Tangled (2010)

On my Top Ten List of favorite Disney movies, Tangled comes at the very top. (Moana is a close second, but more on that later...) The aesthetic, humor, romance, music, and animation are what makes this movie spectacular. (Disclaimer: my opinion is coming up, please leave now if easily offended.)

With an average rating of 7.4/10, Tangled is Disney Animation's first full CGI film. This factor, I believe, affected the rating, leading to a lower score (because it had so much to prove). However, the incredible writing should make up for this minor setback. From Flynn's intense narration capturing my attention at the very beginning, to Rapunzel's sincerity within her promises, Gothel's "teasing", and even Pascal and Maximus' simple reactions, Dan Fogelman has truly created more than just a movie script. He's created a world in which I have delighted in taking a part of. I watched Tangled with a good friend of mine the other day, and, she can testify, throughout the whole movie, I said "I appreciate that" to at least 7 different screenplay treasures, of which Fogelman has bestowed upon this dark, selfish, and cruel world. His screenplay is my slightest ray of sunshine that I will not let the world destroy! Even reading some miscellaneous Tangled quotes off of IMDB remind me how much I appreciate this writer. You see this write here? This is pure magic. This is something Jennifer Lee's Frozen could never have, and will never have. (But more on that later...)

FLYNN:

All right, Blondie-

RAPUNZEL:

Rapunzel.

FLYNN:

Gesundheit. Here's the deal.

Now to gush about the visuals! If not evident from the w h o l e m o v i e , a lot of time was spent making it look as breathtaking as it is. 6 years to be exact. An army of animators, a fleet of computers, and many, many coffee runs are the key factors to this movie's overall aesthetic. The time and effort put into creating realistic water, lighting, and human emotions astonishes me. The smallest of Rapunzel's hair behaviors are given just as must attention as the voice acting and other animations, which carry the believability of the story and the setting. Take the boat scene, for example:

Rapunzel's expression in her eyes and eyebrows show how long she's been waiting to she her dream come true, and when it finally comes true, it's all she's ever hoped for. She watching those lights as if it's the last beautiful thing she'll ever see (and it almost was), and that's what excites and delights her (and me, too). Pascal's expression as he's watching her watch the lights shows he truly cares about her dreams and it shows he has compassion for Rapunzel. He reflects the exact feeling I have when I watch this entire movie! The last time I went to Disney World, their summer attraction was still going on: when it got dark, a mix of different references from the decades of movies they've produced were projected onto Cinderella's castle, accompanied by the most popular song from the respective movie. When At Last I See the Light came on, I started to cry. I stood there breathless as I watched the projected lanterns float towards the sky as one of my most beloved songs was playing over the speaker behind me. Tangled was able to give off the sense of child-like wonder and amazement by animating a fairy tale. If that doesn't amaze you, I don't know what will.

Not only do I love Tangled for it's impeccable writing and outstanding animation, but the love story is the main reason I've watched it so many times, and will watch it for many years to come. Flynn Rider and Rapunzel are such character foils and yet, so very similar. As to quote Grace Potter's Something That I Want, "Right when you think you know what to say, someone comes along and shows you a brand new way". Flynn thought he knew what he wanted (riches and solitude), and the only way he knew how to get it was by thieving. Rapunzel thought she knew what she wanted (freedom to see the lights), but the only way she knew how to do that was to do it alone. When they finally realized that the only way to achieve their dreams was by going together, their dreams changed entirely.

FLYNN:

You were my new dream

RAPUNZEL:

And you were mine

Now for music! As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the soundtrack. Alan Menken, thank you. Mandy Moore, Zach Levi, thank you as well. You've spoiled my musical personality to the point of no return, furthering my obsession with Disney and musicals in general. When Will My Life Begin Reprise is my favorite song on the playlist; maybe because of it's simple beginning leading to a huge pickup towards the end, or it's in the perfect vocal range for me, or maybe the freedom Mandy Moore depicts in her performance, but I love it so. much. Kingdom Dance is my second favorite, mainly because it's so upbeat and it has an adorable montage of Flynn and Punzy. But anyway, I appreciate the soundtrack to the point of no return. It gives the movie a fun, and slightly scary vibe that I dig. Overall, Tangled has given me so many good memories, jam sessions, conversations, and so so so much joy. Definitely a 10/10 on my list.

A big thank you to you, reader, for taking the time to read the inner thoughts of a Disney obsessed teenager. I really appreciate you stopping by, and if you'd like to see more, feel free to leave a comment asking for which movie I should gush about next. From the jivest of turkeys, "Go, follow your dream."