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Brave

Name: Brave - Christian Parent's Review
Item: Brave
Rating: 1
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to Brave

Brave is a Pixar animated fantasy-adventure film set in the mystical Scottish Highlands. It follows the story of Princess Merida, a headstrong and skilled archer, who wishes to forge her own path rather than adhere to age-old traditions, particularly an arranged marriage. Her defiance inadvertently unleashes chaos upon her kingdom when she seeks magical intervention to change her mother, Queen Elinor. The film explores themes of family conflict, tradition versus individual desire, and the powerful bond between a mother and daughter as they work to reverse a beastly curse. The movie is generally suitable for older children and pre-teens due to its adventurous narrative and underlying messages about understanding and communication.

Things to Consider

High3

Witchcraft & Occult

Witchcraft and occult themes are central to the plot of Brave. Merida directly seeks out an old witch to cast a spell that she believes will change her mother's mind. The witch provides a magical tart/potion that transforms Queen Elinor into a bear and Merida's triplet brothers into bear cubs. Additionally, mystical entities known as will-o'-the-wisps serve as supernatural guides.

Merida deliberately seeks out an eccentric old witch in the woods and requests a spell to alter her mother's actions and change her fate. The witch then conjures a magical tart that, when eaten by Queen Elinor, transforms her into a large grizzly bear. The triplet brothers also become bear cubs after eating some of the tart. Throughout the story, glowing blue will-o'-the-wisps appear to guide Merida to the witch and at other crucial moments, functioning as mystical forces rooted in Scottish folklore.

Scary & Intense Content

Brave contains numerous scary and intense scenes that may frighten younger children. The most prominent elements include the ferocious bear Mor'du, who is depicted as a large, aggressive threat, and the disturbing transformation of Merida's mother into a bear. This transformation leads to tense moments where Queen Elinor (as a bear) acts wildly, and Merida finds herself in perilous situations, including dark, creepy woods and a jump scare.

The grizzly bear Mor'du is a consistently terrifying presence, with loud roars and aggressive attacks, particularly when King Fergus recounts losing his leg to the bear and in later confrontations with Merida. Queen Elinor's transformation into a bear is a major source of tension, as she initially struggles with her new animal instincts, growling and snarling, which makes her a frightening figure to Merida and others. Merida experiences a frightening night in the dark, stormy woods with her bear-mother, trying to avoid capture, and later encounters a jump scare when she falls into Mor'du's dark cave.

Disrespect & Rebellion

Disrespect and rebellion are central themes in Brave, particularly demonstrated by Merida towards her mother, Queen Elinor. Merida openly defies tradition and her mother's wishes regarding her betrothal, leading to severe consequences. Her actions stem from a desire for independence and a rejection of expectations, which initially manifests as overt disrespect and selfishness.

Merida shows significant disrespect by openly defying her mother's plans for her arranged marriage, refusing to participate in the suitor's games, and declaring 'I'd rather die than be like her' to her mother during an argument. Her act of rebellion in slashing the family tapestry out of anger directly leads her to seek out the witch and trigger the curse on her mother. Merida's initial selfishness and pride in wanting to change her mother rather than understand her drives the core conflict of the film.

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Medium3

ViolenceSubstance UseAnti-Christian Themes

Low3

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityRomance and Sexual ContentProfanity

Medium3

Violence

Brave features moderate to intense violence, primarily involving bear attacks and clan skirmishes. While gore is minimal or off-screen, the intensity of these scenes, particularly those with the bear Mor'du, can be frightening and involve characters in peril. Battles among clans, though sometimes depicted humorously, still involve weapons and physical altercations.

King Fergus recounts losing a leg to the fierce grizzly bear Mor'du in a violent encounter, though the injury itself is not graphically shown. Later in the film, Queen Elinor, transformed into a bear, engages in a brutal fight with Mor'du, leading to Mor'du's death by a falling stone, an intense scene without explicit gore. Additionally, a large brawl breaks out among the three suitor clans, involving physical fighting with fists, kicks, and weapons like swords and arrows, sometimes portrayed in a comedic, slapstick style.

Substance Use

The film includes some depictions of alcohol consumption by adult characters in a social setting and the use of a magic 'potion.' King Fergus and other lords are seen drinking during feasts and a celebratory song. The witch's 'tart' acts as a magical substance with significant, though unintended, consequences.

Anti-Christian Themes

While not explicitly anti-Christian, Brave's central reliance on pagan Scottish folklore, including witchcraft and mystical 'will-o'-the-wisps' guiding destiny, presents themes that may conflict with a Christian worldview. The narrative promotes changing fate through magical means, rather than relying on divine providence. However, some Christian reviewers also identify positive themes of reconciliation and repentance within the story.

