Disney Wiz-ney Update!

Bibbity Bobbity Boo I'm Back!

A million appologies to the fans of this blog. I'm so sorry that I have been away, but I'm back! So, Be Prepared to Be My Guest on this Disney blog Under the Sea now with more puns! But seriously, I'm back and with new ideas for articles. I have a great idea for next month that I have been wanting to do. I might do another review before then, but nothing is a promise. Sorry! However, I will leave you with this obvious hint of what next month will be. Have a great day and thank you all for continuing to visit the blog! It has over 500 views! That's so crazy to think that my reviews were read 500 times and that people wanted to read my reviews 500 times. So, thank you!

Is Frozen Brilliant?

"Okay, can I just say something crazy?"

Frozen is the "coolest" movie ever. "Now is the winter of our discontent." More like now is the winter in which we've dreamt. Okay, I'll stop, but this movie is really good. It even held the world hostage until it won an Oscar. That's why winter was so horrible this year. If that was not true, then explain why the snow and cold weather stopped after the Academy Awards. You can't. Frozen is one of my favourite Disney films, and I think that it is one of the best films Disney has ever made. This review will contain spoilers, so please stop reading and watch the movie already.

The story to Frozen revolves around two sisters, Elsa and Anna, who have grown apart after one accidentally injured the other. Elsa was born with the power to freeze things and create ice when she touches objects, but she cannot control her power. This leads her to freeze and run away from her kingdom, Arendelle. Meanwhile, Anna falls in "love" with a Prince named Hans which Elsa disapproves of. Anna's search for the missing Elsa leads her to Kristoff, an ice salesman with a pet reindeer named Sven. They come across a snowman named Olaf who is a living version of the snowman Elsa and Anna created as children. The plot is complex for a Disney movie, and there were parts that left me wondering why the characters did what they did, but all in all it is a great plot.

Frozen was also the first Disney movie for me where I had great theatre experiences.When this movie was announced, I knew it was going to be good. "If they can characterize all four of the main characters, then it will be amazing," I said to myself. However, I never expected to see one of the greatest Disney films ever this year. I even remember the day I went to see it. It was Thanksgiving Day, and my parents didn't want to see it in 3-D. I told them, "This is the only chance you will get, and it's only three more dollars per person." They finally gave in, and we went to see it in 3-D. Afterwards, they told me that I was absolutely right. Frozen was so good that I even went to go see it a second time. This time it was by myself on the 4th of January. The second time was the most fun I have ever had at the cinema. I had already seen the movie, so this time I could sit back and enjoy it. My favourite part was seeing the audience's reaction to Hans revealing his plan. One guy even shouted, "That's cold!" I thought that was hilarious.

 

The animation and music is phenomenal. I remember seeing the "Let It Go" scene for the first time and having reality checks with myself. I could not believe what I was seeing or hearing. I still get chills when I watch this film, and the animation and music in this film is almost untouchable by any Disney film. Most of the time when I hear a Disney film, I do not think of the animation during the song in the film, but I do with Frozen. I also do that with Tangled while we are on the subject, and to compare Frozen to Tangled is a huge complement. Words cannot describe the animation of this film. Everything has weight and a feeling in this film. Nothing looks like lines on paper. You would think that everything would be blue and white, but it isn't. There is an assortment of beautiful colours in this film that reflect the moods and feelings of the characters. If you want to see the beauty of the art and music in the film just watch "Let It Go," if you haven't already.

This film also features my second favourite villain of all time, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. This guy is a piece of work. He uses Anna and Elsa just so that way he can become king. He "just can't wait to be king," and I love him. I love to hate this guy. He seems so perfect and good-looking, but is a jerk on the inside. I love that. I also like that the writers made the audience think that the Mayor of Weaselton is the villain, then they show you Hans. I bet you probably forgot about the Mayor didn't you. You forgot that the Mayor also tried to kill Elsa, but this guy is such a blighter that you forgot all transgressions that the Mayor did. Who can blame you? Everyone hates a guy that plays with a girl's emotions and would marry for personal gain. That is why I love Hans.

