I am a huge fan of Disney movies, but I especially (guiltily) love the princesses. Now, understand, that I teach a unit on bias to my students using clips from these very films, but just because I can see the animated stereotyping doesn't mean I can't take childish pleasure in stories of beauty and love.
But Brave, the newest release from Disney/Pixar, is a different kind of tale. What makes Disney's newest princess flick so awesome?
1. Appearances. Okay, so she's still stereotypically beautiful, but she doesn't appear to bathe very often, or take much care with her looks, and her beauty is of the ragged, unkempt variety. Hooray for a princess who isn't perfectly coiffed all the time!
2. The witch. Without giving any spoilers, I will say this: Disney finally created a witch who is tricky, but not an actual villain. How refreshing that she doesn't need to be vanquished!
3. The love story. This movie may seem like it will revolve around a romance, but the love story at the heart of the film is actually about the mother-daughter bond. And while I'm thinking about it...
4. The family relationships. For the first time since Lilo and Stitch, the animated family feels genuine to me. Flawed, yes, and raucous, but the love between the king and queen looks more like a real love story than a fairy tale, and the interplay between the children and their parents rings true.
5. Merida. She rides a big horse, shoots a bow and arrow like Robbin Hood, and is a petulant teenaged girl with mommy issues. She also longs to believe in magic. She's someone who girls can really look up to, someone with goals and flaws, but most importantly, she shows true character growth over the course of the movie. Finally, a princess I don't feel guilty for loving!
6. Animation. As always, they hit this one out of the park: close to two hours of luscious scenery and well-crafted locations. Bravo!
As if that wasn't enough, the cast sparkles. Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, and Craig Ferguson lend their voices to this film, not to mention countless other great performers.
So what are you waiting for? If you haven't seen Brave yet, I recommend that you catch it before it leaves theaters. Totally worth the big-screen experience!
Who's your favorite Disney character? Which movies from childhood have lingered on your list of favorites?
I want to see this movie, and now I have 6 more reasons to!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help! ;)
DeleteI think this was a huge step forward for Disney in the sociopolitical sense, but as for the film itself, I'd have to say it was just okay.
ReplyDeleteIt did start of great, with Merida racing through the forest, shooting arrows at targets on the back of her magnificent steed. I thought we were in for a grand adventure right from the get-go ... but we weren't.
The mother-daughter conflict was interesting, but I don't feel it really carried the movie or was handled as deftly as the father-son conflict in Finding Nemo. I actually think the mother-daughter thing was handled more interestingly in Tangled, even though the mother character there unfortunately went off the deep end and Rapunzel ultimately ended up with some pretty bland parent figures.
As for romance, I was initially annoyed (and still am) that while boy Pixar heroes like Wall-E and Hiccup had love interests, Merida didn't. Obviously this is Disney Princess backlash, and I understand why they made this decision. But why can't girls have love and adventure both, the same as the boys do? Maybe next time.
I actually loved the lack of love interest, although they left it open at the end and I'm rooting for the big, sweet oaf ;)
DeleteOh and as for favorite Disney character ... that would probably be Mulan :) And Li Shang, too, actually. I love those two!
ReplyDeleteChildhood movies that lingered for me would be The Secret of Nimh and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.
Great choice! Love Mulan...although Nimh terrified me.
DeleteI'm looking forward to this -- I tend to watch more movies at home on Netflix these days, but I'd like to see this one in the theatre. I'm glad Disney is moving beyond the stereotypes too; it's great to offer something different to young girls (although I loved Sleeping Beauty as a kid and she's the lamest princess by far!)
ReplyDeleteBut she gets the BEST prince! It is nice to see the change, even if it's been very sloooow.
DeleteCan't wait to see it! Even read your post peeking between my fingers, hoping there aren't spoilers! Hahaha. :D
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think when you get to it! Hope the post didn't give too much away :)
DeleteI kept thinking the bad bear was going to turn into the handsome prince that would be just right for her (or princess :0) - though pretty sure Disney won't EVER go there) - I loved the film. Her horse [hug], her hair (covet), her naughty brothers (pinch) - what a great film.
ReplyDeleteA little boy was sitting behind me in the theatre and when the screen opened to that gorgeous Scottish loch and countryside he let out a whoosh and said "Wow" in the most awed voice ever. That was my real favorite part of the film.
Aw! That's so sweet. It really was an amazing opening. (And I thought the same thing about the bear, so don't feel too bad! We were almost right...)
DeleteCan't wait to see this with my daughters. Even though they are in college, we still love Disney movies, especially the Princess movies!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Claire! I saw this with my sis, and we both wish we'd taken Mom. Enjoy!
DeleteLoved it, as well! The ONLY problem was that I only took one child to see it. While I won't say I took the "wrong" child, I should have made my daughter come to see it!
ReplyDeleteYou're right: the family dynamics absolutely ring true. (Which is why I should have seen it with my 14-year-old daughter as well as my 4-year-old son!) ;-)
I also expected the bear-to-prince thing but am so much happier with the way it turned out!
Glad you liked it! Hope you can convince your daughter to watch it with you....I want to watch it with my mom, and we're past my moody years (I hope...)
Delete