Frozen

Frozen

Property of Disney

One of Disney's most anticipated films in recent years is their Nov. 27 CGI release, Frozen.

Unlike most of Disney's newest films, this one really captures the essence of their classics in the sense that it's a true musical.  With thoughtful and powerful compositions consistently dispersed throughout its entirety, this animated piece is akin to some of the entertainment powerhouse's biggest hits.

The 108-minute show takes place in the fictional land of Arrendale and focuses on the story of two royal sisters.

The narrative initially seems to be about the younger, spunky sister, Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell.  As the plot progresses, however, her older sister, Queen Elsa, voiced by Broadway star Idina Menzel, takes center stage as a young woman with the power to freeze anything near her.  With each passing year, Elsa's power (or curse) gets stronger and proves to be something of a Midas touch.

A large portion of this film's beginning revolves around Anna and Elsa's parents urging the older girl to conceal her power.  Predictably enough, it's when she cannot hide away from the world that she loses both the trust of her kingdom and the self-control she had over exercising her power of freezing.  

Throughout the plot, Elsa sings about her struggles between whether to conceal her true self or to accept and appreciate the "ice queen" side of herself.  This, along with many other realistic themes, is beautifully explored in a storyline that is equally relatable to adult viewers as it is to the children in the audience.

In addition to the thoughtful nature of the film, what really makes it worth watching is its wide variety of characters and its hilarious, yet family-friendly comic relief.  While Elsa and Anna are fantastically strong female leads, the male roles are the ones an audience can count on for a good laugh.  The silly duo of the gruff, handsome Kristoff, voiced by Jonathan Groff, and his reindeer bestie, Sven are unforgettable as Princess Anna's heroic companions.  Furthermore, the film's snowman character, Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad is more than comparable to extraordinarily funny animated characters, such as Mulan's Mushu or Shrek's Donkey.

Oh, and if that's not enough, the animation is spectacular.  Although Disney animation is often executed by the untouchable Pixar, this heartwarming movie proves that Disney Animation Studios are also topnotch when it comes to creating a beautiful new world.   

If you get the chance, this is a great movie to see on the big screen!

Grade: A+

Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Property of Lionsgate

In the sequel to one of last year's biggest movies, America's new sweetheart, Jennifer Lawrence, takes the screen again as the courageous Katniss Everdeen.

The film, which has earned over $250 million since it was released on Nov. 22, takes place in the dystopian nation of Panem after Katniss and a her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson, have become the most recent victors of the "Hunger Games".  Despite their good fortune of surviving the gladiator-like event, Panem's President Snow has become fearful that the victory might inspire rebellion in the districts.

While the pacing of the first half of the film (prior to the start of the next games) seems rushed, it does a great job of explaining the society in which Katniss lives.  From the horrifying physical punishment for acts of defiance in Panem's districts to Donald Sutherland's portrayal of revenge-thirsty Snow, Catching Fire captures the essence of the society that writer Suzanne Collins created in her 2009 young-adult novel.     

For the viewers who really enjoyed the action in the first Hunger Games, the film provides an even more exciting arena for the 75th annual Hunger Games.  Plus, with Francis Lawrence as the new director of the series and a substantially larger budget, the cinematography of this film tops the shaky-cam film style of the 2012 release.

What makes this film worth watching, in addition to the fascinating cautionary nature of the story, is the performances given by the cast.  Laurence's performance as the emotionally-void Katniss continues to exceed expectations, as the events of the prior games have caused her to become a more vulnerable character.

Other roles worth mentioning include Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket, the wealthy chaperone-like character from the Capitol and the former Hunger Games victors Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason.  Banks' acting stayed consistently impressive, while the emotional growth of the character was both unexpected and compelling.  Sam Claflin took on the devilishly charming role of Finnick.  After much speculation of whether or not he could do the character justice, Claflin proved to be a success.  The brutal and daring Johanna is played by Jena Malone of Pride & Prejudice and Sucker Punch, who brings the fiery essence of Johanna to the role.

In terms of the love triangle that the story offers, some viewers may take argument with the portrayal of the varying relationships Katniss has with Peeta and Liam Hemsworth's Gale.     

Although Catching Fire was longer than the first installment in Collins' series, the film manages to encapsulate the most important parts of the plot, while remaining truthful to the original tone, all within a 142 minute runtime. 

Grade: A-