With anything concerning Pixar, expectations can be a problem. Every new film from the computer-animated powerhouse is immediately compared to their grandest achievements, like “The Incredibles,” “WALL-E” and the “Toy Story” series.

It’s an unfair comparison, especially considering many of the studio’s major talents have been focusing on non-Pixar projects lately (think Brad Bird with the latest “Mission: Impossible” or Andrew Stanton with “John Carter”).

Their latest effort, the Scottish fairy-tale adventure “Brave,” has drawn criticism from some as being “too conventional” or “too Disney,” an especially baffling criticism considering Disney now owns Pixar outright.

But understanding what the filmmakers are trying to accomplish with “Brave” is the key to enjoying the experience. This is a character-focused, decidedly-Pixar spin on the fairy tale genre, and what a beautifully executed spin it is. (more…)