I'm sure by now everybody has seen the US teaser, the trailer, and the archery contest scene. And I'm sure everybody has an opinion about them, including me. The teaser got me excited with its rather dark and epic atmosphere, and for me it seems to embody what 'Brave' is meant to be like. The official trailer that came after, however, went in the opposite direction by emphasizing comedy and focusing on the contest over Merida's marriage. This has led a lot of people to believe that it's going to be yet another cliche Disney princess movie where the main conflict is about romance and that Merida will somehow hook up with a guy in the end. But this assumption is simply not true, and is not what the movie was ever meant to be about.

Having followed the film's progress since the time it was called 'The Bear and the Bow' (which is a much better title, IMHO), I have it from several reliable sources that Merida's story is NOT about marriage. It's about her relationship with her mother, Queen Elinor, who is likely the one pushing this suitor business in the first place. And it's also an action adventure involving a mysterious witch, magical forest spirits, and monstrous black bears. There is something far bigger than Merida's love life (or lack thereof) at stake here, something she puts in danger and has to fight for. This is what the Japanese trailer managed to convey far more successfully. It recaptures the mood that the original teaser had, expands it, and turns it up to eleven. In short, it represents the real story of 'Brave.'

So why am I talking about this? Because I'm sick of all the whining and moaning that 'Brave' is going to suck just because one of the trailers and a single movie clip is weak. I'm also sick of people insisting that what little 'plot' has actually been shown means the whole movie is going to be a sucky, nonstop cliche fest. Yes, there's a rebellious princess who likes archery and horses. Yes, there are suitors competing to marry her. Yes, there are men in kilts flashing each other. Yes, you've seen all this before and you're sick of it. BUT. These are all just bits and pieces of the movie from promotional material. All of them are only a few minutes in length. They are NOT enough evidence for you to condemn the whole freaking movie to "cliche hell" before you've even seen the whole, finished thing from start to finish.

I've been waiting and wanting to see this movie for years, and now that it's almost here, I refuse to let anything stop me from doing that. In fact, I suggest all the complainers go see it, too, if for no other reason than to find out if their complaints are justified or not. At worst, you'll be proven right. At best, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Until then, please don't ruin the fun for the rest of us.

Oh, and please feel free to leave a comment. I typed this to generate discussion, so let's discuss!