A Brave (2012) Review
It’s been over three years since Pixar has graced us with a feature film that did not have a number after the title (Toy Story 3, Cars 2) and after what many considered their weakest outing in Cars 2, Disney Pixar’s Brave had its work cut out for it. Could this new, original story return us to the magic Pixar has always been known for? Or might Cars 2 and its highly-commercial success light the path in a different direction, leaving Brave by the wayside?
The Synopsis
Brave is the story of the red-haired Merida, princess of a Scottish kingdom known as DunBroch. She lives in the castle with her father King Fergus, mother Elinor, and three younger brother triplets, along with servants and guards. She is a bit of a tomboy and dislikes the constant “princess training” her mother puts her through. Every so often she gets a day off and spends it with her horse Angus riding through the countryside and practicing with her bow, of which her skill would make Robin Hood stand up and take notice.
Letters arrive at the castle one evening that the three other clans are coming to present their sons as suitors for Merida. Merida wants nothing to do with this, but finds a possible out when she discovers the competition they must win is an event chosen by the princess herself. She chooses archery, and on the day of the games boldly announces she will compete for her OWN hand, winning easily with three straight bulls-eyes. Her mother is furious, as are the other clans, for this break in tradition. In a fit of fury, Merida rips apart a tapestry her mother made and Elinor casts Merida’s precious bow into the fire, causing Merida to run away into the forest.
While wondering in the countryside, Merida comes across magical Will O’ the Wisps which guide her to a small cottage. Inside is a room packed with wood carvings, all crafted by an energetic old woman eager to sell them. Quickly Merida notices that there’s magic all around the house, and discovers the old woman is actually a witch. She agrees to buy all the carvings but ONLY if the witch will create a spell to change her mother so she doesn’t have to go through with the marriage. The spell is made in the form of a small cake, which Merida takes back to her mother.
The cake suddenly turns Elinor into a black bear, much like the beast that many years ago took King Fergus’ leg in battle. She and her daughter sneak out of the castle and rush back to the witches hut, only to find it deserted with a message saying that the spell will be permanent after the second sunrise, unless Merida repairs the bond that was severed. She and her mother spend the night in the forest and in the morning catch fish in the river, something the Queen must be taught how to accomplish by her daughter and bringing the two closer together. However suddenly Elinor’s memories are erased and she turns into a real, savage bear. She regains her composure, but they discover what will happen if they do not break the spell.
Believing that the bond that was severed was the tapestry that Merida ruined in the argument with her mother the previous day, the two return to the castle and sneak inside to repair it. The king finds them just as Elinor once again loses control of her human mind, and he gathers his men to chase the beast, thinking it has killed his wife. Merida is locked in the tower, but gets free with help from her three young brothers who mischievously also ate some of the cake and are now baby bears.
She races to the rescue of her mother just as the army is about to close in, but the huge bear that took Fergus’ leg shows up and it becomes a fight between the bear Elinor to protect her daughter and the monstrous bear who is actually an enchanted Scotsman from years gone by, also under a spell by the witch. The frightening bear is defeated and the Scotsman’s soul is released back into the magic of the world.
Merida repairs the tapestry quickly, just as the sun begins to rise, but it seems too late, her mother is still a bear. As Merida hugs Elinor, apologizing and proclaiming her love for her mother, Elinor turns back into a human and all is restored. At the end of the day it is decided that instead of betrothal, each clansman will have the chance to win Merida’s love before she chooses anyone to marry.
Of course all of this is mixed with the humor and heart we’ve come to expect from Pixar films, but space doesn’t allow for every single detail of this complex tale. For that, you should head to the theater!
The Verdict
Let’s not beat around the bush: Brave is not Pixar’s worst film, but it also doesn’t pose a threat to the Top 5 at the uppermost end of the list. Their place as “greatest” is secure. The problem, really, lies in just how incredible Pixar generally is.
Pixar itself is in a constantly difficult position. Their films have excelled so much that they are nearly in a class of their own. What can be a brilliant, wonderful animated movie can possibly become just “okay” when you add in the word “Pixar” because the bar is set so high. I’m sure it’s a nice problem to have, but it’s still something they must be concerned about.
Brave is one of those brilliant, wonderful animated movies that is knocked down quite a few steps just because it must go toe to toe with the likes of Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Wall-E. Films so original and outstanding that it almost seems unfair to be compared to. But compare we must, because that is the type of creature we are.
The Story
Story has always been coupled with amazing visuals and characters to set Pixar films apart. Where Brave fell short was in how much of this story felt like one we’ve all seen before. That’s not to say we’ve seen it in this particular way (and truly, most general stories have been told before at some point or another) but at times I felt as if I was watching something I had watched a dozen times already. That is very unusual for a Pixar film, and one reason why I think Brave sits in the middle of Pixar’s Pack instead of at the top.
The first third of the film felt like extremely familiar ground. I’m sure it didn’t help that so much of it debuted in trailers, but beyond that it just seemed to be too familiar in how it was presented. I felt as though I was watching “The Setup” as a book on storytelling might describe. Yes, it needed to be told in order to understand the characters and setting, but it didn’t do enough differently to really hold my interest and make me want to watch.
