (2013 PG-13), directed by Brian Percival, is a drama taking place in Germany as the Nazi’s push their plans for a master race upon it’s citizens.  We witness this through the eyes of young Liesel (Sophie Nelisse), an orphan adopted by a childless couple, gruff Rosa (Emily Watson) and playful Hans (Geoffrey Rush).

Liesel blossoms under their care, and even learns to read.   A neighborhood boy, Rudy (Nico Liersch), befriends her, and we see them play and adapt to life during wartime.

She takes part in school-wide Nazi songs and witnesses neighbors being taken away because they are Jews and fathers being drafted for the war.  She watches a book burning, and cannot understand why books are bad.

Early on, the parents take in a desperate Jewish teenager, Max (Ben Schnetzer), who needs to be hidden from the Nazis.  Liesel shares her love of books with him.

Amazing acting by all the players.  You can feel the citizens under stress, feel the cold, feel the hunger.  An excellent movie!

I didn’t read the book first.  Did you?

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