A quaint film, not a great film!!!!!

Rating: 6/10 (24 June 2012)

Although this is being touted as a PIXAR movie release, it's the first Pixar release to have a very Disney-esque quality. The story of a young princess, not happy with the "life" path laid out before her, asks for help from a wicked witch to "change" her mother.
Merida (Kelly MacDonald) is a strong willed, defiant individual who is in a constant struggle/battle with her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Queen Elinor is determined to groom the young princess into a proper heir to the throne. But more importantly, Queen Elinor wishes to re-unite the four independent Scottish clans back together again, by offering Princess Merida's hand in marriage to one of the eldest sons of the (3) other clans. Upon hearing this news, Princess Merida flees the castle, and heads into the forest. While in the forest, Merida meets a crafty witch. Merida barters her necklace for a magical potion that is supposed to "change" her mother's attitude/feelings with regards to Merida's pending nuptials. However, Merida was not that specific with her request to the witch, and got a potion that indeed changed her mother, but as they say, "Be careful what you wish for"!!!!! The potion changed Queen Elinor into a grizzly bear. Merida now has less than 48 hours in order to break the spell. To do so, Merida must "mend the bond torn by pride" or have her mother remain a bear forever.
As stated above, this story line is very Disney in nature, while the artwork is very reminiscent of "How to Train your Dragon". I found nothing new, exciting, or original in this Scottish tale. Except for the part of Queen Elinor being changed into a bear. that really came out of left field, and was truly unexpected!!! However, there is nothing "not" to like in this film either. It's your typical fairy tale, where lessons are learned, forgiveness granted, and in the end everyone lives "Happily Ever After".
A moderate recommendation, I myself, would wait for the DVD, or watch this film "On Demand". A quaint film, but not a great film!
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