Tangled: The Japanese Trailer

Ever wonder how Disney films are sold overseas? While the American marketing is selling Tangled as a grand family comedy, the Japanese trailer focuses more on the magic and even some of the emotions the story of Rapunzel displays.

Review #51: Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Starring: Paige 'O Hara, Robby Benson, Jerry Orbach, David Odgen Stiers, Angela Lansbury

Directed by: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Released by: Walt Disney Pictures

Synopsis: Once there was a spoiled prince who was turned into a horrendous beast by an enchantress due to the harshness that lied deep within his heart. The only way to turn back is to fall with a woman and be loved in return. But this proves to be emotionally distressing for the pressing as no one would fall in love with a hideous beast.

Review: Many Disney films are considered to be iconic by many generations of movie goers. For many children of the 80s and 90s like myself, Beauty and the Beast is that film. It was the second in what many like to call “The Fab Four”, a series of modern fairy tale films that became incredible successes at the box office and gave the Disney name even more presence in pop-culture. While the film isn't as perfect as some claim it is, Beauty and the Beast is nonetheless a very fine film.

Funny enough, many of its strengths and weaknesses lie in the story. Rather than fully adapting the classic fairy tale the writing team decided to borrow elements of said story and add many new elements that enhances its dramatic content. The title characters are fully present and they are quite wonderful and complex. Belle, voiced splendidly by Paige O'Hara, is a free spirited young woman that desires more out of her daily life. For many Belle defined the modern Disney princess by being a dreamer but at the same time being proactive in her affairs. Her main quirk is that she is a bookworm, a characteristic that many girls have identified with for many years. Another aspect is that she is indeed a beautiful leading lady, but what sticks out the most was her personality, shattering a bit of the misconception of the Disney Princess being more than just a beautiful being for the main characters to rescue. In many ways, she rescues the Beast from his fate.

Speaking of which, Beast, voiced by Robby Benson, is easily the best character in the entire film, for when you meet him he is terrifying. When he becomes the beast he embraces it, but mainly because he has lost faith in ever seeking redemption through the love of a significant other. But when he meets Belle and her spunk clashes with his short temper sparks really do fly, giving us one of the more complex relationships ever presented in a Disney film. In many of the movies the princess character quickly falls in love with the prince character, love at first sight as they like to call it. With Beauty and the Beast the relationship actually develops over time, which starts with fear, then hatred, followed by friendship, then true love. Belle changed her feelings towards the beast when he started to change his tune, and when he does he realizes that he has feelings that haven't been felt in years. This leads to an emotionally charged conclusion that is both satisfying and extremely heartbreaking, turning the fairy tale into one of one man's redemption.

Of course, for any relationship to succeed there needs to be an opposing factor threatening to destroy it. Beauty and the Beast's villain is none other than Gaston. Like the main characters, he too is interestingly complex. When we first meet him he is what we like to call “the likable jerk”. He flaunts his good looks and strength in a manner that you can't help but enjoy, and his constant antics to get Belle's approval are enjoyable. But as the plot develops and reaches darker areas of the human mind, Gaston completely changes. His change contrasts that of the beast. Just as the beast begins to transform into a human being Gaston reverses into a man that would kill and manipulate anyone just to get what he wants. It reveals his true nature, and any likability as a character goes down the drain when he begins to act this way.

The rest of the supporting characters do a fantastic job of creating a balance between humor and drama. Lumiere the enchanted candelabra, performed by Jerry Orbach, and Cogsworth the clock, voiced by David Odgen Stiers, are great characters with amazing chemistry in the classic buddy comedy routine Disney likes to display in their films. Mrs. Pots, voiced by Angela Lansbury, is the warmth of the movie and often the voice of reason when everybody else is too focused on accomplishing a mission. She teaches the beast that the way to Belle's heart is not by force but via sincere appreciation.

So with the film establishing a strong story and amazing characters what is exactly wrong with it? I admit very little, but there are a few notable quirks, mainly with the pacing. Problem is that at times it goes too fast, often failing to give us a realistic passage of time. We are told to believe that Belle has been a prisoner in Beast's castle for a while now, and this is shown through the changes of the seasons. And yet, the events feel like they happened one after the other. This makes the development of the relationship feel rushed. This was notable in the many sequels and spin-offs the Disney company released years later when the characters would jump back and forth between the personalities created in the first movie and the ones once it ended.

