Audio Reviews - Brave - Audio Review

Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.

Tags:  movie review, audio, spill, spill.com, kelly macdonald, emma thompson, billy connolly, julie walters, kevin mckidd, disney, pixar, brave

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  August 23, 2012 at 8:21 PM, said ...

  I meant to say "so far this year".

• August 23, 2012 at 8:20 PM, said ...

  I completely disagree with Leon & Co-Host. I totally felt that Merida was sorry for her actions, This part has nothing to do with this review but just in general.I think it's unfair to compared it to other works and just review it on it's own merits.

  Is Brave as good as Wall E, Up or Toy Story 3 no. Is it better than everything that came out so far, yes.

  A very very high ful price.

  
  
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  July 07, 2012 at 6:29 AM, said ...

  I'm really going to have to disagree with Co-Host and Leon on Merida being a bitch. Sure she whined, but in her position can you blame her? She was being forced into something she clearly didn't want that was going to effect her greatly in the future. In a way that isn't what she had originally planned. Not to mention, besides that one day a year of freedom, she has little to NO time for herself. She's expected to do everything her mother wants her to do with no chance of being who SHE wants to be. And being someone who as well has something she's passionate about, I can understand why she'd be so upset. If my parents had planned something for me that would mean I would never get to do what I love to do ever again, I'd be EXTREMELY pissed off! She's in a prison in her own home and in herself. Hell during the beginning of the movie when her and Elinor were in a fight, that could of been the first time Merida really said how she felt about her mothers control over her. And in the end to have her not only not accept her for what she wants to be, to add insult to injury she throws her arrow in the fire, something she held dear to her since she got it. Not only was the only thing that ever brought her any true happiness was destroyed, but she was denied herself. She was denied everything that meant some type of sentimental value to her. Something like that can CRUSH a person. Not to mention, Merida wasn't really even saying "I won't ever get married" (well except for one part but it was more of her purposely exaggerating) but rather "I'm just not ready yet". She wants to really figure herself out before she makes a commitment such as that.
  And yes I'll admit her acts were selfish, however she DOES acknowledge that and was willing to sacrifice her freedom for the kingdom (until Elinor stopped her), and as well took the blame completely for her actions by the end. But honestly to say she was just being a bratty teenager is hardly even really analyzing the situation.

• July 02, 2012 at 7:16 AM, Nedan said ...

  I liked the movie, but it wasn't nearly as good as most Pixar stuff. I really enjoyed it but it didn't move me the way most Pixar movies do. However I didn't think that she was a bitch. She was in a shitty situation and she handled it poorly but that was the point of the movie, for her to learn from her mistakes and it makes the end of the movie more meaningful. 

  
  
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  July 02, 2012 at 1:37 AM, said ...

  Co-host, Leon, have you ever been the eldest daughter out of a younger brother? Because you would understand her position more if you were the eldest.

  Your brother gets away with everything, yet you have to be the responsible one. That shit gets old fast, and you want that dynamic to change, but you're expected to do more and to be a role model to your brother(s). I understood her position as soon as she said she was the eldest, and when she has to have an arrange marriage, fuck, even the queen said she had her doubts when she was the princess age about arrange marriages, and that's the key problem. No communication! It's both ther faults! Not just primarily the princess for being a brat (which I didn't see because she is tomboy living in old timey-times, of course she is going to rebel) or the queen making her go through with it, it's both their faults for not communicating! The queen, for not having that conversation that she had with the king and understanding her position, and the princess for not giving the guys a chance by not getting to know them. I just think the princess was freaked out about the whole process, which is understandable.

  If you were ever the eldest, you would understand.

• June 29, 2012 at 2:45 PM, said ...

  I thought this movie was beary good. You can tell from my profile picture I am a fan of bears. I thought this movie was very cute and had a great message. I agree with the spill crew that the humor wasn't up to par, but I enjoyed the humor that was there. Co-host and Leon call her a brat for not caring about turning her mom into a bear but you can tell she knows she screwed up and is desperate to right her wrong. She just wanted to change her mom's mind about the arrange marriage. If she knew the dessert would change her mom into a bear she wouldn't of done it. I'm with Cyrus 100% low full price. 

  
  
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  June 27, 2012 at 9:05 PM, VinnyLT said ...

