1 The story of a boy who became a man by being a bear
"Brother Bear" was a great Disney film of high calibur.
A warrior hunter who hunts bears becomes one himself and sees the tests and tribulations that threatened the species of the nature the bear. During this time, the hunter, becomes aware of his crimes against the bear and the animals who roam the wilderness. Throughtout the movie , Keinai (Jaoquin Phoenix)\
then goes through a transformation of spirituality, morals
and good will.
Kenai is part of a warrior hunter that also shows how Native
American people love animals, contrary to what other people
in states do, huting animals for sport in the US. Sitka
(voice of DB Sweeney) is older and wiser native American soldier that was killed by an enormous bear although he loved the fauna. Kenai (voice of Joaquin Phoenix) demands justice and hunts
for bears.
He looks for the bear that killed his brother in spite of its other brother, objections of Denahi. Kenai finds the bear possible that killed its brother. Kenai during this fight with
the bear obtains a vision of the ghost of Sitka. Kenai causes possible the death of this bear. Despite a its shock, Kenai transforms into a bear!
Then Kenai he sees what it is like to live like a bear and sees some of his own false ideasand prejudices agaisnt the bear and nature itself. Kenai sees that bears like man, these animals have families who take to well-taken care of from their own means. Kenai also sees its own crime in killing a bear when he
learns that the bear has a cub named Koda. Koda is an orphaned lazy bear that is lost its mother. The twist for Koda and Kenai (now as bear) comes near the end when both make what really happened to the mother of Koda.
Eventually Kenai learns the wrong that he did and comes to grips
with it and eventually changes his mentality against the bears.
The 2 disc DVD for Brother Bear is nothing short of beautiful,
showing featurettes, deleted scenes, commentary track and much
more. Buy these dvd's now.
2 Steering Clear of Mainstream
Disney have once again shown their incredible diversity for being able to bring to light different cultures and the struggles associated with growing up. This helps them steer clear of the mainstream fairy tales that they have built their name upon, which while creating a solid platform to work from, has given them a dedicated audience ready in ingest anything Disney throw a them. This is a powerful tool and should be used appropriately. Disney have done that with Brother Bear. This film depicts the struggle of a canadian inuit boy coming to grips with his maturing mind and the internal struggle he faces when forced by his spirit guides to live life through the eyes of those he despises.
As a film with tangible references to the similar struggles faced by todays society, it is worth watching over and over again. Made even more emotive by a spine-chilling soundtrack by legendary Phil Collins, Brother Bear touches a chord in all of us.
The DVD's interactive features allows the user to navigate their way through the various options a learn more about the film and its inspiration. An absolute must for the family.
3 My favorite Disney film
Ive been watching Disney films ever since I can remember. Ive had a lot of changing favorites, but Brother Bear has to be one of if not the best ive seen. I was 16 when i first saw it (and i had kinda lost most my interest in disney at the time) while i was babysitting my little cousin, and my current perspective on disney totally changed.
one of my favorite aspects of the film is the incredible sountrack. contains some of the best musical numbers and songs ever done on a disney film. the storyline is deep and emotionally charged.
this is a film that you will want to watch over and over again.
my only complaint would be that some of the charcters are hard to get used to and are all-around annoying, but that wont get in your way of enjoying the film.
truly disney magic.
4 FANTASTIC
This movie was so great-the first 2 minutes were a bit slow, but once it got going-even I was captivated-the story is very creative, funny, and also a tear jerker-even my kids cried over the sad scenes. I could not stop watching it-my kids absolutely loved it. The music (I am a big Phil Collins fan)was wonderful and I could not get the songs out of my head for 2 days even in my sleep. I completely recommend this for your kids!!!!
5 Much better message than most Disney movies
We were on a vacation last week, and the place where we were staying had this movie to rent. Since my son loves animals, he picked this one out because of the animals on the cover. I was very impressed with the story here, which is one of redemption and learning to see the world through other people's eyes. It was much better than the traditional Disney stories of girls becoming whole by attracting the right sort of man.
It's also interesting for parents.
Andrew
6 Not just for kids...
I'm baffled by the many negative complaints about this movie. I'm an adult, and got this for my niece and nephew for Christmas. It's hard to tell who enjoys the movie more, myself or the kids. It's funny, beatifully animated and executed, and it has a meaningful plot, AND I'm a fan of anything Joaquin Phoenix does. I must have seen this movie now with the kids about 5 or 6 times now and haven't grown tired of it yet.
I loved the extras included on the dvd two-disc set (and the kids love the games and stories geared for them.) My favorite was the bit on Phil Collins and his scoring of the music, the performances of the various artists, etc. I love the music in this so much that I bought the soundtrack CD for myself.
I know the phrase "Entertainment for the whole family" has become cliche, but in this case it really is. I recommend this movie highly.
7 Al-RIGHT!
If you love nature, Native American/First Nation culture, animals, and a good mixture of humor, heartwarmingness, seriousness, and tragedy, this movie is for you. It's very funny and gets utterly hilarious at times (ahem, Rutt & Tuke, the canadian moose--"beauty, eh?"), but it's no pushover happy happy happy totally unrealistic tale, either. It has deaths, misunderstandings, and the pain of knowing that you did something terribly wrong and don't know how to make up for it. This movie, by the way, is NOT gory--just a little intense at times. Might not be suitable for the really young kids if they're sensitive, but an excellent action/comedy/nature film. Last but not least--the music. Phil Colins scores again, his voice matching the film perfectly, as it did in Tarzan, and the other songs that are not sung by him are beautiful First Nation chants and tunes. Bottom line--an utterly beautiful movie and a must-see.
8 Sweet, heartwarming...absolutely spectacular.
Nomination for an Academy Award, though controversial due to the competitors (Finding Nemo and The Triplets of Belleville) was fully-deserving in this film. For animated films, it is best not to concentrate on a weak plot - which Disney films seem to be producing more and more regularly - and the character depth, but in the quality of the animation. The scenery is very well-drawn, and the sky, at certain points, seems so real that it could be indistinguished from the real thing.
