BRAVE - Two Thumbs Up!

Our family saw the new Pixar movie BRAVE today.   Although this movie was not as heartwarming as UP or Toy Story, we all really enjoyed it.  

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to learn to use a bow & arrow and 

I left the theater wanting long, curly, orange hair.  

As with all Pixar films, the are great lessons to take from the story about a family dealing with issues pretty similar to our own.  I think Brave does for Mother-Daughter relationships what Finding Nemo did for Fathers and Sons.  Her bright orange hair alone is a real visual treat for the eyes.  Great family movie,

especially for Mothers and Daughters to see together.  

 Brave is rated PG - one scene has the men lifting their kilts,  baring their digitally enhanced bare bottoms and there are a few scenes 

with a mean bear that may scare some little children.

The teenage girl - wanting to do her own thing, thinking she is old enough to make her own choices.  Even if that means going against her parents wishes.

The Mother -  trying to teach her only daughter about responsibility, tradition and how to act like a lady.  Knowing from experience, the expectations of a princess. 

The Brothers - three little guys full of energy, mischievous and funny.  They love their family but still enjoy a good prank or two at a family members expense.  They are just as cute as can be and when their sister and mother are threatened, they become a real force to be reckoned with.

The Father - A big, strong manly man who likes to have fun.  He is silly at times and serious when he needs to be.  He relates to his daughters love of archery, admires her independent spirit and you know he will be proud of and love his daughter no matter what she chooses to do with her life.

I sat next to my daughter in the theater today.  About 20 minutes into the movie, I was already wiping a tear or two from my cheek.  Merida and her mother have a relationship that is all to familiar.  I have a daughter who is not always thrilled with the things I say,  the things I do or  the things I want her to be, so the message of the film hit close to home.  It can be very hard to let our children make their own choices.  Especially if those choices are not something a Mother would usually approve of.  Parenting is hard.  That's why I got all emotional during the film.  It was the same as when I first watched Dumbo & Bambi!  Poor Bambi's mother died - so sad.  Dumbo was separated from his mother, and they were mean to her - even more sad.   couldn't help myself.  

My daughter and I had a short whispered conversation:

Me -  "If you had to choose who to marry  from those three suitors...Who would you pick to marry?

MD -  "If those were my only choices I'd shoot the arrow at myself."

Me - Would you feed me a piece of pie with a magic spell inside, because you wanted to change me?

MD - Are you crying?!

Me - .Oh my gosh you would!  

MD - Only if the change I could make was you to stop asking these questions.

Me - I bet Bambi and Dumbo would be happy to have a mom like that...

MD -  Oh Brother.......Bambi and Dumbo did fine on their own and are famous.  They are probably living it up on an island in the Bahama's.

Me - If I am BRAVE enough -  I just may dye my hair orange.

She said it best  -  

".......Ultimately, “Brave” has a beautiful message about bonding, patience, trust, and most of all, love. The end is quite touching and will be sure to cause more than a few misty eyes. “Fate lives within us,” says Merida. “We only have to be brave enough to see it.”

The film is appropriate for ages six and up. Merida challenges authority at every turn, which should generate some valuable family conversations. Children old enough to understand and ask questions about Merida’s rebellion will best appreciate the film.  Parents should be aware of the violence, with plenty of head bonking and hitting with objects blunt and sharp between the Scottish clansmen. There are several intense scenes of fighting between human and beast that may be too scary for the youngest viewers. There is also a brief instance of nudity (male buttocks being shown in the context of a joke about kilts), an instance of an item being dropped into a woman’s cleavage, and mild rude humor, including a reference to mooning (a cultural nod to Scotland's boisterous and bawdy humor).

Overall, “Brave” is sure to be a crowd pleaser that will likely encourage more studios to tackle projects with brave young heroines and to explore mother-daughter issues."  -  Lauren Ivy Chiong,  LA Family & Parenting Examiner

Lauren Ivy Chiong is a noted filmmaker who became a parenting expert the way all parents do: by becoming a parent. She has recently launched her own blog about motherhood called "Reel Mama," which humorously explores the joys and challenges of parenting: 

http://4realmoms-reelmama.blogspot.com 

Our family saw the new Pixar movie BRAVE today.   Although this movie was not as heartwarming as UP or Toy Story, we all really enjoyed it.  