  @Mia I'm sure Co-Host and Leon could give 2 shits and probably wouldn't mind their balls being graced by your mouth. <- Joke. Seriously though. This is Spill.. a lot of it is satyrical. Am i spelling that right? I don't think you should take it to seriously. when they said the word BITCH i'm sure in actuality as critics it can be translated into, "Not seeing the bigger picture" or "selfish". Thats just their opinion on the character. and lastly, marraige isn't a proposal to make your self sexually available, Its just a couples unification as one. sex can happen i suppose...  Do you think Korey is Married? lol. and on that note... its time for some ACOCO...  

• June 27, 2012 at 5:19 PM, said ...

  Hate to post a comment along the lines of "well I didn't listen to the reivew but--" but I did have to turn it off in disgust at Leon and Co-Host.  Did they really just call her a bitch for not wanting an arrange marriage, given that her culture  purports arranged marriage?  So...so the 10 year old girl who sparked controversy for managing to divorce her husband in Yemen--she's a bitch. She didn't do what was expected of her=bitch.  Apparently declining to make yourself sexually available when expected to is liberal feminist talk for being selfish, entitled, and dumb.

  
  
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  June 27, 2012 at 2:51 PM, said ...

  Before I start listening to the review, I have to say this.

  I've said it before when it was announced and I'll say it again; I would have been interested to see this movie if it was called "Zelda." If anything, seeing images of this movie just makes me want to see a Legend of Zelda movie made by Pixar.

  [After listening to the review]

  Wow, it sounds like it's the first average Pixar movie. I'll redbox it when it comes out on DVD.

• June 26, 2012 at 3:49 PM, Kevin Carollo said ...

  Man, I was really hoping PIxar would maintain its high standard.  I might check it out for the beautiful animation, but the disagreements y'all have about the quality of the story are a real downer.  Thanks for sharing!

  
  
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  June 26, 2012 at 2:43 AM, said ...

  Great review fellas! I enjoy listening to these slightly hot, half-hour plus reviews when they come around.

  There’s a lot on my mind, but I’ll be succinct. I haven’t seen the movie yet, so I’m going off your discussion and the Wiki page.

  I’m wondering if Cyrus is being influenced by his liberal predilection. Certain plots and messages can be more appealing to us when taking innately held ethical views into account. What if the fable purported the message that in a harsh, ever-presently dangerous world the wisest course of action is not to think of the self and follow your id but to follow clan rules and your family’s wishes (i.e. a traditional upbringing) or else you royally screw things up for your kind’s progeny? This is set in the Dark Ages, right? How could feminist beliefs possibly be apropos for medieval times? Cyrus may enjoy the story more, feeling receptive to dopamine and all, because the story of a person breaking free from familial responsibility or oppressive tradition is more germane to what you innately prefer seeing. I’m wondering if that partly buoyed your enjoyment.

  Regarding the feminist message, I think it’s fair to be irritated depending on the theme taken up and how the characters are portrayed. Though I’m aware that she was to wed a totally lame dweeb, if the underlying presumption upheld in the story is that tradition, possibly in this case deemed to be poisonously patriarchal by some viewers, is the worst thing a girl can live under, then I think it’s fair to see the message as smug or naïve. I’m reminded of a government sponsored pamphlet that was disseminated during the 90s. It was entitled “Girl Power!”, I kid you not, and contained the ever-present feminist theme that traditional femininity is antithetical to a truly independent, empowered woman. There was in fact a story containing characters precisely alike to those in ‘Brave’, and with the same tropes such as superior archery skill and being better than the boys in traditionally male roles. Those pamphlets and this movie, I’m guessing, hold similar “down with patriarchy!” and “we can be boys too!” undercurrents.

  Additionally, if you criticize the movie in the wrong way you’re open to invective cries of sexism or “you dislike the char. because it’s a girl, huh”?

  Lastly, I know fantasy mustn’t necessarily adhere to laws of reality, but would this story even be possible? I mean… males are generally more exploratory than females, and despite there being female archers, males do have greater hand-eye coordination and a higher propensity for competition. For this story to exist, she would have to have been exposed to a lot of prenatal testosterone while still in the womb, and ergo not look the way she looks; lithe and feminine. So sure, you might find the rare girl like Merida, but I recall a mother retelling a story about an activity her little boy was participating in during elementary class. He was in a play that proposed the plot line of a dragon attacking a medieval community and being slain by the resident girls. Hearing this, I promptly thought, “Noooo, no that would not be the case; come on now.” If a freaking dragon assaulted your kingdom, someone would round up the burliest grown-ass men to be found to try for a chance in hell at killing it. Maybe I’m overreacting, though. It was just a light fairy tale.

  Don’t know if anyone cares to respond; I just felt like commenting. Can’t wait ‘til ‘Django’ comes out.

