Gingerlocks
February 23, 2012 9:49 AM Subscribe
The Prize - a two minute clip/trailer from Pixar’s Brave. You can also see some lovely production art and sculptures here.
Okaaay, I was totally prepared to blow this movie off from the previous trailer, but now... not so much.
posted by Old'n'Busted at 10:13 AM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Old'n'Busted at 10:13 AM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
They still have a lot of making up to do after Cars 2: All Larry the Cable Guy All the Time, though I'm sure they cry themselves to sleep about it's poor critical reception on a big pile of tie-in money.
posted by Artw at 10:15 AM on February 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:15 AM on February 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
My first thought was "Man, when Pixar does people, it really looks like what everyone else does."
And then that final arrow... The way it bent on release... And I was back in on the specialness of their brand of obsessively detailed computer animation.
posted by pokermonk at 10:18 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
And then that final arrow... The way it bent on release... And I was back in on the specialness of their brand of obsessively detailed computer animation.
posted by pokermonk at 10:18 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yeah, the slo-mo arrow was gorgeous.
posted by brundlefly at 10:19 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by brundlefly at 10:19 AM on February 23, 2012
It looks very 'dragony'...
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:21 AM on February 23, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:21 AM on February 23, 2012 [5 favorites]
Well, there's certainly no symbolism going on in that trailer.
posted by DU at 10:24 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by DU at 10:24 AM on February 23, 2012
I was waiting for some indication that this wasn't going to resemble Generic Dreamworks How to Train a Shrek Tale No. 4,671 and oh, here it is.
posted by eugenen at 10:27 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by eugenen at 10:27 AM on February 23, 2012
I just saw the earlier trailer at the movies this week and thought: meh. Now, I'm not so sure. this is a great little set piece, even if it obviously references earlier archery stuff esp. the Disney "Robin Hood."
posted by chavenet at 10:27 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by chavenet at 10:27 AM on February 23, 2012
Decision: based on this clip, I will own this on Blu-Ray.
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 10:28 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by thermonuclear.jive.turkey at 10:28 AM on February 23, 2012
It looks very 'dragony'...
I did think that a little... on the other hand, How To Train Your Dragon is fantastic.
posted by Artw at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2012 [9 favorites]
I did think that a little... on the other hand, How To Train Your Dragon is fantastic.
posted by Artw at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2012 [9 favorites]
Can't. Wait.
posted by Windigo at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Windigo at 10:29 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Yeah, totally seeing that. Possibly bringing the entire dojo with me.
posted by restless_nomad at 10:31 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by restless_nomad at 10:31 AM on February 23, 2012
I dunno. Still seems Dreamworks-y and more generic than Pixar leads you to expect. But then again I was totally underwhelmed by the "Up" trailers, and well, we all know how that turned out.
posted by saturday_morning at 10:31 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by saturday_morning at 10:31 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
A beauty.
posted by brevator at 10:38 AM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by brevator at 10:38 AM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I haven't been this excited about a movie for a long time.
Okay fine since I was waiting for The Muppets. Shut up.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:38 AM on February 23, 2012
Okay fine since I was waiting for The Muppets. Shut up.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:38 AM on February 23, 2012
Decision: based on this clip, I will own this on Blu-Ray.
Decision: because it is a Pixar film, I will own this on Blu-Ray.
(Yes, I even own the soul-less embarrassment that is Cars 2.)
posted by papercake at 10:40 AM on February 23, 2012
Decision: because it is a Pixar film, I will own this on Blu-Ray.
(Yes, I even own the soul-less embarrassment that is Cars 2.)
posted by papercake at 10:40 AM on February 23, 2012
It looks very 'dragony'...
I did think that a little... on the other hand, How To Train Your Dragon is fantastic.
I didn't mean as a bad thing... just wondered if Pixer saw how good Dragon was and how it was received compared to say, Cars 2.... (then again, given the lead times for projects such as this it might just be a co-incidence)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:44 AM on February 23, 2012
I did think that a little... on the other hand, How To Train Your Dragon is fantastic.
I didn't mean as a bad thing... just wondered if Pixer saw how good Dragon was and how it was received compared to say, Cars 2.... (then again, given the lead times for projects such as this it might just be a co-incidence)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:44 AM on February 23, 2012
Yeha, I'd probably put it down to convergence in Scottish Viking design.
posted by Artw at 10:46 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by Artw at 10:46 AM on February 23, 2012
It's going to be a good year for archery.
posted by Artw at 11:03 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:03 AM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Release date, June 22. My birthday a few days later. I see an early birthday movie trip this year.
