Review of Brave (2012) by Harry E — 19 Jun 2013

After my relative disappointment with 'Up,' I was rather surprised by how much I liked this. The film is exhilarating in its early stages. It becomes less so once the rather standard main plot sets in, and the film is clearly disjointed, but the movie remains engaging and enjoyable.

Once again, the movement of the camera/viewing-eye is wondrous - it's Pixar's specialty, and better here, I think, than it was in 'Up' - and the humor is impeccable for the most part. The really interesting element that I'm sure is one of the main discussion topics about the film is that this is more or less a rebuttal to/subversion of the Disney princess standard: a film that's specifically about rejecting the notion of a princess's role as we are used to it (because of Disney) in storytelling and film.

This is great. Of course, though, at the same time the film is under Disney's auspices and Merida is the latest addition to the Disney Princess line. I don't think Merida would approve of that.