Entry posted by Nathan Strum
2,557 views
Currently, it's 11:41 PM, and I'm sitting in a movie theater, waiting for the first showing of Brave. Now, I'm not usually enough of a movie nut to go on opening night (or in this case - opening morning since the movie starts at 12:05 AM), but 1) I was bored and 2) I've learned not to go see Pixar films during the day, because parents tend to take their kids to those showings. I'm talking kids in strollers. Crying. Not how I want to spend my movie going hours.
Usually this late, there are very few people at the movies, especially on a weeknight. I'm here because I don't have to work tomorrow. But surprisingly enough, there are quite a few people here, and this isn't an IMAX or 3D screening either. Must be mostly kids out of school for the summer - upper high school and college age kids, based in no small part on the couple behind me making small talk. Sounds like they're on a first date, since the topics are running the gamut from what they want to do with their lives (him - something to do with fishing, her - orthodonture) to movies, pets, etc. I got tired of listening, so I thought I'd get a head-start on this entry.
Before the trailers* start, I have just enough time to mention I'm seeing this film for free. A couple of weeks back, I went to see The Avengers for a second time, and the picture was messed up. There were giant yellow splotches on the image (not the screen itself) which meant someone had smudged the blue panel inside of the digital projector. This ruined the movie for me, to the degree where I submitted a complaint to the theater chain - which is something I've never done because generally theaters are poorly run and nothing would be done to resolve he situation anyway. But I figured, "why not?" So then...
Oh, time for the movie. Back later.
(About 2 hours and change later...)
Right. Well, it turned out that blogging was a pretty good way to kill time before the movie started. I'll have to keep that in mind for future excursions.
Anyway, back to the complaint. I used their online feedback form, which only lets you rant in 256 characters or less (something like that). So that made it difficult to adequately describe the problem with their projector (which, incidentally I've run into before at work, which is why I knew the cause). But I sent it off anyway and figured that was that.
Then, some days later, I got an e-mail from the the theater chain, profusely apologizing, telling me they were going to look into the problem, and offering to send me a couple of free passes for my trouble. So I thought, "cool - free movies". And that's why I didn't have to pay to see Brave tonight.**
But I would have. Gladly. It's excellent.
I'll admit, the trailers worried me a bit because it felt a little bit like it was going to be a typical "Disney princess" movie. You know... where the princess isn't happy with her lot in life and has to go off seeking better things (insert "wishing song" here). And while there's a little bit of that, a typical Disney princess film, or for that matter, a typical Pixar film this is not.
Although in all fairness, it's a little hard (sequels notwithstanding) to pin down exactly what a typical Pixar film is. At their best, they manage to reinvent themselves with each new project, and Brave feels unlike any other Pixar film. But it does share one trait with their best work - it's astonishing quality.
As an aside, thanks to a Free Preview Weekend recently on U-Verse, I caught up on watching Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda 2 and How To Train Your Dragon. KFP2 was pretty good for a sequel, but largely more of the same. It paled though in comparison to HTTYD. That was easily Dreamworks' best effort to date, and was at times really quite stunning. In fact, there were some concerns in the animation circles that because it came out first, Brave would be unfavorably compared to it (both films being based in ye olden times, featuring mysterious beasts and Scottish accents). However, as good as HTTYD was, Brave simply blows it away.
The look of the film sets a new benchmark, even for Pixar. The scenery is often breathtaking, and it's very easy to forget you're watching animation. But what really makes Brave work are the characters. The animation is first-rate (especially the bear), their designs are excellent (they take CG hair to new levels), their personalities are engaging, and every one is well-acted and extremely likable. I really enjoyed the story, and while I was able to see a few plot elements coming, much of it took me pleasantly by surprise. The film was, simply put, a joy to watch.
It's probably not a film that really little kids will enjoy. There are some pretty intense scenes in the film, and while there are great comedic moments peppered throughout the film, there may be more drama and dialog than could reasonably hold their attention (besides, they got Cars 2 last year, so it's the adults' turn this time). And while most of the humor is well done, I really could have done without the butt jokes in the film. The film was strong enough so that they weren't really necessary. But the audience laughed, so maybe I'm in the minority there. I just find that stuff cringeworthy nowadays.
The sound design, music, editing, etc., are all spot-on. It's really hard to find flaws with the film except the aforementioned butt jokes, and a couple of plot points were telegraphed a bit too heavy-handedly.
It certainly was worth the price of admission. Even if I would've had to pay for it.*** 
Also showing with Brave is the new Pixar short - La Luna. It's another one of their shorts that's a little hard to define. Not laugh-out-loud funny, but engrossing. They form their own little world, with its own rules, and neatly tell a story about it. Reminds me a lot of the films from where I work, actually. (And incidentally, Brave was directed by two CalArts alum - Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews. Go CalArts! Although it's a little weird going to Pixar films now - since I've been at CalArts so long, it's getting hard to keep up with all of our alumni's names in the credits.)
Anyway - go check out Brave. I'm not sure whether or not it's Pixar's best, but it's definitely up there with the best of them. (And be sure to stay through the end credits.)
Brave gets 8.5/10
* The trailers started off with one for The Oogieloves. I have never felt less a part of a particular demographic in all of my life.
** Except, of course, $11.75 for popcorn and a drink. That's absolutely ridiculous, and one of these days I'll probably stop paying for that, and just go out for a nice dinner afterwards instead.
*** After the theater chain sent me the free passes (which, by the way, are unrestricted, and have an expiration date of 12/31/2099), the manager of the theater also e-mailed me, and sent me four IMAX tickets, plus a note that they were ordering a new optical block for their projector. Now I know why my popcorn was so expensive.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
10 Comments
Recommended Comments