In my eyes, Tangled and Frozen go hand in hand. Tangled is composed of every Disney princess that came before it with its similarities in story telling and its constant Easter eggs of symbols and movie posters from past Disney films. Frozen is composed of the themes of every Disney princess film that came before it. The theme of The Little Mermaid: A woman's voice is more important than she realizes is shown through Elsa whose powers are more powerful than she realizes. Beauty and the Beast's theme of beauty being on the inside is shown through Hans. Aladdin's theme of don't be afraid to be yourself is shown through Elsa. I could go on and on. This movie does a wonderful job of portraying many themes, but the one theme that stands above all is the theme of loving one's family. See, Hans doesn't care anything about his family. Anna does. That is why Hans is ultimately unsuccessful and Anna is successful. 

 

So, why is this film so brilliant? It has little to no original themes (theme of family being in Lilo and Stitch, the theme of feminism being in Tangled, etc.), the plot seems kinda forced at times (Why did Kristoff leave Anna when he took her to Arendelle), and some would consider Olaf to be the most annoying comic relief Disney has ever made (I used to not really care for him, but I'm starting to really enjoy his jokes. I think I just had to get used to him). However, the heart of this film lies in its two main characters who love each other no matter what happens. Anna doesn't care that she is about to die. She still wants to save Elsa. That is what makes this movie brilliant. Disney did a fantastic job of making the audiece feel for these characters. (I still tear up when their parents die.)

Even though the movie has its flaws. It is still a must see. No movie is perfect, but it could be argued that this movie is almost perfect becasue of the characters. If this movie and Tangled is any indication of what Disney is capable of creating, then I cannot wait until the next Disney princess movie. Now go watch this movie again and buy it on Blu-ray!

 

P.S. Awesome Rapunzel and Flynn cameo!

*As a sidenote, I do not support the Little Mermaid, Tangled, Frozen are connected theory. If that were the case, then why was Belle in Topsy Turvey in The Hunchback of Notre Dame? Why was Beast an action figure in Aladdin? Why did someone kill and cook Pumbaa in Huntchback of Notre Dame? How did Hercules get the pelt of Scar in Hercules? How did Goofy, Donald, and Mickey survive underwater long enough to watch Triton's daughters perform in The Little Mermaid? It's just a cameo.

Is Sleeping Beauty a Sleeping Beauty?

Blue or Pink?

Now before I begin with this movie, I do not hate Sleeping Beauty. I know I have bashed it in the past for having weak characters, but in fact, I really like this movie. This film is majestic in it's art, music, and style. It's my favorite Classic Disney film even though it does little to challenge social norms or advance any characters for that matter. It certainly isn't a must see like Cinderella or Snow White,but it is certainly worth seeing.

The story of this film is very simple. It revolves around a daughter who is cursed at birth by Maleficent because she wasn't invited to the child's birthday party. This leads three fairies named Fauna, Flora, and Merryweather to try to save the princess from death. The story is probably the simplest story that Disney has ever wrote. There aren't many plot twists or characters for that matter, but it doesn't really need them. The beauty in this film lies in its art and music.

This film has one song, Once Upon a Dream. However, it is the best written and best sounding Classic Disney song in my honest opinion. Its animation flows perfectly with the music, and it is beautiful to watch, and that's really why this film works, beauty. The art in this film is breathtakingly beautiful. Every single frame has exquisite detail and craftsmanship. Each character moves with grace and elegance. Sleeping Beauty is the only animated film I watch just for the animation alone. It is that good.

