A rather more positive reception for “Brave” this …

Comment posted Brave: Scottish tourism development strategy by Dr Douglas McKenzie.

A rather more positive reception for “Brave” this time!

I was encouraged to read that the mostly Scottish cast were assiduous in not just introducing Scottish words to the film but even Doric (albeit deliberately in the mouth of a character that none of the other characters can understand!). Apparently Billy Connolly supplied most of the words, though Disney carefully vetted them and removed a few of the ones that were just a bit too couthy.

There is always a tension when we have a film based in Scotland and on Scottish history (even fantasy history) that it will turn out to be poor. However, Pixar haven’t made a bad film yet so fingers crossed this isn’t their first one! (well, actually “Cars” wasn’t that great but Toy Story, Up, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles and Wall E are all superb family films that appeal equally to children and adults (who didn’t have a tear in their eye at the beginning of “Up” or when Nemo loses his mate and all their eggs bar one?).

If we achieve an RoI of even half what Visit Scotland are predicting then the £7M will be well spent but, as Newsroom suggests, it is up to the tourist industry to make the most of this opportunity with an imaginative response.

Above all, remember that it is all about fun. Let’s not have any carping about historical inaccuracies in the film or a stereotypical representation of Scotland. Let’s just make the most of the opportunity and, perhaps, be a little brave ourselves.

Recent comments by Dr Douglas McKenzie

• Rustle with Russell
  More utter rubbish from Lynda Henderson. Have you actually spoken to Bob Allen? Whoever told you the story sold you a pup and in your arrogance you cannot admit to be wrong so you make up this story that he was persuaded not to resign.

  Your position is completely untenable.

• Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
  I’m afraid you condemn yourself by your own words. I don’t think that anyone reading what you have written here and the language you have used would conclude anything other than that you have a deep dislike for Mr Russell and that dislike is leading you to basically lose all sense of either proportion or impartiality. It doesn’t matter how well (or otherwise) you know Mr Russell you are clearly exercised by your interpretation of his actions and it is leading you well beyond the pale in what I would consider fair comment.

  This vendetta against Mr Russell and the SNP is destroying FA’s credibility and I have to confess that I’m seriously considering whether or not to continue reading FA (which will cheer Malcolm up if nothing else). I for one am becoming increasingly disenchanted by the constant negativity and sheer nastiness that has crept into this blog. I say that with a lot more sorrow than anger because I think that FA could have been great and indeed still could but there has to be a degree of balance, civility and indeed humour. All we are getting here is bile and it is causing me heartburn.

• Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
  To be honest, this post clearly shows that you are speaking from your personal dislike of Mr Russell rather than an unbiased analysis of the man. Phrases such as “publicity hungry coward” are well beyond what is reasonable comment.
• Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
  You don’t seem to understand the separation of a MSP’s duty to his or her constituency and their responsibilities as a Government Minister.

  Yet again, this is another instance where a member of the Government can do no right: speak up and be condemned as “desperate” or stay silent and be accused of not serving your constituents’ interests.

  It is just as well that Mr Russell has broad shoulders!

• Atlantic Islands Centre for Luing: biggest investment in island’s history
  Well done Luing – an inspiration to all of Argyll’s communities.

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