"Frozen II" Review (Spoilers)
Jan. 20th, 2020 01:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, Muppet Babies Short, Star Wars Resistance, Doctor Who, Batwoman, and Supergirl.
Frozen II
Normally for movies like this I do a pretty in-depth review. But that doesn't feel necessary here. I probably will if and when I get around to reviewing the Blu-Ray, but I'm just going to jot down a few of my thoughts here and one burning question.
The thoughts that ran through my head as I saw the movie: There are too many songs and they aren't as good as the first one. The story has lower stakes as the characters are already in their set personas, as they pretty much learned all of their important life lessons at the end of the last movie. The climax is less exciting, and the happy ending comes easier than it should. These thoughts all ran through my head as I was watching the film.
And the question I asked myself after the movie was over was this: Does any of that actually matter? Does it hurt the experience the of film? Crazily enough, I would argue it does not. In a world where Disney Cheapquels used to be out of control, there is something to be said about a solid sequel without too much to object to. The stakes are lower because the REAL happy ending already happened, but if I were a little girl who loved Anna and Elsa, spending two hours with them in an adventure that isn't all that upsetting would be like Manna from Heaven. For kids who love the characters of Frozen, and aren't TOO picky, it's solid comfort food. And one thing many people may have grokked from my reviews is that I never turn up my nose at comfort food, or believe I am too good for it. I think if a lot more movies and TV shows tried to be comfort food and allow the viewer to enjoy them, we'd all be better off.
One thing that raised an interesting question for me is the notion that photographs seem to exist in Arendelle, which makes me wonder where the movie is set and when it takes place. I like those kinds of questions, and I like when I have to figure the answers out for myself.
Olaf's Frozen 1 recap was pretty good.
I will not be giving this movie a super high grade, but I will acknowledge it has a great deal of value, and if it's not as good or impactful as the first movie, I think that's okay. I suspect a lot of Disney fans will rag on it (especially the ending of Anna and Elsa ruling two separate kingdoms) but I have seen a lot of worse recent Disney films, including a MUCH worse sequel (Ralph Breaks The Internet). I'm not too fussy, and can appreciate a nice, uncomplicated movie on its own merits. ***.
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure "Islands Apart"
I was really feeling for the Captain this episode, but Rapunzel is right. Accepting the fake Cass is giving up on the real one. In the end, she's all that matters.
I liked Rapunzel wondering the plurals of Cassandras. I also found her "It was a bee" the worst excuse ever.
This was pretty good. I'm glad both the Captain is back, and that Rapunzel's parents have their memories back. ***1/2.
Muppet Babies "Vowel Sounds With The Muppet Babies"
I personally love Bunsen and Beaker, but this preschool short is an absolute failure because they don't spell the words they are using the vowels for onscreen for the little kids in the audience, which literally makes the lesson completely useless. This is the Muppet factory, right? Has Sesame Street taught them nothing? 0.
Star Wars Resistance "Rebuilding The Resistance"
That was pretty good.
What was up with Kaz's weird grin at the beginning over them saying they were going on a mission for the Resistance? That struck me as a bit of bad animation.
Kaz and the Resistance back to caring about what happens to Tam. Do me a favor, Kaz. Don't. She made her choice a LONG time ago.
I liked this week. ***1/2.
Doctor Who "Nikola Tesla's Night Of Terror"
I like that Thomas Edison was sort of the villain. But I liked that alien Spider Queen even better. She was creepy and had a fantastic make-up job. I'm saddened that Tesla's history could not be changed, but this was a good history lesson about him anyways.
I love the Doctor head faking with the device, so the Spider-Queen takes it and gets beamed back to her destroyed ship. I love it when the Doctor does stuff like that.
That was more of a standalone episode than anything, but it was still pretty good. Next week looks to be a mindblower. ***1/2.
Batwoman "How Queer Everything Is Today!"
I didn't understand the last scene, so I'm ambivalent on it and what it means for the show.
I don't like the people of Gotham. They seem far pushier and presumptuous about Batwoman than Star City, Central City, and National City are about Green Arrow, the Flash, and Supergirl. So much so that they seem a hindrance to Batwoman. It is a city of very shallow people.
I love Kate pretty much disowning Alice. What amazes me is that Alice is actually surprised. I don't much like that character.
I love that Parker profusely apologizes once she learns who Batwoman is. I believe she owed her a lot more than an apology. Considering the crimes the Terrier did, Batwoman let her off far too easy at the end.
Love Mary and Kate's hug at the end.
Still trying to get a feel for how the Crisis possibly changed anything, and I don't see any differences yet. We'll see.
That was all right, but Gotham City is filled with extremely low-class citizens. ***.
Supergirl "The Bottle Episode"
I was confused by that.
What was up with the Brainiacs? Wasn't the Multiverse restored at the end of the Crisis? Do they not know that yet? Brainy looks cool green though.
I am getting sick to death of Kara apologizing to that crybaby Lena Luthor. I have decided that every episode she does it from now on will get a failing grade. I cannot get over the writers repeatedly doing that when Lena sucks so much.
