‘Tangled’: Disney Girl Finds Adventure in Animation

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After seeing this everywhere, I decided to post my thoughts, plus it’s the most perfect movie to watch with the family during this holiday season. Fairy-tales have given us generations of fables. They unfold in Little Golden Books, but are also inspo for many a filmmaker. Perhaps there is no production company with any bigger name (or budget) than Disney, who has in essence become the leading name when one thinks of happily-ever-afters. 

Tangled (2010) Disney Review

A single drop of sun falling into the soil results in a beautiful flower; a magical flower that has a special healing power. If found, it can give the holder eternal youth and beauty. The Witch, Gothel (voiced by Donna Murphy) is in search of such a plant. When the kingdom’s queen suddenly falls ill while carrying a child, desperation sends the King’s soldiers on a mission to find the healing balm. The queen does recover, and survives to give birth to a healthy baby girl. Gothel sees that the child possesses the power she wants, she steals away with the baby in the dark of night and locks her in a tower.

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‘Tangled’ - Disney Girl Finds Adventure in Animation. Review of the 2010 Mandy Moore Disney film. All review text © Rissi JC

18 years later, Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) is pretty young woman no longer satisfied with the occasional visits from Mother; these visits don’t satisfy her curiosity. What is beyond the one window of her tower? Why has can’t she see what’s beyond her walls? Despite the scary tales Mother shares, Rapunzel cannot help but be restless. Running through the woods which surrounds Rapunzel’s tower is the notorious – and charming thief, Flynn (voiced by Zachery Levi) who is about to get a rude welcome when he picks her tower to hide in. Wanting adventure of her own, Rapunzel convinces Flynn to let her tag-along and gets the journey of a lifetime.

This title is the latest in a string of animated flicks I’ve seen in recent times. Some were unintentional, others on my radar, but all led up to this blockbuster, which I most definitely did want to indulge in. The promotional spots and later full-length trailers had me tangled in fits of pure joy, though many of the promo cuts don’t make the final film. It went through multiple revisions, and voice talent, and this, the direction it goes, did disappoint more than one fan.

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In some sense, I sympathize with this school of thought. This re-boot isn’t a traditional version but rather features a roguish thieving hero (in homage to Earl Flynn’s Robin Hood) and a heroine that while naïve is far from a wilting flower. Her zest for life is something we all could learn a little something from, since it can bog us down with its cruelty. This marked a couple of “firsts” for Disney. One it was entering new territory for them by being their first feature of CGI animation and their only Disney “princess” film to have been given a PG rating.

Much of the script is different from the classic story of Rapunzel. But Disney re-tools the entire story for a larger audience, which really works. Despite the overture of romantics, this isn’t a romance, at least not in earnest. The Oscar nominated score is beautiful and therefore deserving of its nominations. The music doesn’t completely take over the whole movie, which is nice no matter it’s loveliness. To a lay person, equally good is the animation. Naturally Rapunzel’s tower is a lovely piece of paradise and her adventure is priceless. Her emotions when she finally touches the ground, but being torn to leave the only place she knows is genuine and fun.

See this with your sisters or girlfriends. It’s really sweet and I’m not sorry to have bought it. Its view of beauty is much downplayed, nevertheless we learn her quest for beauty does nothing to fully satisfy her. It’s a lesson many young girls need to learn. We all have self-doubt and something we don’t like about ourselves, but the sooner we realize beauty fades, the quicker we’ll become a more beautiful person on the inside. This is where it counts.

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‘Tangled’ - Disney Girl Finds Adventure in Animation. Review of the 2010 Mandy Moore Disney film. All review text © Rissi JC

Content: Gothel is quite evil in her own way, although not maybe as much as other villains, hers is more of a physiological evil. She murders a man and uses Rapunzel. A woman falls out of a window. Rapunzel is nearly kidnapped [and is as a baby!] and believes she sees Flynn betraying her. There is a cherub guy that is kind of “creepy” and Rapunzel wins over a group of beer-guzzling ruffians. [Flynn is a thief.]

