Comments about ‘Main character in 'Brave' fits trend toward realistic female heroines’

Despite the downward spiral of morals in our society, as so many members here claim, we're seeing (supposedly .... i take all studies/polls/DNews articles/etc with a grain of salt) a decrease in these issues. So much for these higher standards so many here claim they hold (which is subjective in the first place, how do you compare standards?).

The whole notion that the movie industry should focus on politically correct role models rather than simply producing good movies is hurting the industry in my opinion.

Sometimes the damsel-in-distress role is called for in a good story. For my taste, the Zorro remake with Antonio Banderas would have been much better if Catherine Zeta-Jones had been more of a damsel in distress and less Zorro's equal. It's not only more believable, it makes a better foil for who is supposed to be the hero.

Sometimes the female action hero makes for a great story as in Alien and Terminator. Neither one of those seemed contrived to be PC the way so many are nowadays.

Somehow we see computer genarated characters bravely risking life and limb as something other that a pointless execrise. I don't get it.

I haven't watched the movie yet but from the trailers I have seen I think the actions of Merida are less about her as a girl and more about the traits lacking among those boys she is besting. It is not a flattering picture on womanhood or on manhood.

Pete1215 somehow we find watching people to pretend to be other people risking life and limb as something other than a pointless exercise. I don't get it.

Or how about: Somehow we see words printed on a page about characters risking life and limb as something other than a pointless exercise. I don't get it.

What is the intrinsic value of watching a play or reading a book? None, if the purveyor of the entertainment fails to grasp the message told by the play or book. Or if, at the very leas,t the person partaking of these two activities is not entertained.

It is good to relax every so often to let your locks fly in the breeze, so to speak. Man is not a creature that can work 24/7 or even 16/7. They need relaxation, not excessive amounts but some. Otherwise the mind would begin to fracture at the stress of it all. So please sir take your derision some place where it will be appreciated.

Unfortunately, the title of this article is completely incorrect.

Depictions of women as strong warriors are completely unrealistic. Merida, of course, is based on the historical (if borderline mythical) figure of Boudicca. But Boudicca and Joan of Arc are the exceptions that prove the rule: since antiquity, women have been far more likely to be victims than protectors. Crime and casualty statistics verify that that remains true to our day.

Recent movies such as this one have perpetuated a wildly popular myth: that to the extent that women have been victims, it has only been because society has disempowered them through the messages it sends. The implication is that, if only a different message could be sent, women could be empowered and no longer be victims.

That flies directly in the face of verifiable scientific research regarding inherent abilities of men and women. It provides an easy "out" for society to ignore the very serious problems of violence against women, and the complex dynamics that underly that violence. The notion that - if only the right messages could be sent, women as victims would be a thing of the past - is dangerous nonsense, and should be recognized as such.

If all girls had flaming red hair and thick Scottish brogues, the world would be a better place.