The latest Disney & Pixar spectacular was definitely touching and beautiful,
but not as amazing as I was hoping for on the big screen. I saw BRAVE opening night because I
was waiting for this film for months as the marketing grabbed me from first
glance. However, I was really hoping for
it to be deeper. I was ready to see a
heroine that really inspired me but the story was still a little surface-level. The film does a great job of being a fit for
both adults and children, but it is not as clever as the SHREK series, as deep
as UP or as transformative as THE LION KING.
That said, the animation in BRAVE is stunning and it is
amazing to me how far our technology and graphics have evolved over time. Pixar proved they are still the best
animators in town! The film is set in Scotland and the
culture and landscape are brilliantly showcased. Having been to Scotland and having lineage to
that country, it felt like a bit of homecoming for me.
The themes of BRAVE are worth mentioning and make it a film
that could be classifed as mindful. One of the best lines is: “your destiny is inside, you just have to be
brave enough to see it” which was the core of the film and the question: “if you had the chance to change your fate, would you?” is the dilemma that shapes the main character, Princess Merida’s journey. The theme that we can choose our path and
create our own lives once we step into courage was prevalent and a
wonderful message, especially for young women.
The true beauty in the film surrounds the lessons that
unfold from the mother-daughter relationship. Merida challenges her mother’s (Queen Elinor) position and the
kingdom’s custom on marriage. Merida
believes in marrying for love rather than tradition and takes her fate into her
own hands when she visits a witch and causes a
lot of mischief. The consequences of a spell take both characters on a life-changing journey. An old prince’s tale is woven together with Merida’s and the audience
sees another clear lesson that self-centeredness will only turn you or your
loved ones into something dark and unBEARable.
It was refreshing to see a strong, independent female lead that loves her archery set and horse as much as her family. Princess Merida is spirited, curious, loving and stubborn and throughout the film she learns that trying to change someone else has ramifications.
Another theme worth noting is the one of feminity portrayed in the movie. Queen Elinor is often telling the Princess how to be a "lady" but through their shared journey we see she learns a lot about what being a true Queen really means. When Merida or Elinor enters a room the men stop fighting to watch and
listen to these women. There is a great scene where the Princess speaks to all of the warriors with compassion and understanding and they join together, clearly seeing a new way. This scene is a signpost of how things can be for women when they stand in their truth and
demand respect with gentleness, bringing unity to their community. I really
enjoyed seeing the impact the Queen and the Princess had when they stood in bravery and feminine power.
So even though I had huge expectations of this film and it
was a bit over-hyped for me, I still think it is beautiful, touching, and has important
and positive messages, especially for girls and women. The lessons about family, peace, courage,
feminine power and unity are keys for all of us who wish to live more
peacefully with each other. We need to
be brave and also realize our destiny is tied to each other.
Kate Neligan
Founder & CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment LLC
www.synergytvnetwork.com
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