"Early Hypable reader review: ‘Brave’ – a feminist triumph"
http://www.hypable.com/2012/06/18/brave-review/Has anyone else seen "Brave" yet? I saw it on Friday. I've been looking for articles that reflected what I got out of it too, this one come close.
<snip>
What I appreciated the most about the movie, however, comes from a feminist perspective. This is the first animated princess movie I’ve seen that isn’t a romance. Sure, some other fairy-tales don’t focus on the love-interest initially, but that woman always settles down in the end. We don’t have to end with a sappy wedding or partnership to bring a sense of security and triumph. The pinnacle of a woman’s achievement doesn’t have to always be a husband.
<snip>
More than the lack of romance, I noticed the presence of motherhood. Moms are always neglected in these types of stories. Most princesses only have dads and the heroines with mothers focus their efforts on dad. Mulan fought in the Chinese army for her father’s honor. Tiana builds a restaurant in her dad’s memory. Aurora and Rapunzel grow up far enough away from their mothers to even have a relationship. This is a real mother-daughter story with fighting, heart-ache, forgiveness and growth. Their frustration and struggles are real and relatable.
Both women have stuff to learn from one another and their dynamic takes center-stage before all the magic and wonder of the rest of the scenery. Pixar has covered father-son, husband-wife and other family relationships well in the past and they give great treatment to this new territory. I appreciate and applaud their efforts to explore this woman-centered tale.
I second what the reviewer says about the great presence of the role of the mother-daughter relationship. Usually fantasy movies don't have that. I really enjoyed seeing the movie make the mother and the daughter both kick-ass fighters. And their emotional journey together did make me cry a bit too, like the reviewer.
)
= new reply since forum marked as read
I wish I'd seen it when I was 8! I loved hearing the young girls in the audience going "Yay!" during the scenes where the heroine is displaying her archery skills and swordfighting. You might have to get her a bow and arrows afterwards. 
ex brought my daughter while I was on vaca. 
She loved it and said she'd watch again if I bought the DVD...I think I will do so.
I want to watch it again with *my* mom and I'm 41. 
I'm glad your daughter loved it! I'm sorry your ex jumped the gun and you guys didn't get to see if first together, but I think it will still be special.
so I'm glad he took her...he's a good guy. We saw the trailer a few times and I knew she'd love it. So we'll just pop some popcorn and watch at home...and I can have an adult beverage, too.
