A Brave yet disappointing effort, and I'm half Scottish.

Rating: 5/10 (18 August 2012)

I'm certainly not the first and will not the last person to claim how much respect and love I have for Pixar. But I do. The earliest memory I have in cinema was watching my Mum marvel at the amazing CGI in 'Toy Story'. I was too young at the time to appreciate the remarkable mastery of Pixar's animation. But over the years and later films like the next two installments of 'Toy Story', 'Monsters Inc.', 'UP'...for me, growing up with Pixar's visual effects and quality story telling left and undoubted source of film inspiration.
So I cannot be blamed for going to see 'Brave' with anything but high hopes, unfortunately Brave didn't quite meet them. One immediate comparison that draws to mind on what to expect is Dreamworks' 'How to train your Dragon', the Celtic imagery and story based on a young individual trying to find their calling and prove themselves. However, this is not a comparison that is necessarily a good one as I didn't care much for 'How to train your Dragon'.
One thing that was certainly missing from Brave that is 'so-so' important in all of Dreamworks and Pixar films is the great friendships. Mike and Sulley, Woody and Buzz, Ginger and Rocky, Shrek and Donkey, Marlin and Dory, Wall-e and Eve... these great friendships are the reason why we love these characters. When we see them meet, when they fight, mock each other, make up and sometimes say goodbye. Throughout 'Brave' I was dying for another 'great character' someone who will allow us to get to know Merida (protagonist) and shake her to the core, changing her permanently. I flatly cannot remember another characters name and I feel that nothing was learn't, nobody truly discovered something profound or worth the whopping budget of a Pixar feature film.
Maybe I'm being harsh - their are some real highlights. The witty one- liners, clever observations, slap-stick comedy and real 'tongue-in- cheek' moments. Billy Connolly, is as always, a real pro. His pounding 'Glasgow brood' makes a welcome addition to the seemingly unending whining and whinging on behalf of Merida and her nagging Mother. The animation itself is remarkable. Some of the shots of Merida riding horseback through the highland countryside are breathtaking, her hair itself, with layers and layers of texture is almost a character in itself. But when it comes to animation 'making' a film what it is, I'm afraid the horse has well and truly jumped the gate. I think a time before 'UP'and 'Toy Story 3' existed that would have been enough. But 'Brave' as it is, is bravely walking with giants and needs to compare: both visually and narratively.
I'm left deflated by 'Brave' - as I'm writing this I'm realizing this more and more. I'm recalling the chills I still have when I saw that immortal ending to 'Toy Story' and the visceral battles in 'The Incredibles'.
All that is left is to wonder, who is this for? Is the comedy, story- telling and references enough for adults, perhaps not. Is the story magical enough for children - possibly. But on all accounts, for me, I'd rather delve into the old Pixar DVD collection.