I go to the movie theater maybe once a year, this will be worth the 60-70 dollars for all of us to go.
posted by Talia Devane at 11:05 AM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I go to the movie theater maybe once a year, this will be worth the 60-70 dollars for all of us to go.
posted by Talia Devane at 11:05 AM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
So in 2 minutes of mostly tense moments they managed to get a kilt gag and a caber remark into it. I assume in the fillm you won't have to wait more than a minute or so for a haggis reference.
And didn't anybody think that "Brave" recalls "Braveheart" just a little too much, and can that possibly be in any way a good thing?
(PS Less that seem terribly negative, I love not-Cars Pixar and I have high hopes for this film.)
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:18 AM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
And didn't anybody think that "Brave" recalls "Braveheart" just a little too much, and can that possibly be in any way a good thing?
(PS Less that seem terribly negative, I love not-Cars Pixar and I have high hopes for this film.)
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:18 AM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
("Lest" that seem terribly negative. *Kills self with fire*)
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:19 AM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by George_Spiggott at 11:19 AM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
I'm still rather disappointed that Pixar's first female protagonist movie, and they're doing the runaway princess bit. It's 2012, and they can't think of anything to do with a movie staring a girl than make her a runaway princess? Really?
Looks fabulous of course.
posted by sotonohito at 11:29 AM on February 23, 2012 [10 favorites]
Looks fabulous of course.
posted by sotonohito at 11:29 AM on February 23, 2012 [10 favorites]
I am so down for this movie. The stuff I've seen so far has hit me right in the sweet spot, and I love the look of the movie so hard I can't stand it.
posted by PussKillian at 11:35 AM on February 23, 2012
posted by PussKillian at 11:35 AM on February 23, 2012
Is the combination of sass, pun and dumb really that attractive? That's what most of the trailer was.
posted by anarch at 12:03 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by anarch at 12:03 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yeah, what sonohito and anarch said. I hope for more originality in the story line; this trailer was a collection of very shopworn tropes.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:06 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:06 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I assume in the fillm you won't have to wait more than a minute or so for a haggis reference.
Ock, aye, the noo Jimmy! Jings!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:11 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ock, aye, the noo Jimmy! Jings!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:11 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Deep fried pizza!
posted by Artw at 12:13 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:13 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
All women warriors are archers
posted by MangyCarface at 12:16 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by MangyCarface at 12:16 PM on February 23, 2012
Looks good. Looks Pixar good.
I gotta say, though. I have nitpicks. In general, I'm not crazy about Pixar's first lady-led movie featuring such a prominently gendered story. It isn't "just a story," a la Up or Ratatouille, except with a main character who is female as opposed to male. Instead, it's a story about the main character being female. In other words, it's about the main character being fundamentally different from a "normal" main character, but she redeems herself to her community by displaying suitably manly traits, such as weapon mastery.
In general, I've never been crazy about the shorthand of weapon mastery as automatically equalling female empowerment. It's not really a problem that I have with any individual story, but at this point, winding your entire story around it carries some less-than-awesome assumptions, as well as a general lack of imagination. There are an infinite number of ways to feature well-rounded, assertive, interesting female main characters. "You'd NEVER expect a GIRL to be able to FIGHT like a MAN!" is just one story seed. I'd like to see more go around.
Knowing Pixar, I know it's not going to be as simple as I fear it's going to be, and once again, knowing Pixar, I know that it will be crazily well-made. Nonetheless, I hold out hope that their next movie with a female main character will have fewer of these problems.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:19 PM on February 23, 2012 [32 favorites]
I gotta say, though. I have nitpicks. In general, I'm not crazy about Pixar's first lady-led movie featuring such a prominently gendered story. It isn't "just a story," a la Up or Ratatouille, except with a main character who is female as opposed to male. Instead, it's a story about the main character being female. In other words, it's about the main character being fundamentally different from a "normal" main character, but she redeems herself to her community by displaying suitably manly traits, such as weapon mastery.
In general, I've never been crazy about the shorthand of weapon mastery as automatically equalling female empowerment. It's not really a problem that I have with any individual story, but at this point, winding your entire story around it carries some less-than-awesome assumptions, as well as a general lack of imagination. There are an infinite number of ways to feature well-rounded, assertive, interesting female main characters. "You'd NEVER expect a GIRL to be able to FIGHT like a MAN!" is just one story seed. I'd like to see more go around.
