09 January 2014

Do You Want to Build a Snow Castle?

My only problem with the new movie, Frozen, is the sudden ability for Elsa to create a masterpiece castle of ice and snow in the middle of nowhere on a really steep mountain.  She starts walking up the hill, gets to where she wants to build it and then suddenly starts emitting perfect angles and pristine staircases.  Everything is perfect right away.  

Couldn't they have humoured us a little bit?  Give us something to show that she isn't perfect at it right away.  She could have shot out a blast of ice which was intended to be the initial wall, but then it starts to fall, so she tries to shore it up with another ice 2 x 4.  But then that has trouble holding.  She realizes her foundation isn't so good, so she stops for a second.  She then creates a rudimentary ice chair which is a little off, but it's a decent item to sit on as she starts planning her dream ice castle and honing her skill.

She could be working on all these things, all while singing this song about letting it go.  Here she stands as she is propelled upwards on a sure foundation of smooth ice in carved out doorways and magnificent arches.  It would make more sense if she was busy building something from scratch rather than just sulking about her awesome power while everything is already done.

What's wrong with a little trial and error?  We saw that with Spiderman when he starts shooting his webs and goes hurtling below when it doesn't work right.  Xmen has been about them learning how to perfect their mutant abilities and control.  Luke Skywalker blows up the Death Star after practicing against the remote which shoots little laser blasts.  And How to Train Your Dragon showed a step by step process to learn to work with and gain trust of a fire-breathing death serpent.

Of course, it is good to teach little kids about love conquering all, but mutant freezing powers does not mean you are suddenly a master builder and architect.

1 comment:

Anthony Barney said...

In fact the lesson that things require work, and that mistakes can be conquered, is far more important a life skill than "love conquers all".