I don't understand why Brave has such a low rating. It was a good story, animated and acted well. Why do you think it isn't rated higher?
Is it because this is a Pixar film and people expect more from Pixar? Or could the fact Disney has their stamp on it have put people off?
To be honest, I don't think it's up to Pixars such as the Incredibles or Monsters Inc. But Brave deserves 8+ surely.
I really dont get it.. I thought it was beautiful, the characters funny and warm. Especially Merida was a every relatable girl, her character, her looks and the way she develops throughout the story. I enjoyed it very much and liked it better than Wall-e and Up, both had one or two good moments, but were overall quite boring. I think it comes down to the fact that man / boys couldnt really relate to the lead and found the whole conflict between Merida and her mother boring.
shareYeah it is a rare example of a female lead in animation. I guess that could be another explanation for the (relatively) low rating.
shareLow rating? Explain all of the other Disney Princess films, then.
Female lead =/= low rating.
Easy, she's not a female lead that conforms to gender norms (in all the princess movies, don't you notice that they're all perfect and pretty, waiting around to be rescued and what not?). People tend to be less approving of that sort of non-conformity to such norms.
shareAny recent princess movie (Tangled, Frozen, etc.) made within the last few decades doesn't really follow archaic gender norms.
Sure, perhaps the ones from the late 20th century... but not so much anymore.
Many of them are just more subtle about following the stereotypical norms (which arguably is more insidious). Brave, however, doesn't follow them and is penalized for it.
shareYes, Merida is indeed a very 'rare example of a female lead in animation'.
About as rare as Disney's Snow White, Cinderella, Pocahontas, Ariel, Lilo, Alice, Wendy, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Jane, Rapunzel, Mulan, Tiana, Elsa, Anna, and of course Tinkerbell.
Are you kidding me? Story was the worst part of the movie. and don't let me get started on the 'comedy'! This felt like just another disney movie instead of Pixar.
Top 250 Foreign Movies
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What did you dislike about the story and comedy? The story felt more like a fairy tale than other Pixar stuff, but it didn't feel Disneyfied to me.
shareAre you kidding me?
This is a 6/10 movie at best. Nice visuals, good voice acting and... That is it. The writing is mediocre at best, the music leaves a lot to be desired and, as a whole, the movie is just not as good as it should have been.
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Thanks for the reply. How would you make the story better? And why did you find the writing bad? I enjoyed the film as it was.
sharePersonally, I found it a bit disappointing. Merida seemed rather whiney, and there was no real enemy for her to fight or anything. all those warrior skills she had seemed a bit pointless. The problems that arose were all her own fault. I had hoped for something more exciting.
shareThanks for the reply. I didn't find Merida whiney, but that's just my view I guess.
I saw that massive bear as the big scary enemy, but I suppose Merida's real struggle was to take control of her own destiny and reconcile with her mother. I suppose I can see why people might prefer a clear antagonist in many ways, but I did enjoy the story. I found it fun and exciting. And I thought it was more meaningful than simply beating up a baddy.
And I honestly can't remember if she used her archery skills to much effect by this point. But it seemed her fighting/ outdoors skills were basically to set her apart from the stereotype damsel in distress type princess.
I'm curious. Who/what would you have preferred Merida to have to beat? Or would you have maybe preferred the bear being a more clear antagonist and the story being all about her fighting it?
> Personally, I found it a bit disappointing. Merida seemed rather whiney, and there was no real enemy for her to fight ... The problems that arose were all her own fault.
I guess that was exactly my real problem with the movie as well. She was just a whiny little princess -- literally. I felt no sympathy for her at all. She a very bad example for little girls; just whine a lot and everything works out the way you want it.
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This kind of reflects my thoughts on Brave:
http://thatguywiththeglasses.wikia.com/wiki/Disneycember:_Brave
If you're familiar with the Nostalgia Critic, you know that he overreacts for the purposes of entertainment, but the point still remains that the story to him (and to me) isn't all that good and didn't match up with audience expectations based on the trailers.
I do enjoy it, but I do see the problems with it too.
If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.
Thanks for the link.
Interesting about the film not matching audience expectations from trailers. I didn't see any trailers before watching the film. Maybe that helped my enjoyment of it.
I don't know why this movie didn't get more appreciation. It totally broke the Disney princess mold. I loved that Merida was so independent and feisty. I loved that the central story didn't revolve around "true love" or happily ever after. I thought the peripheral characters were funny. The animation is probably some of my favorite of all CGI films. I watched this on Mother's Day with my daughter. It was perfect. Also there was NO SINGING. I don't mind a song here and there, but often times there are just too many cutesy songs in these types of films.
"I saw it move too!"-Mo Rutherford
"It totally broke the Disney princess mold. I loved that Merida was so independent and feisty. "
When you look at all the past Disney princesses before Merida, you'll see there have already been several like those that you describe.
"Also there was NO SINGING. I don't mind a song here and there"
I find most of the songs from Disney enjoyable and good quality. That of course is not taking into account the straight to DVD sequels or other kiddie type movies, because yes, they are way too cutesy.
"The animation is probably some of my favorite of all CGI films."