Fans have also argued a lot about Belle's true feelings towards the beast. It is shown that she does begin to care for him after a period of time, to the point where she doesn't see him as a threat but as a living, feeling being, and went out of her way to protect him when Gaston raided his castle. But there wasn't a physical expression of love (like a kiss) when the beast was still transformed. This has lead many fans to criticize the film for praising values about the beauty within the person, but at the same time not showing its lovers partake in any form of physical love.

Regardless, these are rather small issues that lie mainly in how the viewer interprets the film rather than actual comments about the quality of the film. It is in my honest opinion one of the more emotionally packed stories the studio has produced, Pocahontas being the best in that note.

But one element that has made Beauty and the Beast one of the more popular of the modern Disney films is the music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (who unfortunately passed away after the film was completed, the film was dedicated to his honor). The two men created a foundation for how modern Disney musicals should be made with their work on The Little Mermaid, and they manage to achieve the impossible, and that is to create an even better effort than the previous one. Nearly all of the songs give out a vibe of a grand production brought through life through the magic of animation. “Belle” quickly establishes the mood and feel of the character while at the same time gently mocking the conventional opening song where everyone sings the praises of the lead character. “Be Our Guest” is the show stopped created to give us a reason as to why the presence of Belle in the castle is one of great significance. Finally, we have the theme song “Beauty and the Beast”, which is the emotional climax of the character's relationship, and the crowning achievement of every sense available. These are the stand outs in a soundtrack with many high points, and I can't get enough of it.

Last but not least is the animation. Why did I decide to put this last? Because as pretty as the movie is it does have some tiny issues that bring it down a tad bit. The animation for Belle and Beast are astounding, despite some problems with keeping the characters on-model. Beast in particular is an achievement in itself due to his design being very a combination of many animals, and yet he is still able to convey human emotions. The supporting cast, especially in their enchanted form, look great as well thanks to a lot of imagination gone into their design and animation. You will believe that a metallic candelabra can do the can-can despite not having any legs and feet. Despite a few issues with the character animation the backgrounds are gorgeous, giving the film a warm yet classic feel that is basically the cherry atop a delicious ice cream. But easily the most amazing thing about the animation is the use of 3D animation to deepen the impact of a scene. Of course I am talking about the ballroom sequence where the characters are done in handdrawn animation but the camera is spinning around them in a third dimension. Simply it, the scene is breathtaking and one of the most romantic of all the Disney films released.

So there you have it, Beauty and the Beast in a nutshell. While countless repeat viewings have convinced me that this isn't a flawless masterpiece its status as a beloved film is undeniably. You have some very fascinating main characters whose relationship will ring true in the hearts of many, an enchating soundtrack whose songs have become synonimous with the Disney company, and a look that is striking on the viewer. The pacing could have been better, and many will ponder on the actual meaning behind the relationship, but those can be easily forgiven thanks to a film that is both enjoyable and emotionally stimulating.

Rating: 4 filmstrips out of 5

Review #50: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Starring: Adriana Caselotti, Lucille Laverne, Pinto Colvig,

Directed by: David Hand, William Cottrell, Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen

Released by: RKO Radio Pictures

Synopsis: The Wicked Queen is obsessed with beauty, endlessly consulting her magic mirror to see who is the fairest of the all. When the mirror answers that she is no longer the fairest and that the honor belongs to her stepdaughter Snow White she becomes consumed with rage, forcing the princess to escape into the woods and seek shelter in the home of the seven dwarfs.

Review: It is very rare to see a film director have a successful first feature film, but Walt Disney managed to accomplish this with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Most people know this to be the first full-length, animated feature ever produced (though technically, Prince Achmed is the first one to accomplish the task), and yet if you were to look at it you wouldn't know. That's because Walt Disney and his team of animators spent years honing their skills and even creating some new ones just to bring this one feature to life. But looking beyond its merits is Snow White the fairest of them all? Not quite, but it truly is a lovely feature.

To many hardcore Disney fans Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a inferior product when compared to the features that followed it. While the film does have some flaws it is far from a mediocre production. Most of the criticism lies in the character of Snow White. As the years went by, Snow White slowly became the representative of passive heroines for many, thanks to her hopeful ideas of love and the tendency of being reactive to the situations she finds herself in rather than being proactive. This is a rather subjective topic to cover as fans will find a lot to both love and hate about the character. My only complaint with Snow White is her voice actress. There's no denying that Adrianna Caselotti had a lot of talent, using every inch of it in order to bring the character to animated life. It's just that her voice is very high pitched, making her very childish. This is just my own perspective, however, as many fans have become enamored by her charms.

