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I was able to go to an advanced screening of Tangled and I must say…It’s been a while since I’ve really enjoyed Disney’s reinterpretation of a fairy tale. The last was probably Beauty and the Beast. And that was what? Uh, one of the reminders of a sorely missed childhood.

Tangled, while visually awe-inspiring, offers a fresh take on the story of Rapunzel, whom everyone knows for her looooooooooooooooooooong blond hair and how an old crone would use that hair to climb up a nigh impossibly tall tower.

With Tangled, the writers wove a magical (but somehow logical) backgrounder that imbues sense into many of the fantastic tale’s elements. In the Brothers Grimm’s retelling of a thousand-year-old myth, it was never explained how Rapunzel’s hair became strong enough to be treated like a very thick rope. Or what the enchantress/old woman wanted with Rapunzel in the first place. I mean, she demanded (from Rapunzel’s parents) that the girl be handed over but then cast the girl away when she discovered that Rapunzel was seeing someone.

Here, at least, it was made clear that Rapunzel’s hair has some magical healing properties that the old woman needed to keep herself young forever. The crone is not quite your typical villainess, however, since there are times when she’s very motherly towards Rapunzel. One of these instances is when she agrees to travel for three days just to find the paints that Rapunzel claimed to want so badly for her birthday. True, the crone may be diabolical, but the the dialogues and animation had me believing that she must love Rapunzel…in her own twisted way.

There are many scenes that trigger the cynic in me, though:

• The long lost daughter suddenly re-appears in the end and everyone believes her without asking for verification. In the fairy tale, Rapunzel is just a regular girl, but in this movie, she’s a missing princess. I’m sure many Rapunzels have already appeared to claim her identity before she visited the castle.
• I have my doubts about Flynn’s character. Though he is the male protagonist, he cheats his friends, steals for selfish reasons and barely shows signs of remorse. I doubt true love can change all that. Maybe temporarily? Hehe.
• That horse (refer to trailer below) must be magical, too. The things he does throughout the film could’ve easily broken his legs. (I  can imagine his owner shooting him out of mercy.)

Those issues aside…one huge thing I miss while watching this feature is the musical collaboration of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. For some reason, Disney songs that followed after Ashman’s death don’t seem to have the same recall as those used in Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. I can barely remember Tangled‘s music.

*Sigh* I guess life must go on…

Anyway, Tangled is the 50th animated film feature in the Walt Disney Classics. According to online reports, the movie will be released in Philippine theaters today, February 2, 2011.

Well? Go and watch it now! (Rapunzel is just so cuuuute!)

Here’s the trailer for those who haven’t seen it yet:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyOyBVXDJ9Q]