I will say this is one one the strengths of the film. The detail is very gorgeous and they provide a good atmosphere, though a lot of times I think they should have taken their time (Merida's ride through the woods montage) with the pacing.
If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.
When you look at all the past Disney princesses before Merida, you'll see there have already been several like those that you describe.
I find most of the songs from Disney enjoyable and good quality. That of course is not taking into account the straight to DVD sequels or other kiddie type movies, because yes, they are way too cutesy.
"Also, finally, a plot that doesn't involve a princesss getting chased by or chasing a prince!"
Mulan, Tiana, and Rapunzel say hello . Of course I'm only counting Mulan because she's part of he official brand. Rapunzel & Tiana did end up wtih guys, but in neither case were they chasing after or being chased by them.
"and she isn't interested in marriage just yet. The former Disney princesses acted more like young 20 somethings"
I don't know, other than the first 3, most don't start out interested in marriage. They might end up married, but that's not how it starts. I'd say Mulan and Jasmine are the closest ones with an established interest when we're first introduced to their characters, and the former is more because of tradition while the latter wants to break tradition.
"I can see how the Mother turning into a bear plot wouldn't appeal to everyone though."
I think there was a lost opportunity somewhere because while the movie tackles a mother-daughter relationship (which I do commend it for focusing on that), it was very limited because of the mother turning into a bear. I also think there was something missing in the lore, as though it was only given a passing reference rather than having it solidly tie into the events despite certain aspects being connected.
I find it to be halfway decent, though some of the characterizations could have been better and the movie could itself have been paced better as well.
If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.
While it is refreshing that Rapunzel and Tiano, unlike most past Disney princesses (note: Mulan is not a princess) had independent, distinct goals outside of love and marriage, they are still more typical Disney films. Most Disney movies surrounding a princess or teen/young adult female character (outside of "Mulan", which was highly under-appreciated) do basically tell a love story, regardless of whether that was the character's "goal" in the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I love "Tangled" - it's one of my favorites - but it's essentially an animated musical/romantic comedy. Same with "Princess and the Frog". Essentially we have a "girl has goals, girls needs to reach goals, girl meets guy who seems like total opposite of her, guy helps girl reach goals, girl and guy fall in love" plot line. They are enjoyable and entertaining stories because of the twists and turns they take us through in order to rehash the same basic plot.
Again, I do enjoy those movies, but to be fair Pixar doesn't generally write those types of stories. The closest they came to writing a romantic comedy was "Bug's Life", and even then the romance was more understated and not technically the main plot line. In most of their movies, even if romance does have some element in the story - which it generally does, because romance is a part of most people's lives - that's not what the plot revolves around. Sure Mike and Cecilia are seen dating in "Monster's Inc", but the plot surrounds the friendship of two old buddies. Carl and Ellie have one of the most romantic movie relationships ever, yes, but the movie is not about them falling in love. Their falling in love - and growing old together - simply sets the stage for a movie about grief and learning to live life to its fullest - even, or especially, after you've experienced the pain of the loss of a loved one.
"Brave" was about a mother-daughter relationship, and the strain it goes through during the more rebellious teenage years (which is also an age-old tale), with a side of breaking old clichés. Like the cliché that our heroine must even have a love interest, at all.
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Rose Tyler...
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there have been other Disney films where the heroine doesn't sing sbout true love. There's no love song in Mulan for example, or rapunzel, or Pocahontas. and Mulan actually uses her martial skills to save China, which is a lot more impressive than what merida does.
shareI have no idea what it was rated at the time the OP started this thread, but when I checked just a moment ago it was rated 7.2. That's hardly a low rating.
share"At Last I See the Light", while not Rapunzel singing about her wishes for love, is definitely a love song nonetheless. Pocahontas was supposed to have a love song, but they ended up cutting it out, and the whole plot is still centered relatively squarely around her's and John Smith's romance. Mulan is kickass, and one of the strongest heroine's Disney has ever created (well, borrowed from an old Chinese legend, anyhow). I think you may be missing what makes them great characters, however. It's not simply that Mulan or Merida do or do not fight with some invader or foe (which Merida does, actually) it's that they are quick witted, independent, physically capable, and able to fend for themselves and fight for their beliefs whether they need to use their skills or not.
Mulan isn't great because she beats people up (which any bully on the playground can do), she's great because she fights - both literally and figuratively - for what she believes in and continues to do so even after she has been cast out for who she is. Merida, too, fights fiercely for what she believes in, which includes calling out an outdated and ridiculous tradition. More, she is willing to stand up physically and fight her own father in order to protect her mother. What makes her most impressive, however, is her ability to recognize when she's made a mistake - and in the end shows that she is willing to sacrifice her own freedom and life in order to keep peace between the clans.
Merida is possibly one of the greatest heroines they have every created. Not because she is physically powerful, but because her character goes through such a great change by the end of her story.
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Rose Tyler...
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The rating isn't low. It's actually above average for IMDB.
I just watched it for the first time and I gave it a 7/10. I think it's about where it should be. It's a good movie, but not something that deserves to be in the top 250, in my opinion.