FROZEN (Rated PG)

Just in time for the holidays, Disney delivers classic visual beauty in “Frozen,” an animated film infused with so many fitting musical numbers that it could mark the origins for yet another big Broadway musical production from the Magic Kingdom.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless fairy tale “The Snow Queen,” the tale of two princess sisters in “Frozen” is familiar, but the Disney touch adds some twists and turns to make it more interesting for audiences old and young alike.

As young girls, Princess Elsa and Princess Anna, residing in the imposing royal castle of the Nordic kingdom of Arendelle, are constant companions and playmates until a fateful accident reveals older sibling Elsa’s dark secret of the magical power to turn things into ice.

The sisters grow more apart, and then tragedy strikes Arendelle with the accidental death of the King and Queen, leaving now young adult Princess Elsa (voiced by Broadway “Wicked” star Idina Menzel) in line to succeed as the new Queen at a ceremony that draws diplomats and royalty from afar.

The coronation affords Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) the opportunity to reconnect with her sibling, but the joy is short-lived when Elsa removes the gloves that have managed to keep her ghastly magical powers in check.

Suddenly, the joyous occasion of Elsa’s ascension to the throne results in catastrophe as the peaceful Nordic kingdom is quickly covered in snow and ice, resulting in a depressing state of perpetual winter.

The disgraced Queen Elsa flees the kingdom for a mountain hideaway, an ice palace suited to her dark powers.

Knowing that her unnatural gift is not a force for good, Elsa seems resigned to her fate and won’t fight the evil power.

The warm and loving Anna will not give up so easily on her beloved sibling, and so she sets out to find her sister and bring her back.

Along the way, she encounters the hunky ice-seller Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) who kindly offers to help navigate the treacherous mountain passes.

Pulling Kristoff’s ice wagon is the very expressive reindeer Sven, a trusty sidekick who thankfully does not speak but conveys plenty of emotion and comic relief with knowing shrugs and sighs.

On the other hand, Olaf (Josh Gad), a buck-toothed snowman magically brought to life, is an incessant talker who provides an abundance of one-liners. He’s also a sun worshipper oblivious to the dire consequences of his wish for solar relief from Elsa’s ice age.

A fairy tale story, naturally, requires a villain, which would outwardly appear to be Queen Elsa, but she’s more a victim of a cruel fate, though she seems to adapt all too easily to her dark magical power.

Then, there’s the scheming diplomat Duke of Weselton (Alan Tudyk) who mostly frets about the loss of trade opportunities, while the initially charming Prince Hans (Santino Fontana) proves to be a conniving fortune hunter.

The duke and the duplicitous Prince Hans set out on their own quixotic expedition to find Queen Elsa, and though their intentions are less than honorable, they do not emerge as figures of over-the-top villainy and evil.

These wretched bad guys are merely accessories to the plot, as the main conflict arises between the two sisters, who were once close-knit best friends and could regain that cohesive familial bond if the power of true love is allowed to emerge again.

The ice palace that becomes Queen Elsa’s sanctuary from her Scandinavian homeland is a visual sight to behold.

Enhanced by the power of 3D imagery, the frozen castle evokes the stunning retreat of a super villain that would seem fitting for a “Batman” or “Superman” movie.

At its core, “Frozen” is a formulaic fairy tale with the obligatory happy ending. For family fun, we wouldn’t have it any other way. But there are enough twists and surprises on the road to eventual happiness to sustain interest for everyone.

What’s magical about “Frozen” is the marvelous use of cartoon technology to deliver a visual treat rooted firmly in the old tradition of Disney’s feature-length animation.

An added bonus to the 3D viewing of “Frozen” is that the main feature is preceded by the classic Mickey Mouse cartoon “Get a Horse,” which has been cleverly rebooted with an infusion of new scenes combining old and new animated techniques.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The seventh and eighth grade drama students from Lower Lake Elementary, Pomo Elementary, Burns Valley Elementary and East Lake Elementary are preparing for their Christmas musical, “A Christmas Peter Pan.”