 

I also have to admit, I love the character of Aurora. She isn't a great princess. She doesn't advance the social outlook on her gender. She doesn't even do anything in the film she in besides wait for her prince, but I still like her. First of all, she is one of the best drawn Disney princesses. I mean come on that hair! The only Disney hair more perfect than that is Ariel's which seems to defy gravity. She also wants to meet her prince but is scared to do so because she is a shut-in. Now, I know that she has no character development whatsoever but neither does Philip. He was only written into the script because Disney needed an out! He does nothing. Somehow, he manages to do less than Aurora. Actually, the only characters who do anything in the film are the Kings who get drunk (I know weird right) and the fairies who steal the movie. If you are looking for good characters the fairies are what you want. Fauna, Flora, Merryweather, and Maleficent are all amazing. The animation on these four astounds me. It is unbelievable, and while I'm on the subject, Maleficent is an awesome villain. She tries everything in her power to kill this girl just because she got snubbed at a birthday party. That is one of the evilest motivations of any Disney villain ever created. 

Sleeping Beauty is definitely a flawed film. That goes without saying. It is short, has barely any characters (or any that you would call characters), it is Conservative, and it can be boring at times, but I still like it. I guess you can call it a guilty pleasure of mine. It has a certain charm to it. A certain je ne sais quoi. It sums up the Classic era of Disney perfectly: beautiful but conservative. If you enjoy Disney, then I recommend it. However if you want a film with good songs, beauty, and actual characters, then I recommend Frozen.

The Social Ramifications of the Disney Princess

"You were my new dream"

Socially, the Disney Princess is looked down upon as "unrealistic expectations for women." Many people argue that an impossibly skinny, white princess is detrimental to little girls who may not look like these princesses. They also believe that every princess is just waiting to be saved. However, I believe that these princesses should be looked at as outward manifestations of the beauty from within and that each one did not just wait for their Prince.

 

In order to accurately assess the Disney Princesses, we must first start with the very first Princess. The timeline of the official Disney Princesses is as follows: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, and Rapunzel. Merida is considered a "Disney" Princess. However, she is Pixar, and Pixar is not Disney. In an effort to avoid redundancy, I will split these Princesses into three eras: Classical (Snow White, Cinderella, ad Aurora), Renaissance (Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Mulan), and finally Revival (Tiana and Rapunzel). I will mention Elsa and Anna, but I'm not going to go to into detail in order to save some discussion for my review of Frozen.

Classical Era

This Era is the most controversial in terms of views on women. Many critics view Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora as the weakest and most dependent princesses in Disney's line-up, and others testify that it was a different time and the characters acted as fairy tale princesses would. I lie somewhere in between these two groups. Snow White is weak and marries someone she doesn't know, but this was also Disney's first animated feature. It was made in 1937. Women only had the right to vote for 18 years, and they certainly were not treated as equals (and still aren't for that matter). So, it's no wonder why Snow White was as feeble as she was. However, Snow White acted as a mother to the dwarfs which is a tough job for any person. She did not revolutionize gender roles such as later Disney Princesses, but she was not completely useless. Cinderella, on the other hand, is a hard working woman who deserves the things she is rewarded in life. Let me clarify. I am not saying that Cinderella needs a man at all. I'm just saying she deserves to get what she wants for once, and she wanted to go to the ball. Now, Aurora is the one that deserves the hate for doing nothing. She is merely a plot device through the whole thing, and she does nothing to redeem herself. She merely pricks her finger then waits for her Prince, but to be honest, Prince Philip didn't do much either.

 

Renaissance Era

These Princesses are also looked at as degrading to women, but I'll defend each one of these til death. Ariel might have given up her voice, but she learns that without her voice she can't win Eric's heart. Ariel also follows her heart and gives up what she loves for the person she loves which is a very mature thing to do. It may seem on the surface as detrimental, but look at Eric. He does nothing the whole movie but wait for Ariel. He is as useless as Aurora. Belle needs no explanation. She refuses Gaston's marriage, trades her life for her father's, and tries to find a life grander than her own. She does end up marrying, but she never did because Adam was a Prince or handsome. She does because she finds that she loves him after spending time with him. Jasmine refused marriage as well, and she stuck up for herself. She even threw her drink in Jafar's face when he had the power to kill her. She ended up having to be saved, but it was Aladdin's film not hers so it's understandable. The most overlooked Princesses: Pocahontas and Mulan both stopped wars. One by stopping the confilct and the other by defeating the entire Hun army and saving China. These Princesses were the first in a long line of great women that Disney would create. Each one would build upon the revolutions of the Princesses that came before her.