The middle, thankfully, is where this movie really shines. The beginning was necessary, but if the film had started 30 minutes in instead I probably would have been just as captivated. The scene with the witch was excellent, and left me wanting more. Her pet crow, for me, stole the whole show, and it was a shame he didn’t play a larger role. This wonderful center was text book “Pixar” and I adored every moment of it.
Sadly the “Pixar” moments didn’t seem to last all that long before we are thrown into the last third, once again retreading on ground that’s a worn down dirt path because so many people have walked through here before. Pixar knows how to tug heartstrings and make you really feel it, so the tears in the eyes of the audience were as real as ever by the heartfelt end. That moment was much shorter lived than most Pixar movies, though. To be honest, the climax scene seemed almost like I was watching Beauty and the Beast in 3D with different characters. Still moving and powerful, but been there, done that. (A previous scene seemed to have been swiped directly from Brother Bear, as well.)
The Animation
(From an Animator’s Perspective)
We visit Skwigly because we’re animators (or love animation) so it seems only proper to dedicate a nice chunk of this review to discussing the actual animation in the film; something many reviews just gloss over (or regarding Pixar say “It’s perfect”). First a quick bit of background: I have loved animation my entire life, and studied it carefully for nearly three decades. I’ve only been actually making it myself for the past eight years or so, and even then it was limited Flash style. Just in the past year have I made the transition to full traditional 2D (which I adore more than almost any other activity). I have a long way to go to become a master animator, as I think 99% of us do. However in my study of animation (specifically animation, in terms of movement and motion) I am very often extremely critical. Things that need a different timing or sense of motion stick out to me in films like a sore thumb, to the point where few people I know want to go to movies with me since afterward I’m constantly saying things like “I can’t BELIEVE they didn’t fix the arc of the pear when Anakin used the Force to feed it to Padme!”
Pixar usually manages to suck me into the movie experience more than most studios, because their care for animation is at a level well above almost anyone else. Brave did an excellent job of continuing that tradition. Very few times did I notice something off at all from an animation perspective. Unfortunately there were quite a few things that were perfectly “right” and I just didn’t personally ENJOY the movement or style choices they made.
The frantic, near-weightlessness of the three triplet younger brothers drove me crazy. It wasn’t wrong, and it was very well animated. I just couldn’t stand it. If you look at Dash from The Incredibles you will see a very, very nimble character who is extremely light on his feet. Still despite his incredible (pun intended) athleticism, he seems to be forced to obey the laws everyone else is subjected to. The three little brothers felt, to me, to operate on totally different laws. Almost as if they were in the wrong film. They zipped about in such a way that I couldn’t see them as existing in the same world as the solid other characters. In no way were they poorly animated, the style of movement was just something I had a lot of trouble getting past.
Also, animation aside for a moment, the doll-like style of many of the characters (including Merida) just kept bugging me. Some moments it wasn’t noticeable, but at other times I felt like I was watching a puppet. Again, not from an animation standpoint, but because of the porcelain look. There were times when my brain seemed to think Merida could have very well hung out with Woody and Buzz without seeming out of place. Her hair, though visually and technically impressive, seemed like the hair on a doll. That’s something that seems so unlike Pixar, so it stood out.
Reading the above paragraphs makes it seem like I didn’t enjoy the movie or I’m being overly negative. Not so, I’m just pointing out critical things I saw as an animator that I wasn’t totally on board with. The film also provided some truly epic scenes and settings, and the animation was absolutely top notch. The visuals of Brave are something we should all strive towards, because Pixar continues to outshine everyone else.
As a small note, I saw the film in 3D, and much like other Pixar films it was very well crafted. It did not throw “LOOK 3D!” in your face as some animated features do. Much like most films, though, I don’t think it added enough to warrant the plastic glasses. It’s definitely a movie you’d appreciate more in theaters (so go see it while it’s on the big screen!) but if you aren’t a fan of 3D in general you won’t be missing out much if you choose a viewing sans-glasses. Except for one thing: Before Brave the Pixar short was the Oscar nominated La Luna. I had seen La Luna twice before, but this was the first time viewing it in 3D. I have never seen a film that was actually DRAMATICALLY better in 3D until La Luna. It added more than I could have ever imagined. I was shocked. So see La Luna in 3D if you get the chance. It’s brilliant.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of movies, you should absolutely see Brave. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy it but not be eager to rush to the ticket window for an immediate second-screening. I have no doubt I’ll own it on DVD or Blu-ray one day, it just won’t be a Day 1 purchase. Brave is by no means a bad film in any way, but it just can’t live up to the pedigree of previous Pixar works. It is worth seeing in theaters, yet 2D vs 3D doesn’t matter so much. See it in whichever dimension you prefer, and be sure you check it out on the big screen as it was meant to be seen!
Note: Make sure you stay until after the credits roll.