Tangled

[avevale_intelligencer]

We watched this last night, and gods I enjoyed it.

Whatever you may say about Disney that's negative, and there's certainly a lot one could say, they always knew how to make a film fun. Even when they seemed to lose their way a bit, and couldn't make a cartoon without Phil Harris in it, there was always something good to enjoy. Now, it seems that they've worked out what it was they were doing right, and honed and focussed and intensified it till it's almost scary.

The animation combines the clarity and strength of the old cel drawings with the subtlety and texture of CGI, which I see from Wikipedia was the intention for this film, involving a great deal of effort and some purpose-built software. For my money it worked; they have achieved the best of both worlds. The story, loosely based on the Grimm tale of Rapunzel, works, and the dialogue is witty and fun. The weakest part, I'd have to say, are the songs, which are few and fairly forgettable, but one of them won a Grammy so what do I know. The best would be the characters, especially Maximus the horse whom I wasn't expecting.

Great fun, and unless you boycott Disney on principle I'd recommend it.

Comments

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

LOLs - we've just been watching it on DVD. I agree that it's a good film, lovely to look at, well-made, and engaging. I love the horse.

Speaking of cartoon horses, have you seen Dreamworks' "Road to El Dorado"? That's a wonderful film, with an equally amusing horse in it.

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Oh, and it would take a parent with a will of iron to boycott Disney. I am not that parent, not even for "The Lion King".

[legoline.livejournal.com]

I feel exactly the same about the film. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I particularly liked that both main characters were actual characters, even Flynn--or Eugene--which gave them nice depth. And I really liked the visual approach as well.

he weakest part, I'd have to say, are the songs, which are few and fairly forgettable,
Absolutely. Back last year when I reviewed the film that was my only complaint, I think. I've since then listened to the soundtrack a few times and the songs have grown on me, but they're not the kind that immediately sticks with you.

[lisande.livejournal.com]

I'm completely with you! We watched the movie around Christmas 2010 when it was in the theaters, and we only went because we'd by chance seen a trailer on TV. It was a scene including Maximus, and I couldn't get it out of my mind, so we went. FUN! :)))

[batyatoon]

I did love that movie. Although yes, I agree, the songs were not its strongest point; I barely remember any of them except "Mother Knows Best", which stuck with me largely by virtue of contrast with "Children Should (/Will) Listen" from Into The Woods.

But Rapunzel was so adorable! And so was Flynn! And MAXIMUS! Maximus is the best nonspeaking Disney-fairytale character since Aladdin's Abu.