davidh777

Read the pre-release discussion

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TEHWDA_6e3M?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TEHWDA_6e3M?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

davidh777

Saw this tonight. It was gorgeously shot, I really liked the lead character, and I liked the atmosphere and setting because I'm a Britphile. And fortunately, the advertising I saw did *not* reveal the main thrust of the plot. However, I really wasn't that thrilled with that plot, which at times felt like warmed-over Beauty and the Beast crossed with Brother Bear. There was a certain Ghibli-esque element to it, which I liked, but as some others have said I wasn't all that entertained by the juvenile potty humor.

I'd say B, which is disappointing for me as a Pixar fan.

Travis McClain

Is it shameless of me to link to the review on Flickchart's blog since I wrote it?

I've had a week to digest the movie. I still feel that Pixar has compromised their storytelling standards with this one. One thing I didn't even mention in my Flickchart review was how clumsy are the musical montages. They're directly out of the 90s, and I can't tell if this was some kind of homage to animation conventions of the past or if it was part of their attempt to cast as wide a net as possible in hopes of pleasing some audience. I didn't mention it in my review because then it looked like I was just bashing the movie and I didn't mean to, but those musical sequences (brief though they were) were among the first complaints I heard when the movie finished playing.

I will say that I did very much like Merida as a character and I hope Pixar does something more with her. Maybe not necessarily even a sequel, but I'd be happy to see her appear in short films from time to time.

Superboy

I honestly didn't think that Pixar could do any worse than Cars 2, but this movie takes the cake. What a shitty movie.

bluetoast

Just came back from a midnight screening. I enjoyed this but as I was watching it, the movie felt really short, and the scale felt small. Since it was more of a personal journey, I guess that makes sense. I'll probably see it maybe one more time in theaters, but that's far from my Pixar all time 4 times for Up. Merida was a great protagonist, and the characters and scenery were well done. All the different types of curls for her hair too, man that detail was amazing. Wish there was more individual personality for the triplets, although I assume there are subtle differences upon closer inspection, in look and acting.

And yes, there is something after the credits. I didn't expect it, just wanted to sit through them.

As for the plot points, yeah I was glad that the trailers kind of kept that hidden.

celmendo

I'm not sure I saw the same movie as these other guys. It was wonderful! All the kids in my theater were enchanted and didn't make a peep. I laughed and cried and had a great time and the film is very beautiful. That's an awesome movie in my book.

I can concede that if I didn't know it was Pixar, I would have said it was a Disney movie. It wasn't as sophisticated in a lot of ways as what we've come to expect from Pixar. It was a simplistic story that didn't surprise me at any point. It felt more geared towards the youngsters but I sure enjoyed it and I'm old. And I really didn't think there was a lot of potty humor. I saw several instances where they could have gone for the cheaper laugh but went a different way. But really any bad thing I have to say about it is trying to find things wrong.

The pacing was terrific for kids. It never had slow parts where their minds would wander and make them restless. I actually would have preferred it be a little more loose and have time to breathe in the gorgeousness.

The short, La Luna, was great as they always are. Solid movie experience.

Spiderbite

I really wonder if this will rake in the cash that other Pixar films usually make. My 8 year old son has absolutely no interest in seeing this and judging from the comments of his friends his age, he is not alone. All the boys feel it is a girl's movie and I wonder if that perception will hurt it?

That being said, as an adult who has seen most of Pixar's stuff in the theater, I have to join him in his lack of interest as well.

lisadoris

I enjoyed this. Major props to the folks who animated Merida's hair! Unfortunately Ebert's review spoiled the main plot point but what can you do. There is something missing in this film and I just can't put my finger on what it is. I enjoyed Brave way more than Cars (I never even bothered with Cars 2) but it's not quite up there with the truly great Pixar films.

macontosh2000

Just came from this and i really liked it, and i went into it not expecting much from it because of the reviews. I did have some issues with a few parts in the movie which was kinda disappointing, with this being a Pixar film.

I LOVED the mother/daughter relationship, you dont often get to see things like that in movies.

small spoiler:

davidh777

Do we need spoiler tags in the reviews thread? Kind of buyer-beware in here, but what the heck.

On the final resolution, when

Anubis2005X

There was a lot more man ass in this flick than I expected there to be. Not a big deal, was just surprised that this was coming from Pixar. Plus the kid jumping down that chick's cleavage, just seemed odd...

Joe Schmoe

There were some funny moments and it looked wonderful, but they lost me as soon as the major plot development kicked in. I think Pixar and Disney were wise to keep it out of the trailers. Then again, had I known about it beforehand maybe I would have accepted it. The last 1/2 or 1/3 of the film is kind of predictable. I wasn't blown away by the 3D either. The short film, La Luna, was cute but nothing to get excited about.

TomOpus

We both enjoyed the movie even though the short was "okay" and the movie was a little short of plot. It looked amazing and the sound was great (our theater has Atmos installed.)

One question I have is: I know Ratzenberger has his usual cameo (his character is Gordon) but I never caught his voice amongst all the Scottish accents. Guess I will have to watch it again or wait for the Blu-ray.

The Bus

<hr>

This is probably the least favorite of the Pixar movies I've seen. (I've never seen any of the Cars films and don't plan to.)

The music (which felt out of place), the inability to strike the right balance between an epic legend, bear humor (which I liked), and other parts of the story.

It's probably the most Dreamworks-y film Pixar has done.

Still glad I saw it, but it's now been two years since Up which means Pixar is in a drought.

TomOpus

Ah crap. That's what I get for posting at 2am.

asianxcore

Saw this over the weekend with my girlfriend.

I thought it was just average, even though I loved all the Comedic notes that this film had. If anything, they were probably my favorite aspect of this film.

Other than that, I didn't really like the lead (Merida). She didn't feel very memorable to me. IMO, Pixar covered up a very shallow character with a very memorable physical attribute.

Still liked this film more than Wall-E, which is still my least favorite Pixar film (haven't seen Cars 2 yet).

I loved the short, 'La Luna' though!

Draven

Loved it. My wife and 6 year old daughter and 8 year old son agreed.

Strong characters, fun set pieces and twists, STUNNING visuals and a mother-daughter relationship we don't get in many movies.

Just outstanding in so many ways.

bcd

He made an announcement as the clans were entering the "Great Room" and was hit by the door iirc

Draven

Yep, that was him.

Arpeggi

Worst Pixar movie by far and one of the most boring and generic kids film I've seen. The accents were annoying and the characters were one dimensional. Not to mention the bullshit liberal and feminist themes. Can't believe how badly Pixar fell off.

cungar

Thought it was really good. I actually expected to be bored but it flew by.

Oh and Kelly MacDonald's voice was the icing on the cake. She could read the phone book and turn me on.

The scene with the bear in the water catching Fish was one of the most real looking scenes I've ever seen in animation.

davidh777

0% voting for the middlemost ground on this one

Travis McClain

Quite the reverse; Brave was so disappointing because so little of the film lived up to those themes.

Rob V

I really enjoyed this one, I thought it was much better than Cars 2 albeit the 3D was a little under-utilized. The theme was great the ending was really touching. My 9 and 4 year old loved it and my wife (and maybe me) was teary at the end.

E Unit

Pretty much verbatim for me, except no 6 year old son. I thorughly enjoyed this one. Funny how people keep saying Pixar has gone with this. I'm not sure what people were expecting...maybe a famale Braveheart I guess.