The primary plot device involves Merida seeking and utilizing the services of a witch to cast a spell, which is a direct engagement with practices considered occult in Christianity. The 'will-o'-the-wisps' are presented as supernatural entities that lead characters to their destiny, suggesting a reliance on pagan mystical guidance rather than a Christian understanding of God's sovereign plan or discernment. Some Christian perspectives note that the film's themes of fate and destiny are 'not biblical' in their undertones, though it can still be a starting point for discussions on God's will and repentance.

Low3

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The movie "Brave" does not feature any explicit or implied LGBTQ characters or themes. Discussions about Merida's character often highlight her independence and desire to avoid an arranged marriage, focusing on a mother-daughter relationship rather than a romantic one. This portrays a strong female protagonist who defies traditional gender roles by not needing a romantic suitor, but it does not delve into LGBTQ identity.

There are no confirmed LGBTQ characters or relationships in 'Brave'. Merida explicitly states her desire to remain single, telling her mother, 'I don't want to get married, I want to stay single and let my hair flow in the wind as I ride through the Glenn firing arrows into the sunset.' The narrative focuses on Merida's personal growth and her relationship with her mother, rather than romantic pursuits, diverging from typical princess tropes but without introducing LGBTQ content.

Romance and Sexual Content

Romantic and sexual content in Brave is minimal and non-explicit. The film intentionally shifts focus from a princess seeking a prince to a story about family bonds. There are brief instances of non-graphic, comedic nudity involving adult male characters, played for laughs rather than sexual implication.

Profanity

Review sources indicate an absence of strong language, cursing, or questionable phrases in the movie 'Brave.' The dialogue remains clean and suitable for a wide audience, consistent with its PG rating.

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From a Christian worldview, "Brave" offers a rich narrative ripe for discussion, particularly concerning family dynamics and the consequences of personal choices. Core themes of tradition versus individual desire, while presented through a secular lens, can align with biblical teachings on discernment and honoring one's parents, while also recognizing individual God-given calling. Merida's initial defiance against an arranged marriage, driven by a desire for self-determination, clashes with Queen Elinor's emphasis on duty and the welfare of the kingdom. The film's messaging ultimately promotes mutual understanding, communication, and reconciliation within the family unit, which resonates strongly with biblical principles for healthy relationships. The narrative clearly demonstrates that Merida's selfish actions and reliance on magical intervention lead to chaos and unintended harm, showing moral accountability for vice. Conversely, virtue such as humility, repentance, and sacrificial love are rewarded with reconciliation and restoration. The worldview presented is rooted in Scottish folklore and a mystical understanding of fate and magic rather than an explicit Christian framework. While the concept of "changing one's fate" might be interpreted as a humanistic philosophy in some readings, Merida's journey demonstrates that true change comes not from manipulating external circumstances through magic, but from internal transformation and relational repair. The movie portrays Merida's seeking of witchcraft as a "terrible choice" that amplifies her problems, suggesting a negative consequence for dabbling in such practices. Redemption themes are powerfully present in the reconciliation between Merida and Elinor, driven by Merida's heartfelt repentance for her actions and Elinor's unconditional love. The mother's sacrifice, enduring the bear curse alongside her daughter, mirrors sacrificial love, while the ultimate breaking of the curse through Merida's understanding and efforts highlights themes of forgiveness and grace in restoring a broken bond. Family values are central to "Brave," depicting a nuclear family with strong, albeit initially conflicted, parental figures. Merida's rebellion against her mother's authority and expectations serves as a catalyst for conflict, but the resolution sees both mother and daughter grow in understanding and respect for each other's perspectives. The film ultimately underscores the importance of honoring family members and the transformative power of love and communication to resolve deep-seated disagreements. While overt Christian faith is absent, the underlying moral lessons about the repercussions of pride and selfishness, the necessity of repentance and forgiveness, and the strength found in familial love provide ample points for Christian parents to engage their children in discussions about biblical values and God's design for relationships.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 10 and over. While rated PG, the film contains several intense and scary scenes, particularly involving large, fierce bears and magical transformations, which may be too frightening for children under 7. Parental guidance is recommended for children aged 7-9 due to these elements and themes of rebellion.

Good to Know

Brave emphasizes themes of communication, understanding, and reconciliation within families. While Merida's initial rebellion is a key plot driver, the film ultimately highlights the importance of mending strained relationships and understanding another's perspective. The film is a standalone feature and does not have sequels or adaptations that alter its core content or themes.

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