Sequels are one of society’s biggest problems. Well, that’s an exaggeration. But sequels can be the worst or the best movies ever. Normally, sequels are only made after a movie is a commercial success, but there are some that are planned in advance. For example, Marvel had been hinting at “Avengers: Infinity War” since the beginning of their movies. However, when a sequel is made just because the first one went well, movie makers often try to capitalize on the elements that made the first so successful. With Disney’s “Frozen,” that isn’t the case.
The first “Frozen” movie was aimed at younger kids. The humor, animation, and songs were all very fun and childish. However, there were more mature themes, like dealing with grief and being too trusting. It was a massive success, with $1.282 billion in box office sales. “Let it Go” was a household song, much to the dismay of parents and siblings. The idea that a princess, or a queen, didn’t fall in love with a man was an idea Disney only used once before with “Brave.” Elsa didn’t have potential suitors, nor did Arendelle insist that she be married for the crown. It was amazing for young girls to see that a woman could be strong, independent from a man.
This chunk does contain spoilers, but it did come out 3 years ago so I don’t feel too bad about it. In “Frozen II,” Elsa hears a voice calling to her and feels the need to follow it. Anna gets upset that she wanted to go alone, so they journey into the enchanted forest together with Olaf, Sven, and Kristoff. The plot of the story continues with Kristoff struggling to ask Anna to marry him and Olaf going through a midlife crisis. Elsa goes to Ahtohallan, discovers she is the fifth element of the forest, and dives too deep into the knowledge there, which freezes her. Before she completely freezes, Elsa gets a message to Anna through a statue of ice. Olaf, being made of Elsa’s magic, perishes with her. Anna then realizes that she has to destroy the dam made by Arendelle Leaders to weaken the forest and cause the inhabitants to be dependent on Arendelle. Anna gets the Rock Giants to destroy the dam, which floods the fjord and sets the forest free. In doing this, she endangers the kingdom of Arendelle. Elsa is freed from Attahalen’s hold on her, and she saves Arendelle. The ending shows Kristoff gaining the courage to propose to Anna, and then Anna becoming the Queen of Arendelle and Elsa staying behind in the forest. The movie is a little bit chaotic, with many different plotlines happening at the same time. The different character developments, the humor, and the plot are all chaotic on their own, but come together at the end to make a masterpiece.
This sequel digs deeper into grief and the need to do things alone. It also had new songs to enjoy (and try to sing, but fail miserably). “Into The Unknown” quickly went viral on TikTok, and “When I Am Older” by Olaf was a fun way to break the spooky part of the enchanted forest. Unlike many sequels made after a smashing success, “Frozen II” was made well and did well. It grossed 1.4 billion dollars in the box office, succeeding its predecessor by $2 billion. The movie was incredible, bringing together kids and adults alike to enjoy the sequel of loved characters from many people’s childhood. Somehow, Disney made an amazing sequel that was better than the first. I loved the characters and the humor, and the wonder that comes along with it. The movie grew with its original audience. I watched Frozen when I was a little kid, and Frozen II came out when I was a teen. Both movies are held so dear to my heart, despite being made so far apart. Frozen II will be a timeless film, something we show our kids when we grow up.