Here are my thoughts on Frozen II
(and itâs going to be terribly long, Iâm sorry)
Actually I donât think anybody reads my articles (well, I might have written 3 in the past 5/ 6 years with like 4 years of inactivity so ahem) but I really need to share what I think about this movie.
I am a Hans fan AND a Helsa shipper. Or course I was disappointed by him not being in the movie, by knowing his useless appearance or all the punch in the face from the writers to Hans and Hansâ fans (that seem both to be hated by them for some reason? Even if we are part of Frozen fandom too?). Of course, I canât totally enjoy it because of that, because it feels that there is something âmissingâ, because it really feels that we, Hansâ fans, are being made fun off by wanting him being redeemed. Disappointed, but not surprised, actually.
BUT you know what? I accepted it. I can deal with it. I can find all the Hans and Helsa content I want here, so even if I am genuinely sad that Hans doesnât appear in the movie, I thought that I might be able to like the movie like everyone else. I was not waiting for it regarding all the spoilers I read, but after reading a lot of positive comments, even from other disappointed Hansâ fans, I changed my mind.
Believe it or not, I am not a hater, I wanted to like this movie. I wanted so badly to like this movie, I swear. But I didnât, not only the end, but from the beginning to the end. I dislike it to a point I envy people who liked it because I felt so bad during the entire movie when I wanted to like it like the first one.
Long story short, I didnât like Frozen I neither the first time I watched it. The only thing I liked was Hans, because he was handsome and a ginger (true story). I thought him turning a villain was stupid and terribly written. But after that, I was still thinking about it. I re watched it, started to like Elsa, Anna, started to ship Hanna and finally Helsa. I even started to like Hans being the villain, because his back story with him bullying by all his brothers was really interesting. Shipping Helsa made sense and after six years Iâm still in. Frozen is a beautiful movie with very likable characters in their own ways.
But I still think Frozen I is not amazingly written. It has a lot of flaws, but every movie has, so I didnât make a big deal of it. I waited six years for Frozen II, which can probably explain why I donât like it to that point. I spent six years discussing Frozen and realizing that the writersâ idea of it is totally different of mine is quite weird, even if its is not their fault. Disney owe Frozen, not the fans, they can do anything they want with it. I hope in the future Iâll start to like Frozen II like I did for Frozen I, seeing its quality. I am not a negative person and I donât want to hate or roast anything.
But I canât help but think that Frozen II has a pretty terrible writing and a lot, A LOT of flaws, plot holes and things that made me wonder if the writers even watched their own first movie. Even fans have different points of views, but really, I just donât get what the movie was trying to say.
Still, I want to start with all the things I appreciate in it, because a lot of persons worked on this movie and sometimes did a pretty amazing job.
The songs are amazing. I want to put this one first because, as someone who donât like Disneyâs songs (even as a kid), me liking the songs is pretty rare. All the lyrics are beautiful, âShow Yourselfâ is now my favorite Disney song of all time and Iâm going to listen to it over and over for the next six years. Unpopular opinion but I liked Kristoff's song too, being very kitschy, but I think that was the point. And Panic at the Discoâs âInto the unknownâ is the best, really.
The movie is beautiful. Do I need to say anything more than that? I like the autumn theme of the all movie, with a lot of beautiful images. Frozen I was already really beautiful but, whoa, this one is amazing.
The new characters are enjoyable. Especially the lieutenant Destin Mattias (I had to google his name...). I regret they donât have a lot of importance in this sequel because they had a lot of potential. Elsamaren shippers, you know what I mean.
Some scenes are really emotional. Elsa and Annaâs separation, Elsa being about to cry in âShow Yourselfâ when she sees her mother, Olafâs die, Annaâs âThe Next Right Thingâ and everything about her in the end of the movie.
Anna being the amazing person she is. I am a Helsa shipper but did I ever say how much I love Anna? Anna who saves the day, as she always does, Anna being so strong and doing the right thing, Annaâs becoming queen (again I know itâs not a really popular opinion but I love Anna being queen and I would DIE to see her having powers too). She was a way more relatable character in the all movie than Elsa in my opinion, unfortunately. The only time I get a little emotional in the movie was for her, and even before, I always thought that Anna was the true heroine of all the Frozen franchise.
Elsaâs being super powerful. I have to say I didnât like it, for a lot of reason Iâll discuss later, but I understand why a lot of persons like it. In six years, Elsa became a symbol, of what can be seen as a weakness could actually be your strength. In that sense, the fact that she is so powerful, so sure about herself, can be a fantastic message, especially for young audience, and having Elsa (or Anna) as role model seems really positive to me.
Kristoffâs positive masculinity. The line âMy love is not fragileâ, just that. Youâre a cool guy, Kristoff, I like you. You deserve a happy marriage.