Photos: Disney

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

15 comments

  1. I loved this movie. I know some are disappointed that Disney is moving away from the classic style of animation to 3D animation, but I think it adds a special "grown up" quality to the story. (I would die with happiness if they decided to do "Wicked!" with this kind of animation.) I think it's the best thing Disney has done in a long time.

  2. Oh, I loved this movie!! Rapunzel has now become my favorite Disney princes. :) Though, at the end, my mom and I were kind of wondering what her "real" name was.

  3. I love Tangled :) :) I thought Gothel was a little…oh what is the word. The way she was always kinda swinging her hips and stuff. I didn't like that. But Flynn/Eugene is such a rogue and a honorable, funny guy :) I think he kinda reminds me of Han Solo. Sierra
    Keep Growing Beautiful♥ (Cause You Are!)

  4. I cannot get enough of this movie! I love it so much! It has become my favorite Disney fairy tale. I wasn't exactly fond of the original story–it seemed quite dull. But Disney added a really interesting twist to it, and that's why I like Tangled. It is a "tangled" story after all.

  5. Charity – oooh! You finally saw this one?? I am so glad you enjoyed it; I think it is super cute, and almost had an "excuse" to watch it a while back when I was sure the kids I was babysitting would want to watch it – unfortunately for me, they did not. ;D I thought the animation was pretty cool – but then I don't know any of the "technical stuff" about animation…

    There are rumors that Wicked! is being made into a major motion picture, but I think it will have live-action in addition to maybe some animation. Hopefully it will get its due since I'd enjoy seeing it.

    Rachel – me, too! I thought it was adorable. Thank you for your sweet words – it means a lot to me to know people are enjoying what I've written. =)

    Trinka – writers changed the film's name to Tangled in order to reach a wider audience (i.e., boys and girls), but I think the character still had the name Rapunzel.

    Glad to know you liked the movie, too – I am thinking I'll take my own advice and re-watch it again this upcoming week. =D

    Sierra – so do I! Gothel was a little bit flirty… and wicked… and annoying! But then, every movie needs a detestable villain, right!? LOL!

    Flynn was definitely the comical relief in the movie – and it was great. =)

    Ella – my thoughts exactly! =)

    Jemimah – I know, right!? I am thinking that I should see it again this week (I've only watched it once). I think next to a couple of their live-action movies, this is my fav "princess movie" from Disney also. I always liked the original storybook but this movie is just… way fun! =)

    Glad to know so many of you are Tangled fans – that is awesome, girls!

  6. Disney's recent attempt at a princess film (Princess and the Frog) had majorly disappointed me….so I was curious about Tangled. Now, I ADORE it!! I thought it was so sweet and reminded me of Disney in its good ol'days

    Flynn Rider for me, though, is hilarious to watch because in my head, I cannot think of Zachary Levi in a role other than the one he is more known for (as CHUCK =)

    "I See The Light"….yep. Have it on my MP3 and was as giddy as a school girl when they sang it at the Oscars

  7. Ella – I never saw Princess and the Frog. I don't know why because usually I do not care if I am the "targeted" audience or not. Guess that one just didn't appeal to me – perhaps it was the setting (I am not all that fond of New Orleans as a backdrop). Tangled is super sweet and definitely one of my faves; Flynn is HILARIOUS, and I have often been tempted by your reviews to rent Chuck. ;D

    Mandy and Zach did a nice job at the Oscars – and that song it pretty. I should buy the download sometime.

    Serenity – oh! You are welcome; thank you bunches for checking out my blog. =) I always love comments.

    Tangled is one of the sweetest fairy-tale flicks there is – hope you get to finish it some time. =)

  8. It is great animation characters, and more lively moving character animations. Especially Rapunzel name is different, and character is cute, all of family members must be see and enjoy.

  9. It had great character animations and movements, especially Rapunzel character is so innocent cute, and also name is different. Family members are must see that film and enjoy. The animators are great work, story also well.

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