Though parents moan of the more violent aspects of this movie, it is more important to concentrate on the broader range; it is easier to stop a child from spitting than to go about complaining about it. However, Disney has a certain knack for churning out films that will twang at your heartstring...despite a violent scene or two. It is undeniable that there are bits and pieces of the movie that may be considered inappropriate for children, but Disney films are trying to keep us all entertained. When I was younger, my mother took my friends and I to a film, where she promptly fell asleep. By adding the much-loved moose (who Canadian parents, fans of Bob & Doug MacKenzie, will appreciate) and the lesser-known, but still infinitely amusing rams (who, may I add, do say "shut up", but if you haven't figured this movie was intended for kids 9 thru their preteens, it isn't hard to recognize now) it is bound to keep the parents entertained. However, the movie will not keep children under eight amused for long, as it, like most Disney movies, displays the standard morals. Some may complain that there are no morals, and that the hunter killed the bear for pride. I beg to differ. Those who watch closely will quickly realize that the moral of the movie is to appreciate yourself, and others, for who they really are.
Despite some lengthy, corny situations...the movie still comes out shining, and possessed enough emotional power to make my friend and I, who haven't cried during a movie for quite a bit of time, bawl like children (despite the theatre being full of children). Have a child under eight? Read the description next time, and get him or her Finding Nemo.
9 A good attempt
This is a good attempt with a moving plot, but doesn't own up to even the weaker Disney films. it's unusual...but the songs are terrible, but is a good "just-once" film. The previews said it was in 'the spirit of THE LION KING' but it isn't
10 Undistinguished but watchable
A decent exercise of the Disney formula, with the message a lesson of unity among men and bears. With the exception of Home On the Range, this was the last Disney animated film, marking a permanent shift to computer animation. The background scenery is exceptionally well-drawn, and the characters elicit chuckles at the right times. The tear-jerking doesn't work, however, when a young bear cub loses his mother. The sadness evoked by Bambi and The Lion King seems to be a once-per-generation achievement. Some of the more interesting aspects of the movie seem to be crowded out by an attempt to fit in too many plot twists; but maybe this is necessary to keep the attention of the target audience.
11 Oh Brother Bear Where Are't Thou
For a Disney movie the movie starts very serious and too be honest, a little too serious. One of three brothers is trying to become a man but his actions lead to the death of one his brothers. As punishment he changes into a bear. Only here is where the funny bits start when he meats a young cub.
The really funny bits are the usual Disney racial/cultural stereotyping scenes. Throughout the story they keep on meeting two moose and of course they are Canadian, with 'eh' behind every sentence.
I don't think Brother Bear will be long rememberd, it just isn't funny enough, the story isn't that great and the music is by Phil Collins..
12 Great for the whole family!
I'm sure what I've go t to say has already been said, but here goes anyway. I don't remember hearing much about this movie when it was in the theater, other than that Disney had released a new flick. But, what I realized is that Disney has challenged us all to remember that, no matter who we are, we are all accountable for our actions. What a heavy and challenging topic for a kid's movie! And, Disney accomplishes the task of teaching a moral lesson with their usual flair and a little comedy. Very well done!
13 Heartwarming and hilarious
I just saved this to tape on my Tivo. It is probably one of the funniest movies! When I saw it in theaters, I was surprised when I saw that Sitka had the same voice as Aladar from Disney's Dinosaur! I didn't quite recognize the voice at first; I read the credits. Here are some of the funniest parts: after a stampede of caribu (which I thought were Megaloceras before) Kenai says, "Never try to milk a caribu." When Rutt and Tuke are riding a mammoth, Rutt wants to "drive". Tuke says, "just relax and enjoy the ride!" Rutt says, "oh, okay," and spreads his legs out and says lazily, "whee!" Rutt and Tuke are walking in the mountains, and Rutt says, "I can't believe you totalled a mammoth!" In case you didn't catch it before, one of Rutt's antlers are broken in that scene.
14 Brilliant and Beautiful
This is one of the most wonderful Disney films since The Emperor's New Groove. The animation is a dream come true. I am a fan of the early animated features and this comes close to capturing the breathtaking beauty of The Lion King, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. It's flaw is the soundtrack. As catchy as "On My Way" is, I would have liked to have heard more of an Alan Menken soundtrack. It would have made an already brilliantly animated movie a thousand times better. Kenai, in my opinion, needed a strong "Proud of Your Boy" ish (if you havn't heard Proud of your boy, you need to. It is an amazing song that is on the Aladdin 2 disk Platinum Edition DVD.) ballad. That would have given much more Depth to the character. Other than the music issue, this film is a must have for the animation fan, the Disney Fan, or even the Ceiling fan. I would even recommend this to my dog (if I had one). Buy this DVD, you will not be dissapointed!
15 Worth it for the Audio Commentary alone
There aren't many films that justify watching a second time just for the voice over audio commentary, Lord of The Rings, and maybe a handful of others.
Brother Bear is worth watching a second time with the audio commentary off, since it's actually funnier (for adults) with the McKenzie brothers, err, the Moose brothers, the first time through.
Brother Bear features good music and a pretty good story (Moms in Disney films have the lifespans of red-shirted security officers in Star Trek, however). My Kids enjoyed the film in the theatres and again on DVD.
I, on the other hand, loved the audio commentary from the Moose Brothers, but my kids loved it as well. The Moose were hilarious in the film (though more for adults than kids), but even better as voice over.
Buy the DVD for the kids, but parents should not miss one of the best "extras" I've seen in any film.
16 Kid's Loved it and that's who's verdict matters.
[...]
