The Film
After 13 full-length, theatrical films, Pixar has quite the arsenal of memorable characters. The one thing that was missing from that lineup was a female protagonist. Hence, Brave.
Brave is Pixar's first non-sequel release since 2009's Up. Like that film, this one has a much more serious tone. It's one that may depress some of the kiddies -- and even scare the poo out of them.
Set in medieval Scotland, this is the story of a wee lass named Merida (Kelly Macdonald), who has big dreams and impressive archery skills. Of course, neither amount to very much when you're part of a royal family. Her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), is pushing her into marriage, with father King Fergus (Billy Connolly) along for the ride. However, Merida doesn't want to be another pretty princess, so she storms off and enlists the help of a witch (Julie Walters) to concoct a potion that transforms mommy dearest into a bear. That's right; a brown bear, to be exact.
As if you'd expect anything less from Pixar, the 2.39:1 image on Brave is absolutely stunning. The image is so detailed that viewers should be able to count the blades of grass, as well as the curls on Merida's head. It's definitely one of Pixar's darker efforts, but it's also very lush. The dark scenes are just as eye-popping as those brighter moments. It's just a wonderful viewing experience -- in 2D or 3D. Like many of Pixar's movies, the 3D isn't needed, but they certainly don't waste any of the technology. Brave's 3D presentation shows off wonderful depth throughout. There are even a few pop-out effects to keep you on your toes.
The Sound
Disney has given Brave an equally awesome Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track. Dialogue is clear and centered throughout, but this is a truly immersive 93 minutes. Viewers can expect a barrage of sound from every angle, whether it's fists of fury, arrows, marching, dogs barking, horses galloping, and of course, the roar of the momma bear. The soundtrack is equally impressive, as you can actually hear the detail on string instruments and the wail of the bagpipes. Our good friends at Pixar have delivered yet another demo-worthy track here.
The Extras
In true Disney fashion, Brave has an excellent set of extras, which needs to be broken down by disc. Besides the standard sneak peeks, the 3D disc's lone extra is La Luna. The Oscar-nominated short accompanied Brave in theaters and is featured on the new Blu-ray release, Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 2. This finds three generations (grandpa, dad and Bambino) spending one night sweeping fallen stars from the moon's surface. It's short, it's sweet and it looks totally stunning, with a nice Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track to match.
La Luna is also on the 2D Blu-ray, along with a new short titled, The Legend of Mor'Du. Presented with a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, Mor'Du should be familiar if you've already seen Brave. This provides viewers with an extra 7 minutes about the character. There's also an audio commentary and 50 minutes of behind-the-scenes tidbits. Presented under one menu, this section is broken down into in eight sections -- well nine, if you want to include the extended scenes. It's interesting though, covering everything from the female leads and the location to the animators and the math involved in creating the images (FYI: there's a lot of it!).
You may want to grab a sandwich, because we're not even close to finished with this set. There's an entire Blu-ray of additional special features, which includes an alternate opening, deleted shots, promos, trailers, bloopers and more. Also, several key points of the movie get a spotlight here, with shorts on "The Tapestry," Merida's horse, and the Scottish people and culture.
Final Thoughts
Brave probably isn't going to be at the top of every little boy's wishlist this holiday, and that's a real shame. It's a good film, with a lot of action and excitement that boys and girls would definitely appreciate -- and of varying ages. Yes, that includes you, too. Every part of this set is stunning, keeping the Pixar streak good for at least another year or two.
Product Details
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