About Disney Animated Film, of Heroine, and of Fate: Movie Review - BRAVE

The lead character - Merida

I had a pretty rough day today. All afternoon headache was disturbing me. It forbids me to think of a great topic to write in my blog. And so when I got off from the office, my mind just focused to "rest and relax". 

Unmindfully, upon browsing my laptop, I came across a movie file given to me by my good friend Satt few weeks back. When he saved a copy of it in my flash drive (USB), I'm a bit hesitant to watch it since I find the title not interesting and so I just pass on the idea of watching. But maybe this day is meant really for me to watch it. And so I opened the file and started watching. I find it entertaining, with cross-generational appeal, for all ages, and full of life's wisdom. And here's my own review of the movie.

"There are those who say fate is something beyond our command, that destiny is not our own.  But I know better! Our fate lives within us-- you only have to be brave enough to see it." - MERIDA

Merida

The above lines from the character Merida is what struck me. Yes, indeed I agree with her that we make our own destiny and our fate is the product of our own action. We can't just have our destiny without working on it."

It's noteworthy that Disney/Pixar's "BRAVE" - a 2012 release - is the first Pixar feature and the first Disney animated feature in a while -- to focus on a heroine, rather than a hero. The last time I recall a heroine leads a character in a movie is with "Mulan" - upon which the singing voice is our very own Broadway Superstar "Lea Salonga". And what's extra-0rdinary about this animated movie was that it's not a typical heroine whose fate is somehow bound up with romance -- that's the crucial distinction.

King Ergus and Queen Elinor

"Brave" creates its own mythology: a Scottish kingdom in the days of swords and spells, ruled by the raucous King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and his prim (and strong-willed) queen, Elinor (Emma Thompson). Fergus has riotously red hair, an obviously dominant trait that has carried over to his children: a trio of mischievous male triplets, as well as their older sister, Merida (Kelly Macdonald).

Merida is the central focus of/in the story. She is a willful, adventurous young woman who is athletic, opinionated, and outspoken. She loves riding and is an ace archer.

But her mother is a traditionalist, more of like an old-fashioned queen -- and she informs Merida that the time has come to marry her off. There are four clans that rule Scotland in peace -- and the leaders of the other three will be bringing their first-born sons to Fergus' castle to let her choose between them.

Merida is having none of it. Given a choice of competitions in which to have her suitors vie for her hand, she picks archery -- then outclassed all three of them, as a way of saying she would just as soon be independent. But her mother refuses to budge.

So Merida goes off to the woods to blow off steam -- and is led by magical sprites called wisps to a remote cabin behind a Stonehenge-like site. There, she meets a wood-carving witch (played by Julie Walters) with a thing for bears, from whom she extracts a spell to help her change her fate. The spell takes the form of a pastry, which will fulfill Merida's wish once her mother eats it.

But the spell, in fact, turns Elinor herself into a bear (creatures for which Fergus harbors as great an enmity as Stephen Colbert does). Too late, Merida also discovers that, unless she does something to mend the breach between her and her mother within two days, Elinor will remain a bear and lose all the trace of her humanity.

The film isn't just about glorifying female heroism, it's also a mother-daughter story, a clash of generations that builds to an exciting climax full of tension and emotion.

Brave - is amazing to look at -- watching its blend of imaginatively cartoonish humans and brilliantly photo realistic settings. But, as important as the visuals are, the bottom line - the starting point- is the comedy. Without that, these films could be a work of any studio. What's always distinguished the Pixar films -- aside from continually ground-breaking animation -- is their sense of story and sense of humor.

I recommend this to all children above 5 years old. For those below 5, parents should be with them side by side since it might provoke the kiddos to have nightmare from the vicious bear who served as the villain in the story.

You've got to watch it guys, it's purely entertaining and somehow has a magical blend in it. Plus it carries a moral story that is applicable to our contemporary times. Have a nice read. 

I hope my review is convincing enough for you to buy/prepare your popcorn and a glass of soda with your family members or your friends alike  sitting in your living room sofas while watching it.