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to learn to use a bow & arrow and 

I left the theater wanting long, curly, orange hair.  

As with all Pixar films, the are great lessons to take from the story about a family dealing with issues pretty similar to our own.  I think Brave does for Mother-Daughter relationships what Finding Nemo did for Fathers and Sons.  Her bright orange hair alone is a real visual treat for the eyes.  Great family movie,

especially for Mothers and Daughters to see together.  

 Brave is rated PG - one scene has the men lifting their kilts,  baring their digitally enhanced bare bottoms and there are a few scenes 

with a mean bear that may scare some little children.

The teenage girl - wanting to do her own thing, thinking she is old enough to make her own choices.  Even if that means going against her parents wishes.

The Mother -  trying to teach her only daughter about responsibility, tradition and how to act like a lady.  Knowing from experience, the expectations of a princess. 

The Brothers - three little guys full of energy, mischievous and funny.  They love their family but still enjoy a good prank or two at a family members expense.  They are just as cute as can be and when their sister and mother are threatened, they become a real force to be reckoned with.

The Father - A big, strong manly man who likes to have fun.  He is silly at times and serious when he needs to be.  He relates to his daughters love of archery, admires her independent spirit and you know he will be proud of and love his daughter no matter what she chooses to do with her life.

I sat next to my daughter in the theater today.  About 20 minutes into the movie, I was already wiping a tear or two from my cheek.  Merida and her mother have a relationship that is all to familiar.  I have a daughter who is not always thrilled with the things I say,  the things I do or  the things I want her to be, so the message of the film hit close to home.  It can be very hard to let our children make their own choices.  Especially if those choices are not something a Mother would usually approve of.  Parenting is hard.  That's why I got all emotional during the film.  It was the same as when I first watched Dumbo & Bambi!  Poor Bambi's mother died - so sad.  Dumbo was separated from his mother, and they were mean to her - even more sad.   couldn't help myself.  

My daughter and I had a short whispered conversation:

Me -  "If you had to choose who to marry  from those three suitors...Who would you pick to marry?

MD -  "If those were my only choices I'd shoot the arrow at myself."

Me - Would you feed me a piece of pie with a magic spell inside, because you wanted to change me?

MD - Are you crying?!

Me - .Oh my gosh you would!  

MD - Only if the change I could make was you to stop asking these questions.

Me - I bet Bambi and Dumbo would be happy to have a mom like that...

MD -  Oh Brother.......Bambi and Dumbo did fine on their own and are famous.  They are probably living it up on an island in the Bahama's.

Me - If I am BRAVE enough -  I just may dye my hair orange.

She said it best  -  

".......Ultimately, “Brave” has a beautiful message about bonding, patience, trust, and most of all, love. The end is quite touching and will be sure to cause more than a few misty eyes. “Fate lives within us,” says Merida. “We only have to be brave enough to see it.”

The film is appropriate for ages six and up. Merida challenges authority at every turn, which should generate some valuable family conversations. Children old enough to understand and ask questions about Merida’s rebellion will best appreciate the film.  Parents should be aware of the violence, with plenty of head bonking and hitting with objects blunt and sharp between the Scottish clansmen. There are several intense scenes of fighting between human and beast that may be too scary for the youngest viewers. There is also a brief instance of nudity (male buttocks being shown in the context of a joke about kilts), an instance of an item being dropped into a woman’s cleavage, and mild rude humor, including a reference to mooning (a cultural nod to Scotland's boisterous and bawdy humor).

Overall, “Brave” is sure to be a crowd pleaser that will likely encourage more studios to tackle projects with brave young heroines and to explore mother-daughter issues."  -  Lauren Ivy Chiong,  LA Family & Parenting Examiner

Lauren Ivy Chiong is a noted filmmaker who became a parenting expert the way all parents do: by becoming a parent. She has recently launched her own blog about motherhood called "Reel Mama," which humorously explores the joys and challenges of parenting: 

http://4realmoms-reelmama.blogspot.com