Revival Era

This Era is my favourite, so I'll be brief to save some topics for later discussion. Tiana is a lot like Cinderella in the respect that they both are hard workers. Tiana doesn't even want to marry a Prince in the beginning. All she wants is her restaurant. Rapunzel is the same way. All she wants is to see the lanterns that fly on her birthday. Both just happen to find love along the way. Elsa and Anna, however, are the most revolutionary of all. The resolution does not even revolve around a relationship between a man and woman. Of course, Frozen was not the first Disney movie to not have a marriage in it, but the way Frozen was written makes that fact more profound. These Princesses do not wait for their Prince. They do the things they want to and happen to find it.

 

Another complaint I hear is the fact that they are all skinny and white which is damaging to little girls. However, the reason why most of the Princesses are white is because most of them are from Europe. Disney does not whitewash. If they did Aladdin and Jasmine would be white. The fact is that most of the fairy tales that Disney adapts take place in Europe. So, most of them are white. Now, the reason why they are skinny has to do with animation and human perception. If you look at the character drawings for Disney characters, Disney heroes and villains are drawn to look their part. Jafar was drawn so that when you look at him for the first time you know that he is the villain. Beast was drawn to look terrifying. Disney draws them this way to show the character's inner personality. That is why Ursula looks scary and Ariel looks beautiful. 

The Disney Princesses are what you make them. If you want them to degrade you and make the world look shallow. They will, but if you want them to fill the world with beauty and light, they will do that also. One thing we can all agree on, however, is that Disney Princesses are getting more independent, and therefore, it is more enjoyable to watch them overcome their obstacles.

*To clarify I don't hate Sleeping Beauty. I actually rather enjoy it.

Why The Little Mermaid May Not Be as Good as I Remember

"I just don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad"

Before you get the wrong idea, I love this movie. I paid $30 for the Gold Edition of the Blu-Ray just for the bonus features. I will defend this movie until the end of time as a good movie, but upon seeing this movie again, I realized that it isn't as good in some areas as I last saw it. Be that as it may, it is phenomenal in other areas that I never noticed as a kid. So, I ask you to please forgive me for probably my most controversial review, The Little Mermaid. This review will contain spoilers.

 

The story to The Little Mermaid revolves around a mermaid by the name of Ariel who is fascinated by the people from the surface. Her father King Triton disapproves of her fascination which fuels her love for humans even more. She has gadgets and gizmos a plenty. She's got whozits and whatzits galore. You want thingamabobs? She's got twenty. But who cares? No big deal. She wants more. One night, she decides to swim to the surface to observe Prince Eric's birthday celebration aboard his ship. She is told not to interact with humans, but when a terrible storm destroys the ship, Ariel saves Eric and falls in love with him. She adds a statue of Eric from the wreckage of the ship to her collection, and Triton quickly learns that Ariel is in love. However when he learns that she is in love with a human, he destroys her collection of human objects. Out of the wreckage, Floatsam and Jetsam, Ursula's hench-eels, swim to Ariel and convince her to see Ursula, the sea witch, to trade her voice for a pair of legs. Ariel agrees to trade her voice for a pair of legs, but she must receive a kiss of true love from Eric or else her soul is forfeit to Ursula who wants to use her to get the crown from Triton. The story is creative and complex for its time, but where the story to The Little Mermaid really shines is from the wonderful character of Ariel who makes every want seem like a need and every trivial act seem like an extraordinary event.

 

The animation of The Little Mermaid is unbelievable. It is a huge step up from previous Disney films such as The Black Cauldron which was so dark that it had to be edited before its release. This film still amazes me by how much was drawn and hand painted because this was the last Disney film before the CAPS system which digitally painted the cels used in animation. Each time a character moves bubbles had to be drawn and there are over 1 million bubbles that were drawn for the film.

