A different kind of fairytale; progressive and emotional.

Rating: 6/10 (11 August 2018)

'Brave (2012)' is a different kind of fairytale, one with a progressive princess and a folk-tale feel which both truly set it apart from most others in its genre. It succeeds the most in genuinely feeling like one of the fables talked about within its own narrative: a short and simple story told because it has the power to entertain, enlighten and even emotionally affect, while also having somewhat of a basis in truth. There are several machinations of the plot that don't quite pull together, though, and, in general, the story rushes by so quickly that it's hard to actually believe any of its in-world impact. However, there's actually some real tension in the third act and the climax is surprisingly moving. The central relationship is, for the most part, a believable and nuanced one, too. Finally, the feature makes a point of having strong female characters who aren't reduced to over-the-top caricatures of what some board-room executive imagines a 'badass' woman to be. 6/10