Knowing Pixar, I know it's not going to be as simple as I fear it's going to be, and once again, knowing Pixar, I know that it will be crazily well-made. Nonetheless, I hold out hope that their next movie with a female main character will have fewer of these problems.
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:19 PM on February 23, 2012 [32 favorites]
I want this movie to live up to my hopes for it so badly, and while I sympathize with Sticherbeast's comments, my hopes keep getting higher as I see more trailers.
posted by immlass at 12:49 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by immlass at 12:49 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Alanna, Kelandry, Aerin, Brynne, Arya, and Mulan do ok with their swords. I don't know if woman weapon = bow is all that universal. Susan, definitely. The Amazons? But they used swords as well.
I don't know, I see a lot of people around the internet predicting that this film is going to be a horrible pile of bad stereotypes, but I am so in love with the art style, plus women warriors are a thing for me. The trailers literally give me the happy chills. And hey, Tangled managed to do a lot with a typical princess story, so hopefully this one will as well.
posted by PussKillian at 12:51 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't know, I see a lot of people around the internet predicting that this film is going to be a horrible pile of bad stereotypes, but I am so in love with the art style, plus women warriors are a thing for me. The trailers literally give me the happy chills. And hey, Tangled managed to do a lot with a typical princess story, so hopefully this one will as well.
posted by PussKillian at 12:51 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
ohpleasedon'tsuckohpleasedon'tsuckohpleasedon'tsuck
posted by Space Kitty at 1:00 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by Space Kitty at 1:00 PM on February 23, 2012
For those looking for John Lasseter films in which a female character gets by via the power of engineering you could always check out the Tinkerbell films. Not Pixar, an tied into the Disney marketing machine, but we've been suprised at how much we've liked them.
(Though the last one I saw had this weird subtext that all science is basically wrong)
posted by Artw at 1:02 PM on February 23, 2012
(Though the last one I saw had this weird subtext that all science is basically wrong)
posted by Artw at 1:02 PM on February 23, 2012
I miss 2D animation. As impressive as this is, it just doesn't have the heart of 2D stuff.
posted by timsneezed at 1:02 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by timsneezed at 1:02 PM on February 23, 2012
Actually, Sticher, How To Train Your Dragon did that pretty well. The protagonist's love interest was a female warrior, and nobody else in the story noticed or cared. She was, in fact, probably the most competent of all the trainees by normal Viking standards, part of what the protagonist seemed to like about her.
That was the first Dreamworks movie I've seen that I thought was genuinely good... most of them have been tech demos or schlock. It still had lots of the standard tropes, but it handled them well, possibly a first for that outfit. I had previously thought of them as 'the studio where bad ideas go to be animated', and in my view, that was the first time they stood up and really delivered something great. I'd call it much better than the Cars series, and arguably better than WALL-E or Up, both of which started out incredibly strong, and then sort of lost direction about halfway through.
I really wish Pixar hadn't gone to the exact same accents and overall animation style in Brave, because it feels so derivative of what Dreamworks did. Maybe it's an accident, but I'm not entirely convinced. It feels like either they couldn't come up with their own idea, or else they went for one-upsmanship, and I don't think either scenario reflects especially well on them.
I'm sure I'll like the movie, but I'm not at all sure I'll love it. So far, I've only really loved Toy Story 1 and Brad Bird's stuff. I really wish he'd stayed with Pixar.
posted by Malor at 1:05 PM on February 23, 2012
That was the first Dreamworks movie I've seen that I thought was genuinely good... most of them have been tech demos or schlock. It still had lots of the standard tropes, but it handled them well, possibly a first for that outfit. I had previously thought of them as 'the studio where bad ideas go to be animated', and in my view, that was the first time they stood up and really delivered something great. I'd call it much better than the Cars series, and arguably better than WALL-E or Up, both of which started out incredibly strong, and then sort of lost direction about halfway through.
I really wish Pixar hadn't gone to the exact same accents and overall animation style in Brave, because it feels so derivative of what Dreamworks did. Maybe it's an accident, but I'm not entirely convinced. It feels like either they couldn't come up with their own idea, or else they went for one-upsmanship, and I don't think either scenario reflects especially well on them.