In Walt Disney Pictures' feature BROTHER BEAR, beautiful animation of the Pacific Northwest complements an upbeat musical score that includes songs by Phil Collins and Tina Turner. From snowcapped mountains and glaciers to lush springtime forest scenes, the colorful drawings are dazzling and dreamlike. Children will especially enjoy the animals in the film. There are rivers full of leaping salmon, forests inhabited by squirrels and chipmunks, and processions of giant wooly mammoths. The story carries messages about the power of friendship and community, the difficulty of losing a loved one, and the highs and lows of growing up. Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) is a boy who longs to become a man but must learn a valuable lesson before he can achieve the maturity it requires. At a tribal ceremony the spirits give him the symbol of the bear, which stands for love. Then, through a series of events, he is transformed into a bear. Kenai must brave the wild, with only a little bear-cub brother, Koda (Jeremy Suarez), to guide him. In their travels, Kenai and Koda meet a couple of hilarious moose (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) who provide comic relief to this otherwise heartrending family tale.
17 A DISNEY TRIUMPH
This is another Disney classic. Brother Bear brings a great story mixed with humor, emotion , adventure and knowledge. Also a great soundtrack from Phil Collins. Brother Bear teaches many lessons. Such as patience and living your life by a moral compass (totems). Thsi is a wonderfull film for the whole family to enjoy
18 AWFUL
I wouldn't even give this 1 star, but Im forced to or my review wont be posted!
This movie is terrible, I was really turned off by the wise cracking smart @**ed bearcub voiced by the little kid, but hoped the movie wouldn't be as bad as it seemed.
I was wrong, it was WORSE!
19 Funniest Movie in Years
Oh Yeah, I watched it with the commentary on. Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis (the mooses from the movie) were hilarious. We were laughing so much, they were a riot. It was SCTV (second city TV's McKenzie Brothers) at its best. So I guess we saw a different movie from most. I doubt I would enjoyed this movie if I had watched it normally.
20 AMAZING
To simply put this movie, AMAZING! The first time I saw this I was not only amazed by the background art or the music, but it has a nice story. I finished this movie, and all I wanted was to see more into the main character's life. I felt this move was too short, and that was the only draw back. On the other hand, if Disney made this into a T.V. show, I would be heart broken as they use it to teach morals, where as this was more of a fantastic Journey. A movie like this is hard to come by, so I would pick it up.
21 Beautiful, Enchanting
I am not entirely sure why I loved this movie, except that it was surreal, awesome, magical, and filled with wonderful characters.
This film is so much more than a movie; like the best films, it is an experience, a journey, its not a preachy film in my view, it simply is ( as a film), and what you get out of this film is what you bring to it.
Very much worth a watch, and very much worth buying, since it bears out multiple viewings.
22 :(
This movie was not good, and I found myself waiting for it to end. It was disturbing, and, well...boring. It's too boring for older kids, and too disturbing for little ones. And when I say disturbing, I mean just down right nasty! I can't believe Disney, of all companies, would produce something like this and call it a kid's movie! Buy something worth buying instead, like one of Disney's older animated movies, which were actually GOOD.
23 Preachy and boring
This has got to be the worst large-scale animated film I've ever seen. I don't know how a child could sit through it; I'm not one to get bored easily, but I found the film mostly boring.
The story is preachy and predictible. Much of the music was annoying. Overall, it was just...dull. The only bright spots were the few moments of comedy, mostly coming from the Canadian-accented Moose, which Disney featured heavily in their advertising. No wonder! They are the best thing in the film...but they take up only a few minutes in the film.
24 No heart, no soul.
Disney forgot to give this movie a heart. Brother Bear is a coming-of-age, journey-of-discovery film that lacks the charm of Lion King or the artistry of Bambi. Instead, the moviemakers merely threw all the tired old Disney staple characters together and hoped a story would emerge somewhere in the mix. We have the orphaned child (two this time, the boy and the bear), the wise old person, the two comic relief sidekicks, the "adorable" child (a bear cub who is merely annoying), blah, blah, blah. We've heard and seen it all before.
The characters are so one-dimensional and boring that it is impossible to care what happens to them. The ending is predictable and the animation is lacking. It was very flat and dull and the bears are some of the ugliest I've ever seen! Additionally, the DVD special features are awful. The gag reel and outtakes are stupid and the games are too complicated for the young children who would take an interest in them. The crew in the interviews spends a lot of time patting themselves on the back. My daughters got this for a gift and they have only watched it once. It simply doesn't hold the attention of adults or children.
25 Great for a gift!
I, being 16, loved this film! It is the best movie with a guy turning to an animal. This is should be rated G. Although I don't know if it is. HA ha. My mom loved it! She is 39. This is great for kids A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++.
26 Should have won Oscar!
This is a great movie. It is very colorful and has great animation. The characters were great. I liked the moose. They were almost as funny as Timon and Pumba!(Timon and Pumba are the best, though.)There also wasn't any real "bad guy" is this story. Denahi was chasing Kenai, but he wasn't really bad. I also loved the special features. I loved finding my totem, like the wolf or the bear. I also liked the autio commintary. It was funny. And with the moose directing it, it has to be funny! I would rate this move PG. This movie is better for kids that can undersand the plot quickly and that can understand death. Ignore all of those reviewers that say the movie was bad because their 3 year olds were scared of the movie. This is a family freindly movie. I would rate it the 2nd best movie in the world(The Lion King is the 1st). Get this movie, believe me, you won't regret it!
27 Beautifully animated, excellent music, all out great movie.
I have always been a big fan of animation and anime, so I was pretty excited when Brother Bear came out on dvd as I wasnt able to see it in theaters. The first thing I noticed when I played it for the first time was how beautifully detailed the backgrounds and animation are. The animators really did a great job of adding all of the small details that make it fun to watch, not to mention all of the bright and vivid colors they used. Another thing that I really liked about this movie was the soundtrack. Phil Collins did an excellent job composing the music heard throughout the movie, it really sets the mood for the scenes up well. You can tell that this movie was not just thrown together and released, but that everyone that was involved in making this movie put their hearts into it. Even though it's animation, and people would automatically think that it's full of childish content, I thought that the movie is not completely childish and can be enjoyed by everyone from kids to adults. Bottom line, it's my favorite Disney animation because of the combination of the brilliantly detailed animation and colors plus the soundtrack that make this movie worth while to see. I highly recommend it as it's one of Disney's last movies they are doing in traditional 2d animation and CGI is taking over.
