Tangled is Walt Disney's 50th 'animated classic,' putting it alongside movies such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, through The Lion King and Aladdin, and right up to date with The Princess and the Frog. As with many of Disney's most successful animated features, Tangled is loosely based on a fairy tale - this time it's Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm. First published in 1812, Rapunzel has stood the test of time, and is still read to children to this day.

For me, Tangled is another step towards a return to form for Disney. They had some difficult times in the early 2000s with very forgettable movies like Treasure Planet, Brother Bear and Home on the Range. These movies not only failed to set the world alight, but never cemented their place in Disney history either. No characters were strong enough to stand side by side with Mickey and the gang at any of the various Disney resorts, and children simply reverted to earlier Disney classics and ignored the modern attempts. It has been a tough few years for Disney, often fading into Pixar's shadow as the technology moves beyond hand-drawn animation and into CGI. However, Pixar always understood that the storyline was what mattered, and that's the Disney influence.

It's no surprise that Disney have been able to deliver two strong movies on the go. There is no better studio out there once they hit their stride. Tangled features all the hallmarks of a traditional high-profile Disney release - a likeable hero and heroine, crazy animals, a humorous yet threatening villain, and a soundtrack that sticks in your head for weeks afterwards. After all, "I See the Light" was nominated at the 83rd Academy Awards! The voice cast is a who's who of modern stars (Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi) mixed with familiar stalwarts of film and TV (Brad Garrett, Ron Perlman, and even Jaws from James Bond himself, Richard Kiel!). It's definitely one of those movies that will drive you crazy with 'I recognise that voice!' moments, and they all do a fantastic job as you would expect with any Disney movie.

The storyline is as you would expect - Rapunzel (Moore) is living in a tower, she often wants to go and see the outside world but isn't allowed, and of course her famous magical golden hair is the catalyst for a calamity-filled adventure of self discovery. There are some of the funniest, sweetest, and most heartbreaking moments of any movie in recent years. When Disney hit the nail on the head, they really do it well. I feel they have really got the mix right this time between technology and storyline, as Tangled looks superb but also stands up script-wise. These are characters that mean something, that pull you in and make you forget that they are animated. Much like the depth of the recent Toy Story 3, Tangled shows that animation isn't a medium that lacks in emotion. Rather, no matter what you see before you, if the acting is good then it works. I can only imagine it's even tougher to deliver just through voice, but the cast are fantastic.

Having seen this on Blu-ray I can highly recommend this over the DVD version. I don't believe the movie needs 3D, although there is a separate release if that's your thing. But definitely purchase the Blu-ray because Tangled will never look better. Disney are by far the best studio for delivering on Blu-ray releases in terms of visual quality. I've been amazed by restoration on the older classics, and they don't let their newer releases pass them by either. Any Disney fan can proudly let Tangled sit as part of their 'animated classics' collection next to the older releases. It is deserving of its place, far more than other modern releases.

Bonus features are enjoyable but not too heavy - the Classics Countdown is worth watching just to be reminded of how wonderful Disney's output has been over the years, and the Deleted Scenes are entertaining yet are clear as to why they were not included in the final movie. We also get a Making Of, Extended Songs, and more so there is a good variety for all the family. And in the end, that's what this movie provides - strong family entertainment. It's an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you laughing and crying in the same moment. Tangled is not only one of the best Disney movies but one of the best from any studio in recent years. Any movie fan should enjoy this on many levels, and it really stands up to multiple viewings.