#BRAVE 2 SEQUEL 2015 MOVIE#

Both sets of concepts are fascinating in their own right but neither set is fully developed. The back-reaching parts are the stone circle, the concept of falling rocks, the bear Mor’du, and accepting the status quo. The forward-building concepts include destiny, the imagery of the bow and arrow, the title, and the intent to change fate.

One builds forward from the beginning while the other reaches back from the end and neither quite fits with the other. In the end they both come to understand one another by a kind of role reversal but is having two characters only half change satisfying? Perhaps we are supposed to be happy that they ‘met in the middle’. Merida’s mother retreats from maintaining the status quo with regards to Merida’s betrothal but never actually apologizes for controlling her daughter’s life. We don’t know who to root for. Merida only half changes as does her mother. Merida accepts responsibility for causing her mother to transform, but never apologizes for her earlier insubordination.Bottom line, they don’t help her win the final battle in any way and are therefore meaningless to the overall story (unlike another popular female protagonist). They are useful for catching fish for her mother’s breakfast but the pair could have foraged for berries just as well. Her excellent bow skills don’t help Merida in her first battle with the bear Mor’du. And Merida’s mother does throw Merida’s bow into the fire which triggers Merida to run away, but that is using it as a story talisman. Merida does get into trouble for winning an archery tournament a la Robin Hood style near the beginning. The ubiquitous bow and arrow have little to do with the story.

#BRAVE 2 SEQUEL 2015 MOVIE#

I think “Strive” would have fit the movie better because Merida is constantly striving for something. Maybe the title was a marketing decision. She does accept responsibility for her actions and asks for forgiveness by the end of the movie which requires courage but it’s a stretch to call that bravery. Merida is a fiercely independent teenage girl whose actions can be described as defiant, at times assertive or arrogant, but never brave. The story really has nothing to do with bravery.

Brave shouldn’t have been titled ‘Brave’.

It’s a strange story structure that seems to have subverted the traditional Pixar emotional story for a James Bond-style plot however entertaining that might be. If the character with the most to learn is supposed to be the protagonist then Lightning should be the protagonist just like in the first movie – but Mater is the star of Cars 2. For Lightning, it’s a story about acceptance and friendship. He goes from not wanting Mater around to accepting his friendship whenever and wherever. In contrast, Lightning McQueen does change. The Mater at the end is the same as at the beginning. Change isn’t a requirement for a good story, and Mater does come to accept his silliness and how others see him, but he doesn’t really change. Maybe that’s why it feels “off” but I see it as a story issue because Mater doesn’t significantly change over the course of the film. The beloved tow truck Mater is the star of Cars 2. The second movie is a sequel to the first but only sort of. Everything about the first Cars movie supports this concept and it’s done well. The first movie is all about Lightning McQueen learning to be humble. To explain about Cars 2, if you’ve seen both movies you’ll note some striking differences. Personally, I enjoyed the movie but it’s true that the story and character motivations were a little off. Some say Pixar dropped the ball with Cars 2.

Brave 2 sequel 2015