28 Amazing
I simply loved this movie: emotional story, great characters, unbelievable animation/art.....what is not to love? It is a shame that this film bombed in theaters. Though it was advertised as a silly (a.k.a. stupid [and probably the reason for its unimpressive earnings]) funny movie, I would say this has to be one of Disney's best. It is definitely a movie for all ages, except perhaps the very, very young. Read the other reviews if you need more convincing. You will also notice that most of the negative posts come from parents, who picked the movie apart because their young child was frightened or imitated something a character did. So go out and buy/rent/borrow/ this movie because if you have not seen it, you are missing out.
29 A very good movie
When I first saw the movie, I thought it was weird. My cousin started talking about it, and then I realized that it was really fascinating. People are out to comdem it like I used to, and that is sad. I'm a teenager, and they think that Disney's no longer good. Logan, if they do a sequel, it might either have Kenai die and Koda look after himself or else have one of Kenai's female friends become a bear to be his lover. Disney is predictable in some ways.
The music was awesome, but I wish Jason Raize did a song. He was talented as Simba. He could've sang the Transformation song in English, but he no longer walks the earth. The music was done in a near broadway style, meaning that it might be a broadway in a few years. With the story and humor, you could have a broadway, especially with the Transformation theme.
The story had meaning and value to it, and that's important. Even though some parts seemed to be rushed, it eventually works itself into the movie.
Megan
30 Excellent movie but it might be a little sad for young kids
The animation has a wonderful mix of hand drawn and computer generated graphics. The story shows us what the world is like through the eyes of another and teaches the importance of caring for others...Phil Collins did a great job with the music and I thought the moose Rut and Tuk (sp?) were quite funny....however, this movie may be too sad for really young children to watch, especially if they are very emotional about death or do not fully understand it....even I cried a couple times watching this one and I'm 22 years old.
As a christian I was very shocked reading the reviews about how horrible this movie is because it had themes from a religion other than christianty. I thought Christians were not supposed to judge other's beliefs...even in movies... movies are made for entertaiment purposes...not just a device to teach religion......For those who think this movie is "Shoving a belief down your throat" is stupid because the characters do not tell the audience to worship spirits..... Actually, it was the Christians who were trying to force their belifs down the native american's throats as we slaughtered them and the buffalo herds, and took over their lands just because they didnt act or worship the same way as hardcore Christians... Also if this movie seems like it was made to make mankind look bad (destroying things and killing) well then its TRUE! No i am not a hippie and i am not proud to admit this but there is nothing that can deny that mankind has done a lot of damage to the environmet.....If you know these themes are in the movie before you watch it and you are already upset with it then why watch it?....I think it is wonderful these kind of movies show us a different view of other beliefs and cultures.....Disney may not have the tribe as accurate as possible (another reviewer explains this) but it is still a fun movie with a few tear jerkers for emotional people
31 Mixed impression
Brother Bear had positive aspects:
1. The example of how brother bear came to care for Koda
2. The animation and graphics were visually appealing
3. Humorous moments with the two moose
Negative aspects:
1. The scene where one brother tackles another and proceeds to spit on him. This scene was totally unnecessary. Our three year old started spitting on other people after seeing this movie. The last thing parents need is a movie teaching them bad behavior.
2. It presents the killing of the mother bear as a bad thing, yet the bear seemed to bear no responsibility for being a factor in the death of Kenai's brother. Although Kenai started out tracking the bear as a result of his anger over his brother's death, in the end he killed the charging bear as matter of self defense.
3. The scene where the two rams keep yelling "Shut up!". This scene also causes small children to repeat this phrase in an inappropriate way.
32 Environmental Spun Animation
It's not that Disney's Brother Bear is lackluster. It is an enjoyable watch. However, a week or two after viewing it, not much stands out. Of course there have been Disney epics that stick with you long after seeing them and sometimes for life. "Lion King," was a movie like that for me. Disney seemed to lose their seemingly eternal flame of creativity and ingenuity when they got in this rut of rehashing classic stories in animated form. I think Disney had set themselves up from previous successes with impossible expectations from the general public with each and every release. If the name Disney is on it...it's got to be good. "Brother Bear," though an entertaining watch, just doesn't deliver the goods like other Disney blockbusters.
Kudos to Disney for attempting to return to original story lines like Brother Bear. In scope, "Brother Bear's" literary counterpart seems to best be found in Doctor Seuss' "Lorax." Through the story of a human that becomes a bear, the tables are turned and the hunter becomes the hunter. "Brother Bear," reinforces that the manner we as humans see issues in life all depends on the perspective. There are some funny moments along the way provided by Rick Moranis and partner as two moose traveling companions. There is some darkness (sure enough every good Disney story line usually involves an animal parent getting killed off) and some redemption as characters grow and get wise on things of nature and humanity's role and responsibility to nature. I found the music by Phil Collins to be fairly lackluster and not up to other Disney standards.
If you are considering buying, I'd say there are other animated fair out there I'd turn to first. All in all, though Brother Bear is a step in the right direction for Disney...let's hope they return to form.
--MMW
33 The film that killed off Disney animation
other Disney outdoors animal movies...
'The Lion King' = 5 stars.
'Bambi' = 5 stars.
This is nothing like the above - it's like the animators had never seen either of these. I was looking forward to this - I left the theatre feeling I'd been robbed.
It was boring:
I couldn't believe I was looking at my watch. I appreciate the gentle beauty in 'Bambi' and I was trying hard in this, - you shouldn't have to be 'wanting and trying' hard to like a movie!
It was unfunny:
There are these 2 moose with Canadian accents - they do this "eh" thing ALL the time at the end of sentances - this was vaguely amusing on the tv trailer but oh please enough during the movie non-stop!
It forces a belief-system down your throat:
It's fine to see other ways of thinking - 'Pocahontas' was educational in that way.. this doesn't give any other viewpoint and really belittles humankind creation, leaving a pit in my stomach.
