MovieChat Forums > Brave (2012) Discussion > People are missing the point

People are missing the point

posted 7 years ago by dansorenson
9 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS abound
I keep seeing people talk about this movie like it's something it's not. Some reviewers are saying this is a cut and paste "rebellious girl acts like a boy" story. Others say the villain should have been cut out entirely. They are wrong.

I just watched this movie for the first time, and the most important scene can be missed if one blinks or is already writing off the end because they think they already know what is going to happen. Mor'du is killed, and his spirit is shown to be very grateful, at peace, even. His spirit looks much like the wisps seen throughout the movie. This reveals that he was the one to be the one causing wisps to appear everywhere and his goal was to be freed of his physical trapping. He was resident in the beast, could not control it, much like Merida's mother as a bear at a few points in the movie. So, Mor'du has been causing the wisps all along and influenced Merida to become who she was and be at odds with family (her mother) so that, like Mor'du, she would ultimately make a deal with the witch (which he led her to). Mor'du wished for death, and was somehow able to create those wisps in order to lead Merida to making some of the same decisions he did, so she could discover his past and cross paths with him.

Sure, Merida was already going to be rebellious, but from the first scene it was the wisps that lured her into being even more independent from her mother and this continues throughout the film. She was guided into this pattern of behavior, so, in my opinion, cannot fully be blamed for her actions. She kept saying it wasn't her fault and blamed the witch. She was mostly right; she somehow knew she wasn't to blame. Yet, there was much more to it than that.

I made this connection during that end scene when the beast of Mor'du is killed. This is just good storytelling. I give it 8/10

[–] Dave_Robicheaux 7 years ago

^Nice review.

[–] Jnbfwc 7 years ago

I will keep this in mind the next time I watch it, but I never made that connection.

[–] dylanmccormick520 7 years ago

This is my fav! movie !!!

[–] TutuAnimationPrincess 7 years ago

The problem is that even if what you've said is the film's true intent, it's executed poorly. Also, I've always found that this movies biggest problem wasn't necessarily it's story but rather it's constantly conflicting tone. Just the same, I'll keep all that you have said in mind next viewing.

"If life is getting you down and needs uplifting, then please come dance with me!"

[–] RbSnedlap 7 years ago

Unfortunately the `conflicting tone` aspect of the film is probably due to it having two directors and the second one being required to lighten up the story somewhat from its original concept.
It`s flawed as a result but, as I`ve said before worth watching more than once as there is a lot going on below the top layer of the story.

"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""

[–] RbSnedlap 7 years ago

I don`t think he can be said to have `caused` the wisps, its rather more that they are supernatural beings (spirits of the dead) with their own agenda. Which in this case is to `mend the bond` that Mor`du broke long ago when he murdered his brothers.

So they, with the help of the witch (who isn`t just `a witch` but probably The Morrigan in one of her forms) are trying to get history to repeat itself with an eldest child of a new king in order to finally break the curse on the land that the broken bond has become.
There are other broken bonds in the story but you have picked up on the big one.
P/s, If you can do so take a CLOSE look at the design of the tapestry, remember that Queen Elinor is supposed to have made it and think about where the cut fell.
Then have a think about Mordu`s broken stone.

"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""

[–] adrienne-02665 7 years ago

I thought this movie was unoriginal and took a page right out of Brother Bear..just put their own little twist on it.

[–] RbSnedlap 7 years ago

If you thought that then, as the OP said you`ve missed the point.
Granted both films have people being turned into bears but beyond that the stories are very different.

"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""

[–] adrienne-02665 7 years ago

I disagree. I got the point of the movie. But it was very similar. Brother Bear was the same thing. He didn't want to go down the path that was chosen for him (just like Merida). The baby bear could be looked at as a Mordu so to speak, for the main character. It depends on how you look at it. I think that you're so into the idea of people missing the point that you cannot see the similarities between the two. Just my OP.