The Snow Queen: Fire and Ice
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Some weapons, peril in engaging fairy tale adventure.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Snow Queen: Fire and Ice
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Too much
Report this review
What's the Story?
THE SNOW QUEEN: FIRE AND ICE follows orphaned siblings Gerda (voiced by Laurie Hymes) and Kai (Jason Griffith) as they eke out a living speaking about their adventures defeating the Snow Queen. One day, while visiting the troll Orm (Billy Bob Thompson), they meet Rollan (Graham Halstead), an ambitious Spanish teen who hopes to become legendary. Rollan convinces Gerda that they should go on a quest to find a troll treasure that will grant them any wish. After fighting and parting ways with Kai, Gerda hopes the treasure will bring back their dead parents. But once Rollan and Gerda find the magical orb, it unleashes the evil spirits of the Snow Queen, which enters Gerda's body, and a Fire Demon, which enters Rollan's. If they don't rid themselves of their curse in time, the spirits will take over their bodies permanently.
Is It Any Good?
The third installment in the Russian-animated Snow Queen series will amuse adventure-minded younger viewers, even if it's not as slick or memorable as the best examples of the genre. The movie doesn't require viewers to be fully familiar with its two predecessors, although several of the characters carry over, and knowing something about The Snow Queen and The Snow Queen: Magic of the Ice Mirror will make it easier for kids to understand the main relationship dynamics. Gerda's instant chemistry with Rollan is a bit reminiscent of a central couple in Frozen. The two connect and are immediately thrown into an adventure that changes both of their lives.
The animation is better here than in the first movie; the landscapes are more detailed, and the moments of peril are filled with appropriate suspense. What's original about this particular adventure is that just when you think it's about to follow a predictable storyline, there's a plot twist that raises the stakes. The game-changer may even take some adults by surprise, creating an emotional, action-packed final act. The Snow Queen: Fire and Ice isn't a great movie, but it's actually more serviceable than its predecessors.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of movies based on fairy tales. What makes them compelling? Do you think there should be more movies in the Snow Queen series?
What do you think of the movie's scary scenes? Are you more or less frightened by events in animated films vs. live-action ones?
Did watching The Snow Queen: Fire and Ice make you interested in reading the original Hans Christian Andersen story?
How would you describe the movie's message? What do the characters learn?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 31, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: October 2, 2018
- Cast: Laurie Hymes, Graham Halstead, Jason Griffith
- Director: Aleksey Tsitsilin
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Fairy Tales
- Run time: 80 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 21, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate