Disney's Tangled

This being my first post on this blog, I'd just like to say that I love Disney with all my heart. I grew up watching all of Walt's classics--Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lady and the Tramp, The Jungle Book--and also the newer films--The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin. Almost every one of Disney's animated movies has made me laugh, cry, or get goosebumps. They're so creative, so magical, that even as a teenager, I love to curl up on my couch and watch them. Walt Disney was truly a born storyteller, and those that work at Disney today continue what he started, enchanting and inspiring the young and young at heart.

That said, this post is about the new Disney animated movie, Tangled. I saw it yesterday in 3D, and let me just say, I'm glad I did. When I entered the theater and saw a HUGE line, I immediately noticed that every person in the line was under the age of nine. Now, while I was a little embarrassed, I was still too excited to see the movie to care that much.
Tangled's heroine, Rapunzel, is a typical Disney princess. When I say that, I don't mean like Cinderella or Snow White, waiting for her prince to come and get her. I mean like Ariel, Belle, or Jasmine. She's curious about the world, headstrong, passionate, beautiful, and, of course, sweet and kind. Oh, and she's a girl that knows what she wants--to see a spectacular light show in person.
But Rapunzel is stuck up in her tower with her mother, Gothel. Now, as the movie shows us, Rapunzel doesn't mind the tower all that much. She really loves Gothel, and she's kind of scared of the world outside. All she wants to do is see thousands of lanterns lit and launched into the sky, which she watches from her window every year on her birthday. This seems like a pretty reasonable request to me. But Gothel doesn't want her daughter to leave the tower for her own selfish, vain reasons (that you have to watch the movie to find out about). So poor, lonely Rapunzel seems doomed to spend the rest of her life trapped in a tower, watching and waiting for someone to come along and save her.
And someone does come along! The swashbuckling thief, Flynn Ryder, steals a crown and runs for cover before the palace guards can arrest him. He just happens to end up in the secluded spot of the forest that Rapunzel's tower is in. He gets one glance of her hair, then is knocked out with a frying pan and shoved in a closet. After coming to, Rapunzel bargains with her prisoner. She'll give him back the crown if he guides her to the lanterns, then takes her home. Flynn agrees.
The music in this film isn't quite up to par with Disney's best (Circle of Life, Part of Your World, etc.), but since it was written by Alan Menken, it's definitely good enough to get into your head--and stay there. The song "When Will My Life Begin", sung by Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, is my personal favorite. The pop/country style is modern but fits the story, and the tune is catchy. The other songs are "Mother Knows Best", "I’ve Got a Dream”, and “I See the Light”.
While Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder are great characters, I have to say that a certain Maximus the horse stole the show for me. The speechless character’s facial expressions and quirky mannerisms are hilarious. He seems to hate Flynn, but he later proves how lovable and loyal he really is. Pascal the chameleon also provides some comic relief, but the one to look for is a short, drunk old man wearing only a diaper and wings. He has very limited screen time, but he always says something hilarious.
I saw this film in 3D, which, although beautiful, probably wasn't a very different experience than it was in 2D, except for one scene towards the end, when Rapunzel and Flynn are surrounded by thousands of glowing lanterns. It was breathtaking.
I rate Tangled a 9.5/10. It’s creative, visually astounding, and possesses that Walt Disney magic that is so hard to find lately. But don’t just take my word for it. Spend the money—you won’t regret it.