Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Abigail Cobian 03.20.13 / 2pm

   When first hearing about Brave i immediately thought, “here we go again, another princess movie.” With so many previews online and merchandise being introduced into stores i became more inclined to watch it. With so many Disney movies constantly coming out, Brave did not catch my attention. More it was lost in the trend of princess and Disney movies i had no interest in watching another predictable children movie. Since i am such a fan of the original Disney princess movies i did not even try to go out my way to watch Brave. Although Disney movies are constantly in theaters they never fail to disappoint. After accidentally walking in to my roommates watching the movie i instantly fell in love with Merida’s quirky character. Although i am still very loyal to Ariel in the little mermaid growing up with her as a child, Merida’s character captured me to add her to my long list of favorite Disney movies. The plot of the movie was not repetitive and Merida’s character gave the movie its own unique twist.
2. Brittany Christianson 03.21.13 / 8pm

   Your writing is really good, and the film review for Brave is great. I really like how you explained how she feels and the constant nagging from her mom and disappointment. I saw the preview for this film before it came out and I couldn’t wait to see it. However when it came out I was a little disappointed. It wasn’t all that great. It seems that it was just another film by Disney, nothing special. I think you should have included a little more about the film, it seems you just focused on the very beginning, I know you shouldn’t give the film away but it would have been nice to touch on the resolution of the film.
3. Nicole Garfias 03.22.13 / 2pm

   At first I was not very inclined to watch this film; however, after some time I finally did. I have always been a big fan of Pixar movies, always expressing a heartwarming theme throughout. This film was no different. You had a princess wanting to be independent. It was very different from the usual princess wanting to find true love. This was definitely more about Merida finding independence and focusing on her relationship with her family. It was a great film and was even more interested when I started to learn about the process that went through animating her hair. There was so much work put in to make it seem real and so that every curl would move just right. It gave a great realistic look and in the end all the work for that really paid off. Her hair is something that really distinguishes her and defines her as a free spirit.
4. McKenzie Hollowell 05.04.13 / 12am

   I think you did a spot-on review on what this film is about. With your writing you invoke added interest in the film while maintaining important plotline mystery. I think your right about Merida holding her own alongside the classic Disney princesses. For the last couple years, the princess have been quite a drag, lacking the bad-a**, independent quality of Mulan, and Jasmine. It’s actually why I was quite excited to see this film. I thought “Finally, back to a real Disney princess!”, but while great my expectations were out of proportion. I like how you added that warning to the end of your review. One thing I think you left out was how visually stunning the film was. The color, vibrancy, and settings were visually stunning and inspiring. This land was so different than that I’ve seen in other Disney film; making you feel even more drawn in to this film and it’s magical plot-line.
5. Lara Bangs 07.01.13 / 11pm

   Brave is a unique take on the classic damsel in distress Disney princess movies. Instead of a big strong handsome prince saving her from the big issue at hand Merida is forced to fix her own mistake. Being an independent and strong willed young lady Merida gives its young viewers a good representation to how a woman is capable of taking care of herself and her responsibilities as well as standing up for what you believe in.The clever plot and animation keep the audiences interested in the story and invested in the characters. The entire film is family friendly and will keep audiences of all ages wanting the best for Merida and her new bear mother
6. Manpreet Toor 07.06.13 / 7pm

   I personally loved this movie. Merida is no average disney princess, she’s out of the box. She shows todays youth that no one is perfect and sometimes being different is better. This film presents a “can do” attitude, it shows determination and the right to be yourself. Her family is viewed upon as elite and she is forced to marry. However, she will do anything in her power to achieve freedom. Yet, what she does not know is that her independence comes at a price, her mother is turned into a bear. Merida focuses on turning her mother human and through this story they develop a strong bond and understanding between one another. Brave illustrates the power of a mother daughter bond and the acceptance of individuality.
7. Estefania Woelke 07.08.13 / 11pm

   When first hearing about this film I didn’t really think much of it, the only reason it caught my attention was because I knew it would be a good movie to take my little cousins to see. The preview for this film just seemed like another Disney movie, don’t get me wrong I love Disney films but for some reason Disney films that are being made today aren’t the same as they were back in the day. It might just be that I’m getting older and more interested in other films. I decided to give this movie a chance just because I knew my cousins would love it, but after the film was over I was the one who actually loved it. I thought this movie was great and your review for this film is very good as well. The whole movies point about Merida finding her independence and keeping a relationship with her family I believe is very good especially since many little kids will be watching this film and it can teach them so much. Thank you for this review I really enjoyed reading it. You were spot on and I hope it convinces other to watch the film.
8. Cody Segal 09.23.13 / 9am

   I enjoyed reading this review because I agree that the major focus of the film Brave is Merida’s relationship with her mother. The critic who wrote this review does establish the basis for conflict in the film and in my opinion, leaves plenty of surprises for anyone who wants to see the film for themselves. I do think however, that this critic could have been a little more direct with carrying out their opinion of the film overall. When I read this review, I was misled by the last sentence because I was unsure of what to make of it. While reading the review, I was under the impression that the critic enjoyed the film. The last sentence however, makes the film seem like it would disappoint some audiences that have too high of expectations. If I hadn’t seen the film, I think that I would have appreciated a little more personal opinions from the critic about the film itself. Overall, the review does an excellent job at making the film sound interesting and providing a brief introduction to the film without spoiling it.
9. adolfo_gonzalez 04.02.14 / 5pm

   This was a great film! I really enjoy animated films, so I rarely hesitate to watch an animated film when it comes out. When I first saw that this film had a main character as a little girl, I immediately thought it was a girl’s movie. Well, not exactly. The movie showed a little girl’s bravery (hence the title, “Brave”) and her ability to adjust to the adult life and be able to protect and fend for herself. In the end, she is able to show her parents that she can take care of herself and is not forced to marry a man she does not want to marry. Great movie…

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