If you’re like me and do not want to go to the now-packed Vancouver beaches, summer and early fall is a really good time to catch up on all the movies or TV shows that you’ve missed during the year.
Lately I watched one of Disney’s newer movies, “Tangled”. It’s based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, but with a few added twists. I must say I was very surprised by how hooked I was after just a few minutes of watching it. Even though I knew how it would end, I still wanted to figure out how Rapunzel would get away from the evil old lady who claimed to be her mother. (Watch it if you have not yet already done so. Trust me, you will like it a lot).
One of my favourite Disney movies, Tangled. Photo courtesy of Josh Hallet
I always enjoy movies that have a moral behind their story. Yes, Tangled‘s target audience is probably kids; however, Disney seems to have the power to attract people from every age group. I guess it is probably due to the alluring effect of fantasy. I am not ashamed to admit that I want to live in a utopian world with everything being perfect. I would fight for the dream of the world where everyone is treated with respect, where goodness triumphs, and most importantly, where everyone gets a happily ever after — or at least, I would get in line to see a world like that on the big screen 
Of course, real life is…well…leaves something to be desired, which is probably why fantasies and fairy tales are as popular as they are. That’s why I was shocked after watching Tangled to read a post about how Disney has stated that Tangled will be its last fairy tale movie for a while.
Take a minute to absorb that. Disney, is taking an indefinite hiatus from making fairy tale movies.
If you’re like me, titles like Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty were in and out of your VCR throughout your childhood. Why would Disney choose to break their 73-year tradition now? Could it be that girls no longer hope to be princesses or have a lovely marriage? Although it seems to be the trend that girls just want to look like Hollywood stars and measure their attractiveness accordingly, it does not mean that the values that we are promoting in the society are right. Also, it does not mean that no girl wants to be treated like a princess, or to find true love and live happily forever.
Love in Disney. Photo by Matthew Thorn.
I love the fact that the princesses in the movies will end up finding their loved one after going through a series of difficult times. Call me naïve, but I believe that somewhere out there, there is the right guy or girl for everyone. My prince probably will not come to rescue me on his white horse (or car, perhaps), but I think that no matter what, he will fight off and slay the dragon in order to win my heart. I don’t mean that he’ll gallop across a burning bridge to do it, but he won’t hesitate to put effort into being with me — and thereby proof his love. I know many of you will probably get jealous, but that is what my boyfriend has done. He has driven two hours back and forth from Seattle to Vancouver every two weeks just to spend the weekend with me. Although this is nothing compared to some long distance relationships, it does make me feel like I am his princess who he values very much.
Anyway, my point is that I am very sad to hear this “no more fairy tales” announcement. It just breaks my heart to know that Disney, my childhood companion, will just abandon the fairy tales that made me an imaginative girl, thanks to the magic they’ve brought to so many kids.
Magical moment at Disney. photo by Knowsphotos
Disney movies give us hope to know that if we try to achieve our dreams, one day we can, like Rapunzel, get out of that tall tower and have some the fulfillment we crave. Dear Disney, please don’t stop making fairy tales. We need your magic to make this world a better place with the spellbinding effects you have on our generations.
