Brave (2012)

tomatometer

78

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 214
Fresh: 167 | Rotten: 47

Brave offers young audiences and fairy tale fans a rousing, funny fantasy adventure with a distaff twist and surprising depth.

70

Average Rating: 6.8/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 12

Brave offers young audiences and fairy tale fans a rousing, funny fantasy adventure with a distaff twist and surprising depth.

audience

79

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 160,330

My Rating

Movie Info

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for

PG, 1 hr. 33 min.

Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

,

Nov 13, 2012

$237.3M

Walt Disney Pictures - Official Site External Icon

Cast

All Critics (214) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (168) | Rotten (48) | DVD (4)

The story, with its patchwork of plots (involving feuding clans and disastrous spells), holds together enough to thrill intermittently.

July 2, 2012 Full Review Source: New Yorker
New Yorker
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Though it falls short of the studio's best in many respects, Brave is ravishing to look at. Merida's carrot corona is alone worth the price of admission.

June 22, 2012 Full Review Source: The Atlantic | Comments (4)
The Atlantic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The tone is uneven and more often morose than joyful. The pacing is slow and at times almost tedious. The end result is something that feels like it was put together from a jumble of Disney clichés tacked onto the skeleton of Beauty and the Beast.

June 22, 2012 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comments (113)
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Saying that Brave is entertaining but not astonishing is pretty much admitting your straight-A student got a B.

June 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Denver Post | Comments (9)
Denver Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's a safe experience; but safe, in this case, is better than sorry.

June 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comments (7)
Christian Science Monitor
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Pixar name used to mean something. And it never quite meant pleasantly safe, safely forgettable movies like this.

June 22, 2012 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | Comments (15)
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Courage, independence and family are all beautifully brought to life by Pixar.

March 4, 2013 Full Review Source: Concrete Playground
Concrete Playground

Although the previews would have you believe that the film was an epic journey for the flame-haired firebrand, we are really treated (or deprived, depending on expectation) to a humble, small scale morality play.

December 31, 2012 Full Review Source: Bangitout.com
Bangitout.com

Brave is yet another spectacular animated film released on Blu-Ray with the highest picture and audio quality.

November 27, 2012 Full Review Source: We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered

The freedom quest of a feisty Celtic princess with a jungle of wild red hair.

November 13, 2012 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice
Spirituality and Practice

"Brave" is the first foray in fairytale storytelling for "Pixar," and their first contribution to the growing pantheon of Disney princesses. It works so well that we can safely assume that it won't be the last fairytale coming out of Emeryville.

November 11, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

Not a bad movie. Really appreciate what it wants to do, but it fails to live up to its potential.

November 11, 2012 Full Review Source: Eclipse Magazine
Eclipse Magazine

The hopping lamp gang has done it again, giving birth to a sharp, fresh fairy tale that in the pantheon of Pixar releases may not go down as a centerpiece, but comes close enough to the bullseye to sate moviegoing subjects kingdom-wide.

October 22, 2012 Full Review Source: NECN

Steps outside the boundaries of what seems like a rather conventional tale at the outset, and subsequently elevates itself into something else entirely.

October 8, 2012 Full Review Source: SciFiNow
SciFiNow

A marvellous magical adventure, that'll perhaps stand the test of time even better than some of Pixar's movies we right now call classics.

September 30, 2012 Full Review Source: Fan The Fire
Fan The Fire

While it doesn't break a lot of new ground, Brave is a beautiful and competent entry in Disney's robust fairytale film pedigree.

September 27, 2012 Full Review Source: ScreenRant

While Brave is a mile ahead of other animated features hitting our screens, it does feel like a lesser Pixar work.

September 27, 2012 Full Review Source: The Aristocrat
The Aristocrat

Kids will probably enjoy it for its beautiful design, but the adults in the audience will probably be wondering why Pixar decided to skimp on the story this time around.

