A Tangled Web Disney Weaves

[ironekilz]

Much has been made lately about Disney's supposed move away from its lucrative princess franchise and much of the hubbub has centered around its newest movie, which saw its title changed from the more recognizable name Rapunzel to the more "gender-neutral" Tangled.  Ostensibly this was to distance the film from other Disney princess films, which

Comments

[incyr]

Great review, but I'd like to make some comments.

First off, I don't know that I'd agree that Belle ever needed a man to fulfill her dreams. She knew what she wanted from the beginning, and it just so happened that she found it when she found the Beast, but really, there's only one scene in the movie where she needs to be rescued by the Beast - when she's attacked by wolves in the forest after running away. For the rest of the movie, they are fairly close to equals, with most of it focused on them changing and realizing there's more to each other than appears at first glance. If you wanted to go with another man-oriented heroine, Ariel would be a bit better, I think.

Also, there are a good number of princesses who DON'T sport golden locks - Snow White, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Mulan, etc. ;) But your point still stands - she doesn't end with a perfect hair-do. Although she was still rather cute. :)

[ironekilz]

Don't get me wrong, I love Belle, but she was pretty passive. Sure she expressed disgust at Gaston's advances, but never told him to just buzz off and get lost. It took the Beast to take care of that problem for her. Plus, for all her wishing for a less provincial life she never made any overtures to go out into the wide world and find adventure for herself. She really only stumbled onto adventure and romance when her father got into trouble. If that never happened I think she'd have stayed in that village until she died, probably with the excuse that her father needed her. I didn't use Ariel as an example because Belle was/is considered to be one of the more progressive Disney heroines and I was making the point about how Rapunzel is even more progressive. I don't think anyone argues that Ariel was focused on a man. ;)

For the hair thing, I was more commenting on having thick, long, beautiful hair rather than it being blond. Although I'll give you that Snow White didn't have long hair.

[incyr]

Fair enough, although I do think Belle is a little less passive than you state. After all, she did venture into the west wing after being repeatedly told to stay out, as well as not coming to dinner when told to. And she did kick Gaston out of her house when he proposed to her. But yes, I suppose she could have been a bit more straight forward with him.

If you're talking length of hair, then I'll also point out that Cinderella usually has a short cut as well. ;)

[ironekilz]

True, she did, and I will concede that she did seek to leave when the Beast's bullying got too much instead of continuing to take it.

Ah, I'd forgotten about Cindy!

[thunderclap8]

thanks for this! I'd kind of forgotten about the movie, but now want to see it.

[ironekilz]

Sure thing!