Like in many Disney features it is the supportive and villain characters that end up being the highlight of the film. The Wicked Queen was the first Disney villain ever created and clearly a lot of work went into her creation. As the beautiful Queen she is cold, intimidating, and even calculating. As the Old Hag she is the complete opposite, becoming the true woman hiding deep within her beauty. Both versions have become iconic, setting the standards high for the other Disney villains to come.

The Seven Dwarfs showcase the Disney belief of characters you can quickly root and cheer for. Each of the seven dwarfs have an unique personality that makes them very identifiable. Audiences quickly found a dwarf they enjoyed the most. Mine would have to be Grumpy, if only because his cynicism is very charming. Dopey is a great character as well, despite not having one line of spoken dialog. The writing team could have easily just create one character and duplicate it six more times, but having them unique in their universe gives the film a lot of incredible charm.

I understand why Snow White wouldn't be everyone's favorite film. This is because the plot is very light and a great deal of it is focused on a character that is captivating but not interesting enough for some. But to me the film is a great success in emotional storytelling. Every scene is packed with one sort of emotion, whether it be happiness, rage, fear, and of course sadness. Such effective was the film's emotional content that people quickly elevated it into masterpiece status. You have to realize that this is the first film of its kind, so the fact that the creators managed to strike a emotional chord in people in their first feature effort it is incredible. If Toy Story 3 is seen as one of the saddest movies this year then Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs should be thanked for being ambitious in this regard.

Everything works because of two key elements: music and animation. Many of the short films Disney produced during the 1930s were music heavy, so by the time Snow White was put into production they knew how to properly place the music within the narrative. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is constantly hailed as one of the best musicals. This is because the composers and story men made sure to only include songs during key scenes of the plot, using it as a way to enhance the emotional resonance within the audience as well as serve as a gate into the subtle thoughts of the characters. In other word, no song feels superfluous as each and every one has a purpose in the story. Snow White's “I'm Wishing” and “Someday My Prince Will Come” serve as the anthem for ideal love and the power of believing in one's dreams, while “Heigh-Ho” and “Whistle While You Work” are fun songs that take the mundane concepts of cleaning and working and turn them into easily whistleable tunes.

The effectiveness of the music, along with the score, gave depth to the film, and I would dare to say that without it the film would be boring, or at least not as endearing. The songs have been engraved deep into the confines of pop-culture, a feat only the best songs achieve.

Once again I state that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first of its kind ever produced in Hollywood. The animation shows that the creators really wanted to dazzle audiences. Most experts will notice that they did use some shortcuts, like rotoscoping when dealing with some of the more realistic characters, but for a first time Snow White highly impressive. Had it not been for its ambition the rest of the Disney films wouldn't have had a film to try and outdo. Some new techniques were created, such as the multiplane camera, a camera that allowed the animators to give the illusion of depth by painting a different part of the background onto a sheet of glass. While the idea was first implemented in “The Old Mill”, Snow White took great advantage of it.

Then you have small details like the colors on Snow White's face, the lightning, the squash and stretch of the Dwarfs, the Queen's dress reacting to the wind and many more that are quite small and hard to notice the first time, but once you do you realize that it adds a lot of the visual presentation of the film.

So in the end, film critics and experts will place Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on their “best of” lists simply because of its reputation of being the first animated film ever made and the impact it left in 1930 audiences. While the film should be respected for the contributions it made to progressing the art of animation, it is far from the perfect. But in my case, it is a wonderful experiment that you won't soon forget. There is a lot of love placed onto this film, and even if you don't enjoy the film it is hard to deny that fact.

Rating: 4 filmstrips out of 5

Review #49: Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Starring: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audrey, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy, Barbara Jo Allen

Directed by: Les Clark, Eric Larson, Clyde Geronimi, and Wolfgang Reitherman

Released by: Buena Vista Distribution

Synopsis: The classic tale of the Sleeping Beauty is brought to life in stunning classic Disney animation. Princess Aurora is cursed by Maleficent to forever sleep when she pricks her on a spindle on her 16th birthday. While being raised by her three good fairies, she meets the dashing Prince Philip, unknowing that both are destined for grand things.