September 14, 2012 Full Review Source: Examiner.com
Examiner.com

A film that truly lives up to its name, Brave gives animated princesses a much-needed reboot.

September 14, 2012 Full Review Source: We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered

Overflowing with heart, vibrant color, thrilling adventure, and with a bold new protagonist to add to the Disney canon, Pixar's "Brave" is a wonderfully unique spin on the classic princess tale.

September 10, 2012 Full Review Source: FoxNews.com
FoxNews.com

The film's real strength is in the central relationship, which pays off in a way that's far more delicate and complex than most animated films would dare

August 24, 2012 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall
Shadows on the Wall

In many respects, it's one of the most mature animated films to come out of Disney or Pixar in their long, storied careers.

August 22, 2012 Full Review Source: CraveOnline
CraveOnline

The backgrounds are too realistic and there's no warmth and little magic in the story and the characters.

August 19, 2012 Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | Comments (2)
Observer [UK]

Strip away the Highland myth and mystery and the heart of the story is a prickly mother-daughter relationship. Just watch the sparks fly when the irresistible force that is a wilful teenager meets the immovable object incarnated by a stubborn mother.

August 17, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Talk
Movie Talk

A wonderful piece of cinematic engineering, story and character in perfect harmony.

August 17, 2012 Full Review Source: SFX Magazine
SFX Magazine

[T]urns the Disney-princess paradigm upside down and inside out... [Y]es, it is possible to tell a story about a female protagonist that is not about finding romance.

August 14, 2012 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | Comments (2)
Flick Filosopher

Audience Reviews for Brave

It's Pixar. What else can you say? :)
July 5, 2012
nadirairdiana

Super Reviewer

Disney's Brave is a wonderful adventure that has all the usual aspects that you'd expect from a Pixar film. The film has a very good story, but at times it could have been better. However the film does have enough charm and wit to appeal to diehard fans of Pixar films, and it manages to be a very entertaining film despite its flaws. The animation is wonderful, but at times the plot has its flaws, and you notice that it could have been better. Pixar have always made great films, but it also could have been done better too. I enjoyed the film, and like I said, it had plenty of good things going for it, but if you put up against other Pixar films, Brave is one of the weaker one. Despite this, the voice actors are good in their roles and the story itself is fun, but is nothing remarkable either. Brave is worth seeing, but it lacks that something special that makes Pixar film so memorable. There is a good plot at work here, but when you compare Brave to others in Pixar's catalogue, you realize that it is slightly inferior. The film does have its moments however and like every other Pixar film, looks wonderful. The animation is the high point of the film, and it overcomes the slightly ordinary story. Brave manages to overcome it flaws, but compared to the others in Pixar's catalogue, it's not as memorable and it could have been better and you see the potential that the film had. Worth seeing if you're a Pixar fan like me, just don't expect another Toy Story or Monsters Inc. for that matter.
January 27, 2013
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

    1. Merida: There are those who say that fate is something beyond our command. That our destinies are not our own. But I know better. Our fate lives within us. You only have to be brave enough to see it.
    – Submitted by Sara B (3 months ago)
    1. Merida: I want my freedom!
    2. Queen Elinor: But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?
    – Submitted by Kathleen D (3 months ago)
    1. Queen Elinor: A princess does not put her weapons on the dining table!
    2. Merida: Oh Mum...
    – Submitted by Caitlin Anne L (3 months ago)
    1. Merida: Mom, you have changed.
    2. Queen Elinor: [laughs] We both have.
    – Submitted by Augustine S (3 months ago)
    1. Queen Elinor: Legends are lessons. They ring with truths.
    – Submitted by jaswant r (4 months ago)
    1. Queen Elinor: [feeling unwell] Arr, what on earth was in that cake!
    – Submitted by Clayton R (6 months ago)

Discussion Forum

Topic Last Post Replies
Name of song? 11 days ago 1
Disaster? Just about. 30 days ago 2

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Foreign Titles

  • Merida - Legende der Highlands (DE)
  • Brave (UK)
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