Vort Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) Animation: Astounding. A+ (like that was ever in question).Music: Very, very good, much better than Disney's recent attempts (I'm looking at you, Tangled; you could have been in or at least very near the Little Mermaid / Cinderella / Sleeping Beauty / Snow White and the Seven Dwarves tier if your music had been more inspired). I might just buy the soundtrack. It was that good. In fact, in ten years, when the animation is just a remembrance of a time when it was astounding, the music will still be great. Solid A. (CAVEAT: There were no showstoppers; this was not that kind of a movie. So don't expect Under the Sea.)Story: Good, with weak points. The storyline itself was solid if very predictable. The Disney preoccupation with injecting completely anachronistic modern standards into such movies is a huge turnoff, but the story was so well-executed that I avoided giving it a minus. B.Writing: Decent, occasionally rising above that. B, and maybe even B+.Directing: Solid, not inspired. Pacing dragged a bit at times. B- to B. Overall grade: I give this a solid B+. Sadly, this is not a top-tier Disney film. I am not sure Disney is willing to make such films any more. Tangled was another near-miss; The Princess and the Frog was well wide of the mark, on the order of The Aristocats or The Rescuers. Maybe we've re-entered the Disney late '60s and '70s, and are awaiting another Mermaid to reopen the floodgates. Edited July 8, 2012 by Vort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anddenex Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 Thank you for the review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 One thing that kind of surprised me was the showing of adult male (animated obviously) posteriors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backroads Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 I have absolutely no disagreements with your assessment. However, my husband absolutely loved the movie and thought it was perfect. I have heard from other reviewers that the movie was more Disney than Pixar. For me, it was better-than-average for a Disney movie, but less so for a Pixar film. I loved the animation, setting, music, and humor, but the story just didn't quite make par for me. But I did like the mother-daughter bond element. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefche Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 Good review, Vort. I agree with almost all you said. But, I would give the direction an even lower rating for putting in nudity in a children's movie. I thought the PG would be due to violence (hey, it's the Scots--there's gonna be fighting), but I was absolutely shocked that there was nudity in this children's movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 You know, I had forgotten about the bare buttocks. I'm usually very sensitive to that sort of thing, but for some reason I didn't really give it a second thought. Huh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backroads Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 It didn't bother me. I just thought it was funny, actually. The one moment that did give me pause was the getting of the room key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hala401 Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 No, wait, what movie is this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misshalfway Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 We just saw it the other night. I was jazzed about the idea of the protagonist learning a profound lesson instead of needing someone to save her. I wondered a little about the bare bottoms, too. But I have to admit I laughed at the "feast your eyes!" line. I was more worried about the servant woman and her big bosoms! And how the triplet boy had to dumpster dive to get the key. I was like.....really??? But I had to laugh too when a young boy in the theater exclaimed out loud, "OH YUCK!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 No, wait, what movie is this?Brave, it's in the title of the thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahlia Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 One thing that kind of surprised me was the showing of adult male (animated obviously) posteriors.Jeesh. Haven't any of you seen 'Braveheart'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 Jeesh. Haven't any of you seen 'Braveheart'? Other than the fact that many of us avoid watching R-rated movies, Brave was an animated film intended for children. That's the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 I loved Tangled, and liked at least a couple of the songs quite a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome1232 Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 (edited) I loved TangledMaximilian has to be my favorite character, ever. I have to agree that the songs were lackluster, I have to have good songs in a Disney film. That's how I watch the old ones, I just skip to the songs and listen to them (Prince of Egypt oops Dreamworks oh well, Aladdin, and Lion king have great songs)I still haven't gone to see Brave, debating on taking our 3 year old son, he's a bundle of tightly wound springs so we aren't sure how sitting in one spot for several hours will work out. Edited July 8, 2012 by jerome1232 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenamarie Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 Wow, I actually *LOVED* the music from Tangled! The scene where the King and Queen release the lantern while Rapunzel and Flynn are watching from the boat was just exquisite, IMO. And I loved the "I have a dream" song. DH and I took turns taking our kids to see Brave yesterday (one kid wanted to see it in 3D, one didn't, and the third is still too young for movie theaters), and while the nudity was a little surprising I wasn't bothered by it. I actually thought it was a pretty funny gag! And I loved that it had a female protagonist but *wasn't* a (romantic) love story. Both DH and I really enjoyed it, and so did our kids who saw it (the 3 year old has no opinion ) Even my 6 year old boy thought it was pretty cool. And I want Merida's hair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Other than the fact that many of us avoid watching R-rated movies, Brave was an animated film intended for children. That's the difference.Indeed. It more surprised me than offended me, the other examples, off hand, I can think of 'butt shots' are from Dances with Wolves, and Wild Wild West both of which are PG-13. It's simply not something I would have expected to see in a PG movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hala401 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Indeed. It more surprised me than offended me, the other examples, off hand, I can think of 'butt shots' are from Dances with Wolves, and Wild Wild