It's a Pixar!

I never thought I’d be saying that I felt let down by a company I regard as one of the most innovative, exciting and consistent corporations out there. But here I am, saying just that.

Pixar is unassailable in making movies that are enjoyed on a thorough and genuine level by, dare I use the cliché, all ages. Toy Story has become quite simply a modern classic, Monsters Inc is the ultimate hangover watch whilst I’m sure I associate with no-one who wouldn’t gleefully recognise a Finding Nemo quote.

All great guys, but all guys!

Not only do I rate Pixar highly, but Brave itself was set to be brilliant: a ginger, Scottish, rebel princess! And a ‘brave’ film too. Firstly, for its female lead. I was a little taken-aback to notice how male-dominated their past films have been, with Woody and Buzz, Nemo and Flick, and that precious old grump from Up all hogging the show. Though Pixar have created some memorable female greats in their time, so great that they have managed to steal the show a couple times – I’m thinking Dory in Finding Nemo, Jessie in Toy Story 2 - they had never yet had a leading lady. Shameful really, when in the past few years Disney have really upped their heroine game, giving us self-sufficient, independent, feisty princesses. And secondly, this was a brave story in its lack of romantic storyline. This is far from something I regard as a cause of the film’s failure. I didn’t even register the ‘gap’ at the time. In fact, it is something I champion after so many past princesses have exchanged principles for princes. But these bold choices only make me more disappointed that the film was such a let-down.

It was like all the Pixar-ness had been sucked dry out. Their stamp was missing. The film was not funny, I was bursting with breath waiting simply for a laugh but the opportunity didn’t arise. Not even for a real chuckle. A snort. The normally unique and lovable characters were entirely missing. Protagonist Merida was, while justified in seeking independence over her life, overwhelmingly self-centred and, well, bratty. And the film was so overly sentimental it was saturated in the stuff! Preaching and droning on with zero subtly about family-love and relationships. Sentimentality works in Pixar when placed alongside originality and humour, not on its own. THIS IS NOT DISNEY.

The best part about the film was the soundtrack and scenery. There was obviously great passion and care put into capturing scenes of Scottish countryside and the result was quite stunning. But it should have been a compliment to a fun and engrossing story, and not the show-stealer to a dreary, predictable plot in which I couldn’t really care less whether the characters found their happy endings, whatever the hell these were, or fell down a well to be nibbled by Tasmanian devils. I need reasons to care, thanks.

I am going to be an optimist and regard this film as a blip in the life-cycle of an otherwise outstanding company. And I have to say, though I’ve seen some reviewers’ poor feelings on the pre feature short La Luna, I myself preferred it immensely to the feature: it was sweet and simple and rather lovely, and this gives me hope that somewhere in there, Pixar’s still got it! Now come back to us Pixie!

Exceptions Not A Rule

Thinking further about the previous post, the whole 'shouldn't have to but do have to' theme extends further. When shopping for a (quite scrumpcious I'll have ya know) Sunday roast last week, my friend Marina stated how a magazine editor had once told her the staggering fact that having a black female as their cover photo halves the magazine's sales.


I think the most jarring thing about that statement is not the existence of prevailing racial prejudices, it is the fact that they are widespread to the extent to actually have that sort of effect on such a mass-selling product in such a dominating industry.


In probably our disbelief and wish for this to in fact not be true, we began listing icons we had seen on the front of magazines: our queen and idol of all idols Beyoncé, or elegant and strong First Lady Michelle Obama. But then we stopped ourselves in our tracks. The fact we were listing these 'exceptions' at all said everything about how true it had been. As heroic and valued figures like these are, I can't wait for the day when they're figures in their own right and not viewed in regards of their race. I hate the idea that they are used to prop up the pretence that society is somehow 'over racism' because 'Look! We can't be racist - we all love Beyoncé!'. Just no.

Beyoncé: Sexy AND pregnant?! But how can that be?! I thought all women lost hope of any sex appeal the second they choose children?!?!

Obama and the need to state the obvious

So yesterday the liberal world was in a state of euphoria as President Obama stated: ‘it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married’. The internet sprang into action, sending a mass thank you card to the President and posting fervently their joy and gratitude.

If Cameron stood up tomorrow on his podium and stated that ‘black and whites should be treated equally’ or Hollande sat and gave an exclusive to the world that he agreed with women’s suffrage, I wonder what the reaction would be? I mean sure, the motions would be welcomed by most, yet many would probably speak of the unnecessary nature of such a speech. Or that perhaps words are empty without action. And sure, those are different examples: women already have the vote in France and racial equality is an on-going battle and such a statement is vague and not linked to policy, whereas Obama’s was in relation to a specific motion that states will actually be passing or rejecting.

But a large part of me yesterday, was saying a bitter ‘whoop-de-doo’, one individual has acknowledged his agreement with a right that many people have been fully on side with for years. My friend Leila’s tweet said it better than I ever could:

‘president of one of the most powerful countries in the world acknowledges a basic human right like its so brave WOW THANK U. stfu’

But at the same time I realised that while it shouldn’t need to have to be said, it still does have to be. Especially in a country like America, with such a scarily large proportion of people holding very non-progressive, conservative views.


Obama’s words yesterday were in fact a sad necessity which I welcome hearing, just don’t welcome the need for in 2012.

So cheers Barack, but screw you world.