I loved it.  Best movie in years.  Based on the fable of Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm, ‘Tangled’ is funny, fun, and cool.

After discovering a magic sunlight flower that restores her youth every time she sings to it, Mother Gothel kept it for herself. However, one day the king’s men searching for the same plant for their dying, pregnant queen, take the flower away. The queen gives birth to a daughter whose hair has the same magical qualities that are lost if cut. So, mother Gothel kidnaps the girl and keeps her locked in a tower with only her long hair to lead her up, till one day a thief, losing his way, discovers Rapunzel.

One of the most delightful things about the film is a story that even though you know, you realise you did not know. That is because the story has been twisted to match modern sensibilities. Consider this: in every version of the popular fable, Rapunzel is a commoner while her lover is a prince. The film tangles the story to reverse it with the girl being a princess and the boy, a thief.

Two delightful side characters and their antiques remind one of the imaginations that made Disney popular in the first place. The first is a horse that is not only more of a dog with great sniffing capabilities and ability to wag his tail, but can also fight with a sword better than a man. Next is a chameleon, whose idiosyncrasies, colour changing abilities and long tongue provide much laughter.

Did I mention it was a cool movie?  I’m tired so I’m done for now.

Carroll’s classic, of course, is far from the only kiddie fantasia that operates on levels children can’t see. What’s unique about it is that an adult’s raised-eyebrow smirk is built into the very tone and structure of the story. Once Alice tumbles into Wonderland, everyone she meets is, if not certifiable, then a blithely self-absorbed, nattering crackpot-narcissist. The book is a visionary satire of the newly emerging modern world, in which everyone is really babbling to no one but themselves.

The challenge of adapting Alice in Wonderlandis this: How do you create relationships, a story, a purpose out of a tale whose prime purpose is not to have one? Tim Burton, with his crazy love for rabbit-hole alternative worlds (Beetlejuice), baroque oddballs (Batman, Edward Scissorhands), and kiddie fables told with a cynical wink (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), would seem to be the perfect director to adapt Carroll’s legendary tale and make a memorable, zany-dark movie out of it. But Burton’s Disneyfied 3-D Alice in Wonderland.

OK.  So as far as a kid is concerned.  The dog’s are funny.  I like how they talk.  The old man is funny, he reminds me of this old guy at church that hands out the bulletin.  The kid reminds me of my brother (he’s a big boyscout).  So I could really relate to this movie.  I like it as much as Surf’s Up! and The Incredibles!

At first I was confused by the name.  It didn’t sould all that fun to me.  Geez…I don’t like the rain very much so I didn’t know if I wanted to watch a movie with that theme.  But it was at the Dollar theater and Mom and Dad wanted to take us so we went.  Turned out to be pretty funny and pretty good.

I remember when I was in the first grade my teacher read this story to us at library time. Everyone in the class loved it and every time when it snowed for the next two winters I looked outside and every once in while I thought I saw mashed potatoes covering the ground.  I didn’t see any meatballs.

Here’s what a reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes said, “It’s rare for a family film to deliver the goods with both story and visuals, but this insanely fun and fast-paced flick doesn’t skimp on either.”  whatever.

Anyway, a pretty good story, not the best animation, but still fun to watch.

What did you think?