Review: The 1950s was seen as a good year for Walt Disney and his crew of animators. The studio had survived the war years, Cinderella was a smashing success, and even the smaller success of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp would give the company a great sense of prestige and legacy. How do they close this era of film? By creating one of the most ambitious animated films of all time. Sleeping Beauty would be the film that would re-invent the Disney fairy tale in every way possible, especially in the musical and visual department. While the film didn't gain a following until later years it was too majestic to be ignored, and despite a few flaws in its narrative Sleeping Beauty remains a wonderful movie experience.

Sleeping Beauty is one of those films that is character driven rather than plot driven. The story is a very basic one, taking many liberties when re-interpreting the original tale. It works good enough that it gives the characters a motivation to be proactive, but its nothing that you will fondly remember like in other Disney films. The central character of the film, Princess Aurora, is the main subject of criticism for some as her role is rather limited. But even if this a truth that some may find it hard to deny, she definitely has enough of a presence that it has landed her popularity in the hearts of many Disney fans. This is thanks to the vocal talents of Mary Costa, a then unknown opera singer who was chosen for her great musical range. In terms of a speaking voice she gives Aurora a very charming grace that has defined the concept of the Disney Princess for years, but her true strength lies in her gift of song. One listen and she will quickly win you over, regardless if you think she is just a glorified prop for the characters to interact with.

Faring a little better is Prince Philip, voiced by Bill Shirley. He is considered by many an improvement over the previous Disney Princes, but that is because by the time Sleeping Beauty was green lighted for production the Disney animators had gotten the hang of animating a realistic human character, and thus Prince Philip greatly benefits from this. He is a far more proactive character that earns his film presence. He is charming and full of personality, and for many the highlight of the film.

But to me, the ones that steal the show are the supporting characters who at times really drive the plot forward. The first of these are the Three Good Fairies, named Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. In each scene they are in they manage to grab your attention thanks to their amazing personality. Flora is the self appointed leader of the three while Merryweather is the most rambunctious in her actions. Fauna happily lies in the middle, always pleasant and willing to go on with whatever the other fairies decide to do. And they get to do a lot of things in the film, often giving the film a strong narrative through their actions. Through their powers they turn Aurora into what she is in the story, they protect her and ultimately guide the hero to his happy ending. It's why they are hailed as some of the best supporting characters in Disney film history.

But the hero and his supporters need someone to oppose them, and Sleeping Beauty as one of the best villains ever created in film. Maleficent, voiced by Eleanor Audrey, is terrifying in all her actions. What she lacks in subtlety she makes it up with grace, beauty, and a frightening disposition. She definitely earns the title of “Mistress of all Evil”, even if some of the actions don't have a strong personal backbone other that she is evil and must ruin everyone's life.

As you can see, the characters are the heart and soul of the film, and even though they are extremely strong to carry the whole film throughout it doesn't mask the fact that the story is very light. Granted, films like Snow White and the Seven Dwardfs and Cinderella had very light plots, but both had very solid reasons for their existence. Sleeping Beauty just feels light, but thanks to its characters and technical achievements it does provide a wonderful film experience.

Much has been said about the film's groundbreaking animation. The 1950s Disney films created their own style that would differ from the previous films, and Sleeping Beauty is the stunning culmination to that era of film making. The object of the film is to create a living, breathing illustration, one that would bear resemblance the lush detail of old paintings. This creates a stunning aesthetic that has made the film one of the most revered and most influential in terms of technical merits. The backgrounds are vibrant and are almost as much of a character as the other cast members. If there is only thing to complain is that some of the character animation is stiff and not as bouncy as previous scenes of character animation. Still, it is worth seeing if only for the epic dragon fight that has gone down as one of the most enthralling pieces of Disney animation ever created.

Nearly flawless, though, is the music, and it is easily my favorite thing about the movie. That's because the Disney team decided to use Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty ballet score to adorn the plot of the movie, and it is beautiful. The minute the opening credits sing the praises of the story we are about to see I can help but think it is magical. The film focuses on quality rather than quantity when working with the songs. Songs like “I wonder” are really good, but the winner here is “Once Upon a Dream”, a song that takes a segment of the ballet musical and turns it into a magical song about love at first sight. As previously mentioned this is where Mary Costa really shines as Aurora. Her vocal range is amazing, making sure the songs stay with you even after the movie is over. It's up there with Beauty and the Beast as one of the best scores and songs ever written for a Disney film.

