Brave Reviews

Valiente. Reseña:

Historia y trama: toda la película (aunque saliera mucho antes) es básicamente una mezcla rara de todas estas pelis de disney//pixar sobre "trauma generacional", "romper esquemas de generaciones pasadas" y de "hijos subestimados por sus padres" asi como encanto, luca, turning red y un mundo extraño... pero en esta ocasion, desde que empieza con todo el show de la "boda arreglada" porque necesitan recursos y la alianza a merida no le interesa en lo mas minimo poner en riesgo todo porque no comprende sus propias tradiciones. ni la importancia que hubo en aquello.

despues la pelicula se va hacia el conflicto familiar donde al igual que las anteriormente mencionadas solo la madre cambia y aprende a cambiar... todo para que en el último acto la protagonista de un super "revolucionador" discurso que dice basicamente """"las generaciones pasadas si fueron importantes pero esta es la nueva y es la que escribe el destino, rompamos tradiciones porque... patata"""" cambiando la mentalidad de señores de guerra apelando a experiencias con su padre que convenientemente eso debe ser razon para romper tradiciones... y para colmo la madre y solo la madre se convierte en otra merida... pero vieja xd... se nota que pixar ya venia con este tropo desde ya tiempo...

Personajes:

Merida: a pesar de que la pelicula parece ser consciente de que su actitud de "princesa rebelde sin causa" es bastante irritante, enrealidad no nos dan mucha comprension de porque se opone a las tradiciones mientras que con la madre si parece ser mas comprensible mas que nada por el apartado belico que por el familiar... obvio esta hecho a proposito para que en una parte merida comprenda que "un acto de egoismo puede afectar a todo un reino" aunque enrealidad merida no comprende sus tradiciones como tal...

en su discurso final dice que "la historia de su reino es joven" y "nuestros reinos son mas fuertes que un acto de egoismo" supuestamente referente al suyo... pero termina aplicandolo a TODOS, reduciendo el conflicto de las tradiciones a "actos de egoismo" y a pesar de que ella tambien "comprende" simplemente todo cambia unicamente solo a su favor, al final igualmente rompen la tradicion, a ella le dan toda la libertad que quiere y la pelicula solo concluye para su comodidad.

subtrama: la subtrama de mordu el oso es parecida a esta idea es usada para compararse con el conflicto belico actual de merida pero unicamente comparados porque en ambos un acto de egoismo deshizo el vinculo de los reinos y las familias... PERO CLARO este egoismo aplica mas para las tradiciones egoistas y un poco con Merida

Puntuacion: 6/10 sus canciones son chidas pero la sobrevaloraron muchisimo

I have always loved Pixar's films, they are charming, funny, full of heart and have identifiable characters, strong stories and gorgeous animation on the whole. I was strongly anticipating Brave as I would do for any animated movie, and while I still enjoyed it very much I was a little disappointed as well. Ranking it with Pixar's other films, I don't consider Brave as good as the Toy Story films, Up, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo and WALL-E, but I consider it better than the Cars films(which I did like actually) and put it on the same level as Bug's Life(Pixar's most underrated), Ratatouille and The Incredibles.

Does Brave have flaws? I personally do think so. The dialogue does get better later on but felt rather cheesy and awkward to start with. The story is still entertaining, polishedly told and is solidly paced but just lacks the heart of previous Pixars and comes across as old-fashioned in places. The kingdom's menfolk are also clichéd, and as much as I hate to say it unfortunately some of the clichés came across as lazy to me.

