Apart from that thing about the hair, it all seems pretty boring if you just tell it as is, right? Thus, I really did not know what to expect when I was invited to the special preview of Disney's Tangled at the Columbia Pictures Preview Room yesterday. It was in 3D too!
The story begins with the introduction of a magical flower that supposedly has the power to cure anything. An old woman discovers this power and uses it to rejuvenate herself ever so often so she can live forever. Meanwhile, the king and queen of the kingdom are expecting their first baby. Unfortunately, the queen falls ill and a frantic search the miraculous flower ensues. The flower is found and used to cure the queen, much to the old woman's dismay. The queen recovers and gives birth to a beautiful golden-haired daughter. Apparently, the flower's curative powers have transferred to the little girl's hair and so the old woman kidnaps the princess and raises her as her own inside a tower.
The king and queen are heartbroken. They try to find their daughter without success. They make it a custom to release floating lanterns all over the kingdom every year on the princess' birthday, hoping that she would somehow see them wherever she was.
Eighteen years pass, Rapunzel has grown up into a beautiful young woman. She has lived her whole life locked up in the tower. She's a smart and talented girl -- she reads, draws, paints, sews, and does just about everything she can do by herself. She only has a chameleon named Pascal to keep her company all throughout. One day, a handsome thief named Flynn finds his way into the tower... and that is where the story really begins.
Rapunzel definitely fits into Disney's mold of strong female characters which started with The Little Mermaid. She's a good girl -- obedient, caring, unassuming... but she's not the type to let you walk all over her. Mandy Moore, one of my favorite singers ever, plays Rapunzel.
After spending 18 years inside the tower, Rapunzel's dream is to of course go outside and explore the world. Her "mother" won't let her, but she devises a plan to do so anyway -- being the strong-willed girl that she is. Her personality actually reminds me of Beauty and the Beast's Belle.
Flynn becomes Rapunzel's unwitting guide to the outside world. She tells him of the flying lanterns she always sees through the tower window every birthday and requests that he take her to see them up close. The two embark on a journey that eventually reveals more than either of them had ever bargained for.If Disney's Tangled were a book, it would definitely be a page-turner. You know it's Rapunzel, but in true Disney tradition, the whole tale is elevated to another level. Suddenly there's a back story to Rapunzel's "prince" and "mother". There's now a much deeper plot that extends way further than the lengths of Rapunzel's hair. You know everything will be all right in the end but you can't help but be excited just to find out how exactly. There are also a lot of beautiful songs and music that make the whole journey so much more memorable.
The 3D effects are understated but effective. Perhaps the most impactful 3D scenes are those which involve the flying lanterns, and you'll see why if you watch the film.
Disney's Tangled will have you laughing through some scenes and getting teary-eyed in others. It's got what makes most, if not all Disney-interpreted fairy tales so magical. It's formulaic yet mesmerizing and entertaining in the way that only Disney can pull off.
Don't miss it! Can't wait to take my kids to watch it when it opens. :)
Disney's Tangled opens in cinemas nationwide starting February 2, 2011. It will also be available in 3D.
Like this post? Subscribe to this blog by clicking HERE.
Become a Facebook Fan for more updates from Animetric's World.
