Tangled. The very name of the new Disney animated production seems to bring with it squeals of excitement and lavish praise. Everywhere I go on the internet it seems, everyone loves the movie, is looking forward to seeing the movie, can’t wait to own it, etc… This past week, I watched it for the first time. So… my tangled thoughts, combined with Scripture that I was reminded of throughout the film.
Things I liked:
Tangled is hilarious. Everything from sword fighting a horse to sarcastic remarks to a comic (non-talking) chameleon. Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…”
Rapunzel: I actually liked her, which is saying a lot for me. Lately I find most heroines to be annoying at the very least. Rapunzel was different. She’s sweet. She’s cheerful. She cooks, bakes, makes candles, paints, sews, cleans… Proverbs 31:13 “She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.” For almost eighteen years, the young kidnapped girl is told she must stay in a hidden tower for her “safety”. Her “mother” is the only person that she has ever seen, since she was kidnapped as an infant. Rapunzel is left alone often but she doesn’t leave, no matter how much she longs to. Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Rapunzel is feminine. And I love the way she handles that cast iron pan of hers – the perfect weapon! Someone sneaks into her tower, she knocks him out with her pan – perfect! She can protect herself when necessary, but she is perfectly willing to be protected and to allow Flynn/Eugene to do the fighting. I also love that she is completely unimpressed by any attempts at flattery and smooth talking by one of the male characters.
Flynn Rider/Eugene: Hmm… He is funny. In fact, he probably has the best lines in the entire film.
Both Rapunzel and Eugene, in the end, show that they truly love one another, in that each is willing to sacrifice themselves for the other. Rapunzel is willing to allow herself to be held prisoner for the rest of her life, to let Eugene live. Eugene allows himself to die to save Rapunzel. (Of course, he doesn’t die – but he didn’t expect that!!) John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
The score is beautiful and sets the mood well. The songs (since this is a musical) are catchy. They get stuck in your head with a fair amount of ease. Donna Murphy, (Mother Gothel) has a beautiful, rich and powerful voice! She sings very well indeed! Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) has a lovely, gentle, way of singing that adds to the character. Zachary Levi’s (Eugene) part is worth mentioning as well. Even though I think that his main song was kind of boring, it sure was pretty! The voice acting was very well done when no one was singing as well. It didn’t sound fake like some other animations.
Things I disliked:
Rapunzel: It does bother me that she does disobey and leave her tower. She thinks her kidnapper is her real mother and that she’s trying to protect her. On the other hand, Mother Gothel (the kidnapper) had just turned into a somewhat frightening person and told her that she would never be allowed to leave the tower. My biggest problem with Rapunzel though is that she allows herself to start to fall in love with a thief before he shows any signs of repenting and when she’s only known him for a few days!! That is my biggest complaint about her. True, you could say that she’s very innocent and naive and doesn’t know any better – but still! 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” If this applies to friends, how much more to marriage!
Flynn Rider/Eugene: What can I say? He’s a thief. Exodus 20:15 “Thou shalt not steal.” At least he turns away from his thieving ways and redeems himself! Ephesians 4:28 “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” He’s pretty self centered at times… but, again, he changes in the end. I simply don’t like his character a whole lot at times… the way he talks is occasionally very annoying but as I keep saying… he changes in the end.
All in all, I did enjoy the movie. Would I recommend it? I don’t know. Possibly. It might depend on whom I was talking to. And no, I didn’t mention every aspect of the movie… this is just some of my thoughts. :)
To the KING be all the glory!