I'm sure I'll like the movie, but I'm not at all sure I'll love it. So far, I've only really loved Toy Story 1 and Brad Bird's stuff. I really wish he'd stayed with Pixar.
posted by Malor at 1:05 PM on February 23, 2012
this clip lost me the moment that ubiquitous scots accent started and it went downhill with every well-worn trope that followed. yay robinhood in tights, but scottish, with adult puns, and slo-mo, in 3D [/].
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:07 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:07 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Looks gorgeous but also incredibly predictable and boring. Don't understand why finding someone who can write great, funny scripts is so damn hard.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:08 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by Foci for Analysis at 1:08 PM on February 23, 2012
Heh, my reaction was exactly the opposite (except maybe for the 3D, which I can take or leave.)
posted by restless_nomad at 1:09 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by restless_nomad at 1:09 PM on February 23, 2012
I've never really understood why people go crazy for Pixar. Yeah they're sorta fun and cute and clever, and maybe I'm just a curmudgeon, but they never even approach Disney in its heyday.
posted by timsneezed at 1:11 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by timsneezed at 1:11 PM on February 23, 2012
As to why it's such a female-centric role for their first female main character, besides the fact that's the predominate way people write stories, I assume Pixar realized they didn't have a merchandising line as targeted to girls as Cars is to boys.
posted by skynxnex at 1:15 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by skynxnex at 1:15 PM on February 23, 2012
OHenryPacey: "this clip lost me the moment that ubiquitous scots accent started and it went downhill with every well-worn trope that followed. yay robinhood in tights, but scottish, with adult puns, and slo-mo, in 3D [/]."
Interesting. My thought was 'oh thank god, actual Scottish voice actors, instead of Mike Myers'. I love the guy, but he is a classic example of 'that ubiquitous Scottish accent', which sounds like varying degrees of hammy Dick-Van-Dyke-in-Mary-Poppins level voice work to most of Scotland.
Looking forward to this. If only because it's always fun seeing my country in the funhouse mirror of global media.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:15 PM on February 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
Interesting. My thought was 'oh thank god, actual Scottish voice actors, instead of Mike Myers'. I love the guy, but he is a classic example of 'that ubiquitous Scottish accent', which sounds like varying degrees of hammy Dick-Van-Dyke-in-Mary-Poppins level voice work to most of Scotland.
Looking forward to this. If only because it's always fun seeing my country in the funhouse mirror of global media.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:15 PM on February 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
they never even approach Disney in its heyday.
What did the man say when he walked into the bar? "Ouch!"
It's only funny -- if it is at all -- because it subverts an expectation established by countless other jokes about a man walking into a bar and saying something to the bartender. And those jokes aren't really funny anymore, either, because generally speaking, we already know how they work.
Of course Pixar isn't hitting the levels that Disney hit in its heyday. Disney in its heyday was striding the historical moment in which both film and animation developed a grammar of cinema and matured as art and communications media. Pixar is exploring what is possible to do with computers using the grammar developed, largely by Warner and Disney, during Disney's heyday. Neither Pixar's animators, nor modern audiences, can really return to the state of ignorance that is required to experience the kind of magic and surprise that we could find in the early days of the medium, or our first exposures to them.
posted by gauche at 1:24 PM on February 23, 2012 [8 favorites]
What did the man say when he walked into the bar? "Ouch!"
It's only funny -- if it is at all -- because it subverts an expectation established by countless other jokes about a man walking into a bar and saying something to the bartender. And those jokes aren't really funny anymore, either, because generally speaking, we already know how they work.
Of course Pixar isn't hitting the levels that Disney hit in its heyday. Disney in its heyday was striding the historical moment in which both film and animation developed a grammar of cinema and matured as art and communications media. Pixar is exploring what is possible to do with computers using the grammar developed, largely by Warner and Disney, during Disney's heyday. Neither Pixar's animators, nor modern audiences, can really return to the state of ignorance that is required to experience the kind of magic and surprise that we could find in the early days of the medium, or our first exposures to them.
posted by gauche at 1:24 PM on February 23, 2012 [8 favorites]
I'm struggling to think of what Disney-in-their-heyday movie could go toe-to-toe with "Up", and I'm coming up blank.
