Brave (2012)

Dear Moviegoer,

Please avoid reading reviews of Brave before you see it for yourself.

That sounds like strange advice from a critic, I know. But many who have reviewed Pixar’s new movie have revealed the film’s biggest and best surprises. Even the great Roger Ebert spells out most of the movie’s plot twists.

Why?

Perhaps they didn’t get the movie they were anticipating. Perhaps the marketing led them to expect something different. Pixar has marketed Brave as a story about a spirited young princess who talks back to society, charts her own course, takes on the boys at their own games, and shoots arrows with the precision of Robin Hood. It looks like an epic fantasy about a rebel with a cause.

But as per usual, Pixar’s marketing is a work of misdirection. They’re setting us up for that rare delight of being surprised at the movies.

Here’s a brief sketch of the setup, pretty much spoiler-free ...