By Meg Hodson
Yep, it's true. I am one of the 7 people who hasn't seen Frozen yet. I mean honestly, if you are parents and families out there, I would imagine you only go to the movies a few times a year? Well, we are selective about what we choose to see in the theaters and what we wait to watch on DVD. Part of it is cost, part of it is waiting for something worthwhile to see on the big screen.
Yep, it's true. I am one of the 7 people who hasn't seen Frozen yet. I mean honestly, if you are parents and families out there, I would imagine you only go to the movies a few times a year? Well, we are selective about what we choose to see in the theaters and what we wait to watch on DVD. Part of it is cost, part of it is waiting for something worthwhile to see on the big screen.
This time around, my husband took my kids to see Frozen when it was in the theater. I stayed home. I had a little "me" time. No big deal, right? Well, they got home and pretty much were GUSHING about this movie. I was like great, so it was good much like Tangled was? Even my husband chimed in....."Disney hit it with this one, it is really good."
I love my share of Disney movies. I always loved Beauty and the Beast. I could watch Cars over and over and still hear a joke or one liner that I somehow missed before. But at the same time, I've had a problem, too. I've had an issue with Disney princesses.
I am willing to accept that some girls want to follow in the steps of Cinderella and Ariel; they want to be swept off their feet right away and ride off into the sunset with their prince. But I also want Disney to appreciate that this is not right for all girls; they want to be independent, free spirited, and take a path of discovery that does not involve men......at least for a little while. What Disney failed at for so many films is always choosing the former as their ideal princess. Why I'm not sure. But it always kept a silent grunt churning in the back of my mind.
Many might say this isn't a big issue; it's make believe, it's a movie, just let the kids have fun. I didn't have proof or support for my argument either way until I heard a friend relay her story of when she became a stepmother. She married her husband, who had three young children from a previous marriage. She became the primary caregiver for them (as well as later having a biological child). She was bathing them one night when they questioned "You're not like other stepmothers, like in Cinderella?" It was a touching moment. It also showed the impression that such themes can have on kids, in this case young girls.
So, as I sat in the car on our recent road trip, the kids began to watch Frozen. We had picked up the newly released DVD just a day before we left. I was prepared to either require headphones for the viewing or get heavily immersed in a book to "tune out" most of the film. I did want to see Frozen, but I wanted to be genuinely surprised and watch it in the comforts of our living room. I was able to tune out for the most part, but couldn't help but clearly hear the scene below from the movie:
My ears smiled. Thank you! I don't know how many times I've told my daughter that she is not going to marry some guy she just met on a ship when she is 17 (she needs to finish high school, right?) This is all I had to hear to immediately have a positive impression of the movie. Throw in some fun humor (aka his best friend's name is John) and in just 2 minutes, I am giving the movie 2 enthusiastic thumbs up.
Will the rest of the movie live up to my excitement over this scene? From my kids' insistence that we watch this movie as soon as possible, I venture to say "yes". I can't wait to watch it in it's entirety.
