Incredible how it can be called a "classic" with such horrid morals

Rating: 1/10 (23 January 2014)

I bought the DVD release for this movie, since I missed out on seeing it in the cinema, after watching many trailers and hearing great reviews from friends who had seen it. Sad to say I was sorely disappointed, especially with the plot line and the morality of the story.
OK, I understand that Disney does not condone abuse or any of the like, but when you put a mother figure in a story who is in fact the villain, make it clear to the protagonist. This movie did nothing but make it seem OK to young, impressionable tweens, to go against the advice of your parents when they say the world is dangerous, and that thieves do not make good relationship material. Now, if Rapunzel had discovered that she was taken from her family at a young age (she doesn't need to know she is royalty at this point) early on in the movie, and it was this which sparked her drive to explore, I would have been perfectly OK with the story. But no, she is left to believe that she is a horrible person for leaving and that her "mother" is the good in the world rather than the kidnapper. I'm sorry, but this just seems likely to influence kids to think that if their parents are acting responsibly by warning their child of the dangers of the world and of having convict relationships, then the natural process is to think they are kidnapped and to run off in search of a much nicer family who will let you marry the convict.
OK, so that's my first quarrel with this movie, my second is about body image. As a blonde, Rapunzel has the ability to make people stay young, and goes off on a wild adventure with plenty of fun and antics along the way. Not to mention the luscious, long, perfect, low-maintenance hairdo. As a brunette, she loses all magic, and people will grow old around her, and she chooses to settle down and have a family rather than carry on enjoying everything she had in the last hour or so. In other words, Disney is feeding us, oh so subtlety the age-old stereotype that "blondes have more fun". How is this carrying on with the traditions of all other Disney Princesses, with the moral that who you are is your true strength? What happened to the strong, beautiful young women such as Pocahontas, Mulan, Belle, and even Giselle?
The only redeeming factor this movie had to offer was Pascal, who seemed to be the only normal character (for a humanised chameleon)
Avoid at all costs if you do not want to pass on horrendous morals to you precious children!