That being said, I had to continue with what I didnât like. I have to say first that I watched this movie only once, not in my mother tongue, and I didnât watch Frozen I since a long time go. So it might containes mistakes or things I simply forgot. I am sorry for that. Again I donât want to roast this movie, and I am really happy if you liked it, I wish I had too, I donât like to be that negative but I have to take this out of my mind. (Iâm not going to discuss Hansâ not being in the movie, as I said I accepted it)
Iâll start with âminor problemsâ really subjective and finish with my biggest issues about this movie.
Olaf was never funny to me. Unpopular opinion again, I donât appreciate Olaf, I barely think him being a bit funny in the first movie, but in this one... I didnât even smile once, except maybe with him explaining Frozen Iâs Plot, but that was an easy one. His song is the only one I totally dislike and all his âIâll understand when I grow upâ well... I didnât get it. When he admits he is angry at Elsa is the moment that made me him like him a little more. But, yeah, no, Olaf is not my cup of tea.
Itâs the first time in my life I think animated characters are bad at acting. I am sorry but some lines where... like... I donât know. The one I have in mind is especially when Kristoff is trying to propose once again and talks about âbeing crazyâ and Anna responds with âDo you think Iâm crazy??â with crazy eyes like... she NEVER acts like that! It seems like the animators wanted so badly to show how many facial expression the were capable of that they wrote those weird lines where the character changes their expression in a couple of seconds. The same goes with all the times the characters talk to themselves so the audience can understand whatâs happening (ok itâs a kidâs movie but theyâre not stupid...). Sometimes it made sense but sometimes it was just like a Korean drama, really (I love Korean drama but thatâs not a compliment). I think itâs more a problem of writing, but sometimes it just made me feels that I was watching bad actors, that was so weird.
All the âwater has memoryâ stuff. I am sorry but it doesnât make sense, even a little. I know itâs a movie and I shouldnât care, but the boat scene just killed me. Elsa has ICE powers, not WATER (I know ice is from water but if itâs the same, why is there a water spirit while Elsa is the fifth one?), so HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW? EXPLAIN, MOVIE, PLEASE. Elsa can take water in everything (wind, earth, boat) and can create âmemoryâ because itâs made of ice? Is that her special ability that nobody else has? But the water spirit also have a form of an horse so you can create things with water too? I donât get it, not at all, sorry, I just donât. Itâs just lazy writing, in my opinion. It shouldnât be a big deal, but that fact that it is used at EVERY single moment of the movie made me cringe, especially because of the next problem I have:
The characters understand everything too fast. All the âwater has memoryâ bullshit is an easy way to allows that. The fact that the sisters immediately recognized their young father is a thing, but just by seeing a scarf they immediately understand that their mother is from here? Ok, why not. But Anna, just by seeing a sculpture of her grandfather trying to kill someone, she immediately understands that the dam was a trap???? HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET THAT? It could have been BILLIONS of reasons to her grandfather to kill the chef of the tribute, like conquer their forest, stealing their stuff or whatever. How does she know that the dam was a trap when it could have been a real sign of peace but then their grandfather becoming a douche after that? Again, itâs so lazy writing. Just by the tribe explaining to her that the dam was bad for them, but Anna continue to believe her grandfather was good, before understanding by the statue he was not could have been ENOUGH. And again, HOW does she know that breaking the dam is going to solve everything? Because the tribe lives with the nature, so whatâs again the tribe is against the nature, so the spirits are mad, so they blocked the forest, but still what does that have to do with the damn fifth spirit? I donât get this movie.
Elsaâs earning spiritâs friendship by fighting them. This one really made me wondering if I was watching the same movie as everybody. The spirits seem to be positive figure, because they represent nature. They donât want intruders, so they attacked the group... why did they suddenly started to like and help Elsa when all she does is fighting them? Because they understand that she is like them? Because she is too powerfull, they finally decide to help her? What made them change their mind? If the writers tried to do something like Moana, well... that was better done in Moana, because she failed when she tried to attack but succeed when she decides not to, because you canât fight nature, thatâs the message. Again, I donât get what this movie is trying to do. (oh and I especially hate the scene with the water horse, just by jumping on a horse doesnât mean it suddenly loves you being there...)
The fifth spirit. Do I need to say anything else? All the fifth spirit stuff didnât make sense and was totally useless in a movie that could have worked without. Honeymaren saying to Elsa that she belongs to the forest was... like... you BARELY know her, how do you know that? It was like they needed to have a reason to make her stay in the forest and âbe freeâ? When she could just have given the crown to Anna that deserves it and being free... with her family? (her REAL family she needs not her motherâs tribe...)
Elsa and Anna abandoning their kingdom for the second time in two movies. Ok you did it to save Arendelle but, still. And after that people still complain about Hans not being a good leader? Again, not a big deal, but my girls... donât do that often please.
