Of all the Pixar films, this one feels the most like a Disney film, and that by no means acts as a detriment to this film. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy the fact that Pixar pushed its creative limits with Brave, crafting a film that feels nothing like its previous films. Pixar purists that claim this film is evidence of the studio selling out to Disney sound completely and utterly preposterous. This is an animation studio doing something they have never done before, and that should not come with judgmental attitudes, but with wholehearted praise. You are free (and frankly encouraged) to express any potential problems you have with not only Brave, but with all films ever produced by all studios, but disregarding this film solely on the basis that it is too similar to Disney is totally absurd. For starters, there are plenty of aspects about this film that are inherently Pixar. The animation, in particular, is simply jaw-dropping. This kingdom is the perfect backdrop for these incredible animators to show off to the entire world. Even Merida herself is an animation wonder with her flowing scarlet hair that will put Ariel to shame. Also, the music in Brave is classic Pixar, featuring a few new songs that like "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story and "Our Town" from Cars provide some entertainment and challenging messages ("Touch the Sky" is just a phenomenal number, plain and simple).
Perhaps the most paramount aspect of Brave that is so Pixar is the characters, especially our protagonist, Merida. It took seventeen years for Pixar to give the world its first female main character (and first princess), but luckily, Merida is more than worth the wait. From the beginning, it is abundantly clear that Merida is not your typical character and definitely not your typical royal. Taking a clear cue from Disney here, Pixar does a stellar job of adding layer after layer to Merida's character by allowing her to openly express and pursue her desire to make her own fate. Sure, she is the princess, soon to be ruler of the kingdom, but she is nowhere near satisfied with that. She wants to forge her own path, create her own destiny, and that is a character and a mindset that I can fully support and invest in. Merida's character is greatly influenced by Kelly Macdonald, who fits this role like a glove. From the accent to the profound dialogue, she is simply perfect. Additionally, Queen Elinor (a remarkable Emma Thompson) is an extraordinary counterpart to Merida. As her mother, Elinor wants what is absolute best for Merida, and in her tradition, what is best for her is to be betrothed to another kingdom's suitor. However, upon hearing Merida out (and upon a life-changing experience as a bear), she begins to realize that Merida must be the one to decide what is absolutely best for herself. Throughout the film, Elinor transforms from a overbearing pain to a firm guider for Merida and her quest to find her own unique fate, and that metamorphosis is a spectacle to behold as that mother-daughter dynamic evolves tremendously in Brave. The remainder of the cast is also exquisite, voiced expertly by such greats as Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Craig Ferguson, Kevin McKidd, and Robbie Coltrane.
There is a real and legitimate debate behind whether or not Brave belongs in the upper-echelon of Pixar's films alongside such consensus masterpieces as The Incredibles and Wall-E. Is Brave a timeless classic? Time will tell. Right now, I do not consider Brave to be in this prestigious category, but it comes super close to reaching this level, and this could very easily change a few months or years from now. I think Brave is a truly great film that is without question one of the best animated films of the modern era, but the only reason I am hesitant to put its name in the same breath as the immortals is due to its rather quickly paced emotional climax. There is undoubtedly some signature Pixar emotion to be found and experienced in Brave because that is just how great the studio is at eliciting those emotions and how well these characters are developed. However, in my humble opinion, this film needed some more development in its second half once Elinor is changed into a bear and Merida begins to truly bond with her mother. The majority of the breakthrough development is relegated to one (albeit great) song, "Into the Open Air." While this song does an admirable job at bringing Merida and Elinor close enough where the breakthrough works to some degree, a few scenes preceding and/or following this song would have been extremely beneficial for the film as the intended emotion would therefore hit heavier. It is not as if Brave is already too long of a film for additional scenes; actually, it clocks in at less than ninety minutes before the credits start to roll. In a film that relies on this mother-daughter relationship and eventual mending of that bond, I would have liked to have seen more scenes with Merida realizing how much her mother truly loves her.
Now, do not misconstrue my thoughts on Brave. I love this film. It features a fantastic story with phenomenal characters surrounded by gorgeous animation. The critiques I have with it only arise when we begin discussing its prospects of achieving classic/masterpiece status, and to that, I say not right now. That should not diminish, though, the greatness that is to be found in Brave. Disney and Pixar have crafted a modern day epic brimming with thought-provoking messages and timely challenges with plenty of laughs and visuals to entertain the masses.