Starting with the best asset of Brave though, the animation is simply amazing. The Scottish countryside is beautifully shaded and very evocative and Merida's hair is very life-like. The colours look gorgeous also, and the characters are well modelled. The music score is beautiful in its Celtic lilt and haunting in the atmosphere it creates in the forest. While not as good to start with, the writing does at least have some pitfalls and gags to amuse children and adults alike with the more dramatic/intense moments unforced and convincing. The main characters are engaging. I was especially taken with Merida, you don't relate with her in the way you do with WALL-E but I liked that instead of her having the predictable romantic fate of the Disney Princesses(no offense intended, I love those movies) and potentially dull as dishwater, she is very headstrong and actually matures throughout the film. The Witch and the mother are also well done characters. The voice acting is great. Kelly MacDonald is very spirited as Merida, and Emma Thompson is a sympathetic mother figure. Julie Walters is appropriately formidable as the Witch, and Robbie Coltrane amuses. Billy Conolly is a somewhat predictable casting choice- when you think Scotland Conolly immediately comes into your head- but his great sense of comic timing and exuberance still delights to not make that matter too much.

In conclusion, rock solid family fun but not Pixar at their best. 8/10 Bethany Cox

cliche , tonta y para nada creativa, es como "tierra de osos" pero en escosia. la protagonista es tu tipica princesa disney egoista que explorar el mundo y bla,bla,bla.

One of the best animation films of the last decade. Disney needed a princess that stood on her own, and wasn't just there for the prince to save.

Merida is a great female character, The waiving red hair and the tight dresses make her a real princess but with the bow she is pretty bad-ass. And she can look out for herself.

With no real main villain, until late in the movie. It is a complete other story than any normal hero film. It is more of a knights quest.

The Scottish accents are amazing. I think the animation is good but the voices are what makes the movie great

Unfortunately 'Brave' was Pixar’s third disappointment (after A Bug’s Life and Cars) and their worst film yet

Despite gorgeous animation and a decent cast (Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters), the story was rather boring, it starts off rather scary for kids when the bear attacks the king (Billy Connolly) and eats his leg, it also starts off one of my favourite genres Horror, you start off with a Horror film for teens then you go rather boring with a princess being told what to do by the queen, she runs off and meets a witch and receives a spell which turns the queen into a bear

The film won the Oscar for Best Animated Film, however Wreck-It Ralph is miles better and probably the best film of 2012 yet, anyway this film is not bad and worth a look (although it think it is rather overrated)

Had the laugh of my adult life. You know when you are 30-ish and you blame the new generation cartoons for being brutal, uninteresting and inferior to the ones we had back in 80s?? Well, this is the kind of cartoons the new generation needs. Could have had a more complex plot yet if you enjoy having a good laugh with friends and appreciate the value of the wild Scottish countryside, this is your movie. Really enjoyed it.

Since its inception, Pixar Animation Studios have always been recognised as the organisation that have collaborated with Walt Disney Pictures and provided us with masterpieces within the animation genre featuring different characters and varied aspects of realistic and fictional life. For the very first time, Pixar had disappointed us with Cars 2 and to possibly revive that and bring back that symbol of hope, there was a lot on Brave and its maker’s shoulders. They'd not only create for their first individual project since Up in 2009 but also make an attempt at a fairy tale, which is what their colleagues at Disney have specialized in over the years. Nevertheless, although there was a rather original idea behind Brave, it did prove itself worthy as an overall success but it is not quite on that superior level among Pixar’s greatest.


Throughout this era of filmmaking, we have seen Pixar compete against DreamWorks Animations and have almost always come out on top. However, although Brave is quite possibly the best Pixar to date regarding animated effects and had successfully managed to provide us with on-going gags, it lacked the charm, the magic and the excitement that we should have – a bit like a DreamWorks Animations feature. Like quite a few of their works, the plot of Brave occasionally turned rather dry, surprisingly felt a tad corny and lost its grasp at emotionally engaging the viewers. Furthermore, following a twist mid-way through, it became an entirely different film. Instead, from a story about a young fulfilling her destiny as a highly talented archer, it transformed into a story connected with Mulan and Brother Bear. You can just tell where Pixar are slowly losing their touch in developing brand new stories and it really needs fixing. The 3D experience was not entirely worth it either.


