Brave

[candles71]

Leota, I did think that about following the Wisps, from the first one.

[jananafish]

http://thenewinquiry.com/essays/just...rincess-movie/

An interesting article about Brave and it's portrayal of a strong princess role.

This is *really* well-written. Very good article.

[leota's necklace]

Here's the things I remember I was disappointed by, specifically. This is without taking notes, and with only one viewing, so please bear with me.

First: the opening and closing voiceover. I find voiceovers in film, unless masterful and integral, to be a real letdown. To me they say, "our test audiences didn't Get It, so we had to dumb it down and make the takeaway Message painfully obvious post-production." It didn't help that the voiceover was teetering on the edge of Eisner-era Disney-style schlock. I was really glad it didn't contain the words Dream (tm) (wait, did it?), Magic (tm), Wonder (tm), or Imagination(tm), or I would have had to leave the theater.

Second: can we. Please. Have a movie with Scots in it that doesn't include haggis jokes? I was willing to let the Highland Games bit slide (although, if we are assuming the film to be taking place in the 10th century, the first "games" didn't take place until a century later -- modern, familiar ones are Victorian, I think) because it kind of fit with the tournament theme but the haggis joke is tired and made me roll my eyes. I suppose it doesn't help that my husband makes an excellent haggis. I am sure there is a whole raft of issues with the tartans and men's costuming in general but I am going to let that go since that is my husband's field of expertise, not mine. I can tell you that puff-and-slash sleeves, introduced in the film as a solution to the archery-in-a-Byzantine-style-tunic problem, didn't turn up until five hundred years later; hello, Renaissance. I will lump the painful female Celtic vocal tracks in here. I am sure Julie Fowlis is a lovely person, and the quality of the actual vocal was fine, it was the lyrics that seemed trite, as well as the female-singer-plus-guitar trope that smacks of cheap compilation albums with insipid titles like "Celtic Soul" or suchlike that you might find in New Age bookstores next to the smudge sticks and crystals. Maybe I would have liked the lyrics better if she were singing in gaelic like she usually does. Maybe sans guitar, with the actual celtic instrumentation dialed up a bit. I am a little too aware of the cultural affect of the Crusades to realize that the guitar is an outgrowth of the lute, which didn't get introduced to Europe until much later. (And I will give Pixar the point here -- at least they didn't give the riders stirrups.) Interesting historical note -- this time period (again, if we are assuming 10th c. Scotland) was the time when the bear went extinct in Britain. Thanks, Elinor!

The post-argument scene between Merida and the Queen was the part I felt suffered most from the Broad Brush treatment. It felt hackneyed, like I had seen it in every episode of a sitcom including teens and their parents since the Eighties. ("She just...doesn't....listen!" chorus both parties on a split screen, and there is much door-slamming, etc.) Disney's strong point has always been masterful storytelling. Other Pixar films have almost gotten that part right, though they do tend to the overly sentimental. I don't know why this one couldn't.

And I was disappointed by the lack of end-credit animation and design. This is usually a strong point for Disney/Pixar, and this film's end credits seemed lacking and tacked-on.

I was delighted that the women finally took care of the problem in the film and didn't get saved by a man, for freaking once, don't get me wrong -- though it makes me a little ill that this is a big deal in this day and age, we should have gotten to this point a loooooooong time ago, and pats on the back are being doled out for it.

[AVP]

My husband the Scot felt offended by the portrayal of his history and mythology.

He can commiserate with my husband the Scot, who can't walk by the Brave meet-and-greet at Disneyland without complaining about the costuming. ;o)

AVP

[tinkaparis]

In all fairness though...these types of stereotypes are in not only movies, but also in Theme Parks. For some movie examples; Take Ratatouille. Are all French men short with big noses? No, but the villain fits the stereotype and I get why they did it. The whole movie is also about cooking which really is what everyone thinks of with France. Not the art, literature or engineering. You just can't take it personally

[leota's necklace]

My not liking something or finding it trite does not mean I am "taking it personally", it means I think it's weak, disappointing, and doesn't work.

He says these are the times he understands what it must be like for First Nations folks...as his people are apparently violent savages with a mystical connection to the earth and nature... (cue flutes and sage smudge).

[josephbandrews]

I finally watched Brave...was waiting for it to hit Pay Per View. I know--lame. I thought it was really good--probably have to buy it. Interesting combination of some old fables and even other Disney movies into the story.

Anyone else think the skyline in some of the forest shots reminded them of the Savannahs at DAK?

Also makes me wish I had waited in the loooong line to participate in "The Games" at Epcot this past Summer...

[BlkPearlCptn]

I also finally had a chance to watch Brave. I'll be buying it ASAP! Really enjoyed it. Especially some of the little things. For example, I have a number of friends who wear kilts. So I got a HUGE laugh out of the "bear bum" scene. As for the film itself, I thought the artwork was breathtaking. Watched it again the next day and enjoyed it even more. Wish I had also gotten a chance to meet Merida and participate in The Games.

[josephbandrews]

Right on Captain. I did get to see Merida waiting for the kids at least... She was beautiful. I just wish she had been there in Feb when some old Air Force friends came with their kids. My buddy Travis is full on Readhead Scottish and his crazy daughter is the tomboy spitting image. Also, the little holy terror boys reminded me of Trav at the Irish Pub in Germany.

PS Your saga with the cotton candy was pretty awesome. I don't think I've had cotton candy in 10 or 15 years, but I think the story alone is worth all of us making a point to buy some next time were in the parks. Hope your Mom is settling in and doing okay!

[KarenW2]

We liked Brave so much, we saw it twice in the theaters and we very seldom do that! We had gone to all of the Brave presentations at the D23 Expo last year and couldn't wait to see it, since it looked so beautiful, from what they showed us there. The actual movie did not disappoint!

It was so gorgeous and at times looked so real! The story was funny, as well as touching and suspenseful. One of the things that was very interesting in the presentations was seeing the original artwork and hearing that they didn't base the movie on any real legends, they created it themselves, taking inspiration from Celtic lore. Also, the movie was originally to be set in Winter, with snow everywhere, but it turned out to be too expensive to do it that way, but there is some of the winter artwork in it.

We pre-ordered the Blu-Ray, picked it up on Tuesday and will be watching it again this weekend. The second time, I was able to see the Pizza Planet truck, since I knew where to look (it went by VERY fast!), but I didn't see Sully or a few of the other things hidden there.

I, too, am a natural redhead (mine's auburn, not as orange as Merida's) and am of Scotch-Irish decent, on my father's side. I'm also disappointed we weren't able to see Merida at Disneyland.

[josephbandrews]

Guilty...had to watch it the second day in a row too. I'm certain I'll be buying the DVD ASAP...

The fishing scene is unreal. I can't believe they can make the water and fish look like that with CGI. Crazy. I hope I can get in as an Imagineer soon!

[tappenfeat]

Brave will be under our Christmas tree this year.