Don't look forward to Evil Winn next week. Is it too much to ask for J'onn to restore his memory too? **1/2.
Frozen II
Normally for movies like this I do a pretty in-depth review. But that doesn't feel necessary here. I probably will if and when I get around to reviewing the Blu-Ray, but I'm just going to jot down a few of my thoughts here and one burning question.
The thoughts that ran through my head as I saw the movie: There are too many songs and they aren't as good as the first one. The story has lower stakes as the characters are already in their set personas, as they pretty much learned all of their important life lessons at the end of the last movie. The climax is less exciting, and the happy ending comes easier than it should. These thoughts all ran through my head as I was watching the film.
And the question I asked myself after the movie was over was this: Does any of that actually matter? Does it hurt the experience the of film? Crazily enough, I would argue it does not. In a world where Disney Cheapquels used to be out of control, there is something to be said about a solid sequel without too much to object to. The stakes are lower because the REAL happy ending already happened, but if I were a little girl who loved Anna and Elsa, spending two hours with them in an adventure that isn't all that upsetting would be like Manna from Heaven. For kids who love the characters of Frozen, and aren't TOO picky, it's solid comfort food. And one thing many people may have grokked from my reviews is that I never turn up my nose at comfort food, or believe I am too good for it. I think if a lot more movies and TV shows tried to be comfort food and allow the viewer to enjoy them, we'd all be better off.
One thing that raised an interesting question for me is the notion that photographs seem to exist in Arendelle, which makes me wonder where the movie is set and when it takes place. I like those kinds of questions, and I like when I have to figure the answers out for myself.
Olaf's Frozen 1 recap was pretty good.
I will not be giving this movie a super high grade, but I will acknowledge it has a great deal of value, and if it's not as good or impactful as the first movie, I think that's okay. I suspect a lot of Disney fans will rag on it (especially the ending of Anna and Elsa ruling two separate kingdoms) but I have seen a lot of worse recent Disney films, including a MUCH worse sequel (Ralph Breaks The Internet). I'm not too fussy, and can appreciate a nice, uncomplicated movie on its own merits. ***.
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure "Islands Apart"
I was really feeling for the Captain this episode, but Rapunzel is right. Accepting the fake Cass is giving up on the real one. In the end, she's all that matters.
I liked Rapunzel wondering the plurals of Cassandras. I also found her "It was a bee" the worst excuse ever.
This was pretty good. I'm glad both the Captain is back, and that Rapunzel's parents have their memories back. ***1/2.
Muppet Babies "Vowel Sounds With The Muppet Babies"
I personally love Bunsen and Beaker, but this preschool short is an absolute failure because they don't spell the words they are using the vowels for onscreen for the little kids in the audience, which literally makes the lesson completely useless. This is the Muppet factory, right? Has Sesame Street taught them nothing? 0.
Star Wars Resistance "Rebuilding The Resistance"
That was pretty good.
What was up with Kaz's weird grin at the beginning over them saying they were going on a mission for the Resistance? That struck me as a bit of bad animation.
Kaz and the Resistance back to caring about what happens to Tam. Do me a favor, Kaz. Don't. She made her choice a LONG time ago.
I liked this week. ***1/2.
Doctor Who "Nikola Tesla's Night Of Terror"
I like that Thomas Edison was sort of the villain. But I liked that alien Spider Queen even better. She was creepy and had a fantastic make-up job. I'm saddened that Tesla's history could not be changed, but this was a good history lesson about him anyways.
I love the Doctor head faking with the device, so the Spider-Queen takes it and gets beamed back to her destroyed ship. I love it when the Doctor does stuff like that.
That was more of a standalone episode than anything, but it was still pretty good. Next week looks to be a mindblower. ***1/2.
Batwoman "How Queer Everything Is Today!"
I didn't understand the last scene, so I'm ambivalent on it and what it means for the show.
I don't like the people of Gotham. They seem far pushier and presumptuous about Batwoman than Star City, Central City, and National City are about Green Arrow, the Flash, and Supergirl. So much so that they seem a hindrance to Batwoman. It is a city of very shallow people.
I love Kate pretty much disowning Alice. What amazes me is that Alice is actually surprised. I don't much like that character.
I love that Parker profusely apologizes once she learns who Batwoman is. I believe she owed her a lot more than an apology. Considering the crimes the Terrier did, Batwoman let her off far too easy at the end.
Love Mary and Kate's hug at the end.
Still trying to get a feel for how the Crisis possibly changed anything, and I don't see any differences yet. We'll see.
That was all right, but Gotham City is filled with extremely low-class citizens. ***.
Supergirl "The Bottle Episode"
I was confused by that.
What was up with the Brainiacs? Wasn't the Multiverse restored at the end of the Crisis? Do they not know that yet? Brainy looks cool green though.
I am getting sick to death of Kara apologizing to that crybaby Lena Luthor. I have decided that every episode she does it from now on will get a failing grade. I cannot get over the writers repeatedly doing that when Lena sucks so much.
Don't look forward to Evil Winn next week. Is it too much to ask for J'onn to restore his memory too? **1/2.