For the first time, Pixar select a female protagonist, who follows in the footsteps of Belle, Jasmine, Snow White and other Disney Princesses. Yet at the same time, Princess Merida, Pixar’s latest hero, is one on her own and is not the next Disney Princess as she is a tomboy and has personal passions and has a mild rebellious side to her. This still makes her a beautiful young girl with a big heart. Due to this approach, she is perhaps more appealing to the kids than the adults. Furthermore, Pixar have given us different characters that are either deadly serious with a realistic touch or are on a more comical and wacky level (not necessarily a bad thing). In the role of Princess Merida was Kelly MacDonald has she executed these varied characteristics impressively and with the dazzling animated effects, she is still a likable leading character.


Throughout practically every film that we have seen featuring a king and/or queen whether historical or fictional, we have witnessed life on their behalf and their pressures and difficulties. With Brave’s King Fergus and Queen Elinor, the traditional behaviours of the royals are still maintained, but Pixar unusually and at the same time, creatively manage to add a comical and humorous touch. These are illustrated within each of these two characters. First, Queen Elinor is the more serious of the two as she plays the role of a strict queen wanting what’s best for her kingdom. Also, she has a sensitive side as a mother and eventually sparks an emotional connection with her daughter Merida. English actress Emma Thompson pulled off an impressive performance as Elinor with a very acute Scottish accent. Furthermore, Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly comfortably fits into the role of King Fergus. The majority of the humour comes from Fergus and is undoubtedly the strongest character. Finally, the most disappointing aspect of characters within Brave was the very low involvement of the primary antagonist – simply known as the Witch, who was portrayed by Julie Walters. Films, especially ones made by Disney, always need a villain to play a crucial part in order to bring forth the battle of good vs. evil but in that sense, Brave became very un-traditional.


Overall, Brave may have contained certain plot aspects that we have witnessed multiple times over the years, but it is still a beautifully animated, funny and entertaining Pixar film. It perhaps does not entirely feature the emotional attachment and a thought-provoking message for its older viewers, but it is a motion picture that kids will get more enjoyment from. Pixar could have done more with Brave but it deserves to be classed as another success from Pixar and a symbol of hope for them to get back on their feet again after Cars 2.

Unfortunately, this movie turned out to be the 3rd disappointing picture in a row for the great Pixar (indeed, even though I thought that 'Toy Story 3' was pretty good, I didn't think it was mind-blowing at all). I guess we have been spoiled by Pixar, the only studio in the world capable of delivering one masterpiece after the other ('Toy Story', 'Toy Story 2', 'Monster Inc.', 'Finding Nemo', 'The Incredibles', 'Ratatouille', WALL-E', 'Up'). The amazing thing about this new flick is that even though it was disappointing, it was still a decent watch though. First of all, the whole thing was just really gorgeous to look at and, in this area, it seems that the guys from Pixar were still miles ahead visually speaking from any contenders. Indeed, this movie was just so beautiful, so full of details and it was just a marvel to behold. Unfortunaly, to be honest, the story was actually pretty weak. At least, it wasn't a sequel and it was also their first fary tale which was pretty exciting but, eventually, the plot was just really pedestrian and unoriginal. Basically, it was some kind of mix of 'Brother Bear' with a fairy tale but this body switch routine has always been one of the most boring gimmicks ever. It was probably good enough for the kids but it was definitely not interesting or entertaining enough for the adults. Anyway, to conclude, even though it didn't turn out to be another Pixar masterpiece, it remains a gorgeous animated feature and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

"If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?"

Though a definite improvement over the bitterly disappointing Cars 2, 2012's Brave is destined to be a polarising movie. While visually majestic and fun, it lacks the innovation and sophistication that Pixar is renowned for, leaving us with an enjoyable but formulaic effort that fails to linger or resonate. It's perfectly fine at surface level, but Brave is seldom remarkable, as the filmmakers were clearly more concerned with energy and fantasy than mature thematic density or humanity. This is the cruel paradox of Pixar: because they set the bar so high and established themselves as the pinnacle of animation excellence, a merely decent movie from the studio feels like a letdown. Brave isn't terrible - it's just not as good as one might want it to be. Call it the peril of high expectations.