Rating: 9/10
Historical Significance: Brave is dedicated to the late Apple/Pixar co-founder Steve Jobs (Jobs passed away in October 2011 and Brave was released in June 2012). After the credits roll, a wisp appears with the caption: "Dedicated with love and gratitude to Steve Jobs- our partner, mentor, friend." Another way of honoring Jobs is the use of Lord MacIntosh as the character's name voiced by Craig Ferguson, a reference to the famous Apple computer. Pixar was founded in 1979 when Ed Catmull was recruited by George Lucas to work for his company to further explore the use of computer graphics in film. John Lasseter was hired in 1983 as the studio developed its first short, The Adventures of Andre & Wally B. Seeing the young studio's potential, Steve Jobs bought the Graphics Group from Lucasfilm and established it as an independent company to later be named Pixar. Jobs became a majority shareholder and funded the studio early on, even acting as an executive producer on Toy Story. The importance of Jobs to Pixar truly cannot be overstated. Without Jobs, who knows what have happened to the studio in its early days, and therefore, who knows if we would have had the studio we love today.
Behind the Scenes: The film took six years to complete. Mark Andrews is the first one credited for directing Brave, but he was initially assigned to be a mere consultant to Pixar's first female director, Brenda Chapman. However, in 2010, Chapman unexpectedly left the director's chair even though almost eighty percent of the film was complete. Andrews filled the vacancy, but unlike in previous director changes at Pixar, he kept Chapman's story in tact. Chapman would receive equal credit for directing Brave, and although it is unclear why she left, she claimed in the aftermath of Brave's success that "[her] vision came through." Brave won the Academy Award in 2013 for Best Animated Feature as Chapman became the first female to direct a winner from this category. Also, Pixar aimed high during the casting process for this film. Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon was signed to voice Merida when the project was previously titled The Bear and the Bow, but due to scheduling conflicts, she had to drop out. Sean Connery, the original James Bond, was also eyed to voice King Fergus, the role eventually portrayed by Billy Connolly.
Favorite Character: Pixar's first leading female just so happens to be one of their greatest creations. Merida is not just a technical wonder from an animation standpoint, but she also proclaims and embodies some of the most timely themes ever proclaimed by Pixar. In the best way imaginable, Merida is a rebel. She pushes back against the societal status quo time and time again in every facet, from her kingdom to her own family. She is the ultimate free spirit, longing for her fate to be exclusively decided by herself. In a legend defining moment, Merida gazes upon her potential suitors during an archery competition and decides that something must be done. With a daring move, Merida strides onto the field and professes that she will be playing for her own hand, an unforeseen twist for the entire kingdom, but especially her traditional mother. As she takes her bow and arrows and proceeds to fire away, much to the dismay of Queen Elinor, we can feel the adrenaline pumping through not only Merida, but through us as the viewer. When she lets that final arrow go and it splits the withstanding bullseye from Dingwald, the legend of Merida is confirmed, and so is her place among the pantheon Pixar greats.
Favorite Scene/Song: As iconic as that aforementioned scene is, the "Touch the Sky" sequence is my favorite scene from Brave. Merida eloquently explains early on how royal living is simply not her cup of tea, and she anxiously awaits the arrival of this one day that comes around ever so often where she does not have to be a princess and she is free to enjoy life in whatever way she pleases. This prominently includes her archery set along with her trusty stead and the open road. As the music swells, the animators put on a tremendous display of masterclass artistry as they fully explore the grandeur of Merida's kingdom in majestic fashion. In a film that boasts some awe-inspiring animation, this sequence is the highlight from that perspective. Focusing now back on Merida, we are then introduced to her impressive skill of hitting every single bullseye along this trail with guaranteed accuracy, and this is all occurring while she is riding horseback and jumping over various obstacles. It is a remarkable introduction to the spirit and character of Merida as the scene continues to follow Merida's picturesque journey. "Touch the Sky" is a splendid addition to this scene, performed impeccably by Julie Fowlis. Its lyrics are simple, but when it is teamed up with this animation and Merida, the combination creates one of Pixar's finest moments to date.Updated Ranking: Just missing out on receiving a ten from me, Brave finds itself as the highest non-ten yet.
- Toy Story 3
- The Incredibles
- Toy Story
- Finding Nemo
- Up
- Ratatouille
- Wall-E
- Monsters Inc.
- Toy Story 2
- Brave
- A Bug's Life
- Cars
- Cars 2
Next, the world of video gaming takes over Disney and the Summer of Magic in Wreck-It Ralph!
-Cody Fleenor
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