It looked... cheap:
The animation standard was an insult. It is like one of those 'video premieres'. I can appreciate styalized movies like 'Emperor's New Groove' - that's not what I'm saying - there are moments when it's like they forgot to move the background when it was moving before and they leave flat color on an animal one minute and not the other. It's like they were told to hurry up and finish it, as they probablt were, as the animation studio was about to be cut during this... any wonder!
It's not like a regular Disney film at all.
34 An Amazing Bear
I saw the trailers for Brother Bear when it was in theatres and didn't really think much about it, until it got the Academy Award Nomination for Best Animated Feature, then I said to myself that this could be good, and guess what...it is!
Brother Bear is about Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix), a young Native boy who takes revenge on the bear who killed his older brother. When his brother's spirit sees what he's doing, he changes Kenai into a Bear to make him see through the animals point-of-view.
AMAZING! I was really impressed at how well done this movie is. I have to admit that this is one of my favorite animated films to date. The music by Phil Collins and (surprise!) Tina Turner are great! The score really stands out too, especially during the exciting transformation scene. Though, not as much music as my second favorite animated film, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, this one still delivers and music placement is put in where music is needed. The story is a bit strong and there are some scary scenes that may frighten little children, but other than that, the kids will forget about it when the two hilarious Moose, Rutt and Tuke, arrive on-screen (voiced wonderfully by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas). The Animation mixed in with a few CGI's are fantastic! as is the detail and the usage of the widescreen scope is used to the fullest extent. I was reading around and one reviewer said that this is a collaboration of all of the Disney themes, such as family in 'The Lion King', the transformation of 'The Little Mermaid', the Natives in 'Pocahontas' and the collaboration of Phil Collins again, just like in 'Tarzan'. I do agree with this and found it incredibly interesting that there are similarities which I welcome to with open arms.
I have to comment on how animated films have more adult themes to them these days. The 3 Nominated films of 2003 have elements of death or separation to them. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it's actually, to me, a breath of fresh air. Brother Bear does have some intense and scary moments but at the same time there are are those fluffy scenes that back it up. I grew up watching Disney films right when I was at least 7 years old and ten years later, I have to admit, I still watch them. That may seem a bit sad and embarrasing, on my part, but it just shows how Animated films, such as Brother Bear, have that long range of age where no matter how old you are, you can still learn and relate to what these stories have to tell. It's really a dissapointment to hear that Traditional Animation is fading away, as it really shows the talent of human art, but times are changing and so is technology. So, just as long as Animated films have a great story to tell then I'm open to the posibilities that Computer Animation has to offer.
So, in the end, Brother Bear is an excellent mix of Disney themes that is filled with great music, good story and overall just a great film.
35 GREAT MOVIE!
I LOVED THIS MOVIE! I FIRST SAW IT IN THEATERS AND I THOUT IT WAS REAL GOOD!I GOT IT ON DVD THE FIRST DAY IT CAME OUT!I RECCOMEND THIS MOVIE FOR EVERY KID IN THE WHOLE WORLD!THE GROWN-UPS WOULD PROBABLY LIKE IT TO!I HOPE THEY MAKE A BROTHER BEAR 2!
36 Breathtaking!
This film is just absolutely wonderful. Not only will my daughter sit and watch it over and over again, but I dont' mind it, even after the 400th time! It's a movie that my husband, daughter and I can all watch as a family, and enjoy. It's cute, fun, and will hold true to Disney themes of making you laugh, cry and anticipate.
37 Brother Bear.
You glad that Kenai didn't say "Oh brother!"
I got alot jokes.
"Bear with me."
"Grin & bear it."
"I bare naked!!!"
"This is a bearing!"
"Do you have chocolate moose."
"Do you have moose gel."
"Do you like bluebeary?"
"Do you like to eat blackbeary?"
"Do want some Stawbeary?"
"I love to eat rasbeary."
"I need a bear hug."
"Did you seen my paw?"
38 Good for Kids Only
Movies like this is the reason why Disney as a company is doing so badly. It is not a bad movie, but the story is VERY predictable. This means that the only people who will enjoy this movie are very young kids. There are some really laugh out loud moments involving the mooses, and one scene with the newly transformed bear were reminisce of those old Disney shorts about the bears and the park ranger. Unfortunately, those were the only good things an adult will find amusing. Whether about 10 mins of laugh will make this a good movie for you is a matter of personal choice. I find the movie wanting. You know the movie is in trouble when there were SO many songs. There was simply not enough story to fill up the screen time. Of course, kids may like this, but if you are an adult, the only reason why you want to buy this DVD is that you have a bunch of rug monkeys that you want to distract with this movie.
39 Becoming a Man
The story takes place in an Indian Village many years ago. Keani attends a ceremony to receive his totem. The totem is a symbol of transition from boyhood to manhood. Keani's totem is a bear. He is told that the bear means love. Sidka is the oldest of the three brothers, and his totem is the eagle of guidance. Keani really isn't pleased with his totem.
After his brother, Sidka, is killed, he throws his totem to the ground. From that point forward his life is transformed. I found that the movie was a little sad but poignant at the end. The Brother Bear games are enjoyable.
40 Seen better, seen worse
1st, the positives: this movie was beautifully created, I like the idea of exploring the Inuit culture (though there weren't enough scenes to really get into that), the lesson is good, though I think it may be lost on younger viewers; the MacKenzie Moose Brothers were great and really stole the show.
Now, the negatives: the story is very predictable I know it's a kid's show, but it really borderlines on sappy; the music was way over the top, I got very sick of hearing it; this is a stretch, but a youngster could easily be fooled into thinking that real bears are really cute, cuddly and nice when really they're wild creatures that should be approached with the greatest caution, if not at all; lastly, this gets to be a very long movie, I remember thinking more than once "get to the point already".
Overall, not a bad movie, pretty typical of Disney, but it's not quite the sweeping epic I think they were going for.
41 Disney Does It Again!
I borrowed this movie from a friend with kids and thought "Ah, what the heck?" I am so glad that I borrowed it and I'm off to buy my own copy.