In the highlands of 10th Century Scotland, ginger-haired princess Merida (Macdonald) is next in line for the throne of Clan DunBroch, but yearns for the freedom to do whatever she wants with her life. While King Fergus (Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Thompson) push for Merida to get married as soon as possible, the adventurous young princess prefers to spend time roaming the forest alone practising her archery skills. When members of nearby clans begin to compete for Merida's hand, the rebellious girl ends up having a shouting match with her mother, ending with Merida fleeing into the woods to escape her destiny. Led deep into the forest by ghostly blue lights, Merida happens upon an old cottage where she meets a witch (Walters). Sensing the chance to change her fate, Merida asks for a spell to make her mother back off. But the spell ends up backfiring, and Merida is left struggling to undo her reckless mistake before the consequences become permanent.

With a princess in the lead, Brave is the closest thing to a typical Disney movie that Pixar has ever produced. Wisely, the writers abstained from conventions like the proverbial wicked stepmother and a prince/princess relationship, instead exploring the complicated bond between a headstrong but loving mother and her stubborn daughter. But Brave's storytelling and structure is wobbly and rote, which is baffling since Pixar is so revered for its commitment to quality storytelling. The film simply does not traverse enough new ground, and this is all the more disappointing considering that other Pixar veterans might have been able to do something more audacious with this premise. The biggest missed opportunity is the witch. Here was Pixar's chance to create a truly unforgettable Disney villain, but the witch is never heard from again after she casts the spell. (As a matter of fact, there is no villain.) Basically, Brave reeks of "committee screenwriting" - there was no singular vision, as three writers were involved in penning the film. So while one writer might have aimed for a mature relationship between Merida and her mother, another writer insisted upon a fluffy montage set to upbeat music to lazily convey the characters' growing bond.

Brave's midsection flirts dangerously with DreamWorks sensibilities, ditching sophisticated Pixar humour and creativity in favour of goofy slapstick and derivative gags. Make no mistake, there are a few strokes of Pixar genius here (everything involving Merida's cheeky little brothers is utterly brilliant), but they are in short supply. Also, the usual zing of Pixar's dialogue is missing. Brave features a cast of lovely, sparkling Scottish accents, yet the dialogue they regurgitate is painfully perfunctory.

On a more positive note, however, the picture looks expectedly excellent. Medieval Scotland was meticulously created by the Pixar team, who rendered all of the gorgeous landscapes in stunning detail. The picture is populated with colourfully-designed characters as well. The most notable character from a design standpoint is Merida, whose blazing red hair must've been a nightmare to animate. Somehow, too, the animators managed to make bears seem cute. Indeed, Brave posed a number of unique visual challenges for the Pixar team, who conquered them all with utmost confidence. Fortunately, there are a number of great moments scattered throughout the film, including a few scenes involving a ferocious bear that are nail-bitingly tense (note the PG rating, parents). But less impressive are the 3-D effects, which are utter rubbish. Brave is dark in terms of lighting and colour palette, and thus the glasses only serve to make the picture even dimmer. It does a disservice to the Pixar animators whose work will not be fully seen or appreciated in 3-D.

The biggest positive of Brave is its voice cast. As Merida, Kelly Macdonald is sublime. Her vocal performance is strong and energetic, giving life to this heroine who's brash, stubborn and sweet. Macdonald is a home-grown Scottish lass (she was in Trainspotting), so her natural accent gives Merida an endearing flavour. As Pixar's first lead female character, Merida needed to stand out and make an impression, and, fortunately, she does. Another masterstroke was the casting of Billy Connolly as King Fergus. With the comedian's touch, Fergus has genuine personality; another essential element of any Pixar production. Digging into the supporting cast, Emma Thompson is expectedly great as Queen Elinor, while Scottish actors Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd and Craig Ferguson all give position impressions as various Scottish lords.

Brave feels like a production that was drastically retooled several times, resulting in a disorganised finished product. Reportedly, original director/writer Brenda Chapman imagined the picture to be dark and mature, but departed the project in 2010 over creative disagreements. One must wonder if Chapman's vision would have resulted in another sophisticated Pixar classic rather than the light-hearted piece of entertainment we've ended up with. Brave's thematic undercurrents show promise, yet the execution is nothing special. Nevertheless, it's easy to appreciate the film's artistry, and it does entertain easily enough throughout its runtime. This will be just fine for some, but others will be left longing for the transcendent Pixar that they fell in love with.