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:28 PM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:28 PM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Classic heydey-era Disney is classic for a reason, but I'll pick Pixar or late-eighties-early-nineties resurgance Disney over them any day.
posted by Navelgazer at 1:34 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by Navelgazer at 1:34 PM on February 23, 2012
To date, Pixar's only solid female characters are Violet and Helen from The Incredibles. They were based on stereotypes, but so were Bob and Dash: part of the show's charm lies in mapping mid-century middle-class stereotypes onto superheroes and seeing what happens. But they had real depth and their journey wasn't an obvious or well-trodden one. I hope despite the broadly corny implications of what we've seen so far of Brave that it rises above it in the same way.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:36 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:36 PM on February 23, 2012
To date, Pixar's only solid female characters are Violet and Helen from The Incredibles.
Though if we're including relatively minor characters, Edna Mode is a truly great creation.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:49 PM on February 23, 2012 [5 favorites]
Though if we're including relatively minor characters, Edna Mode is a truly great creation.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:49 PM on February 23, 2012 [5 favorites]
'oh thank god, actual Scottish voice actors, instead of Mike Myers'
Needs more Peter Capaldi.
posted by Artw at 1:49 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Needs more Peter Capaldi.
posted by Artw at 1:49 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Well I was including early nineties Disney as part of its heydey.
posted by timsneezed at 1:50 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by timsneezed at 1:50 PM on February 23, 2012
To date, Pixar's only solid female characters are Violet and Helen from The Incredibles.
Dory?
posted by Navelgazer at 1:52 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Dory?
posted by Navelgazer at 1:52 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm struggling to think of what Disney-in-their-heyday movie could go toe-to-toe with "Up", and I'm coming up blank.
Beauty and the Best, Cinderella, Alice in wonderland, even The Brave Little Toaster... just to name a few.
posted by timsneezed at 1:54 PM on February 23, 2012
Beauty and the Best, Cinderella, Alice in wonderland, even The Brave Little Toaster... just to name a few.
posted by timsneezed at 1:54 PM on February 23, 2012
*actually Brave Little Toaster isn't Disney I don't think. I still love it, though ;)
posted by timsneezed at 1:56 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by timsneezed at 1:56 PM on February 23, 2012
I'm struggling to think of what Disney-in-their-heyday movie could go toe-to-toe with "Up"
Dumbo.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:14 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Dumbo.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:14 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Looks gorgeous but also incredibly predictable and boring. Don't understand why finding someone who can write great, funny scripts is so damn hard.
Yeah, why have Pixar's movies always lacked great, funny scripts? They're always sooooo stale and boring.
posted by Justinian at 2:18 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yeah, why have Pixar's movies always lacked great, funny scripts? They're always sooooo stale and boring.
posted by Justinian at 2:18 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Dory?
OH YEAH! I remember her! Wait, who was she again?
posted by radwolf76 at 2:18 PM on February 23, 2012 [7 favorites]
OH YEAH! I remember her! Wait, who was she again?
posted by radwolf76 at 2:18 PM on February 23, 2012 [7 favorites]
Could someone please record a video of me watching this clip?
posted by ColdChef at 2:19 PM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 2:19 PM on February 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
actually Brave Little Toaster isn't Disney I don't think.
You think wrong, sir.
posted by radwolf76 at 2:20 PM on February 23, 2012
You think wrong, sir.
posted by radwolf76 at 2:20 PM on February 23, 2012
TBH I don't rate any of those up against UP. Most of them are extremely light story and character-wise.
posted by Artw at 2:21 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by Artw at 2:21 PM on February 23, 2012
Fantasia. Precisely because it's flawed. Fantasia represents an animation studio spending a lot of money to take a lot of risks on a feature-length non-narrative movie that really explores the limits of what was possible in animation at the time.
Yes, a lot of the film was basically Silly Symphonies-style pieces, which I kind of think proves my point: that even in an explicitly experimental piece, the established grammar of visual storytelling kept coming back. And that's okay, because those rules work.
I have no doubt that Pixar could do an amazing answer to Fantasia, but even if they did, they would have to work very hard to avoid making something ultimately derivative of that earlier work.
posted by gauche at 2:22 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yes, a lot of the film was basically Silly Symphonies-style pieces, which I kind of think proves my point: that even in an explicitly experimental piece, the established grammar of visual storytelling kept coming back. And that's okay, because those rules work.