The songs in The Little Mermaid are also well done. They were written and composed by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman who are the best song writing duo Disney has ever had. You can thank Howard Ashman for making Sebastian a Jamaican Rastafarian crab. These two also wrote the songs for Beauty and the Beast and got started on Aladdin when Howard Ashman died of AIDS. Every song is great in this film. My favorite is Part of Your World (I especially love the reprise).  Kiss the Girl and Under the Sea are also sound great and are wonderfully written. The Little Mermaid even contains a song call Les Poissons that sounds very similar to Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast. This film also boasts one of the best Disney villain songs ever written called Poor Unfortunate Souls. These songs are so good that I will sing Part of Your World in a high pitched voice just because I like it that much.

So, you are probably wondering at this point what I don't like about the film. Well, my main problem with the film stems from two characters: Ariel and Eric. Ariel in the film is essentially greedy. She puts her life and other lives in danger and doesn't feel sorry for it. She is never reprimanded for acting so carelessly. Well, there is one scene where she apologizes to her father for what she did, but it's only for a second and is quickly forgotten. In this regard, I do not particularly care for Ariel, but that in no way infringes on my enjoyment of her character.  Eric is my real problem with the movie. He is a bore. He has little to no personality which is a shame because I can identify with him. He is chasing after a dream girl, he rolls up his jeans, has perfect hair, plays the flute, and has a cape! What's not to love? Well, his personality. I seriously cannot remember a single line this guy has said. He is almost as boring as Prince Charming from Cinderella, the Prince from Snow White, or Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty. Speaking of which, many girls complain about women having to be saved in Disney princess films, but at least the princesses are interesting. Disney Princes did not get interesting until Prince Adam and Aladdin. Speaking of being saved, Ariel gets saved by Prince Eric but not before she saves him from drowning and from Floatsam and Jetsam. Which was the first step the right direction for Disney.

Another thing I didn't care for is the love story (*gasp*). I know. I know. Everyone loves these two, and I would be lying if I said I didn't like them. However in the film, it feels like a serious infatuation on both sides. So, Ariel falls in love at first sight. I guess that is okay. I mean it is a Disney film, but Eric falls in love at first song. I mean that is kinda pushing it. Don't get me wrong that is still way better than kissing an unconscious girl or matching shoe sizes, but I still would have liked a little more interaction between the two. They are a great looking couple though and win my award for couple with the best hair.

So, what do I just love about this film that would make me want to spend $30 on it? I love Ariel. She is so great in the movie. She goes out and gets what she wants. She doesn't listen to those who disapprove of her actions, and she does them any way. She is also Disney's first princess that doesn't wait for her prince. She goes out and saves him. As much as I love her ambition, I do believe that she should have some consequence for wanting too much just like Aladdin with being a Prince and Flynn with stealing, but again this is a minor problem and should not overshadow the film. When she gives up her voice, it is so much fun to see her interaction with the human world and how much fun she is having. Many people criticize Ariel for giving up her voice for a man, but I think it's sweet. I like to think of it like giving up something for someone else. I mean it is kinda patriarchal, but I think that Eric would have done the same thing for Ariel if he could have. This film also started the Disney Renaissance which was when Disney was going to make really good movies really quickly. The Disney Renaissance includes films like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, and Mulan. Frozen was said to start the second Disney Renaissance, but I think The Princess and the Frog started the second Disney Renaissance.

When I think of The Little Mermaid, I think of a template for some of the best Disney films of all time. Frozen and Tangled both draw a heavy resemblance to the film, and every princess after Ariel can thank her for revolutionizing the way princesses act. The only thing I think that holds me back from considering The Little Mermaid as one of the top 5 best Disney films is just the love story. With so many Disney films that have great love stories, this one just doesn't do it for me.

Top 5 Valentine's Day Couples

"A Whole New World"

For Valentine's Day, I decided to do a quick Top 5 list for my favorite Disney Couples. This review will not be as in-depth as my last reviews and most of it will be opinion. So, feel free to tell me your favorite couples and have a great Valentine's Day! This review will contain spoilers.

Honorable Mentions

The first Honorable Mention goes out to Ariel & Eric from The Little Mermaid. These two look great as a couple, but the love story in the movie is.... Well, I'll talk about it in my next review.

