I have a confession to make: as a little girl, I was never really into princesses. My favorite Disney movie? Alice in Wonderland. I just wasn't your princess loving little girl. I liked to climb trees and run through the woods. I was the type of kid who came home muddy at the end of a day and fought getting dressed up, so I didn't really understand the whole princess in a frilly dress thing. While I thought that Belle was very nice, I definitely had no interest in wearing that uncomfortable looking dress.
This makes me think that I would've loved Merida.
Merida is not the princess of my childhood and for that, I am glad. Merida is a princess who I would've loved, riding on horseback through the woods shooting with her bow and arrows. Merida is determined to carve out her own path and sets out on a chaotic adventure full of twists and turns that leave the viewer wondering if she'll find her true path in the end.
I love so much about this movie. I love that it's set in Scotland with stunning views of the Scottish highlands, along with a score that combines Gaelic melodies alongside songs by Mumford and Sons. I was a little worried that my boys (ages 3 and 5) would find some parts of this movie scary, but they were okay with being talked through it. There's also a great deal of comic relief with Merida's little brothers, all of whom reminded me of my three year old! Overall, my boys thoroughly enjoyed this movie--and I enjoyed it as an adult, which is always a bonus. I love that Merida is a strong female protagonist. I feel that it's important for little girls to follow strong female characters, but I also feel that it's important for boys to do the same. Also, as an adult woman, I could empathize a lot with Merida's relationship with her mother. I think all women have been there!
Have you seen it yet? Did you love it? Have you not seen it but want to? Brave debuts on November 13th and I have a copy of the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition for one lucky reader! The bonus features are so much fun, including one that goes through the animation used in creating the brawl in the hall--one of my favorite scenes in the movie.
To enter, all you need to do is comment and tell me if you were more of a Merida or a Belle as a child. Giveaway will run through Wednesday, November 7th. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!
Although I received a copy of Brave to review, all opinions are my own.
Hmmmm. Good question. Maybe a little of both? But I love LOVE big red-hair curly head heroine. THAT we have needed for a long while. :)
ReplyDeleteOh! I was totally Belle. I went around the house singing the songs on the top of my lungs! You're right though, Merida isn't the princess of my childhood but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've been dying to watch Brave! I mean ..um.. I've been dying to have Evan watch Brave ;) lol
ReplyDeleteI was definitely more of a Belle growing up. Dirt was the enemy. We loved this movie and we loved that she is a "different" edition to the princess line up.
ReplyDeleteI was totally a Belle - I always had my nose in a book!
ReplyDeleteAurora was always my favorite. My mom loves snow white and my sister is a belle fan.
ReplyDeleteI was more of a Belle :)
ReplyDeleteI was Belle as a child, but as a teen and young adult, I found myself to be much more of a Merida!
ReplyDeleteI want to see that! :)
ReplyDeleteSo fun! I was never in to the princesses, but I think I was more of a pre-princess Belle growing up wanting to spend time with my dad and/or a good book.
ReplyDeleteI was always more of an Alice.
ReplyDeleteWe really want to see this- we haven't yet! I was probably a good mix of both- definitely a singer/book lover a la Belle but also had quite the mind of my own!
ReplyDeleteSteph
I LOVE Brave. It was one of the very best movies I've ever seen. I am absolutely more a Merida girl than a Belle girl ;)
ReplyDeleteI was a Merida! Of course. This is not shocking ;) Thank you for this awesome giveaway! xo
ReplyDeleteDefinitely more of a Belle! Even today, I have my nose in a book!
ReplyDeleteI was definitely a Merida!! Such a free spirit!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a Merida!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I was totally Merida...and my daughter is too---to boot, she has curly red hair!!
ReplyDeleteMerida. I have an older brother and I thought I always had to keep up with him. I never was a dress-wearer and didn't succomb to a purse until I was 23 and didn't wear jeans from the female side of the aisle until after I had kids and my body changed. And still to this day? I'd rather be in a pair of jeans getting dirty than in a dress going somewhere fancy.
ReplyDeleteI was more like Belle, always reading.
