Brave (3D)

What it's about:

Merida, Princess of Dunbrogh, is a free-spirited, fiery-haired lass who like to take matters – and weapons – into her own hands. When her mother orchestrates her betrothal to one of the firstborns from the other clans in the land, Merida rebels and refuses to be a prize. She follows a magical path in the forest to a witch, and asks her for a spell to change her fate. The details are fuzzy and the results of the spell are totally unexpected. Merida suddenly finds herself having to protect her mother instead of pulling away from her, but will she succeed before the second sunrise?

What we thought of it:

This one's for the girls.

Brave is a bold, fun animation that allows the damsels in distress to save themselves. How fitting that this movie should come out in SA in Women's Month.

The trailer totally sells the movie without giving too much away. I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events, and you probably will be too, so I won’t spoil anything for you.

The Scottish accents are spot on, except for Queen Eleanor (voiced by Emma Thompson) who slips up once in a while.

Kelly McDonald’s voicing of Merida is outstanding, and her emphatic "ag, Mom" expressions will go down a treat with local audiences.

What else can one say about the great Billy Connolly besides, well, he’s great as the gentle giant King Fergus. He's made out to be this fierce king while he's just a soft-hearted man who wants to enjoy his family.

The animation and 3D is also very noteworthy. Merida's quirky facial expressions are remarkable and different to any other Disney princess you've seen before. Eleanor's laugh lines are expertly "drawn", making her believable as a teenager’s mother while still asserting her beauty as the queen of the land.

The 3D is fantastical, especially in the archery scene where Merida splits an arrow with another arrow. You might feel compelled to close your eyes for fear of splinters!

It’s just so lovely to experience a fairy tale where the mother or queen isn’t the villain; she isn't trying to poison her daughter or steal her beautiful hair. It's simply a story about a mother and daughter meeting each other half way.

Make this weekend "Take Your Daughter to the Movies Day".