I have no doubt that Pixar could do an amazing answer to Fantasia, but even if they did, they would have to work very hard to avoid making something ultimately derivative of that earlier work.
posted by gauche at 2:22 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Brave Little Toaster was the last thing about that Lasseter did before leaving Disney to go to what became Pixar.
posted by Atreides at 2:24 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by Atreides at 2:24 PM on February 23, 2012
Brave Little Toaster, on last watching, had a reference to the 'showers' involved w/ the holocaust. Huge WTF moment
posted by MangyCarface at 2:27 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by MangyCarface at 2:27 PM on February 23, 2012
Malor: "That was the first Dreamworks movie I've seen that I thought was genuinely good"
Not even Chicken Run or Wallace and Gromit?
posted by vanar sena at 2:34 PM on February 23, 2012
Not even Chicken Run or Wallace and Gromit?
posted by vanar sena at 2:34 PM on February 23, 2012
But CR and Wallace and Gromit are Aardman, so not really in the dreamworks creative loop regardless of the credits.
posted by OHenryPacey at 2:50 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by OHenryPacey at 2:50 PM on February 23, 2012
Fair enough.
posted by vanar sena at 2:55 PM on February 23, 2012
posted by vanar sena at 2:55 PM on February 23, 2012
"You'd NEVER expect a GIRL to be able to FIGHT like a MAN!" is just one story seed. I'd like to see more go around.
There can be only one!
Billy Connolly's in it, so they could basically set fire to puppies through the whole movie and I'd still go see it.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:05 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
There can be only one!
Billy Connolly's in it, so they could basically set fire to puppies through the whole movie and I'd still go see it.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:05 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
The awesomely Scottish voice cast is doing it for me. Billy Connolly, yes, obviously. But Kelly MacDonald and Kevin McKidd? That's 2 actors in common with Trainspotting if you're keeping track, which I am. And then Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane.
And that's only who we know about ...
posted by feckless at 3:11 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
And that's only who we know about ...
posted by feckless at 3:11 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Market testing complete! I showed this clip to my two daughters (7 and 5) and they went nuts, jumping up and down, shouting, "Play it again, Daddy!" I caught my 7yo holding her breath at the part where she lets the last arrow fly. She turned to me and said, "I want to see it on the first day, Daddy." Me, too.
posted by ColdChef at 4:22 PM on February 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 4:22 PM on February 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
Like most of you here, I am a huge fan of Pixar-minus-Cars. The trailer is terrible, and looks like a rehash of Shrek 12 or one of the lesser Dreamworks animations (lame Ice Age sequels, etc). And the premise of "a woman who gets respect because she acts like a man" has been played out so much in the last 40 years you'd think the creative folks at Pixar would see past that.
And maybe they have. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, since I have, y'know, actually seen the movie. Which, ultimately, I want to see because, as always, the animation looks amazing. The wobble of that arrow. Did you notice the feather making a teeny tiny mark on her cheek? Love that stuff. I just hope that all the slapstick/wacky characters with high-pitched voices and terrible puns who flitter all over the screen at high speed are kept to a minimum. If we're lucky all that stuff in the trailer is all there is.
posted by zardoz at 4:43 PM on February 23, 2012
And maybe they have. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, since I have, y'know, actually seen the movie. Which, ultimately, I want to see because, as always, the animation looks amazing. The wobble of that arrow. Did you notice the feather making a teeny tiny mark on her cheek? Love that stuff. I just hope that all the slapstick/wacky characters with high-pitched voices and terrible puns who flitter all over the screen at high speed are kept to a minimum. If we're lucky all that stuff in the trailer is all there is.
posted by zardoz at 4:43 PM on February 23, 2012
Too many Disney/Dreamworks/Pixar stories are about the child of a king or village chief overcoming some kind villainy or self-doubt that has been keeping them from assuming the mantle of leadership.
Nearly every damn cartoon reinforces this weird culture of 1%er white-bread entitlement with the notion that strength and courage are largely genetic traits and that these positive qualities will carry our hero/heroine to their rightful place in the upper rungs of society. Yay!
Could we please have more stories for a new, modern age?
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:00 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Nearly every damn cartoon reinforces this weird culture of 1%er white-bread entitlement with the notion that strength and courage are largely genetic traits and that these positive qualities will carry our hero/heroine to their rightful place in the upper rungs of society. Yay!
Could we please have more stories for a new, modern age?
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:00 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
Though if we're including relatively minor characters, Edna Mode is a truly great creation.