West both of which are PG-13. It's simply not something I would have expected to see in a PG movie.If you look at Hollywood and some of the things that Disney has produced over the years... They have contributed to the ruination of people's lives. Look at Britney Spears, Linsey Lohan, and that western singer's daughter. All these young people have trouble because of the leadership of Disney.Then look at "Lion King". Some sophomoric kid slipped the word "SEX" into the film.I won't bother seeing "Brave", I don't think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefche Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 If you look at Hollywood and some of the things that Disney has produced over the years... They have contributed to the ruination of people's lives. Look at Britney Spears, Linsey Lohan, and that western singer's daughter. All these young people have trouble because of the leadership of Disney.Then look at "Lion King". Some sophomoric kid slipped the word "SEX" into the film.I won't bother seeing "Brave", I don't think.I disagree that it was Disney who messed up these people's lives. I first attribute to parenting (or lack thereof) and then to their own choices.And what about the Lion King and sex? I did a quick google search and the only thing I could see was something from snopes about the word "sex" allegedly being in the sky in a scene in the film. However, I couldn't make that word out from the pics online. Are you talking about that or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misshalfway Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 If you look at Hollywood and some of the things that Disney has produced over the years... They have contributed to the ruination of people's lives. Look at Britney Spears, Linsey Lohan, and that western singer's daughter. All these young people have trouble because of the leadership of Disney.Then look at "Lion King". Some sophomoric kid slipped the word "SEX" into the film.I won't bother seeing "Brave", I don't think. Well, if you don't want to support companies who exploit women and sexualize children, then you'd better ban everything associated with movies and hollywood. Cause pretty much everyone is doing it....to the girls AND the boys.Except that there is nothing of the sort in the Lion King OR in Brave. Just two cute little movies that both have good moral endings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Maximilian has to be my favorite character, ever.The horse? His name is Maximus.Wow, I actually *LOVED* the music from Tangled! The scene where the King and Queen release the lantern while Rapunzel and Flynn are watching from the boat was just exquisite, IMO. And I loved the "I have a dream" song.I loved the music. My favorite is the dream song.If you look at Hollywood and some of the things that Disney has produced over the years... They have contributed to the ruination of people's lives. Look at Britney Spears, Linsey Lohan, and that western singer's daughter. All these young people have trouble because of the leadership of Disney.Then look at "Lion King". Some sophomoric kid slipped the word "SEX" into the film.I won't bother seeing "Brave", I don't think.I disagree that it was Disney who messed up these people's lives. I first attribute to parenting (or lack thereof) and then to their own choices.And what about the Lion King and sex? I did a quick google search and the only thing I could see was something from snopes about the word "sex" allegedly being in the sky in a scene in the film. However, I couldn't make that word out from the pics online. Are you talking about that or something else?What I remember reading about that was that it wasn't "SEX" but rather "SFX" -- a nod to the special effects department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I disagree that it was Disney who messed up these people's lives. I first attribute to parenting (or lack thereof) and then to their own choices.And what about the Lion King and sex? I did a quick google search and the only thing I could see was something from snopes about the word "sex" allegedly being in the sky in a scene in the film. However, I couldn't make that word out from the pics online. Are you talking about that or something else?This website claims that Disney was trying to write "SFX" in honor of the special effects crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hala401 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Though I can not remember his name, upon getting an Oscar or something, this man stood at the Mike and said that he was really greatful and that his award took a lot of effort by him and those around him in support. He then said that "Hollywood wants to make us prostitutes and it takes a lot of effort to resist the seduction. I do not remember if it was Redford, or Glen Ford, or who it was. The girls I mentioned, I remember from a very early age, when they were first in the Mickey Mouse club. Poor Annette Funichello was one of the few that seemed to stay pretty straight. I don't know if you can blame the parents or the producers or who, really. I just think it is all sad. That's it, I'm sticking by what I said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahlia Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Other than the fact that many of us avoid watching R-rated movies, Brave was an animated film intended for children. That's the difference.I think even little kids have seen a rear end before. This is where I probably veer off into that 'bad girl' thing. It's just not that big a deal to me, because, as you say, it's a kid's movie. It's Disney. Even an exposed rear is going to be relatively harmless (in my eyes). Don't they show baby bottoms on commercials? Haven't Mormon kids seen their siblings' bottoms at some point? I'm curious as to what professors of film at BYU do regarding the films they see? Do they see almost anything because it's part of the discipline? Do they only research and teach non-R films? This isn't a call to watch porn, I'm just wondering how professors deal with something like this. The need to filter what I see doesn't really come up in my field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I agree with everything except Tangled. I bought the soundtrack. My favorite is Flynn's Arrest. Okay, so it's not a song - it's an instrumental. But, it's sooo darkly cool. And man, Mother Knows Best is just plain awesome. Donna Murphy is one of my favorite theatrical singers after I dug up all her performances I could find online after hearing how amazing she is on Tangled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome1232 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 The horse? His name is Maximus.Whoops, Maximus, I could've sworn it was Maximilian. But yes the horse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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