Brother Bear is the coming of age story of three brothers. The youngest is supposed to find love before he can become a man...and learn the meaning of the word. He wants strength and honor, not love. In order to teach him a lesson the spirit of his older brother turns him into a bear. He sees things from a different perspective and learns to love. The characters in the movie are what make this predictable tale so great. Rick Moranis is the voice of one moose. It's almost like the moose came straight out of Strange Brew. Very funny!
Definitely watch this...even if you don't have kids.
42 BEARLY WATCHABLE....FOR ADULTS
Children will probably love BROTHER BEAR. It's filled with elements of adventure, danger, humor and corny songs. However, from an adult's standpoint, I found it a little disjointed. It starts off fairly dark, with one of the heroes offed in a battle with a rather frightening bear. Once the main hero Keini is turned into a bear that can talk and communicate with other animals, it changes its tone to a more lighthearted and affable atmosphere. The danger still lurks in the form of Denai, the surviving brother, but it is interspersed with typical Disney features, such as an abominably boring musical score by Phil Collins and musical numbers that come from nowhere and do little to enhance the film.
The animation is beautiful; there are some extraordinarily beautiful scenes, and the computerized animation adds to the usual style.
Most of the recent animated films (Finding Nemo, Shrek, Monsters Inc., Ice Age) were all enjoyable for all ages. I found BROTHER BEAR to be one of the weakest Disney productions in years. Maybe I'm getting too old???
43 Watch it in Biology
My class watched it in Biology and it was funny! It was made perfictly. It would make a great movie for the whole family (or
the whole class!:)) If you like to watch funny movies with your family, this would be a great one! Go get it!
44 Uninspired, Over-Schmaltzed With a Dash of New Age Goo
Brother Bear comes nowhere near the animation heights Disney achieved in the early to mid 90's. As story, it was tired and formulaic, as animation, it lacked visual energy and inventiveness. An eskimo folk tale serves as vehicle and inspiration for the film's new age "we are at one with nature" theme, but the overall feeling is closer to greeting card sentimentality.
45 mickey mouse entertainment
I was rather disappointed with the movie because it pales in comparison to other, recent Disney movies. The story felt like the producers had been saddled with a bedtime story and were forced to make it another chapter in the Lord of the Rings. Kinda like old-wives' banter: they have nothing to tell, so they tell things really slowly and eventually arrive at a conclusion that you saw a long time ago. Most of the conflict was internal, and even then it wasn't very obvious that our main character was struggling through it. The Koda character left a lot to be desired. And for me, the most annoying part of the whole movie was that they just walked. And walked. And walked. Yes, they walked through some colorful places and commandeered an unusual ride, but they traveled from point A to point B and did almost NOTHING in between. A real stiff interpretation of a story whose original script was perhaps 500 words. Good for little kids who like bright colors. A tough sell to most adults.
46 Very emotive and deep!! Amazing and inspired history!
Only Spirit from Dreamworks brought me to tears with their beautiful and deep history of the horse and the indian. Well, this was until I watched Brother Bear. The movie is about man living in peace with nature and respect it and the other animals. Kenai, the little indian had to discover it when he turned into a bear. The mooses on the movie are funny as hell, the best comic characters that I've ever seen, since The Lion King. It worths every cent!!
47 Maybe not for younger folks
I bought this for my grandchildren 1 1/2 and 5 1/2. They were not taken with the movie, and were actually somewhat concerned by some of the scenes. The cartooning becomes very serious and facial expressions of fear and anger appear often; especially in the beginning and ending portions. The plot was a little abstract even for the older child, who is a Star Wars fan but didn't much get this movie. It's not a movie I would have purchased for them if I had seen anything other than the cute middle section moose spots they advertised on TV. I finally turned it off because I worried about nightmares since it seemed there were more confrontational parts than fun parts. Just not what I was expecting, and I was disappointed because I was looking for some light entertainment and fun for them.
48 Disney gives us another winner!
Once again, the folks at Disney gives us a story about life. This time, the storyline is about the Native American practice of Shamanism, or the importance of the connection to the deepest power of nature. Respecting life and all animals. This story may be too deep for most kids. But what they'll enjoy are the characters like the two moose, who turn out to be the voices of the Mackenzie Brothers from SCTV. Recommended!!
49 I watched it with my son and loved it
This is a great movie that shows how man and animals should coexist and that we are all brothers. At first I thought it was going to be really hokey but the story grabbed me right away and at the end left me choked up. Rent this for your kids but make sure to watch it with them, you'll be glad you did.
50 Brother Bear.......BAD
OK. What i dont understand is that everyone else is giving this movie 5 stars. It doesnt deserve it. This movie has a somewhat funny(1 scene!) storyline. But, the story is otherwise pointless. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!
51 ADORABLE!
This movie is very cute. Of course, typical of Disney, someone has to die, but in the end everything comes out well.
52 Loved it!
Hello! I'm 14 years old and hopefully a future animator myself.
The story: The story was wonderfully seriouse. I'm not sure little kids will understand how seriouse the plot really is. I love that Disney is showing a backbone and making animated films a little more seriouse so older kids like myself can take an interest in them. Anyway, yes, the story is about broadening your mind and seeing things from different points of veiws, learning from those that are different than you, and appreciating those who are already close to you.
It all starts when Kenai's brother is killed by a bear who was only protecting her cub. Kenai is of course upset and sets off to seek revenge. He finds the bear and kills it. Kenai's Brother who is now a spirit turns Kenai into a bear himself to teach him why killing the bear in the first place was wrong.
Though the story is seriouse and deals with seriouse things (as life does) it's also wonderfully lighthearted and entertaining. The animals are full of character and are very funny and sweet.
The art:
Beautiful! I noticed the linework was a little thicker than usual Disney standard, and the highlight and shadows were also quite thick, but it didn't irk me too much.
The painted backgrounds were EXQUISITE. The character designs are my favorite aspect of this movie. Kenai's character in particular. His facial expressions and character in general are extremely likeable.
One of my favorite things about this movie are the northern lights scenes, though. Gorgeous.