I would watch the shit out of an Edna Mode short. I've wanted Pixar to make that happen for years.
posted by Space Kitty at 5:18 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
I would watch the shit out of an Edna Mode short. I've wanted Pixar to make that happen for years.
posted by Space Kitty at 5:18 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Too many Disney/Dreamworks/Pixar stories are about the child of a king or village chief overcoming some kind villainy or self-doubt that has been keeping them from assuming the mantle of leadership.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but Brave seems to be the only Pixar movie that fits this model. And as far as Disney goes, for every Cinderella, there's a Belle or a Princess and the Frog (which is not about a real princess...at first anyways).
posted by ColdChef at 5:33 PM on February 23, 2012
Perhaps I'm wrong, but Brave seems to be the only Pixar movie that fits this model. And as far as Disney goes, for every Cinderella, there's a Belle or a Princess and the Frog (which is not about a real princess...at first anyways).
posted by ColdChef at 5:33 PM on February 23, 2012
Nearly every damn cartoon reinforces this weird culture of 1%er white-bread entitlement with the notion that strength and courage are largely genetic traits and that these positive qualities will carry our hero/heroine to their rightful place in the upper rungs of society. Yay!
It's kind of like a thing in Western civilization, this type of story. Though, generally, it has nothing to do with a princess. Which is ironic, given the spirit of some commenters, that previously complained that Pixar had failed to craft a movie around a heroine, and then complain that they're doing it wrong.
I think it's fair to bring up How to Train Your Dragon, but any similarities between its character design and Brave's I believe is superficial. The craftsmanship in the character design appears to be several steps above the Dreamworks production (which, I think was perhaps the first truly great Dreamworks Animation to actually compete with Pixar - and hey, from the same people who brought us Lilo & Stitch!). Just the look and appearance of the flannel made me want to pause the trailer to gawk at, as well other details. Likewise, the design in Dragon felt much more symbolic and invoking of an idea, rather than an execution of an idea as it appears in Brave. Also, production on this movie began way back in 2008, so at best, the same time as Dragon, if not earlier (which was released in 2010).
I enjoyed this clip much more than the trailer which appeared to be edited to try and hit all demographics at once. It may be the movie I'm most excited about after Nolan's last Batman movie. I'm eager to have all memory of Cars 2 erased from my mind by the awesomeness I wish this movie to hopefully possess.
posted by Atreides at 5:36 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's kind of like a thing in Western civilization, this type of story. Though, generally, it has nothing to do with a princess. Which is ironic, given the spirit of some commenters, that previously complained that Pixar had failed to craft a movie around a heroine, and then complain that they're doing it wrong.
I think it's fair to bring up How to Train Your Dragon, but any similarities between its character design and Brave's I believe is superficial. The craftsmanship in the character design appears to be several steps above the Dreamworks production (which, I think was perhaps the first truly great Dreamworks Animation to actually compete with Pixar - and hey, from the same people who brought us Lilo & Stitch!). Just the look and appearance of the flannel made me want to pause the trailer to gawk at, as well other details. Likewise, the design in Dragon felt much more symbolic and invoking of an idea, rather than an execution of an idea as it appears in Brave. Also, production on this movie began way back in 2008, so at best, the same time as Dragon, if not earlier (which was released in 2010).
I enjoyed this clip much more than the trailer which appeared to be edited to try and hit all demographics at once. It may be the movie I'm most excited about after Nolan's last Batman movie. I'm eager to have all memory of Cars 2 erased from my mind by the awesomeness I wish this movie to hopefully possess.
posted by Atreides at 5:36 PM on February 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
My daughter just told me, "You know what I noticed in this clip? No one pooted or burped." She and I will often watch trailers on her mom's iPad and I always tell her that we won't see a movie where the trailer shows someone farting or burping. Watch a few trailers for kids, you'll see what I mean. (not that I have a problem with body noises, it's just a cheap laugh in a trailer)
posted by ColdChef at 5:40 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by ColdChef at 5:40 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
You know, if this clip is the first two minutes then it seems like the story starts precisely where people are complaining they are leaving it...
posted by Artw at 5:44 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 5:44 PM on February 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
I mean, this isn't going to be the first two minutes but the meat of this clip is almost certain to occur somewhere between minutes 15 and 25. Here's what Disney/Pixar has given us about the story so far:
I trust Pixar.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:55 PM on February 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. 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 Wise Woman (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.So the story isn't about her need for independence, that's just the inciting incident. Moreover, she's not a badass because of weapon proficiency. Or rather, sure, that's part of it, but as we can see from the clip, she's a more or less perfect archer at the start of the story, and the story is a maturation plot, which means that her arc is about something other than learning to fight like a man.
