Brave 7/10
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
Plot: Princess Merida is given one wish and following her mother’s forced marriage; Merida makes a mistake she must undo.
When Pixar chose to release Cars 2 in 2011, they received phenomenal box office success despite the fact that critics and audiences alike felt it to be Pixar’s first misstep - a sequel that wasn’t really needed. However in this case with directors Andrews and Chapman helming their first big-budget feature-length production – a risk Pixar rarely takes - they thankfully pull it off.
For the first time, Brave is set in Scotland, and it seems all the better for it. The animated landscapes and sweeping shots of Merida hunting, raise the question of why they’ve never done it before. The main highlight is in fact the animation; Merida’s bright red hair has been so wonderfully crafted, that you stare at it throughout. Similarly, Kelly Macdonald’s sweet yet bold Scottish accent finally plays out here, after having to play it down for recent roles. In addition to this, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson - two other British greats -make the whole film seem that little bit more British. The film is also surprisingly funny; its script is entirely original and witty throughout, with jokes for both older and younger audiences.
Whilst there are many pluses to the film, the storyline itself feels a little weak towards the end. For such a big-budget film, the lack of big, bold action pieces seems to come down to a storyline which seems to wither away. The plot is extremely basic and entirely predictable. However, the characters seem to carry it perfectly and its running time of 93 minutes seems just right.
In Conclusion: with magic, a princess, various suitors and one bow and arrow, you’d expect a typical Disney fairytale, but you’d be entirely wrong. Merida breaks the conventions of a damsel in distress, and the setting of this Pixar film in Scotland is terribly ‘brave’ and it’s much better for it.
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
Plot: Princess Merida is given one wish and following her mother’s forced marriage; Merida makes a mistake she must undo.
When Pixar chose to release Cars 2 in 2011, they received phenomenal box office success despite the fact that critics and audiences alike felt it to be Pixar’s first misstep - a sequel that wasn’t really needed. However in this case with directors Andrews and Chapman helming their first big-budget feature-length production – a risk Pixar rarely takes - they thankfully pull it off.
For the first time, Brave is set in Scotland, and it seems all the better for it. The animated landscapes and sweeping shots of Merida hunting, raise the question of why they’ve never done it before. The main highlight is in fact the animation; Merida’s bright red hair has been so wonderfully crafted, that you stare at it throughout. Similarly, Kelly Macdonald’s sweet yet bold Scottish accent finally plays out here, after having to play it down for recent roles. In addition to this, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson - two other British greats -make the whole film seem that little bit more British. The film is also surprisingly funny; its script is entirely original and witty throughout, with jokes for both older and younger audiences.
Whilst there are many pluses to the film, the storyline itself feels a little weak towards the end. For such a big-budget film, the lack of big, bold action pieces seems to come down to a storyline which seems to wither away. The plot is extremely basic and entirely predictable. However, the characters seem to carry it perfectly and its running time of 93 minutes seems just right.
In Conclusion: with magic, a princess, various suitors and one bow and arrow, you’d expect a typical Disney fairytale, but you’d be entirely wrong. Merida breaks the conventions of a damsel in distress, and the setting of this Pixar film in Scotland is terribly ‘brave’ and it’s much better for it.