• June 25, 2012 at 7:28 PM, said ...

  I love that there is a legit debate going over cultural traditions in marraige in the beginning of this review. too funny

  
  
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  June 25, 2012 at 6:36 PM, said ...

  Funny I thought Ariel from the Little Mermaid was a jerk...she was selfish and didn't care about the consequences of her actions and desires....this chick sounds a lot like her...Going to see this with my wife and nieces  

• June 25, 2012 at 3:44 AM, Jason Straub said ...

  One of the issues I had with this movie that they didn't seem to bring up in the review is the vocal music pieces.  They really distracted me in the scenes they were featured in and they kind of drug the movie down.  Were it a musical, I would have been okay with it, but it really felt like it was only there to sell soundtracks and to make music videos to play on the Disney Channel for promotion.

  
  
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  June 25, 2012 at 3:39 AM, Rachel Moore said ...

  From what it sounds like Merida sounds like Ariel from the "Little Mermaid." Kind of self entitled I want more kind of attitude until she realizes she's way over her head.

  So... you're saying the main character is a teenager?  Got it.  Haven't seen it yet, but I tend to agree with Cyrus, so...

• June 25, 2012 at 3:02 AM, Mr. Regarde said ...

  Wow. This is fascinating.

  Sounds like Leon and Co-Host had the same experience I had when I saw "Ratatouille," yet oddly enough, I agree more with Cyrus and found this movie very entertaining. Nevertheless, I love you guys analyzing every aspect of this film like this. It expands the mind.

  
  
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  June 24, 2012 at 11:43 PM, said ...

  Boy, I really hope were not getting to that "man I remember when Pixar was good" phase :/

• June 24, 2012 at 8:23 PM, Julien Howard Hemmendinger said ...

  Wow, Listened to this after I recorded my review, and its crazy how I'm kinda in the middle of all of you.

  
  
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  June 24, 2012 at 5:16 PM, Terastas said ...

  "Naturalistic" Cyrus? She looks like a middle-aged Cabbage Patch Kid.

• June 24, 2012 at 5:03 PM, said ...

  Well that's some hate for it.

   I think in a country where people genuinely believe Joss Whedon made Buffy as a form of satanic rebellion against the Christian state anything that comes out of the country without a terrible, horrifying message that makes us all scared to even breathe something un-American is fantastic.

  But sure, I'm sure she's a terrible character. 

  
  
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  June 24, 2012 at 4:53 PM, Terastas said ...

  Guys, the issue isn't about whether you should "Stand up" to people who tell you what you should do. It's about whether or not you should poison them so they'll tell you you can do what you want to do.

  That was what killed this movie completely for me. Merida was marketed as this badass tomboy -- as being the Pixar equivalent of Astrid from How To Train Your Dragon. But ultimately, she doesn't stand up for herself; she takes the selfish coward's way out. Instead of doing what she believes is right regardless of whether she has her mother's permission, she drugs her mother so she can do what she wants AND have her mother's permission.

  Which is worse than cowardly when you think about it, because forcing her mother to accept her way of thinking could be taken as an admission that her way of thinking is wrong. She knew damn well she was being selfish and stupid and was that she needed her mother to say "Follow your dreams" so she could delude herself into believing otherwise.

  Using Korey's comparison, don't ask if he would have stood for it. Ask if he would have gotten his parents liquored up before he gave them his opinion.

  Honestly, I would have given this movie a "F*** You!!!" rating, because I actually walked out of that theater feeling angry at this movie. I understand how the Nostalgia Critic felt when he talked about Twilight: Breaking Dawn addressing abortion; it was such a great big black eye to what should have been a good movie that I couldn't for the life of me appreciate the rest of it.

• June 24, 2012 at 2:58 PM, said ...

  From what it sounds like Merida sounds like Ariel from the "Little Mermaid." Kind of self entitled I want more kind of attitude until she realizes she's way over her head.  

  
  
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  June 24, 2012 at 2:43 PM, said ...

  "Meanwhile at the Ron Weasly family reunion...."

  Funny comments about Brave http://bit.ly/KGymTk

• June 24, 2012 at 5:57 AM, said ...

  I'm totally with Cyrus (again) on this one.  I didn't see Merida as selfish at all, I saw it as a coming of age story about a young girl becoming an adult and realizing that her mother actually did know best.

  
  
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  June 24, 2012 at 5:05 AM, said ...

  What happened to "i need a friend for the end of the world."

  WTF!

  I think that movie was good.

  CRACKA LACKA CHANGE!

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