They are Scottish Characters ..not Irish

The first problem with this review is that this movie is not set in Ireland. It's set in Scotland. A minor point, true, but I think it proves how much attention you were paying to not only the movie but the promotional materials that predated it. This is no Irish legend, and the voice talent that lent themselves to this movie were all amazing Scottish actors and actresses, they deserve far more respect than you mislabeling them.

Now onto the rest of it. You cite the lack of a definite villain and pacing problems and violence. The wealth of this movie is beyond all of those things to me, and it's beyond even the art. Merida is ground breaking in the fact that she is the first of the Disney Princess Line that has ultimately not only saved herself but her mother, family and arguably the closest thing to a villain this story has. Merida isn't a perfect princess, she's not quiet or shy and she doesn't cook/clean or spend hours doing needlepoint like the vast majority of female leads in other movies. She does not loath her mother any more than I loathed my own at her age, and that's where she struck the first internal chord with me. Who hasn't had a mother say "feet off the couch" "come in at dark" "go to your room". She is simply the most relateable female character in an animated movie to date. She's strong, she defies her cultural norm and her parents wishes because she knows it is the wrong path for her. She is selfish. She is stubborn and pigheaded and a whole host of other undesirable traits that people don't want young women to be. She's not even that traditionally beautiful, her hair isn't well kept or blond and she's got trouble fitting into ridiculous dresses and her face is just a bit 'too round'.

She is perfect in her imperfection. The true value of this movie is her growth as a character, her relationship with her family, and the fact that she is the one to save herself and her mother. She starts out as a whiny teenager that doesn't understand how luck she is to be where she is and who she's with and by the end of the story she knows herself more and she's both gained the respect of her mother and has learned to put herself in her mother's shoes.
As for the violence, I think you're underestimating how desensitized American children are. I went on opening night, to a theater packed to the rafters with children under the age of 10. There were the inevitable gasps and 'oh nos' during the fight scenes, but the children closest to me were all on the edges of their seats and actively watching. Pixar has long warned that this would be it's darkest movie, and it was. But it was also inspiring, beautiful, empowering, and a riveting movie. This movie had a beautiful message, it was visibly stunning, and everyone I've spoken to, of all ages, has adored it.

My children and myself really enjoyed this film. So refreshing to have a strong female lead who is not 'rescued" by a male character! My 7 year old twin boys loved it with the hilarious innocent"buttock scenes' and the lifting of the kilt etc, while my 10 year old daughter found the 'heroine" a role model as a strong, independent girl who knew her own mind, and who didn't want to be pigeon holed and "give up' on her dreams, by marrying a man! Not a bad message in my view! And for the reviewer to say the film was set in Ireland is unforgivable!!!

@Dan, Good shot at a review, mixed up a few things, but over all, you're off to a great start.

@Ashley A. Watson - Dam girl, chill out, he made a mistake, why do you feel the need to rip his head off and scream down his throat? may god have mercey on your soul when you make a mistake.
Seriously Mz Ashley A. Watson and others he said he was sorry, and corrected himself, how about we rip you a new one for calling the "BRITISH" actors scottish?
It was a harmless mistake from someone learning and trying new things.

Dan, dont let em get you down, good on you for getting out there, posting and trying.
But as you can see, need to be careful of facts least people rip you a new one.

As the editor of this site, I think Dan is doing an awesome job blogging. Yes, he got the Irish/Scottish thing wrong, which I have now changed in the blog. But, as soon as he noticed the error, he alerted me and we have corrected it. He should not be personally attacked for making an error. Please make sure to keep it clean as he is writing his opinion on the movie, which others are welcome to disagree with, post their review and actually blog for any Patch site as well.

And, if I can put my two cents in about the movie as a parent and writer, my two boys loved the movie when we saw it last weekend, but I was less than wowed. I have sat through almost every kids movie that comes to theaters in the last five years and was expecting to LOVE this film. I loved the main character, her plight and I agree with Ashley, but the rest of the characters had very little depth or story, even the mother. The panoramic views were amazing, but I left the theater let down. I agree that we need characters that are flawed and rise up against tradition as role models for our children and the Disney "Princesses" of the past have left a bit to be desired, but the other supporting characters could have brought more to the table.