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 13, in the Lower Lake High Multi-Purpose Room on Lake Street.

Admission cost is $5 per person.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – On Sunday, Dec. 15, the Tallman Hotel/Blue Wing Saloon will feature The Dorian May Trio for a very special afternoon jazz brunch.

Dorian May, premier local bandleader, teacher and keyboard artist, his wife Dorothea May on upright bass and Tom Rickard on drums form the area’s top up and coming jazz trio.

Playing in a classic jazz piano trio style reminiscent of Oscar Peterson, the trio can be heard performing throughout Mendocino and Sonoma Counties.

Enjoy a great brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music inside or out in the garden in good weather from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Blue Wing Saloon is located at 9550 Main St. in Upper Lake, next door to the Tallman Hotel.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Sunday, Dec. 15, the Lake County Symphony will present its annual Christmas concert at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport.

John Parkinson, conductor of the 60-piece orchestra, promises a full program of holiday favorites, including both secular and songs of faith.

The concert will feature the vocal talents of Shelly Trumbo-Mascari singing spectacular jazz arrangements by Parkinson.

The perennial carol sing-along and “Hallelujah Chorus” with audience participation will again be a mainstay of the program, as it has for many years.

The symphony’s Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Susan Condit, also will be featured.

The Open Rehearsal concert will be held at 11 am. Admission is only $5 and under 18 will be admitted free. The concert at 3 p.m. is $25, with premium seats at $30. There is a $5 discount for all CLPA members.

Tickets for both concerts may be purchased through www.soperreesetheatre.com or by phone at 707-263- 0577, or at the theater box office, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery will host an artists' reception and First Friday Fling on Friday Dec. 6.

The events will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the gallery, located at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

This month’s exhibit features beautiful quilted hanging art by Elsa Mayer and whimsical paper mache art by Ruth Morgan plus many new artists with varying mediums represented: acrylics, oils, pencil and watercolor. Come see the whimsical, abstract and realist art work of local artists.

Holiday gifting items are in abundance from original art and prints, to homemade jams and bakery.

Wearable art, a variety of jewelry, pottery, beautifully etched glass ware and many other gift items are available.

Enjoy the fine wines of Noggle Winery while listening to the talented Brittian Family as they entertain on a variety of instruments.

Stop by Friday and join the arts council for its monthly festivities and meet the artists.

For more information, please call 707-263-6658.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – In the first of its annual winter/spring “Concerts with Conversation” series, the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake will host an informal concert by Nashville-based bluegrass guitarists Rob Ickes and Jim Hurst in the Meeting House next to the hotel at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10.
 
“We are fortunate that Rob and Jim have again scheduled a stop at the Tallman on their west coast tour,” commented Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “They put on a tremendous show for us about this time last year. It was so popular that we were able to schedule a second followup event for the next night.”
 
Rob Ickes is a Northern California native and brother of local banjo master and bluegrass promoter Pat Ickes. He moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined Blue Highway as a founding member in 1994. He is recognized as one of the most innovative Dobro players on the music scene today, recording with his own band and as a sought-after session player.
 
Ickes won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Dobro Player of the Year award for a record-setting fifteenth time in 2013. He is the most recognized instrumentalist in the history of the IBMA awards.
 
Jim Hurst is also a multi IBMA award-winner. His vocal talents, multi-instrumentalist abilities and well-rounded stylings make him one of the most popular musicians in Nashville. In addition to his own recordings, Hurst has supported the recording sessions of some of the best artists in country and bluegrass music.
 
One critic who saw Hurst and Ickes perform together in Nashville commented that “their ability to follow each other through an unannounced maze of spaghetti-like improvisation is beyond normal human capability.” Good videos of the two playing together are available on YouTube.
 
Subject to limited availability, concert tickets at $25 plus tax may be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.