Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Pixar never ceases to amaze. Even the weakest film from this amazingly creative group makes others in the animation world green with envy. Its latest offering is, in every sense of the word, "Brave."
It's the story of Merida, a young Scottish princess with a mind of her own. Her adoring father, who is somewhat of a blunt instrument, and her loving, very proper mother have different tolerances for her free spirit. The king delights in his young daughter's prowess with bow and arrow: the queen is focused on manners and lady-like behavior. A collision is coming.
When the queen announces it's time for marriage, a gathering of the four clans is arranged and a husband is to be chosen.
The animation is breathtaking and the voice work is perfect.
Needless to say the princess balks. While delays in the decision have the very colorful Highland Chieftains fomenting and getting more and more agitated by the moment, Merida and her mother are upstairs in the castle having a blowout confrontation.
The fiery princess bolts and rides into the forest where she is lead by little, blue will-of-the-wisps to the door of a strange woodcarver who turns out to be a witch. Oh, she's not a malevolent witch, she simply has the, ah … what's the word? Let's go with ability.
Merida has determined that if she had a different mother, her plight would change. So she asks the witch to use her ability to conjure something up. With less than adequate instruction and precaution the young princess facilitates the "change," totally unprepared for the result. Her mother indeed changes, but into something most unexpected.
Related:
'Brave' targets audiences' ears in Dolby Atmos
At the recent premiere of "Brave," the whooshing of arrows seemed to glide even closer to the audience's ears, a bear's roar felt even more dangerous and a storm sounded like it was swirling over the audience.What follows is a race against time, not only to get her mother back but to save her from those who only see an enemy, knowing nothing of the spell.
The Pixar/Disney folks have brought true art to the screen. The animation is breathtaking and the voice work is perfect. From Kelly MacDonald as Merida and Emma Thompson as Queen Elinor to Billy Connelly as King Fergus and Robbie Coltrane giving voice to Lord Dingwall, each is delicious and each brings a real-life lineage tied directly to Scotland or, at least the British Isles.
Pixar, never a group to avoid new territory, has delivered something not even close to "Toy Story," "Up," "Cars," "Monsters Inc" or "The Incredibles." It has bravely gone where it hasn't gone before with "Brave."
Get ready for some scary moments, a little sass and even a few comical bare behinds. But most of all, get ready for a lot of fun.
Rated PG, it gets 3 ½ stars.
