Now that we’ve had a few days to absorb the new full-length trailer for Brave, it’s time to see what everybody thinks. The one aspect that everyone seems to agree on is the animation and the stunning look of the film. The fluidity of Merida’s hair alone should be worth the price of a movie ticket. Further, the beautiful Scottish landscapes suggest an epic scope to the storyline. However, there have also been some criticisms laid upon the trailer. Read on to see what some have said.
- “The trailer isn’t as good as the teaser”
- “The comedic moments lead to an inconsistent tone”
- “Pixar’s just copying How To Train Your Dragon“
- “It’s Pixar’s version of Mulan“
Now, personally, I’m not really worried. Pixar trailers go out of their way to avoid revealing major plot points and twists, so I am pretty sure there is a lot we have yet to see. Even the official synopsis, with Merida unleashing a curse upon the kingdom, is barely hinted at here. Think back to the first 10 minutes of Up. Did you see that coming? The teaser and trailers for that film highlighted the adventure and comedy (specifically with Russell’s whimsical nature, the problems of old age, and Dug’s speaking abilities), but the film itself is easily one of the studio’s most touching pieces. I wouldn’t worry too much about the emotional aspect.
John Lasseter has constantly noted that Pixar is fixed on creating films that people of all ages can enjoy. When the teaser for Brave came out, its dark tone definitely suggested a gritty fantasy film. While those elements will be there, this new trailer is also saying that the film will be an experience that the whole family can watch together. Would I want to see Pixar do a Lord of the Rings-style film? Absolutely. But, that’s not the studio’s angle at this point. Expect intelligent drama, heart, and comedy to continue to make their way into Pixar films long into the future.
Sure, other than the first 40-seconds, this trailer isn’t great at building suspense and drama about the overall storyline. The humor seen isn’t laugh-out-loud. I still can’t wait to see Brave. Face it, we are hyper-critical about Pixar because we’ve seen the magic its employees can do. Most of the time, after all the dust has settled, we’ve had our socks knocked off. I’m looking forward to all the dust being blown away to reveal the finished film, once again. I have very high hopes.
That’s what I think. What are your thoughts on the Brave trailer, now that you’ve had a couple days to think about it? Are you excited about the film?