Movie Review: Frozen II (2019)

As a follow up to its popular Frozen movie released in 2013, Disney released Frozen II in November of last year. Now available on Disney+, Blu-ray, DVD, and Prime Video, this follows Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven on a journey to discover the secrets of the past in an effort to help their kingdom.

Elsa rules over the peaceful kingdom of Arendelle with her sister, Princess Anna, but she has steadily felt her powers growing and doesn't always feel Ardendelle is where she belongs. When a mysterious song continues to keep her awake, Elsa decides to answer the siren's call. Elsa, Anna, and their friends make their way to the enchanted forest to find the answers they seek, only to discover there is more to the history of Arendelle and their relationship with the neighboring tribe of Northuldra than they could ever imagine.

Captivating, exciting, and funny are all words to describe this sequel, but parents should be aware Frozen II is a bit darker and more intense than the original movie. When Elsa agrees to answer the siren's call, it comes at a cost. While, ultimately, things turn out the way one would expect in a Disney movie--happily ever after--the journey is fraught with danger and emotion (topics like death, feeling rejected and alone, Olaf talking about how he will understand everything once he matures, and the discovery of Arendelle's past) that may be intense for some children. The scene where Elsa extinguishes the fire in the enchanted forest might be frightening.

Overall, I felt this is a great movie with superb animation. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff all sing songs that will tug at your heartstrings, and the ending will definitely make you smile.



Official Sites: Disney+ | Official Site
Runtime: 103 min
Language: English
Release Date: 22 November 2019 (USA)
Rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements

I watched this movie on Disney+. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Movie Review: Disney - Pixar Brave (2012)

In a world of legends and magic, Princess Merida  works to change her fate, not knowing that an ill-fated wish will toss the kingdom into chaos.

The Lil Diva (10), the Lil Princess (8) and I went to go see Disney - Pixar's Brave this weekend. I rarely go to the opening weekend of a movie, but the warm weather seems to have kept the crowds away.

This is a funny, often tender, sometimes crude story of Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald), who is confronted with a lackluster life filled with marriage and duty. Her overbearing mother (voiced by Emma Thompson) has spent years showing Merida how to act properly, so that she will be prepared, but Merida would much rather let loose, riding her beloved horse, Angus, and perfecting her archery skills.

Merida's three little brothers (or devils as she calls them) get to create mischief around the castle; no doubt encouraged by their father, King Fergus (voiced by Billy Connolly). But Merida's mother expects her to be the dutiful daughter. Very unfair.

The story behind Brave isn't a new one: mother and daughter don't see eye to eye on the future; an independent mind is eager to defy the conventions she was born into; what seems to be a good idea at the time ends up being a disaster (think of all those wishes Timmy Turner made in Fairly Oddparents). With Pixar's amazing animation and classic Disney appeal, Brave is an exciting, fun time for the family. Like Mulan before her, Merida makes a choice. It's when Merida realizes what that choice might have cost her and her future kingdom, that she becomes the brave soul who will make a difference.

If your family only sees one movie this summer, it should be Brave.

Rated: PG
Run time: 100 minutes
Released: June 22, 2012

My girls and I saw this movie in the theater. I was not compensated for my review in any way.

Movie Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

The first book of C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia was brought to the big screen in 2005 by Disney. While this is not the first production adapted from Lewis's classic books, it is the only one I've seen that left me excited enough to wish to explore the books.

The Pevensie children (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) are evacuated from London during the Blitz and sent to live with a professor and his housekeeper. While playing hide-and-seek, Lucy steps into a wardrobe and discovers Narnia, a magical land filled with mythical creatures and talking animals. She befriends Mr. Tumnus, a timid faun. Tumnus explains about Narnia, and how it is always cold because of the White Witch. Though he is supposed to turn Lucy over to the White Witch, he can't do this to his new friend, so he guides her back to the lamppost where they first met so she can return home.

Lucy's siblings don't believe her story. It isn't until they are all forced to hide in the wardrobe to escape the professor's mean housekeeper, that they enter Narnia together. This sets them on an adventure that none of them would ever have believed if they hadn't experienced it for themselves.

I made a point to read some of the Amazon reviews of this DVD prior to writing my review. As someone who hasn't read the books yet, my opinion is bound to be different from many of them.  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe impressed me with its special effects, the lush landscape, and action scenes. We first meet the Pevensies as they are rushing to the shelter during the bombing of London.

William Moseley plays the oldest brother, Peter. With their father fighting in the war, Peter is trying to act like the man of the house. He instantly clashes with his younger brother, Edmund (Skandar Keynes), who is missing his father and not thrilled about Peter trying to take his place--especially when he tells Edmund what to do.  Susan (Anna Popplewell) is a beautiful, smart girl and the second oldest Pevensie child. As her character moves along, we see that Susan appreciates logic and has a gentle heart. She seems to be the peacemaker when the siblings fight, but she tends to be a bit hard on Peter.  Lucy, played so well by Georgie Henley, is innocent and open to new experiences. She is more curious than afraid when she enters Narnia for the first time and immediately befriends Mr. Tumnus. She is seeking for what she, as such a young girl, can contribute to help Aslan and Narnia. Her youth leads her to easily believe all that Aslan tells her.

After reading some of the Amazon reviews--many that compared the book to the movie--I can say it doesn't surprise me if Hollywood dealt with the Christian aspects of the book  in a more subtle way; but a Christian viewer would be hard pressed to miss the allegories. One thing I felt was missing, however, is an explanation as to why the Pevensies were sent to Professor Kirke's house. It bothered me throughout the movie, and in the times since, when I watched the DVD at home. Who is this professor? What link does he have to the children? A simple few words at the train station between the children and their mother would have explained why they were being sent there instead of somewhere else.

The DVD contains extras like bloopers and commentaries, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Close to the books or not, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of my favorite contemporary films. While I thought a PG-13 rating would have been better considering all the fight scenes and the epic battle at the end, my girls who are younger than that enjoyed the film too.

DVD Product Details:

Actors: Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell
Directors: Andrew Adamson
Writers: Andrew Adamson, Ann Peacock, C.S. Lewis, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Producers: Andrew Adamson, David Minkowski
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1), French (Unknown), Spanish (Unknown)
Subtitles: Spanish, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
DVD Release Date: April 4, 2006
Run Time: 143 minutes
ASIN: B000E8M0VA
SRP:  $19.99