Usually, if a film doesn't have a strong plot and just places emphasis on the sounds and visuals then it is considered to be shallow. But Sleeping Beauty is one of those rare cases where even if the plot is very light the presence of the great characters, the stunning animation and the unforgettable sound is good enough to place the film as one of the best ever made. It's not quite the ultimate Disney fairy tale as that fact can be easily debated, but it certainly is one of the more engaging. Whether you are a Disney fan or just a movie fan this is one tale that shouldn't be missed.

Rating: 4 filmstrips out of 5

Friend Highlight #2: Brent Dodge, the WEDnesday Show, and From Screen to Theme

Hello and welcome back to another segment of "Friend Highlight". If you read my last "References" article, then you know what "From Screen to Theme" is. It is an excellent Disney reference book that details all the film references and tributes you can find at the Walt Disney World resort. But, "From Screen to Theme" isn't the only thing author Brent Dodge has done. He is the host of the weekly video podcast show, "The W.E.Dnesday Show" that also highlights the efforts of the Disney company. He also the curator of his own Disney website, the host of the Disney Movie Club and many, many other things.

I'll just let the man himself talk about it...

Hello Filmstrip Memories fans!

If I had to sum myself up in one word, it'd be dreamer. Unfortunately for you, I love to talk so you'll get a lot more than one word. I was born and raised in the wonderful state of Wisconsin. While growing up I was lucky enough to make several trips to the wonderful world of Disney on a somewhat regular basis.



I was hooked on the Disney parks and films and the two really helped shape me into the dreamer that I am today. I know what you're thinking, "You keep talking about being a dreamer, but that gets you no where unless you're a doer!"

I completely agree, but I didn't always. I often believed that you dream a dream and boom, that dream was fulfilled. Well, a lot of times dreams take an awful lot of work, and an awful lot of luck. While I was in college some representatives from the Walt Disney World College Program stopped by the campus to talk about this amazing opportunity they had for Disney fans like me. (Like I said though, I wasn't a doer, just a dreamer!)

So I didn't apply for the program and almost instantly I regretted it. The following year when they came back I jumped at the opportunity to join the College Program and was lucky enough to be a custodian. I know, being a custodian doesn't sound glamorous at all, but it's one of the few postitions that allows the cast member to walk around and interact with guests on a regular basis.

It's a good thing that was in the job requirement too, because one day while talking to a guest he asked where he could find all things Peter Pan throughout Walt Disney World. I pointed out every little detail I knew of, and while I was leaving the guest he said, "You know, there really should be a book about this." I thought, there really should, but kept sweeping the streets of Fantasyland without thinking about the man's insanely wise words.

A few years later while student teaching in a Kindergarten classroom, the class was watching Disney's Robin Hood for nap time. All of a sudden everything clicked with what that wise man told me years before and I began to write every reference to Robin Hood in the parks that I could think of. When I finished with Robin Hood I moved on to Aladdin, Lion King, Cinderella, and more.

Next thing I knew I was a doer. I began to work my butt off for a book that was called Disney by Movie. While talking to a friend, she pointed out that From Screen to Theme had a nicer ring to it, and I agreed.

Take a breath for intermission.



And we're back. While working on From Screen to Theme I realized I needed to promote my book, even though it wasn't released yet. I decided to start a chat room with a few people that knew about my book. I sat down in front of a webcam and they'd ask me Disney related questions in a chat room. We had so much fun that we decided to do the chat again a few days later. And again a few days after that. And then we decided to make it a regular thing that would occur on a weekly basis.



One viewer suggested we meet on Wednesday's since Walt Disney's initials (W.E.D.) were the first three letters in Wednesday. So out of that the W.E.D.nesday Show! was created.

In March of 2010 From Screen to Theme: A Guide to Disney Animated Film References Found Throughout the Walt Disney World Resort was published and I moved back down to Florida.

Yeah, things can get tough money wise from time to time, but I'm a dreamer and I believe everything will work out in the long run.
Now, don't you wish I would have stuck with a one word description of myself?