The music: Some of it is wonderful, some of it is a little hokey. Luckily, there are NO spontanious every-character-busts-into-song-moments in this movie wich I liked alot. :) They used the music as a guideline of emotion in the scenes, not as a cheap thrill for kids to sing along to.
I'd say this is a good movie for any age. :) I've watched it twice in 1 day already.
53 Ends before it really begins
Let me start by saying that this movie would be great for a 5 year old. Its heartwarming, funny, and it has a good lesson. The problem, besides the fact that the plot isn't original at all, is that it feels like it finishes right after it starts. He turns into a bear. He meets a little cub, finds friendship, and realizes how killing bears affects the other bears. He reaches his destination (not gunna give anything away). Nothing happens in between. There are no adventures during their quest, nothing happens besides the main story. When it ended, I couldn't believe it had been more than twenty minutes. If that doesn't bother you, go ahead.
54 MidWest Book Review
You would think that a movie about death would be very sad, but this is not the case with "Brother Bear."
Kenai's older brother is killed by a bear. Kenai goes off seeking revenge, finds the bear and kills it, at this time his departed brother returns and turns Kenai into a bear. Why? So he may learn the meaning of love, the meaning of commitment, the meaning of life itself. Kenai befriends an orphaned bear cub named Koda, and through this relationship he learns the true meaning of love and life.
This was a heartwarming movie, the music was great and the scenery was outstanding. The animals were wonderful, of course like everyone, my favorite was the pair of moose that brought such joy with their dialog and their antics. All in all a great family movie that all can enjoy.
55 fav movie
Im 12 and this is one of my favorite movies. I even no a 15 y/o who liked this movie! Its great for all ages. Its sad and funny. You have to go see this movie! 100,000,000,000 stars![*****]
56 Anglophied Disney Dribble
At least Disney is looking into different sources of inspiration. So, I reluctantly give this 1 star. Only because it is loosely based on the beliefs of native people from the Pacific North West. I'm not surprised that many of the reviewers below missed this. You certainly couldn't tell from the music, the art work or the dialogue. The whole movie is focused on marketing potential rather than telling a story. Don't get me wrong I realize that Disney is a business, but do they have completely sacrifice all of their artistic integrity? The music is trying too hard to have the next hit single rather than add to the story. Other reviews compared this to the Lion King. That is laughable at least the music and art work in that was some what African influenced (even if it was watered down). I can not understand why Disney is obsessed with removing all of the cultural aspects of the stories they borrow! It is really disrespectful and insulting to the people the stories belong to! It's as if Disney has the same formula for animated movies regardless of whether or not it fits the story. Maybe this is why PIXAR parted ways with Disney.
57 New Disney Film, Same Taste and Style
The movie is new but the taste and style is the same. What does this mean? It means disney is still relaying on the same type directing to bring in its film productions. The singing, the happy ending, good morals, so so.
58 The Lion King of the 2000's
Brother Bear is a very good family movie with alot of heart, soul, and humor. I am 17 years old and I like this movie as much as i like the lion king.
59 Totally My Opinion
This is totally my opinion and it doesn't matter if you think the review is helpful or not.
The movie has nice pictures, but I think its missing all the rest. The music is the kind of music where you wanna keep it down from letting your neighbors hear, cause it sounds lame and "gay" in guy terms. You know I'm hating, the music is alright, I'm just asking too much. The movie plot, if you've seen alot of animation films like me, are just too NOT original. Disney just sticks to what works best, never really changing until something fails. They should think about that when they made "Princess Diary". The movie is way too predictable, it was never, ever unpredictable. It might surprise amauteurish movie watchers but people who have been analyzing films for years, you get the drill. I predicted the whole movie before it even started! Whats worst, 85% of my predictions came true as if they took the ideas straight from my crooked mind. The characters are just too NOT "original". If you watch past disney animated films and then watch this, you'll see the difference is veryyyyyy littttttleee.
What I'm asking directors to do is stop simply making films just to get money! They need to be ALOT more creative and make films because they LOVE to. Why do you think most sequels suck? Because they know if you watch the first you'll be back for the second, so in a way the sequel is just to keep the money rolling and a way for them to take a break AND keep the impatient viewers that wanna see the second episode happy so they wont leave. Think about it. The world is tricky.
60 Kenai's hard learned lesson...
Three Inuit brothers, Sitka, Denami, and Kenai, are about to attend Kenai's manhood ritual where he will learn his totem. Kenai is an impulsive and adventurous young man who feels insulted as he learns that his totem to live by is love. When Kenai later finds out that a bear has taken their basket with salmon he sets out to get the basket back, however his two older brothers follow him. Kenai's brother Sitka ends up getting killed as he saves the two other brothers, which awakens anger with Kenai who sets out to seek his revenge on the bear. Kenai ends up killing the bear, but in the process is turned into a bear through earthly magic.
Brother Bear carries valuable lessons about several themes such as love, anger, and friendship. The story also portrays a scenario of loss and the anger that follows loss, which many of us call revenge. The story details a moral message that revenge is also harmful to others who are not involved in the matter. Kenai turning to a bear teaches the lesson from the opposite perspective, which will hopefully open up doors the for the audience to ponder the issue at hand. In addition, there are several comical situations that offer belly-aching laughter which reduces the sadness that the theme carries. This leaves the audience with a decent cinematic experience that both entertains and enlightens the viewers.
61 hm.
Great Walt would rotate in his box, if he saw that movie.
The music sounds exactly like >Tarzan< (same composer and song performer), the animation is'nt smooth or anything and the backgrounds are - except a few - just there for the reason. All characters look like a very poor and over-cleaned copy of >Lilo & Stitch<, which try to crawl through the boring >typical-Disney<-plot with all these jokes and dialogs seen so many times before.
--> a hopeless try of Disney to get back to the roots but the mouse guys seem to have forgotten, what made Disney the most popular animation picture company in the world - the will to try out something new and special - to experiment with new types of art and plot (like >Les Triplettes de Belleville< for example) ...
