It got me thinking a little bit. It was similar in some ways to other Disney movies...and it detracted in other ways to the typical Disney movie. No dragons to slay, no weddings to typify the 'happily ever after' and one of the heroines was also 'the bad guy'.
1) The Battle is not against a demon, dragon, evil step-mom or witch. Cinderella-step mom. Sleeping beauty-dragon/witch. Snow white-step mom/witch. Ariel-sea witch. Jasmine-sorcerer-turned-genie.
But I would argue the main battle is the battle 'within'. Once Elsa realizes how to control her power and not fear, but learns that love is a greater power than fear, then, at that moment she is truly 'empowered'. She does not fear herself and neither do the people. She cannot be contained in chains, she does not need to be isolated in a mountain far from all civilization. She can 'open the gates', let people in, and even use her powers for fun and entertainment.
Most of us will not go up against a wicked step-mom, slay a dragon or figure out how to bottle a socerer-turned-bad genie. But, many do battle against self-doubt. Self deprecation.
I like this new spin. Disney has shown a more 'human' and relate-able aspect. It works and makes me like Elsa even more...less fear, more love.
We need each other. We need support from those we love.
Both Kristoff to Anna and Anna to Elsa.
Anna could not have reached the North Mountain without Kristoff...she needed his resources and his knowledge of the terrain.
Do we need the resources and knowledge of others? Do we keep ourselves from our goals at times because we are unwilling to ask for or receive the help offered?
Anna also helped Elsa...this is very clear. Without Anna intervening...at exactly the right moment...Elsa would have died. And this would have been a William Shakespeare tragedy instead of a Disney princess movie.
Elsa refused the help. For YEARS!! She would not let Anna into her life. She literally shut her out. And what was the cost? How do you quantify the amount of love, friendship and memories those two would have been able to enjoy had it not been for Elsa refusing the help offered by Anna. "They used to be best buddies". And thanks to the help that Anna eventually 'forced' upon Elsa...they are able to enjoy a far richer life than one alone and continuing on the same path that Elsa had maintained.
3) Also, we need to give support to those we love without thought of recompense...even if that takes several years of offering/asking/giving.
Did Anna ever give up? Nope. How hard was it? Life-threatening. A couple times. Could have got lost or frozen in the mountains trying to reach her. Could have 'frozen'-over after getting shot in the chest with a blast from her sister. But she never gave up on her sister. She didn't do it for any other reason than that of pure love and friendship. You could say her sister, Elsa, was depressed. Isolated. A loner.
But Anna saw past that...and gave all she had without thinking of personal gain.
Putting yourself behind the needs of your loved ones will bring HAPPINESS.
Anna and Elsa were truly happy once Anna's act of true love thawed her freezing heart and Elsa realized she didn't have to keep hiding herself. Alone, their lives would have been vastly different than the one that they will now have-together. I read an article in a national newspaper and it said in Stockholm, Sweden, 60% of households have a single occupant. And more people are preferring the single life rather than one 'tied' down and 'restricted' without their freedoms they now enjoy in their single-hood. However, a study found that there is more depression in people who are single than those who have a family. Those who were in a family relationship felt they had more purpose in life. Why is it that having a family can give one a feeling of purpose while those who (though single) claim to have a thriving social life? I'm not sure one can adequately answer that question until they look into the eyes of a person wholly dependent on them for basic survival...and get a pure smile in return. That's purpose, personified.
4) "Beware the evil behind the smiling eyes".
That was the title of a seriously great talk. Link here. People are not always what they say. And with media/internet they have become even more skilled at creating a persona that is not real/authentic.
Hans made Anna believe that he loved her. It was a lie. He was doing everything out of a selfish intent.
Is there opposition in this life? Yes, of course. Is it always going to come at you with a pitchfork and wearing black and red flames? Probably not. That wouldn't require careful attention, faith or much brainpower at all.
And, if you believe C.S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters, you'll probably agree that the majority of us will not fall for a friend offering us a light of their drag in their hands or keys to their car to escape the pressures of home. No, to get us to fall short of our full potential of happiness, all we have to do is become more apathetic.
Edmund Burke is famously quoted, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
The 'opposition' doesn't have to get us to do anything terribly evil...because they gain most of their 'scores' when we do nothing. When we do no evil, we think we are good. But rarely, and I mean very rarely, is a person ever stagnant. We are either progressing upward or downward. I have found that the majority of the time that I loose my patience or get upset with myself or my spouse or kids is when I am trying to do something else for myself first. I put me in front, and when their needs come into play, I am quick to get angry or frustrated. Do I really need to finish reading that last paragraph? Is it entirely necessary that I finish my last bite? Accomplish the latest project? Take care of yourself, yes. You cannot give when your own resources are exhausted or your 'batteries have not been re-charged'. I'm talking about the times when we ought to give but instead take the lazy or easy route instead. There is danger there...because it robs us of potential happiness. Think back on the evening when you go to bed after a hard days work vs a day where you accomplished nothing but spent it all in gluttony. Which one 'feels' better?
To get into the gospel-there is a reason why we think of Jesus Christ being happy and the Devil being miserable. Happiness, like most things of any worth in this world, is found and enjoyed after some work.
To get more secular-Michael Jordan was probably very, very happy when he won his first NBA championship ring. George Washington was happy, if not utterly relieved, when the group of farmers and merchants just beat the most formidable army in the entire world. Both of those things took ALOT of work. And, they would probably tell you that if they would have known what trials they would have to overcome and the work ethic they would have to put on, they would still choose the same path. Their great happiness came after a long road. So it is with us.
"Smiling eyes" are anything that at first glance does not seem 'evil' or 'bad'. But if we do not keep ourselves guarded, it will do harm and damage to ourselves and our homes.
Anna, though quite late in the 'game', finally saw Hans for who he was and stood up to him. Literally. And then she was able to beat him back. If there are habits, hobbies, pastimes, friends, or media sources that keep us from reaching our full potential of happiness, we, like Anna, need to stand up to it...and if necessary, beat it back, kick it to the curb, clear it out and never invite it back. It's not too late.
Great baker? Offer a suffering friend bread-it'll warm their stomach and heart. Promise.
Talented singer? I wish I was. But I sure appreciate listening to those that are vocally gifted.
People person? Find someone to cheer up.
Can make an ice skating rink in the middle of June? Do it. The people will love you.
It's so much more fun to use what we have been given to bring a little happiness to the people around us.
You catch alot more flies with honey than vinegar. If you want a change, try not upsetting, offending, or criticizing the person who you wish would change their ways. And quite possibly, it's something that doesn't really matter all that much anyway.
Most of the time we just get to know each other and we'll come to admire and appreciate them.
And especially when we help them. Service projects, though they may begin with a grudge, usually end with something of gratitude and happiness. Hopefully in ourselves as well as the people we just gave service to.
9) The happily-ever-after doesn't occur with a wedding. It's the realization of what true friendships need and what they are made of.
It's the 'journey' of those relationships that creates a 'happily-ever-after'.
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