I trust Pixar.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:55 PM on February 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
- I thought The Bear and The Bow was a better name
- I really want to know what happened to the woman director of this pic. The real dirt.
- Almost all of my "Oh god, they're ANTZing How To Train Your Dragon" went away about 30 seconds into this trailer.
foci: Looks gorgeous but also incredibly predictable and boring.
That's OK with me, because if I have to watch it half as many times as I have already seen the oddly plastic-looking characters of Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses or Barbie Princess Charm School then settling for "Escape From Uncanny Valley" with lovely voices is a measurable step up.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:41 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
That's OK with me, because if I have to watch it half as many times as I have already seen the oddly plastic-looking characters of Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses or Barbie Princess Charm School then settling for "Escape From Uncanny Valley" with lovely voices is a measurable step up.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:41 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
I love that big shock of red hair. For that alone, I am going to see this when it comes out.
(also, that arrow scene was gorgeous)
posted by pleasebekind at 6:52 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
(also, that arrow scene was gorgeous)
posted by pleasebekind at 6:52 AM on February 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
"I love that big shock of red hair. For that alone, I am going to see this when it comes out."
She. Has. Red. Eyebrows.
She has freckles.
Yes, it so far seems to be a bit too much about "girl is good because she is not like regular girls" which can we quit with that already? (although Navelgazer you give me hope) But. I firmly believed that my freckles would fade and my eyebrows would darken by the time I hit high school because, growing up, every redhead in the media had neither freckles nor red eyebrows.
This movie would have saved me a lot of angst (and eyepencil money...) I suspect. Little redheaded mutant girls! Not you auburn-locked beauties! But you gingers with your freckles and your pale eyes and your invisible eyelashes! SHE IS YOUR HEROINE.
yes i am still bitter.
posted by AmandaA at 8:14 AM on February 24, 2012 [7 favorites]
She. Has. Red. Eyebrows.
She has freckles.
Yes, it so far seems to be a bit too much about "girl is good because she is not like regular girls" which can we quit with that already? (although Navelgazer you give me hope) But. I firmly believed that my freckles would fade and my eyebrows would darken by the time I hit high school because, growing up, every redhead in the media had neither freckles nor red eyebrows.
This movie would have saved me a lot of angst (and eyepencil money...) I suspect. Little redheaded mutant girls! Not you auburn-locked beauties! But you gingers with your freckles and your pale eyes and your invisible eyelashes! SHE IS YOUR HEROINE.
yes i am still bitter.
posted by AmandaA at 8:14 AM on February 24, 2012 [7 favorites]
Amy Pond has freckles.
She's not full on luminous skin ginger though.
posted by Artw at 12:22 PM on February 24, 2012
She's not full on luminous skin ginger though.
posted by Artw at 12:22 PM on February 24, 2012
She's not full on luminous skin ginger though.
Does she get all cross when it's sunny?
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:25 PM on February 24, 2012
Does she get all cross when it's sunny?
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:25 PM on February 24, 2012
AmandaA you are so so so right. As a sandy blonde (though red-bearded) in my late 30s I still have freckles, lots of 'em. I inwardly cringe and die, just a little bit, every time a movie, TV show, even a novel will cast a kid with freckles--lots and lots of freckles--as the Ugly Kid, the Bad Kid, the Bully, the Stupid Kid, etc. etc. It's a trope that I think people don't even recognize, it's so subtle. But it's not subtle to anyone who has lots of freckles.
Did wonders for my self-esteem in junior high.
posted by zardoz at 1:20 AM on February 25, 2012
Did wonders for my self-esteem in junior high.
posted by zardoz at 1:20 AM on February 25, 2012
Daughter woke this morning telling me that she loved Brave and she was brave because she watched the Brave clip and she dreamed of Brave all night.
Quite something given that recently she has been all Ahsoka, Ahsoka, Ahsoka, and everything has to be Ahsokaish, and BTW her name is now Ahsoka.
posted by Artw at 8:11 AM on February 25, 2012
Quite something given that recently she has been all Ahsoka, Ahsoka, Ahsoka, and everything has to be Ahsokaish, and BTW her name is now Ahsoka.
posted by Artw at 8:11 AM on February 25, 2012
She also really likes that Russian archery clip. I may be in trouble.
posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on February 25, 2012
posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on February 25, 2012
Add in Hunger Games and you'll have a potential Olympic champion in 2028
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:14 AM on February 25, 2012
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:14 AM on February 25, 2012
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