Elsaâs journey. Thatâs a big no no for me. Did the writers of this movie watched the first one? Because she just seemed like a totally different character to me. I understand she grew up, and I could have accept that she wanted to be free, that it was her journey. But, again, it was not brightly written. In like the five first minutes of the movie, we are introduced to Elsa hearing voices and... thatâs it. She hears voice. If it was supposed to be symbolic or her wanting to go for an adventure instead of having a boring like in Arendelle, well, that was absolutely not necessary. Why didnât they show her not enjoying her life? Like doing queenâs tasks she doesnât enjoy, talking to people that continue to judge her for her powers, showing that Anna is naturally a better leader than her. It could have been very interesting that even being that powerful, she still has flaws, visible flaws. The only thing we see is her life with her family, but if the message of the movie was that the sisters have to learn how to live separately, again it wasnât clear AT ALL. And thinking that the message of the first movie was that love from your family can save you, itâs a quite weird message for a sequel in my opinion.
At the end of the movie she is supposed to be free... free from what? By not accepting herself? While we see her being so confident about herself during the ENTIRE movie (yeah she âdiedâ at one moment but it just made her realize that Anna is strong enough to help her to, which is totally different from accepting her own flaws). She finally found the place she belongs... again... a forest? Because her mother come from here? ??? I donât get this movie.
And finally... my biggest problem... the HUGE issue I have with this movie. The only thing I just canât ignore. The thing that made me cringe to HARD during the ENTIRE MOVIE.
Why is nobody discussing Elsaâs parents attitude during the first movie?
DID THE WRITERS WATCH THEIR OWN DAWN FIRST MOVIE??? DID THEY?
Donât get me wrong, I do think Elsaâs parents loved her. I do think they thought they were doing the right things for her and their other daughter. I do think they had the best intentions. I do things parents with good intentions can f*ck up their kids so badly it will follow them forever (well, not forever in the case of Elsa, because she is perfectly fine now as if the first movie never existed... mental health, not a big issue).
BUT WHAT THEY DID TO HER WAS WRONG.
To be honest I would have LOVED if Elsaâs arc was about understand and finally forgive her parents about what they did to her. It would even have made sense with her grandfather being a douch, convincing his son that magic is dangerous. Itâs normal that Elsa and Anna love their parents, I mean, just because your parents did something wrong doesnât mean that you wonât love them anymore. But all the âLet it goâ song was about not listening to her restrictive parents anymore!! They erase her from her beloved sisterâs memory and caused her terrible anxious issue that was basically THE PLOT OF THE FIRST MOVIE.
Elsaâs parents f*cked up EVERYTHING and you canât change my mind. The fact that this is NEVER, not A SINGLE TIME, discussed in the entire movie was unbearable for me. And worst, the fact that they are shown as heroes really disturbed me. Again, I would not mind if this was the consequence of an all âredemptionâ arc for them, by Elsa finally understand her parents, why they wanted to restrict her true self (the f*cking thing she is singing about in âShow Yourselfâ with her MOTHER, yeah movie, that makes totally sense), why they thought it was the right thing to do when it wasnât. Idunaâs being the voice Elsa hears could have been her wanting her daughterâs forgiveness and encouraging her to be 100% herself after years saying her not to be. But no.
The worst for me was the boat scene. So Elsaâs parents are the true heroes of the story, for some reason, AND they died because they wanted to help Elsa ? I swear, when Elsa started to feel guilty of their death I wanted to leave the theater so bad. AGAIN, if she had discovered that after an all movie being mad at them for restraining her true self for so long, it would have made sense. It could have help her understand that they did love her too, that they did wrong but wanted to help her in the end. Elsa could have grown from the bitterness of the past, and her thinking that she is so powerful she could do everything could have been her way of emancipation from her parents, when she finally learns that she still needs her sister's help.
This is all I see with Frozen II: a lost opportunity. A lost opportunity to have a better journey for Elsa, than just... being powerful, always powerful, being saved by her sister again and becoming a god-like powerful after that. A lost opportunity to show that good parents can be wrong thinking they are doing whatâs right for their children. A lost of opportunity to show a character who wants to break free, not from something not even explicitly shown in the movie, but from the regrets of the past that we can all understand (because it was IN THE FIRST DAMN MOVIE).
A lost opportunity of a good sequel. Maybe Frozen II is a good movie, I donât know, but itâs a really weird sequel in my opinion. The story makes no sense, the characters have really strange evolution, and some message are questionable. Again, I am really happy for you if you like it, and I even envy you for that. Waiting six years for a movie you almost wanted to leave the theater at, thatâs harsh. I thought I was only going to be disappointed at Hansâ missing, but with all the plot holes and the weirdness of the story, Iâm not even sure it would have been better with him anyway. Maybe you did dodge a bullet here, Hans...
So... fandom team. Whenever you liked the movie or not, like me, please letâs create some cool content. Thatâs what fandoms are made for and made off. I donât want to leave the Frozen fandom, because I still like a lot of things about it. I am just sad this sequel was not worth the patience for me. I hope I didnât make any Frozen II fans feel bad because of this post. I just wanted to share my thoughts. It took me hours but I needed to.
Now all I can say is: disappointed, but not surprised.