The second Honorable mention goes to Simba and Nala. These two are great together and share an amazing duet in Can You Feel The Love Tonight. However, their love story does not have enough screen time for me to get interested.

The third Honorable Mention goes to Gaston with himself because well come on who can resist that face. Oh, and top ten Disney Villains will be coming sometime next week. It will be more in-depth than this is.

Top 5

5. Hercules and Meg

These two are so great together. He fights for her and even goes to the Underworld to retrieve her soul from Hades, and Meg sacrifices herself in order save Hercules. Their love wasn't love at first sight (well for one of them) and had its share of hardships, but they are stronger because of it.

4. Anna and Kristoff

Anna and Kristoff are one of my favorite couples because they don't get married in the end. They kiss and are an implied couple, but no mention of a marriage is made. These two have a natural chemistry that just explodes off the screen. I mean just look at them. They look like they are married before they even meet!

3. Belle and Adam

This was a tough one for me because I love Belle. Think that is not only a perfect princess but also a perfect person. All people should strive to be like her. She is beautiful, intelligent, nice, and an all around great person. Adam, on-the-other-hand, does little for me. He can be nice and under his tough exterior exists a great guy, but he does not live up to Belle at all. That isn't his fault though! Who could live up to Belle?

 2. Aladdin and Jasmine

Okay, this one is kinda biased. As a guy, Aladdin is who every guy dreams to be. He is daring and adventurous but has a heart of gold. When he meets Jasmine he feels he doesn't deserve her and sets out to better himself which I can totally relate to. Jasmine is intelligent and will fight for what she wants out of life. I feel the love story here is stronger than Beauty and the Beast because they really connect throughout the whole movie rather than sharing moments together.

1. Rapunzel and Flynn

Speaking of bias, this one I am seriously biased about.  If you read my Tangled review, you saw this one coming. What these two have is what I dream about everyday. Flynn is a great guy and is still respected even though his wife does more in the movie than he does. I also like that he starts the movie wanting nothing to do with her, but after a few heart-felt moments with her, he discovers that he really likes her. If you want more reasons for why I love this couple, just read my Tangled review.

Well, those are my favorite couples. I will review some of these movies in greater detail down the road(*cough* Frozen *cough*), but whenever I have a little free time I will try to do another editorial like this. Have a great Valentine's Day, and remember that Love is an Open Door!

Why Tangled is the Best Disney Film

"And at last I see the light"

 

Tangled is a film that is regarded by many as good but not great. Many think that this film is fun, but it falls short of the "revolutionary" film Frozen (btw I love Frozen) and is not as classic as older Disney films. This film definitely falls into a weird middle category between old and new. However, I believe that Tangled is the best Disney film for how revolutionary it is while still retaining the essence of a Disney film. I have been dying to do this review for a while now because this film is so often overlooked as just okay. This review will contain spoilers. For those of you who have yet to see it, view it now. I'll wait.

The story of Tangled is about a girl who's hair has the power to heal. The power was gained by her mother who ate a plant that grew from a ray of sunlight. However, Mother Gothel, an old lady who was harvesting the power from the plant for herself, steals the child away. Rapunzel has long hair because if it is cut it will lose its power. After Rapunzel's abduction, Rapunzel's parents, the King and Queen, release lanterns every year on their daughter's birthday so that she may one day find her way home. Rapunzel grows up admiring these lanterns from afar until the age of 18 when she decides to ask Gothel to go see them. She says no. Meanwhile, a thief named Flynn Rider steals the princess's tiara with the help of the Stabbington Brothers. When Flynn double crosses them, they are captured and Flynn is chased by Maximus, a royal horse. After Maximus and Flynn fall trying to retrieve the tiara from a tree, Flynn discovers Rapunzel's Tower and is knocked unconscious by Rapunzel. Rapunzel decides to ask Gothel again and again Rapunzel is told no. Rapunzel then recruits Flynn to lead her to the Kingdom to go see the lanterns. The story to Tangled is fun and creative, but the real fun comes from its characters.