6.8/10

Last year, Pixar gave us Cars 2. Critics and audience members alike were appalled at the product. It was no where near the masterpieces that Pixar had brought us previously. But while it wasn't perfect, I still enjoyed Cars 2. But I definitely didn't want Pixar to keep making movies like Cars 2. I wanted more masterpieces. So Brave comes along. The film that everyone is hoping will save the day and remind us all why we love Pixar.

Unfortunately, many critics aren't all that impressed with Brave, and while MOST of the critics liked it, the reception has been a little disappointing, especially when you consider how well the rest of the Pixar films have done. Brave is being considered one of the worst Pixar films.

But I think this is bizarre. I'm not quite sure why this is being met with such lukewarm reception. Brave is nothing short of a masterpiece. In fact, it's one of Pixar's BETTER films, in my opinion.

Brave (originally titled The Bear and the Bow) is about a princess named Merida who wants to be an archer. Unfortunately for her, Merida's mother, Elinor, wants Merida to be a bit more ladylike. Merida puts up with her mother, but when she's being forced to marry before she's even ready. There's an argument between the Merida and Elinor, a witch, and next thing you know Elinor is a bear. So Merida must change her mother back to a human and at the same time, regain her bond with her mother.

Brave has all the ingredients that every good movie needs. For one, the characters are very memorable. I doubt any of them will replace anyone's favorite Pixar character, but they're funny and well developed.

Also, Brave is very funny. It's not as humorous as Up or the Toy Story films, but there's enough gags to entertain adults and kids. Admittedly, some of the humor feels a bit more tilted towards the Dreamworks canon, but I still found myself laughing often.

The last main ingredient; heart. And Brave has heart to spare. Pixar has almost always managed to make me cry, I don't mind saying. But then came Cars 2. Sure it made me laugh, and the animation impressed, but I never felt any real emotional connection with anything going onscreen.

But Brave reminded me why I look forward to Pixar films every year. I did cry at times, and there were times when I held back tears. Brave is one of the most moving pictures I've ever seen. Seeing Merida and Elinor's relationship grow as the film progresses, and the sacrifices they make for each other is particularly moving. Rarely do I feel so engaged with the characters.

Some critics were complaining about the uneven tones. From soft mother-daughter scenes, to boy-ish humor. I actually LIKED the shifts in tone. There were times when things got a little tragic and humor really helped to lighten the mood.

Patrick Doyle composed the score for Brave. This is his first time scoring a Pixar film, and having heard very little of Doyle's scores, I wasn't sure how I'd like his music. Well, Doyle has proved himself a hundred times over. I was extremely impressed with the score, and hope to see Doyle compose more Pixar films in the future.

The voice acting is, as usual for a Pixar film, superb. The voices are a little more recognizable this time around, but in the end, I wouldn't have changed anything. Kelly MacDonald does a more than respectable job as Merida, while Emma Thompson does excellently as mother (though unfortunately, she spends most of the movie as a bear). And Billy Connoly does a hilarious job as Fergus, Merida's rambunctious father.

And naturally, the animation is gorgeous. Easily outdoing any of Pixar's previous films. Trees, water, mist, hair, all of the above. Pixar does an eleven-out-of-ten job on their animation, making Brave the best looking animated film of the year thus far.

Brave is being unfairly labeled as one of Pixar's weaker films, and a merely decent film. Brave is, in fact, a masterpiece and hopefully the so-so reviews and the female protagonist won't stop male audience members from seeing it. Cars 2 was decent, but left me nervous as to Pixar's future. Brave has put all those fears to rest. Pixar is back baby: Hopefully forever.

Note: Brave was preceded by a short film entitled La Luna. This was both imaginative and magical. Don't come late or you'll miss it, and you will not want to miss this.