Amusing movie and at times charming, but exactly where Disney started going wrong. Full of political correctness, a little too carefully crafted, skewed messages and morals (we're supposed to see Ariel for selfishly rebelling as wrong but when Rapunzel does it just to see some lanterns it's admirable? the lying, greedy thief isn't bad since he's a hunk? Great lessons!), unoriginal characters save for the villain, a lackluster soundtrack. It reeks of Disney marketing, from Rapunzel's suspiciously Barbie-like appearance that makes for a great doll to the pastel color scheme that matches Disney merchandise boxes.

*Dies out of love for this movie*

Sorry for that. Ahem. A lot of people might say that this movie is too "modern" and "Dreamworks-esque", but I think it brings the best aspects of the classic Disney formula and treats them to a fresh coat of paint. The plot is extremely cohesive, with no plot holes or loose ends (some things are left better unsaid. It awakens imagination) and it's full of allegories (we have discussed them here once or twice). The animation is CGI at its best (I want to note it would be very difficult to do this movie in traditional hand-drawn animation because of all that hair) and it's so detaied: I can't get over the textures!

Rapunzel is one of my favorite Disney heroines. She is one of the strongest (up there with Cinderella), because she overcomes abuse (and what's best: she actually takes initiative for it to happen!) and breaks free from Mother Gothel's brainwashing. Some people (not that much) say she's selfish, but that frustates me. She only desobeyed Gothel after she was told (well, shouted out) that she would never be let out of that tower. I think Rapunzel knew her mother was overprotective and controlling (even if she wasn't aware of the abuse she was dealing with), so she decided to take a chance, because she had to at least once experience the outside world and see the lights, since they had a connection to her (they only appeared in her birthday). Can you blame the poor girl for chasing her happiness? Nobody wants to stay under their parents' wings forever! Plus, she's so full of life and energy.

The other pluses are the clever lyrics, the lovely score (in particular the crescent "The Kingdom's Dance") and the other characters, which are all interesting and fleshed-out somewhat. Oh, and it's a highly quotable movie!

Funny, and overall an entertaining story, but I found this to one of the most emotionally manipulative films I've ever seen. Everything Rapunzel does is portrayed as her being absolutely wonderful as a person, even when she is in the wrong. The main character undergoes NO character development, as she's already too great to have to learn anything, and everybody else in the movie is portrayed as less "good" or pure than Rapunzel is. The writers knew exactly how they wanted people to react to each character, or each scene, and they present things in such a way that you can't help but buy what they're trying to sell.

Rapunzel is a vividly imagined character, with a youthful demeanour, and a new take on the classic tale. How she manages to get around with all that hair without getting it knotted and static is beyond the extent of my knowledge.