Half a year ago, I had a major complaint about the script of Frozen, centered on the complete lack of buildup to Hans suddenly turning on Anna. Not a hint throughout the film, and in fact, he makes a rather selfless gesture not long before. It's just bad myth-making, bad narrative. One might not see a turn to evil the first time, but on repeated viewings there should be hints along the way.
Apparently there were hints, and more, but they never made it to the script because of other plot considerations. There's a fascinating explanation of those changes in this Weekly Standard article by Jonathan V. Last. Short version; Hans was not originally evil in the script, but when the plot changed, someone had to set the last rescue scene on the ice in motion, and nothing else was ready to hand. So Prince Hans, contrary to his good nature so carefully built up in the first 90% of the movie, had to be called into service as the villain, because there was no one else there.
Told ya it didn't make sense.
Interesting. I may be more cynical than you are because I didn't find the change in Hans to be jarring at all. It might be a bit 20/20 hindsight but the entire setup of his character (proposing marriage to a princess he just met - especially one who isn't going to be queen, accusing the Duke of treason for opposing his decisions as defacto ruler) seemed to point to the exact reversal that is revealed. The interference with the bolt shot at Elsa is more of a clumsy ex machina way to affect the rescue of Elsa by Anna but it does work to add to the ambiguity. In some ways Hans works the same way Gaston did in the "Beauty and the Beast". Even though Gaston is more clearly a villain his actions sometimes further the goals of the heroine in that story as well.
ReplyDelete"Be ware of men who are too nice" is a recurring theme in the princess movies, among others.
Shorter version: Men. Ya can't trust 'em.
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ReplyDeleteT99: Too Good To Be True comes to mind.
ReplyDelete"Too good to be true" would be the sensible lesson. I'm talking about what Disney knows it can sell! Right now, Men (hmphhh) is a marketable theme.
ReplyDeleteThe turn I saw ahead of time. But I also agree that there was almost no foreshadowing.
ReplyDeleteThat's bad story telling, period. Like ME3's deus ex machina endings or Hussein Obola's Deus Ex Machina messiah complex.
The day I can't predict a Hollywood writer's script, would be a sad day indeed. Their variables aren't that complex. Half the stuff they already steal from Greek myths and other authors, it can't be that complex. It's not like its their own original vision.
So Prince Hans, contrary to his good nature so carefully built up in the first 90% of the movie, had to be called into service as the villain, because there was no one else there.
It's easy to predict if you know the quality of staff they have in Hollywood or Disney.