MOVIE NEWS: Brave
Let’s hear what OWL Assistant Editor Kendra Brown has to say about the new movie, Brave.
Pixar, the creators of Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and more, are back with their thirteenth animated movie, Brave. It opens in theatres today. And for the first time in Pixar film history, we finally have a female heroine. About time, right? Anyway, I got a chance to catch a screening of Brave this week, and I’m here to tell you about it!
Merida is the fiery and feisty daughter of Scotland’s King Fergus. She may be a princess, but not a traditional one. She rides horses, shoots a bow and arrow, and is determined to fight against the traditions of her kingdom. Her mother, Queen Elinor, tells her that she must marry a suitor from one of three Scottish clans, but Merida refuses. She wants her freedom and is not ready to get married.
When Merida defies her mother, chaos erupts in the kingdom and Merida flees, seeking out a mysterious witch to help change her fate. The witch agrees by granting her one wish. But when the wish goes terribly wrong, Merida must find a way to undo the curse before it’s too late.
Here are a few observations about the movie:
1. It’s magical. The breathtaking Scottish scenery, a spectacular castle, an ancient curse, and one very courageous hero make for a movie bursting with magic and wonder. There’s also an enchanted forest, fairies, and a witch (with a whiskery chin and all). Basically, this flick’s got all of the fixings needed for a good old-fashioned fairy tale!
2. It’s mischievous. From Merida’s unruly red locks to her rowdy triplet brothers, Harris, Hubert and Hamish, this movie’s full of fun and mischief. Even Merida’s father, King Fergus, gets up to no good a few times. But the triplets are definitely the main troublemakers, providing most of the movie’s hijinks. Those boys will do just about anything to get their hands on a pastry.
3. It’s moving. In addition to all the magic and mischief, there’s a strong moral to this story. It’s about fate, freedom, and being brave enough to change the course of your life. Merida is at the heart of this tale. And I bet her story of bravery will warm your heart, like it did mine (and maybe even make you shed a tear or two).
Overall, I loved this movie. My favourite part was the main character, Merida, not to mention those gloriously curly red locks of hers. I’ve always been a fan of fairy tales, and this one goes down as one of my all-time faves.
But just a little warning for our younger readers: there are some scary scenes that might make you jump in your seat. I know I did once or twice!
What do you think, blog readers? Will you go see Brave this weekend? If you do, come back and tell us what you thought!
-Kendra, owlblog@owlkids.com
