Disney Pixar's Brave (5 stars)

(Disney) Pixar you've done it again!

Brave is Pixar's 13th straight number one film at the box office.

And it deserves to be.

On so many levels, I loved this movie. And I am not alone. I took all three of my girls (ages 12, 10 & 7). They each loved it. Even the hubby enjoyed it, although it's definitely a girl-focused tale.

Brave follows the journey of Merida, a princess burdened with the responsibility of a kingdom. She must marry one of the other clans' princes to maintain peace among her people. She doesn't want to. She's fiercely independent and strong, and quite frankly her suitors are lacking.

In a very Wonder Woman (and I love Wonder Woman) moment, she disobeys her mom and enters herself into the challenge for her hand. She shows up the boys in an archery contest. Her mother takes her aside and tries to explain that she doesn't have a choice. But neither is listening to the other.

Merida runs off and encounters a witch. We've all seen enough Disney movies to cringe when Merida asks the witch to "change her mother." The mother is turned into a bear, the very animal who took Merida's father's leg. He has spent his life waiting for revenge.

What I loved best was that I walked away wanting to really "hear" my daughters. A mother's job is so difficult. We must prepare our children to leave us and embark on their own journeys. But don't worry. The message is not heavy-handed. Instead it's interwoven with humor, action, and beautiful scenery.

As the mom of three daughters, I love any movie that showcases a strong, self-determined princess versus one that is just waiting for the prince to save her. I like Fiona from Shrek, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Mulan from Mulan, and Rapunzel from Tangled. This one does it better, because Merida doesn't need her prince. At least not yet.

Although there is one scene of men with naked butts (cartoon butts, and these are Irishmen with kilts) and some rowdy behavior, this is a movie for all ages. There's something for everyone. This ranks up there as one of my favorite Disney Pixar films and that says a lot because I loved Nemo, Toy Story, and The Incredibles.

Rating: 5 stars

Whick Disney Pixar movie has been your favorite?

Review of the Movie, Breaking Dawn

I admit it. I was as sucked into the Twilight series as anyone, but I was late to the game. Before this series, I rarely read paranormal or fantasy books. I have always been drawn to real life stories and struggles and easily driven to nightmares. But my younger sister handed me Twilight at the beach one summer. I was hooked, reading all three books in a week.

Part 1 poster from Wikipedia

My biggest complaint through the first three books was Bella. I didn't appreciate a teenage girl in this day and age being so in love she overlooked all reason, all warnings. Plus, I found her downright whiny at times. Why were two men fighting over such a whiny, little girl? But she grew on me. At the end of New Moon, I was torn. Bella loved two men, and I could see the advantages of both.

When Breaking Dawn was released in 2008, I rushed to buy it the first day and read it in a weekend. I couldn't put it down. Finally I saw Bella as a strong, powerful female character willing to put her life on the line for her child, not just for Edward.

I knew the movie for Breaking Dawn would need to be split. Quite frankly, it should have been two books. My sisters and I went to a late showing over Thanksgiving. So much fun seeing it with them. It took me back to the days of being teenagers and going to the movies together.

Part of the fun of these movies is seeing all the books' fans coming out in droves. But I always wonder, what do the non-Twilight readers think of the movies? Breaking Dawn, in particular, left so much out. Having read the books, I filled in the background of Leah's pain from Sam dissing her, the unwavering determination Bella had to protect her unborn baby, why Bella chose Rosalie as protector, etc. It's hard for me to objectively review this movie when I can fill in so many blanks.

My gut reaction... people who don't know the books would have been lost and completely uninspired by Breaking Dawn. What a shame. I thought Bella's determination to save her baby was a turning point for the character. The one scene I thought the movie handled very well was Jacob imprinting. When I read this in the book, I thought it was hokey and just plain icky. But I must admit, when he fell to his knees before Renesmee, it was sweet and powerful.

So much was missing from the movie. Even though I could fill in the blanks from the book, it had been awhile since I read it. The movie seemed spotty and thin in parts. I wanted more of Bella's strong will and Jacob's decision to break from his pack. On the positive side, I thought the honeymoon was sweet, and the makeup artists should be commended for the amazing job they did making Kristen Stewart seem frail and almost lifeless.

If you loved the book, you'll want to see the movie, see the characters and story come to life. If you didn't like or read the book, skip it. I have higher hopes for the second part. The action should increase with the Volturi and Bella's transformation, and the filmmakers should want to go out with a bang.

Note: This movie is not for younger kids. The honeymoon and birth scenes are disturbing. I don't want any of my daughters thinking that's what either milestone is like. I did let my oldest daughter see the first three, but drew the line at this one. I'm glad I did.

Atlas Shrugged: Check this Out

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand has long been in my to-read pile. I need to start now and read quickly. How did I miss that this was coming to theaters!?!?

Check out the trailer:

http://www.atlasshruggedpart1.com/atlas-shrugged-movie-trailer.