But, again, I'm an adult looking at the these movies, much like Dan is. If I had my choice on a weekend, I'd rather head to an adult movie, but I do love that my kids loved it.

I wish Americans would stop refering to everyone in the UK as "British". The UK is a political designation. It is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland four Sovereign Countries. The "British" actresses of which there were only 2 in the primary Cast were Emma Thompson (Half Scottish on her mothers side) is English as is Julie Walters (though half Irish on her mothers side too) so you only get one point for Julie ...lol. If you are going to offer a critical opinion on a public forum/blog then you need to be prepared to accept when someone interjects thier opinion opposing yours..without making excuses for your opinion, ie i'm not a professional critic, i am a volunteer etc...it your opinion...stick by it. As for the editorial defense, are you going to do that everytime someone objects to Dan's posts? "which others are welcome to disagree with" seems that may be more implied than truth. For Dan to grow as a reporter/blogger he has to be able to respond to stuff like this in a positive and contructive way, which barring the excuses to justify his opinion, he did fine. The back and forth exchanges are the bread and butter of Political life...oops sorry Blogging life..thought i was on a republican forum for a moment there..people are however passionate about both. All of Ashleys points are valid... and she should not be bashed by the adults for expressing them. Both Dan and Ashley are young people...let them get on with it.

We haven't taken the kids there yet, but are looking forward to it. Disney does a great job with Pixar.

I'm not a hypocrite, and I'm completely calm. I blog on an independent site, I also am unpaid and I don't even have the luxury of an editor. I hold down a job and I pay my own way into movies, and I triple check my facts when I post something that is tagged for other people to read. I'm sorry if my own personal standards bother you. But a quick google search clearly made it obvious that the movie was based in Scotland. I'm sure that if you walked up to Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly or Craig Ferguson and called them Irish they'd have a few choice words. The rest of it is all personal opinion, and I simply shared mine.

Well, leaving it at this, I really hope you continue to read my reviews and comment in the future - and maybe you'll consider sharing your link to your reviews. I love to discuss movies and I think we could have fun commenting on our differences - an Ebert/Roeper of the local blog world. I wish the conversation here had been more movie differences dominated rather than dwelling on an honest mistake (and I'm 1/4 Scottish btw), but whatever the case, best of luck to you in the future, and if I walk up to Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connolly, or Craig Ferguson, I'll let them know you have their back. Peace!

Hi Dan,
I've been running your blog on Milford Patch. I'm Irish and Scottish (three-quarters to one-quarter if you want to get exact) and while they're separate countries, the cultures are very similar... united in their opposition to all-things English. It's okay if you confuse the two, just don't say this is an English tale and you're all set.... :)

I hear that Anderson Copper is coming out/over for a interview of the review, including the aftermath of it all for the sides involved.

@Dan Barbour Yay For you! You stayed poise and composed through all the cyber drama from the soccer moms. Nice review as well

@ Ashley A. Watson ..... Jesus women get off Milford Patch, and do something productive. Like maybe getting a life?

My boys are all grown up, but I still enjoy the Pixar movies. Haven't seen this film yet but have heard other folks that weren't impressed- guess I'll wait for the DVD rather than fork up the cash to the movie theater.

That said... I, too, am guilty of passionate replies to certain subjects on these pages, but sheesh, now you can't even post a movie critique without starting a firestorm on the Patch comments? Back away from the keyboard, sing the 'ABC' song and take a chill pill.

Dan... I forgive you (for what it's worth).

This is the worst movie review in patch history.

All the people in the British Isles look the same to me.

Thanks for you review Dan. I think it was well done even though I enjoyed the movie more than you did as did both my kids. I actually share many of the same opinions on the movie as Ms. Ashley E. Watson (hopefully that doesn't make me as self-righteous and condescending as she sounds lol!). The mix up was no big deal in my eyes. It is a blog after all which I think can be held to a looser standard than a political piece in the New York times. (Just my opinion there to any one poised to attack). Keep up the good work.