And there you go, folks! A dream made real! If you want to chat with Brent Dodge visit him and the rest of us friends at From Screen to Theme. The W.E.D.nesday Show happens every Wednesday at 9:30 PM.

Thanks for reading!

Classic Film References, Homages and Tributes: From Screen to Theme

As I've said in the past, the best way to measure the legacy of a film is to see how many times it is referenced in our daily lives and other forms of media. No company does this better than the Disney Corporation. They are aware that they have created some of the most influential movies of all time, and they capitalize on this greatly through merchandise, special events, cross-promotions and of course, theme park attractions. But what happens when you visit one of the theme parks and you spot a reference that isn't familiar to you, or you recognize it but don't quite have the right idea? This is where “From Screen to Theme” comes in.

Penned by Disney fanatic Brent Dodge, “From Screen to Theme” has captured many animated film references in the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, cataloging nearly every animated film the company has released in the last few decades.

In the event that you don't know about the film being referenced each chapter starts with a three paragraph description, giving the reader the opportunity to learn more about it before discovering the references at the parks. Brent Dodge doesn't discriminate and features every kind of film, from the very popular and beloved like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Beauty and the Beast to the less appreciated films like Dinosaur and Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Pixar films have also been included.

There are some animated films that are missing, however, but this isn't the author's fault. Some movies didn't catch on with the movie going audience, so often Disney ignores them in favor of films that have created a lasting impact due to popular demand.

The book is exceptionally organized in chronological order, starting from the oldest film available to the newest, and goes through each park such as the Magic Kingdom and Epcot as well as restaurants, stores and special places within the parks. It also alerts you as to where you can meet the characters and if you need to book a reservation before attending a special dinner or event. Such details are important when planning a Disney World vacation, so the extra effort put into each film reference is very appreciated.

Since it's likely you'll be reading the book at home it can be hard to picture the reference at the park. Luckily, Brent Dodge describes in a very detailed manner what the reference is and where you can find it at the park, with the acknowledgment that references can disappear or change according to what the Imagineers decide to do at Disney. While I can't tell if he got them all, Brent Dodge tries to include as much references as possible, from the very noticeable to the very hard to find. It's an incredible thing for a Disney fan to do, and Brent Dodge accomplished it.

Best of all, the book isn't a bore to read. This is a common problem in fact/trivia books where all you keep reading is information that you likely already knew without any sense of fun or charm. But the author wrote it all with such casual and fun flare that it becomes an engaging read, especially when he tackles the movies you know and love by heart.

Some might say that a book about film references might be superfluous and silly, and that if you are a Disney nerd already some might say that a book about references isn't helpful, but think about it for a second. The reason people go to the Disney theme parks, especially children, is because they want to relive the magic seen in the films. So small stuff like hidden Mickeys to big stuff like rides can add to the presentation of the theme park, and the book does a really good job of showcasing the talents of the designers, the imagineers, and the cast members . And even die-hard nerds can miss some of the more cleverly disguised references, which Brent Dodge makes sure to point out.

Overall, “From Screen to Theme” is a must own for Disney fanatics, especially theme park enthusiasts. It provides a lot of information that emphasizes the hard word that often goes into maintaining the quality many fans demand. It's in-depth, but never manages to lose its sense of fun while being a loving tribute to a great American institution.

“From Screen to Theme” can be purchased at the official website here, and you can request a personalized copy by the author.

It's Tangled Month!

OK, OK... I know I didn't a good job with Halloween month... HALLOWEEN IS ABOUT RUNNING AMUCK, NOT STAYING INSIDE WATCHING MOVIES!

...Ahem! Moving on...

This month, Disney's 50th animated movie will be released! The film is "Tangled", the classic story of Rapunzel, the girl with the long, long hair, trapped in the tower by Mother Gothel. This is a movie that has been in development hell for more than ten years, starting as a traditionally animated film, then becoming a Shrek-like parody movie and finally, going back to the traditional Disney style, losing its director and receiving a new title.

I can't wait to see this movie. While originally I was put off by it, the early reviews indicate that this is going to be a special film, and regardless the medium and the issues it faced I don't care as long as everything has been worth it.

So I will try (see, honesty!) to post classic Disney film reviews, even more Disney related "Friend Highlight" and some Disney videos for everyone to enjoy.

Here's the Tangled trailer:


And remember, this ain't no princess movie ;)