Tangled was certainly not the first CG Disney film. However, It was the first one that was done well. Hair in Tangled looks like real hair. Many people complain that the characters look like dolls, but personally, I don't see it. These characters look like a classic Disney film (like Aladdin) but with the depth that CG provides. I love the look and the animation of this film.

The music of Tangled is super underrated. When Will My Life Begin is so catchy and well-written it blew my mind when I first heard it. To be honest, I wasn't that crazy about I've Got a Dream or Mother Knows Best when I first heard them, but now I love them! These songs are so fun that they remind me of older Disney songs like Gaston or Under the Sea. The song between Flynn and Rapunzel, Now I See the Light, is one of my favorite Disney songs. I have to sing it every time it comes on. Actually, I sing any of these songs when they come on.

Tangled's ideals are my favorite part of the movie. This is easily Disney's deepest movie. The whole film is an analogy for Feminism. Rapunzel represents Women, Flynn represents Men, Gothel represents social repression, and the Tower represents the world women live in under a Patriarchal society. Rapunzel has long hair which is a social convention for females. Rapunzel starts the movie doing chores, sweeping, polishing, waxing, doing laundry, moping, reading, painting, playing guitar, knitting, cooking, puzzels, darts, baking, paper mache, a bit of ballet, chess, pottery, ventriloquy, candle making, then she'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb, sew a dress, reread the books if she has time to spare, paint the walls some more I'm sure there's room somewhere, and she'll brush and brush and brush and brush her hair (sorry). These are all thing that women usually do in a repressed society. How many times have you heard that women only cook and clean? Gothel (or society) tells her she cannot do what she wants. Flynn (or Men) only want to use her for what he wants. However, Rapunzel will not have it. She fights for what she wants to do and ends up defeating Gothel and changing Flynn's perception of her by getting to know her. Once Rapunzel is out of her Tower (or world under patriarchy), Rapunzel is free to run around and do what she wants to. Many critize Rapunzel as having to be saved by a man. Wrong. Rapunzel saves Flynn 5 times before Flynn even gets the chance to save her (1 from the rufians in the Ugly Duckling, 2 and 3 in the Canyon, 4 when they almost drown, and 5 when Flynn is about to be captured by Maximus). Even when Flynn does "save" her he only cuts her hair which represents freeing Women from their social repression. Rapunzel even gives up her life for Flynn which counts for a lot more than Flynn cutting hair. At the end of the film, Rapunzel even dips Flynn which has never been done before or since. 

Rapunzel and Flynn are also the strongest Disney characters ever created. I know what you are thinking, "Didn't Mulan defeat the Huns by herself?" which is true but doing strong things does not make a person strong. For example, most of the movie Mulan is about her trying to fit in and be what she isn't. She trys to be the perfect bride and the perfect soldier. Rapunzel doesn't do that. She does what she wants to do. She constantly saves lives, inspire dreams, and brings happiness to the sad Kingdom. She even gives up her life for others. Flynn is my favorite Disney male. Flynn is funny, strong, daring, and he is a great guy. He gives Maximus apples, Rapunzel a piece of cloth with a sun on it, and deep down he is truly caring and nice. He even gives his life for Rapunzel's freedom.

Tangled also bares an uncanny similarity to The Little Mermaid. Rapunzel is said to have been based off of Ariel and just look at the picture for similarities between Kiss the Girl and Now I See the Light. Tangled even has a song that is sang many times throughout the story just like The Little Mermaid. I like to think of Tangled as The Little Mermaid with aspects of Hunchback of Notre Dame featuring the love story from Beauty and the Beast with an even more likeable Aladdin (who doesn't lie except about his name) and a mix between Ariel and Belle.

If you haven't already guessed it, this is my favorite Disney film. The first time I saw it I thought it was okay. The second time I thought it was great. The third time I saw it, it became my favorite. My previous favorite, Beauty and the Beast, is good, but it doesn't get better for me every time I see it. This movie just represents everything I love about Disney.