Entertaining, but completely misleading

Rating: 6/10 (23 June 2012)

The good thing about Pixar is that they always come out with a storyline that will surprise you. They have done it again in Brave. Looking at the trailer and reading the synopsis, I expect the movie will be a typical Mulan type of story where an ousted princess will lead a team of underdog army to win over evil invading valiant. But it turns out not. That is the good point about the movie.
Now here are what went wrong. 1. Right out out the theater, I was arguing with my 9 year old daughter that the movie should not be named Brave. The reason is because I did not see act of bravery that is worthy for the movie to be named Brave. Not in Merinda, and not in anybody else. I believe a more appropriate name would be Bear, because the movie is all about bear, right from the beginning toward the end.
2. The archery skill of Merinda is completely useless. What is the point of showing her with superior archery skill when all she does with the skill is a few unnoticed random shots at a bear. I thought I would see some epic arrow shooting like the one in War of Arrows, but it was a complete disappointment. With or without the archery skill, it makes no difference to the character, neither does it make her look anything braver.
3. Just as the movie went climax, the ending is too simplistic, a complete disappointment for such a wonderful storytelling.