2012, Pixar
Animation
Rating: PG
Approx. 93 mins.
THE STORY:
Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is fast approaching adulthood, and has just discovered that with age and royal pedigree comes onerous responsibility: according to Highland tradition, she must marry the heir to one of three clans allied with her father, Fergus (Billy Connelly). Merida, however, who revels in her life as a free-spirited tom-boy, is more likely to be found riding and shooting arrows than preening or fawning over suitors. While her father takes pride in his daughter's spirit, her mother (Emma Thompson) constantly tries to remind Merida that she is a lady and should act as such.
Frustrated with her mother's constant cautions and unwilling to marry, Merida asks a local witch to "change" her mother. This has unexpected and disastrous results when Queen Elinor is transformed into a bear, the nemesis to which Fergus has already lost a leg. Merida has a small window of time to "mend the bond"-- and a limited amount of space to hide her bear-mother-- before the transformation becomes permanent.
Although Merida is at first unable to see how her selfishness and recklessness produced the dangerous situation, she learns to accept responsibility for her own actions and to truly make amends. In the end, the clan and the family bonds are all restored, and made even stronger.
Frustrated with her mother's constant cautions and unwilling to marry, Merida asks a local witch to "change" her mother. This has unexpected and disastrous results when Queen Elinor is transformed into a bear, the nemesis to which Fergus has already lost a leg. Merida has a small window of time to "mend the bond"-- and a limited amount of space to hide her bear-mother-- before the transformation becomes permanent.
Although Merida is at first unable to see how her selfishness and recklessness produced the dangerous situation, she learns to accept responsibility for her own actions and to truly make amends. In the end, the clan and the family bonds are all restored, and made even stronger.
QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:
- Shut it
- Stupid
VIOLENCE:
- more ominous than violent
- some general brawling-- punching, hitting, etc.
TEACHING POINTS:
- Examine your own actions and take responsibility for them
- Having independent choice is a right and a privilege
THE UPSHOT:
The 5 year-old in the room had a hard time with the Scottish accents and found the bear-haunting aspect frightening. The story line is a bit confusing for younger kids, but it is a pretty unique approach to some important themes. And it's Pixar, so needless to say the animation is fabulous.
The adult in the room found it better than the average Disney 'princess' fare. Merida is brave, independent, strong, unconcerned with her appearance and flawed. She makes mistakes, but learns from them. And she doesn't emerge from the story rescued and eclipsed by a Prince Charming-- she provides her own salvation. While I loved the fact that the story centres on a strong female character, the 5 year-old in the room would have preferred a typical Disney and-they-lived-happily-ever-after ending.
The adult in the room found it better than the average Disney 'princess' fare. Merida is brave, independent, strong, unconcerned with her appearance and flawed. She makes mistakes, but learns from them. And she doesn't emerge from the story rescued and eclipsed by a Prince Charming-- she provides her own salvation. While I loved the fact that the story centres on a strong female character, the 5 year-old in the room would have preferred a typical Disney and-they-lived-happily-ever-after ending.
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