Rabbit Ears: Rumpelstiltskin

'Rumpelstiltskin' in a way reminds me of 'Puss in Boots' in regard to my thoughts on it. It is slight narratively in spots and doesn't lend itself enough to feature length live action (evident in the Cannon Movie Tales adaptation), but it also has an unforgettable titular character, a very memorable ending and there is also an unsettling feel in the latter stages. It is a good story and there is a reason as to why it has been far from neglected when it comes to adapting it.

While not one of my favourite Rabbit Ears Productions adaptations or one of the best of the "We All Have Tales" series, 1991's 'Rumpelstiltskin' is a winner in almost all regards. Maybe not the best of introductions to the company's work for younger viewers, as it is one of the creepier stories in the series (and the "We All Have Tales" series was no stranger to creepiness), but it does more than do justice to the original story by having everything that makes it such a memorable story and some while being also not easy to forget in its own way.

To me, the second half is better than the first. 'Rumpelstiltskin' is very compelling as an overall whole but doesn't quite hit the right momentum straight away and it is when Rumpelstiltskin's ulterior motives are revealed when the adaptation comes to life and where what makes it memorable can be found. That is not entirely the adaptation's fault though, one can argue that the original story has this too.

Now lets get on to everything else that works brilliantly. The visuals are both gorgeously delicate and eerie, Rumpelstiltskin's character design is suitably grotesque and the truly nightmarish skeleton face is not something one is going to forget in a hurry, it has always stuck with me. Was worried that Tangerine Dream's music would feel too out of place stylistically, not so. It has a very hauntingly mysterious vibe that enhances the suspense of the second half and is quite hypnotic, one of the best scored scenes being that truly frightening dance number.

Kathleen Turner's narration is both soothing and unsettlingly mysterious, she brilliantly amps up the increasing menace of the second half where she relishes Rumpelstiltskin's ulterior motives being revealed before becoming truly demonic at the end. The writing is always intriguing and never awkward, as well as doing great at appealing to all ages by avoiding over-simplicity and convolution. Mostly the story is compelling with a terrific second half and an ending that has a lot of staying power. Rumpelstiltskin is unforgettably characterised, one of the single creepiest characters of the whole series.

Overall, great adaptations of one of the better ones about of the story in my view. 9/10.