I’m a big fan of Pixar’s films. The Incredibles and the Toy Story trilogy are among my top favorite movies. There’s a special magic that Pixar delivers to the screen that every film, every scene, and every frame contains that draws you in emotionally. Whether they are toys, cars, bugs, or a lonely robot, Pixar is king at telling compelling stories with amazing amounts of heart and pathos.
Brave is no exception. Brave is a beautifully crafted film with a very unique transformation story at its core. I have to admit that I didn’t expect anything that took place over the course of the film, and was pleasantly surprised by what transpired. This definitely made the movie-watching experience far more interesting than being able to predict from the start what would happen.
Brave centers around Merida, a headstrong Scottish princess who would much rather play with her bow and arrow than deal with the ho-hum life of being a traditional player in the royal line. This, of course, causes plenty of friction and consternation between Merida and her mother, Elinor. Their relationship is the cornerstone of the film and is the spark that leads Merida on her journey toward enlightenment.
Whoa! Sounds like pretty heavy thematic material for an animated film. And it is. But Pixar has a way of making these types of thematic elements accessible to both adults and kids in a way that few filmmakers can today. It is because of their ability to reach a mass audience that Pixar is the leader in animated storytelling. And their recent win at the Oscars for Best Animated Feature continues to prove that their legacy will continue.
I loved the animation in this movie primarily due to the lush and amazing Scottish landscapes showcased throughout the film. You truly are transported into this medieval world, and the believability of the surroundings helps to further your investment into the story and its characters.
The blu-ray is loaded with lots of special features, which include:
Two short films: La Luna and The Legend of Mordu. La Luna is a sweet little Pixar short that was very creative. Mordu digs deeper into the legend of the four princes that is talked about in Brave.
The Featurettes cover a wide range of topics and show how much work truly goes into making a film of this size, scope, and magnitude. Each one digs into one particular aspect of the film, and takes you inside how certain things were created, changed, rendered, and ultimately put into the film.
I found the last featurette, Once Upon a Scene, to be the most interesting. In it the filmmakers discuss the evolution of the film’s story, scenes, and characters over the course of the production and how they decided upon what we see in the finished product.
The other Featurettes include: Brave Old World; Merida & Elinor; Bears; Brawl in the Hall; Wonder Moss; Magic; and Clan Pixar. There are also several Extended Scenes available as well.
Brave will keep you entertained and emotionally invested. And it’s yet another winner for Pixar.
Brave is available NOW on DVD, Blu-ray, and Combo Packs!
What was your favorite part of Brave? What’s your favorite Pixar movie? Leave a comment and let us know!