Set in the wild, mysterious highlands of ancient
Scotland, Brave is Pixar’s first
film to feature a female heroine. Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is the
complete opposite of her mother Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). While the one is
strong willed, tomboyish and a skilled archer, the other is prim and polite,
and yearns for her daughter to learn to act like a proper princess. The pair have thus far managed to live with their
stark differences, but when Elinor announces that Merida must soon choose a son
from one of their rival clans to wed, the rebellious teenaged princess decides
that enough is enough. She flees the castle on her trusty steed Angus, and led
by ethereal woodland sprites - the will-o’-the-wisps - she stumbles upon the
cottage of an old eccentric witch (Julie Walters) from whom she seeks a spell
to change her mother’s mind about her fate...
This film has a lot of
heart and explores the heavily tested bond between mother and daughter which a
lot of women will be able to relate to, as Elinor and Merida learn that they
can benefit from being a little like one another, and come to terms with their
differences. Much of the plot is rooted in Celtic folklore - such as
the will-o’-the-wisps, which in legend are supposed to lead people to their
fate, as well as magic and an ancient curse. However I did think that Merida’s
fate would hang on something more life altering and interesting than who she
marries; I was under the impression that the fate of the realm would rest on
her shoulders. It was here where the plot disappointed me and conformed to more
traditional Disney princess tales, which in turn makes Brave Pixar’s most unambitious film so far in terms of story.
Aside from the more serious and sentimental side to the
plot, the film is very funny, with slapstick humour as well as more adult
remarks. Merida’s young brothers are very mischievous, constantly causing chaos
throughout the castle, and they brought a smile to my face. The kids in the
cinema were howling with laughter, but the older members of the audience were
laughing at multiple moments as well, so this is a film most age groups will be
able to enjoy.
The characters are well
drawn and entertaining. Merida is refreshing as the princess who despises her
life as a royal and yearns for adventure and to shoot arrows all day long.
Queen Elinor is a great example of the typical stern
mother, constantly bossing Merida about and rolling her eyes at her daughter,
her three naughty sons and her jolly husband. Fergus (Billy Connolly), the
vengeful King who lost his leg to the vicious bear Mordu, is a laugh riot, and
understands his daughter much better than Elinor does.
Brave is
visually stunning. All Pixar films look beautiful, but I think this one is my
favourite. The film crew toured round Scotland in order to get the scenery just
right, and the extra time and effort they put in really shows; the shots of the
Scottish highlands are breathtaking, atmospheric and realistic. Another feature of the
visuals I loved was Merida’s wild mane of fiery red curls - the attention to
detail put into her tresses is amazing and reflects her untamed character.
In conclusion, Brave is not your average princess movie - Merida is a fiery tomboy who hates being
forced to act like a lady and longs to roam the wilds of Scotland with her bow
and loyal stallion. At its core it is a heartfelt study of the mother / daughter
relationship, but with plenty of humour thrown in, as well as magic and tidbits
from Celtic legend, it is a film that most people will find endearing and
enjoyable.
Rating: 7/10
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