Just an fyi, the movie blog is posted not only on Shrewsbury Patch, but also on Milford Patch, and perhaps others, so it is reaching a larger audience. I am the editor of Milford Patch, and I picked it up because we haven't had a movie blogger on the site, and I think it's a great addition. As for the error, we all make them, including writers, whether you write professionally or as a blogger. I once worked for a newspaper that ran the map of Vermont with a story about the NH primary. (a copy editor in Florida didn't know the difference) And the Boston Globe once ran an article with the headline "More mush from the wimp" as a placeholder, which wasn't taken out before print publication, about one of our former presidents... An entire website is devoted to funny corrections. (We regret the error) They happen. It's OK. Life goes on.

Thank you Mary and all of you for your supportive words. I never anticipated this entry getting so much feedback!! I love blogging and will keep it up - I'm at the Natick IMAX now getting ready to see 'The Amazing Spiderman' and will be submitting my review later....with much caution!! Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!!

Dan,

That I wasn’t impressed with your review is irrelevant. That I think the tone of Ms. Watson’s response was over the top is also irrelevant.

What did strike me was the rationale for your defense & your attack on the person who corrected you. “I'm a volunteer blogger, not a paid film critic.” and “For you to get all worked up about the origin of the story, making a statement like you did is VERY hypocritical.” (hypo?)

You went on to say: “You all really need to cool it and remember the source.” “I'm not a paid critic and work with Patch as a volunteer while maintaining a full time job. There are no press kits getting sent to me, I'm paying my way to these films, and I am BLOGGING.”

Why is blogging in capital letters? It is considered shouting but did you do it here to suggest that BLOGGING is not held to any standards and errors & misstatements are the norm?

You chose to step into the public square and state your opinion. You did this willingly as a ‘volunteer’, knowing you had a full-time job; weren’t going to receive press kits; and would be paying your own way. You accepted all that and now want to use those facts as a response to criticism. Really?

The Patch business model is to obtain content from volunteers such as yourself, generate readership and collect money from their advertisers. The local reporters appear to be part-time, copy the police log, write a few stories a week, and loosely monitor the squabbling comment section.

Dan -- Part 2.

Your response to criticism, although different in form, is similar in nature to the response a young woman appears to have had to criticism of her essay on how the high cost of a college education impacted her. You both seem to respond to criticism with anger -- either verbal defense or (and I am presuming here) sulking off to a corner.

The young woman wrote about her decision to attend an expensive private university and incur substantial debt through student loans. She received a considerable number of sympathetic responses and suggestions to choose a major that would lead to a profession that would allow her some reasonable chance to pay off her loans.

But one guy blasted her. He rejected her initial premise. He complained about her word choice. He claimed she wanted a free education not just a pathway to college. He basically said, ‘you made your choice, stop whining’. He then pointed out that she was not among the large number of MHS grads who received scholarships or awards. I winced at how hard he flung his words at her. I wondered what people would say in response.

While considering my own response, her blog disappeared from the Patch. Gone. Erased. Deleted. How did that happen? I hope she didn’t end up in a fetal position deeply hurt by his remarks. Had she never been criticized before? I certainly hope Mom didn’t helicopter in and demand that Patch remove the blog and the offending criticism.

And finally Dan,

What I see as similar between you and this young woman is something of an inability to graciously accept criticism. You responded with what I consider anger (“The fact that it is "unforgivable" makes me glad I'm not one of your children...”) and the young woman appears to have stomped off -- perhaps in anger. I think she should come back and explain how & why her post disappeared. I would like to see her fashion a response to this guy that avoids anger and defensiveness but stakes her claim to her ground.

If folks are adverse to criticism, perhaps they should stay out of the public square.

Finis

I think we've exhausted the discussion on the movie review. I'm going to shut off the comments on this review. Thanks for all the comments and I encourage anyone who'd like to blog to sign up on the homepage.