Tangled review

 

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY brendala ! Have a Shaggy/Velma sketch because I looooove you!

On to the review! (spoiler free)

Tangled was good. I don't really have a favorite between it and Megamind, since they are both so different. Like the fourth Shrek, I enjoyed that Tangled explored why Rapunzel stayed in the tower and the effects the long stay had on her. She's very afraid of the outside world, but also excited to reach out and run in it (this creates an interesting scene where Rapunzel is exhilarated but feel guilt). This makes the character of mother Gothel interesting too. Not many of the versions of the fairy tale explore the relationship between Rapunzel and Gothel, and in most versions of the fairy tales, we don't even know WHY Gothel took the kid in the first place (aside from revenge on her parents). This really gives Gothel a new dimension. If anything, the movie is more about Gothel and Rapunzel then Rapunzel and Flynn. We barely get a backstory for Flynn. However, all the characters were great, but Maximus the horse takes the cake.

I enjoyed the overall beauty of the film (i'm off to buy a million lanterns, folks). Mostly, I really enjoyed how the characters were always a mix of realistic movement and wacky cartoony poses. Toes would curl in a normal fashion, as the character defies gravity. IT'S GREAT!

I also really love the fact that Rapunzel's hair is almost a character in itself. It's really used all the time. My favorite scene is probably Rapunzel, afraid, HIDING in her hair. It's adorable.

Something else I really enjoyed was what they choose to do with the music. For instance, they reduced the amount of songs to about 3. Two of those songs get a reprise, but it's short. I find in this case, limiting the music did the movie good. The princess and the frog had too much music (They really could have just kept three tunes : The villain song, "Almost there" and the song with the vodoo mistress). It weighted the movie down. Here, this helped. The movie focused more on the characters moving. Lots of physical comedy.

They also have a few characters that don't speak. The king and queen never speak. I find that amazing. All the rest of the voice acting is terrific too.

This movie also explores a bit something I always wanted to write a story about. People with magical healing powers are in terrible danger. Because people would fight over them. I always wanted to do a comic about a poor girl with healing powers being chased down. Maybe I still will.

Generally, great film. Beautiful. Follow nicely the original tale, with a refreshing remake of the Rapunzel character. Girls in towers need some loving and character development, after all.

- Isa