Brave parents guide

Brave Parent Guide

And while the tension in this mother-daughter relationship is one other moms and girls may relate to, the threats aimed at these main characters may be too intense for younger viewers.

Overall B+

Chaos ensues in a Scottish kingdom when Princess Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) defies the traditions of the country and takes her future into her own hands. But proving her bravery will take more than her archery skills.

Release date June 22, 2012

Violence C
Sexual Content B
Profanity A-
Substance Use B+

Why is Brave rated PG? The MPAA rated Brave PG for some scary action and rude humor.

Run Time: 94 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Redheads finally get their own hero in the form of a feisty Scottish princess with a mass of wild, ginger-colored curls.

From her infancy, Merida (voice by Kelly Macdonald) has been groomed for the role of a royal by her mother, the stately Queen Elinor (voice by Emma Thompson). But Merida chaffs under the imposed restrictions of etiquette and embroidery skills. She prefers to race through the woods shooting arrows at targets suspended along the path. The clash of ideals between parent and child peaks when Merida discovers she is about to be betrothed to the man who wins an archery competition.

To be fair, the trio vying for her hand is the most unsuitable bunch of suitors ever assembled and only by sheer dumb luck does one of them manage to hit the bull’s eye. However, Merida isn’t about to let a fluke determine her future. Defying her mother’s orders, she fires off an arrow that neatly splices the winning shaft into pieces. The rebellious act results in a war of words that sends Merida fleeing into the woods.

There, in the dark recesses of the forest, she stumbles upon a woodcarving witch (voice by Julie Waters) who supplies her with a potent spell. In moment of impetuosity, Merida uses the magic charm on her mother. (This kind of impulsiveness is what gives redheads a reputation for having hotheaded tempers.) Unfortunately, the consequences for her act are unbearable, but to undo it will take more than a steady aim and sure shot.

With three rowdy little brothers and a rather ineffective father (voice by Billy Connolly), she and her mother are the powerhouses in this female-centric film. And while the tension in their relationship is one other moms and girls may relate to, the threats aimed at these main characters and the frequent use of weapons may be too intense for younger viewers. As well, the film contains several frightening scenes played out on the big screen in 3D splendor. To offset the scary action, the script includes some animated male buttock nudity and the unruly antics of Merida’s younger siblings (one of whom dives into the ample bosom of a housemaid to retrieve a key).

Merida may be Pixar’s latest addition to the Disney stable of princesses, but she is far spunkier than the original fairytale royals. She also isn’t waiting around for a Prince Charming to whisk her away. This storyline reflects a far more contemporary take on female independence where women decide not only whom they will marry, but if. While that is a great step forward in Merida’s mind, it doesn’t happen until both this mother and daughter learn the value of listening.

Directed by Mark Andrews | Brenda Chapman. Starring Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters. Running time: 94 minutes. Theatrical release June 22, 2012. Updated

Brave
Rating & Content Info

Why is Brave rated PG? Brave is rated PG by the MPAA for some scary action and rude humor.

Violence: The frequent use of bows and arrows are shown. A character attacks a bedpost with a sword. A bear threatens a family and is attacked with weapons. A man loses his leg in the battle. Children and animals behave badly at the dinner table. During a fistfight, characters bite, pinch, head butt, poke eyes and use objects to hit one another. Characters argue verbally on several occasions. A bird is smacked with a broom. Characters break out in a brawl, firing arrows and throwing axes at each other. A girl falls through a roof. Characters are threatened and chased by an animal. A bear is shot repeatedly. He is shown with arrows hanging from his back. A character is smashed by a large rock. People engage in sword fights.

Sexual Content: A young character dives into a woman’s bosom to retrieve a key. A married couple kisses and shows some moments of affection. Animated, male buttock nudity is shown in a non-sexual context. A man raises his kilt and moons his competitors (no nudity is seen).

Language: Some name-calling is included in the script.

Alcohol / Drug Use : Characters rush to open the King’s wine cellar to celebrate.

Other: Characters are changed by a spell. A woman practices the dark arts.

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Brave Parents' Guide

Like many parents today, Queen Elinor is eager to give her daughter advantages she didn’t have. What things do you have that your parents did not? What are the basics that children need to succeed? What do Elinor and Merida discover they really need from one another? What is important when it comes to building strong parent/child relationships?

In the past arranged marriages served as a way to build alliances between countries. What was the benefit of these kinds of pairings? What advantage did it have for the countries involved? What were the disadvantages? Is there still a role for arranged marriages? Would you want your parents to find a partner for you?

Highland games, held in Scotland and other countries, pit competitors against one another in numerous athletic competitions including the caber toss, stone put and Scottish hammer throw.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Brave movie is November 12, 2012. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Brave

Release Date: 13 November 2012

Brave releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo Pack) with the following extras:

- Audio Commentary

- Animated Short: La Luna

- Bonus Short: The Legend of Mordu

Exclusive HD Content

- Brave Old World

- Fallen Warriors

- Dirty Hairy People

- It is English… Sort Of

- Angus

- The Tapestry

- Promotional Pieces

- Art Gallery

- Merida & Ellnor

- Bears

- Brawl In The Hall

- Wonder Moss

- Magic

- Clan Pixar

- Once Upon A Scene

- Extended Scenes & Alternate Opening

Related home video titles:

Another mother and daughter duo gets the opportunity to see the other’s point of view in Freaky Friday. An unconventional young character also takes on scary creatures in How to Train Your Dragon. The art of archery plays a major role in Disney’s Robin Hood. Along with this animation, Pixar has also produced The Incredibles, Cars, Cars 2, and the Toy Story franchise.

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