Brave [Blu-ray]

"Brave" is a wonderful film that offers both entertainment and life lessons. It’s a perfect movie for mothers and daughters to watch together, as it opens up conversations about independence, understanding, and the importance of family. I highly recommend it for its strong moral values, beautiful animation, and heartfelt story.

You just have to be Brave enough to see it. And maybe cast aside the spears and arrows of critics. Why do people put this movie down as a "girls" story? Or a Disney princess story? Or say "While this isn't one of Pixar's finest.." What malarkey! It is one of Pixar's finest. I wonder if the reviewers have fully grasped the horrible implications of goings-on in this film. They are horrifying indeed.This is hands-down Pixar's darkest film yet. If it weren't for the comedy this would be a horror story or a story of 10th-century war. Last night, I realized this is a Dark Comedy. Very dark. And not just in terms of theme -- it's visually dark, as well -- which only makes Merida stand out like a bright flame in a dark alley. At the same time, this movie is laden with human touches. But that dark side this movie has can show without notice.Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.Why is it Pixar's darkest?Consider this:1. A 5-ish year old little girl sees a giant, cursed bear attack her and her family. The outcome is grim, and she is implied to have seen it happen.2. An entire kingdom is laid to ruin, with vivid, visible evidence.. everywhere.. that it was an epic massacre, war, perhaps. Nothing subtle about it.3. No-holds barred, often fiercely feral combat with hand to hand and with edged weapons, arrows and spears.4. Choices made often carry severe consequences, for-keeps. No backsies. No reset button.It is also possibly Pixar's most beautiful film yet. It's not so much an animated cartoon, but an animated Rembrandt painting. It has that glowing quality. While it is dark most of the time - except for Merida's torch-like mane - it glistens with vividness. Nature is rendered with such loving beauty it remains with the viewer long after the stinger at the end of the credits fades.And the music.. oh my lord, the music on this movie. It can, on its own, bring tears. This film took an Academy Award for sound, and if the viewer has a proper home theater, the result is enough to pull you into the film, put you in the Highlands.I would like to think as Time, the Ultimate Critic passes, Brave will stand among the Pixar movies people of today consider great.Myself, I think it already does.

such a shocker "not". One set of cleavage and three little bare bottoms at the very end of the movie. To be so shocked about that and try to shame Disney/Pixar is totally reprehensible. There is nothing in this movie that is inappropriate. Felt so bad for the mother when she became a bear and shame on the daughter for even wanting to turn her mother into a bear, although it seems she was conned on that aspect. Mom was kind of a nag but did not see where mom was trying to train her how to live without a man. As far as I am concerned we all should learn how to cope on our own and not to rely on others to much for our survival. Movie scenery was great. I liked the movie and would recommend for all age groups. Language was difficult for me to understand at times with heavy Scot accent but I love Celtic songs very haunting and mysterious.

I do not know why this story has gotten so many bad reviews. For one, I have to say the scary scenes are not so scary. Both of my girls must just be Brave and Strong young girls, because both of them don't seem to be bothered by the movie. Now we did purchase the book a while ago and have read the story to them a number of times and discussed the scary scenes. We also sat down as a family, made popcorn and watched it all together with our 6yr old and almost 4yr old. I have to say there are some parts that I was not a fan of--for instance how she visits a witch to change her mother and that the food was left around for her brothers to eat. But the hype about the nudity and every thing else...what are we puritans. My girls didn't even seem to notice that the boys were naked. I thought I was a wonderful story about how some traditions should be changed and left behind!!!! Like marrying your daughters off at a young age, making them wear outdated clothing and arranging their marriages.Hence the break from tradition, which all the young men were happy about as well. It was refreshing to have a movie that showed how a girl could be strong and not have to "live happily ever after" and marry prince charming. Or be saved by a man. It showed how she must figure out how to make things right through problem-solving. My husband and I believe our two daughters need to learn to rely on themselves and someday, as I did, find a wonderful man to share their lives. We do not believe that our girls need a man to be complete--nor should a man need a woman--they should be healthy independent persons who are not co-dependent.I thought it was a delightful show that let you see how both mother and daughter were not listening to one another and after mom gets changed into a bear, they spend time mending and bonding together. I have to say, parents sometimes get very hung up in having to have things their way and do not listen to their children. I am also guilty at times--no one is perfect. I liked how the bonds were mended both concretely for young children (with the tapestry), verbally and physically for older children and parents. Both the mother and Merida matured while working together to mend their relationship and change mom back into a human.

Good quality and arrived in good condition