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Film, TV and Streaming

At the Movies

Kristoff, voiced by Jonathan Groff, left, and Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, in a scene from the animated feature “Frozen.” The Disney feature is being shown locally in standard and 3-D versions.

New in Theaters

Frozen

(Playing at the Durango Stadium 9)

(In standard format and digital 3-D with surcharge)

Instead of the bygone damsels in distress – yes we’re talking about you Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty – the female royals of “Frozen,” Disney’s latest animated wonder, are feisty, forward and independent.

Strong female leads are fitting, as “Frozen” marks the first time a female has occupied the director’s chair in the 76 years of Disney animation features. Jennifer Lee, who wrote Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” as well as the screenplay for “Frozen,” co-directed the icy 3-D adventure with Disney veteran Chris Buck (“Tarzan”).

Inspired by the 19th century fairytale, “The Snow Queen,” by Hans Christian Andersen, “Frozen” marks another Disney film modernizing one of the Danish author’s stories. “The Little Mermaid” also adapted an Andersen fable.

Eight new songs, by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, work well when paired with the stunning visuals. But none really shine with classic tour de force like a “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” – and it’s been too long since we’ve had a big Disney-stimulated hit.

But the overall message more than makes up for the film’s pitfalls. Rich in magic, perils and family ties, “Frozen” encourages us to embrace our fears, overthrow our inhibitions and find the true meaning of love.

Set in the kingdom of Arendelle, sisters Elsa (voiced by Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) are best friends who love to play in the snow. Luckily big sis Elsa can create ice and snow with her bare hands.

When Elsa accidently zaps her sister with her sorcery during playtime, Anna is almost killed. Since their daughter can’t control her power, the king and queen send Elsa to her room and isolate her from her sister. But the girls are left alone when their parents die in a shipwreck.

Dauntless optimist Anna tries, for years, to get her sister to come out of her room. “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” Anna sings. But Elsa, afraid of hurting her sister again, remains locked away. That is until she turns 18 and is now fit to be queen.

On her sister’s coronation day, Anna is excited to finally have a house full of people. She even plans to keep her eyes peeled for the possible swoon-worthy suitor. Like clockwork, he comes in the form of the handsome Prince Hans of the Southern Isles (Santino Fontana). Anna falls instantly and the two become engaged.

Anna’s impulsive behavior enrages her big sister, which results in Elsa freezing the kingdom. Disgusted with the continued lack of control over her sorcery, Elsa flees up the mountain and builds her own ice palace.

On a quest to bring her sister back, Anna teams with the uncouth, ice-selling Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), who has a lovable pet reindeer named Sven. Anna is able to convince Kristoff that if he helps her up the mountain, summer will return and he’ll be back in the ice business. She hooks him further when she saves them from a pack of wolves.

Soon we meet an adorable snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) who offers cute and cuddly comic relief at just the right times. When they reach Elsa, Anna is unable to coax her into returning to the kingdom. In a fit of rage, Elsa hits her sister with her powers once more and thus begins the race against time before Anna’s heart freezes over. Only the act of true love can thaw her.

The animation in “Frozen” is premium and the 3-D earmark adds to the pearly appeal of the ice and snow, but we are lacking in the sweeping romance we’ve grown accustomed to in a Disney princess movie.

Anna and Kristoff’s flirtation, while engaging, could stand to be a bit more rapturous. But when Kristoff teases Anna about getting engaged to Prince Hans just after they’d met, you can’t help but love him – and love him for her. Cheers to “Frozen” for that message: Finally a tale for gals about love as a journey and not just something meant to save the princess (or damsel) from her unfortunate circumstance.

“Frozen,” a Disney release, is rated PG for some action and mild rude humor. Running time: 108 minutes. HH½ out of four.

JESSICA HERNDON, AP Film Writer

Homefront

(Not reviewed, rated R.) An action movie about a widowed ex-DEA agent (James Franco) who retires to a small town for the sake of his 10-year-old daughter. The only problem is he picked the wrong town.

The Book Thief

(Playing at the Gaslight Cinema)

Elevated by some tender, smart performances and working within World War II Germany, “The Book Thief” offers eloquent portraits of the human spirit in awful times.

If it drifts toward corn and convenience toward the end while trying to avoid too many dark shades… well it’s not fully excusable, but it is understandable. This is harsh stuff, perhaps a bit too harsh for “Downton Abbey” director Brian Percival and writer Michael Petroni, adapting the popular novel by Markus Zusak.

Our narrator is Death (Roger Allam), which may have worked in the book but feels false on film. He introduces us to young Liesel (Sophie Nelisse), a young girl abandoned by her mother when her younger brother dies. Liesel ends up with an older couple in a small German village in 1938, the kindly Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and the grouchy Rosa (Emily Watson).

Uneducated, Liesel is coaxed out of her shell by Hans as he teaches her to read. Feisty, she makes friends with a neighborhood boy, Rudy (Nico Liersch), and eventually becomes accepted in town, even joining the local Hitler Youth choir.

But things about the political climate bother Liesel. She loves books and is aghast when they are burned in the town square. After a Jewish family friend, Max (Ben Schnetzer), ends up hiding from the Nazis in the basement, Liesel realizes she hates Hitler. But standing up in any way is dangerous, for both her and her family.

Resolved to read anyway, and to read to the ailing Max to bolster his spirits, Liesel begins sneaking in and borrowing books from the private library of a woman who has befriended her. And the power of those books help keep her and Max alive.

Rush and Watson are predictably superb as their characters evolve, but it’s on young Nelisse to make the film work and she brings a sense of damaged innocence that sets the film’s tone. “The Book Thief” may not be perfect but it may steal your heart.

Rated PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material

Tom Long, Detroit News Film Critic

Still Showing

Durango Stadium 9

(Next to Durango Mall, 247-9799, www.allentheatresinc.com)

Wadjda. (Wednesday only.) A story set in Saudi Arabia and focused on the experiences of a young girl who challenges her country’s traditions. All 10-year-old Wadjda wants is a bicycle so she can race against the little boy who lives next door. But her mother refuses to buy her one because in Saudi Arabia, little girls do not ride bikes. Wadjda can’t understand that so she takes matters into her own hands and decides to raise the money for a bicycle herself. Rated PG.

Delivery Man. Vince Vaughn finds out that he’s the world’s most efficient sperm donor and sets about trying to meet his 500 new children. Rated PG-13.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Katniss goes on a victory tour after her “Hunger Games” victory, but there’s no time to rest before the next round. Rated PG-13.

Thor: The Dark World. If Thor had a hammer ... oh, wait – he does. And he uses it. Rated PG-13.

Free Birds. In this buddy comedy, two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history – and get turkey off the holiday menu for good. Voices include Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson and Amy Poehler. Rated PG.

Last Vegas. A group of aging pals played by aging actors head to Vegas for a wild weekend. A “Hangover” for the “Matlock” crowd. Rated PG-13.

Gaslight Cinema

(102 Fifth St. Next to the railroad depot, 247-8133, www.allentheatresinc.com)

12 Years a Slave. A free black man in pre-Civil War America is duped into a life of servitude. Not cool. Rated R.

Animas City Theatre

(128 E. College Drive, 799-2281, www.animascitytheatre.com)

All is Lost. See review on Page 1A. Rated PG.

Back Space Theatre

(1120 Main Ave., 259-7940)

Rotating Holiday films: The Back Space will show “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Sound of Music,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “White Christmas” in rotation. One show per night Monday through Thursday, two shows on Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 29.

Ted Holteen and Associated Press



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