ReplyDeleteradiodisneyfan(dot)helent(at)gmail(dot)com
Ariel was my favorite princess growing up. I thought mermaids were the coolest thing. Merida does have rockin hair though. Awesome giveaway. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that this movie gives a new princess-mode for girls to use in their make-believe games. When I was little my favorite princess was Sleeping Beauty but I acted most like Belle with all those books.
ReplyDeleteI bawled through most of Brave because of the mother/daughter dynamic. LOVED the movie.
ReplyDeleteI was always a Ariel girl, myself.
i was a Merida - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteI was Merida as a child, but I am way more Belle as a grown up!
ReplyDeleteBelle but with Merida's curly hair.
ReplyDeleteI was definitely Merida as a child, close to Belle now.
ReplyDeleteMuch more a Merida, climbing trees and such ... but I did always love to get dressed up, too!
ReplyDeleteI was definitely a Belle! Everyone even called me that because I always had my "nose stuck in a book." ;)
ReplyDeletei think i was more of a merida as a child
ReplyDeletedaniellex at gmail dot com
Oh - I can so much relate more to Merida than Belle. I love Belle, but like you I HATED dresses, and thank goodness my job allows me to wear casual dress every day...no dresses for me! I was a tree climbing, woods running, field traipsing, lizard catching kinda gal! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Brave and got to enjoy it with my 8 year old daughter, and 7 year old son. My daughter grabbed my hand, and held it most of the movie - I think that this brings out the bond between mother and daughter, even those who "clash". :)
ReplyDeleteI was Merida all the way! My brother was 18 months younger than me, and I spent a lot of time playing outside with him. We were very into bows and arrows, rifles and cap guns. We played Davey Crockett, Daniel Boone and Little House on the Prairie!
ReplyDeleteI think I was a Belle. I took my boys to see Brave in the theater a while back, and they loved it. It was visually an amazing movie.
ReplyDeleteI was absolutely a Merida. I even begged my parents to take up archery, but they said no. :(
ReplyDeleteI was belle. Since I can remember I've had my nose in a book. Every birthday, Christmas, special treat: all I wanted was a new book. The library was my ultimate field trip- not much has changed since then. Although I'm still wishing for the high domed multilevel personal library (stepladder included). :)
ReplyDeleteI was more of a Belle but I wanted to be a Merida! I am a librarian in the end :)
ReplyDeleteykatrina at hotmail dot com
Definitely Belle, I've not seen Brave yet. I would love to win it and add it to our very small Disney movie collection.
ReplyDeleteI was definitely a Belle, but my daughter is a total Merida. She loves this movie and I'd love to win it for her!
ReplyDeletelora at mortier dot org
I was more of a Merida, but I hoped and wished that I could actually be Ariel!
ReplyDeletedreambelle99 at gmail dot com
I was in no way a Belle. Ever. Even now, I would have a hard time with all that fancy stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Erin! I would love to win a copy of this for me and Elise to watch! In my childhood, I was a mix of both. I loved Barbie and getting all dressed up for holidays and weddings, but I was also definitely a dirt and sandbox kid who craved a good game of softball with all the neighborhood kids! Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteNot really sure but probably more Merida! Thanks! saltsnmore at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteHmmm, a mix of both I think. I looooooved to read, which makes me identify with Belle. But when not reading, I was more like Merida. I love that movie! My daughter loves it too, she wants a Merida birthday party this year. :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this movie. I can't say that I strongly identify with any one of Disney princesses, but I do love that Merida doesn't fit the bill of your typical princess. She is rough and tough and figures out things on her own, not needing to be rescued by a Prince, but rescuing herself!
ReplyDeleteI had 3 older brothers to compete with...I was more like merinda
ReplyDeletedeannalw47 AT hotmail DOT com
xoxo
Definitely more of a Belle....still am! ispitonjunkmail at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteBelle
ReplyDeletebmweida at yahoo dot com
Unfortunately we were unable to see Brave at theaters, but I have a feeling I could identify with Belle more. My daughter, however, definitely with Merida. While we haven't seen the film, from what I gather through the trailers, is that Merida is a strong willed, brave, leader type. That describes my daughter to a T. Oh and her hair is just like Merida's except it is blonde.
ReplyDeleteBelle, I was always reading
ReplyDeleteI was a Belle :)
ReplyDeleteI havent any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us.
ReplyDelete