62 Amusing little film your kid will love
This movie gets my stamp of approval because it held my two year old's interest for the entire running time. The story is about three Indian brothers who are very close. One of the brothers indirectly causes the death of another because of his foolishness, then somehow gets turned into a bear. The third brother is now trying to kill the bear (really his brother) he holds responsible for killing his brother. This sounds kind of confusing, but it is clear in the movie. The mystical aspects of the Indian culture are foolish, but not anymore than the special effects in Aladdin or Toy Story.
The animation is traditional which makes this movie look dated, but it is quite humorous, especially when the MacKenzie brothers make an appearance (Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis) as a couple of horses. This part saves the movie for the parents. This movie will definitely be one your kid wants to watch over and over and over and over and you will get your money's worth if you buy it.
63 Wish I could give Brother Bear 20 stars! Excellent movie!!!
We saw this movie 5 times at the theater and countless times on DVD and still our whole family LOVES it!!!!!!! This is a Lion King style movie...The sound track is fantastic! The visuals are stunningly beautiful! The story is great with a wonderful message for people of all ages! A lot more young kid friendly than Nemo. My 3 year old daughter hated Finding Nemo because it went from one terrifying, violent moment to another, but Brother Bear she loves. While it has some scary violence in it, those moments are broken up with comic relief, songs and meaningful story progression. Like Lion King and Finding Nemo, the topic of death plays a role, but in the end, it is shown that those loved ones who were lost are still forever watching over the ones they left behind. This is a wonderful story of forgiveness, tolerance of those different than you and the importance of taking responsibility for those you have hurt and working to heal. This is what a Disney movie should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
64 Great Movie!
I bought the DVD, it was great! I totally understand the theme, and it does fit in along in the movie. But...there are some parts when it suddenly skips over...that I can only rate this a 4 star, but hey, it's still worth it!
65 Cute story
BROTHER BEAR is a cute story with a well-meaning message. Depsite its detailed animation and appealing characters (especially the moose!) it didn't hold my 8 year old's interest like most Disney movies. Debbie Farmer, parenting author,'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'
66 A New Disney Classic.
Brother Bear is a little Tarzan, a little Bambi, and a little Lion King. All in all it makes a beautiful picture. The voice talent was wonderful. The artistry was great, and the plot was very intriguing. The story was very heartwarming, and it also broke your heart in some scenes. It teaches a valuable lesson, like we have seen in past Disney films. Michael Eisner, if you read this, please go back to traditional animation. If you made movies like this, that section of the Walt Disney Company might not flop.
67 this is NOT a kid's movie
As I see, some people think this movie is not appropriate for children because of some cruelty. First of all, I wouldn't let children under eight watch ANY Disney blockbuster anyway. They're at some point all too scary for younger children, no matter what the rating says.
However, regarding Brother Bear, I must say that they've been very clever with the plot. The older Brother didn't get killed by the bear - as some other reviews imply - he risks his life to save his brothers, since the bear seems to attack them. His death is tragic, but not caused by anyone but himself. Kenai then takes revenge for his brother's death by killing the bear. But since he did not have the right to do that his dead brother, who is now among the spirits of their ancestors, transforms him into a bear.
This movie is a beautiful piece of art, the animation is absolutely beautiful and they even managed to lighten up the difficult main story line by adding some unusual sidekicks without ruining the drama, like the moose, which are really great fun despite being totally different to former fun characters like Timon and Pumbaa.
Another point that really fascinated me - and which makes this film different to earlier Disney movies - is that there is no bad guy. Kenai's brother who hunts him is no villain at all. From his point of view his actions are completely understandable. The only bad thing done is Kenai's killing the bear, but I wouldn't judge him either. I'm afraid many people would not have let wisdom lead their ways in his situation.
So it's not about fighting a bad guy, it's about learning from your mistakes. I honestly didn't assume Disney would ever release a movie with such a deep and honest meaning.
All in all, it's a first class movie, which should not be shown to young children. Even adults are crying in the end, so don't expect you children will get over it easily.
Animation does NOT equal kid's movie!
68 Makes you think of what it might be like for the animal.
Dark castle and those that thought that the film was bad really should go back and look through the film again... I thought that the film was one of the best to come out from Disney in many years...
The brother that kills a bear is transformed into a bear himself so that he can see firsthand how tough it is for the bears to survive. He kills the bear in revenge for his brother's death... When Kenai is turned into a bear, he begins to see things differently...
He meets up with Koda a young bear cub... At he does not like the cub too much, but later on they manage a bond... Keni then relizes that he has to tell the yong cub a dark secret... I won't spoil the ending and it is a must see...
The Animation was really beautiful, The story really draws you in and does not rely too much on cuteness to sell a movie... The story and music are very solid... I think that Disney finally came out with something good.. Compaired to Lion King 1 1/2. Brother Bear has earned a place in my video library... I hope that Disney will do more original films in the future... A WINNER!!!
69 Lets go tree huggers.!!!!!!!!
I watched this movie with my nephews thank god there only 1 and 3 this movie while great for kids teaches that man is evil and destroys everything. We are made to feel sorry for this bear cub that lost his mother becaouse "Evil man" killed her I dont feel sorry for the bear at all what is up with disney and there one parent home cartoon movies.. when will we see a normal family cartoon movie....... this movie made me want to go out and shoot some animal just for the heck off it or piss on a tree and throw my trash in the river.
70 Happily surprised!
On reading the reviews of this film, I wonder if we all saw the same movie. The complaints about the animation, the weak story, the slow plot, the music, the nature-prechiness, etc., make me really wonder about some people. Personally, I got this film after not having gone to the theater to see it, and was very surprised at its quality.
Being a Disney fan from way back, I know good animation when I see it, and the animation in this film was flawless. the use of CGI was perfect in the moments when used, and wasn't too outrageously obvious. True, the story seems to drag at times, but not as bad as all that. I found the Phil Collins soundtrack to be very well done, if not as good as his work on Tarzan. In particular, I loved hearing Tina Turner sing Great Spirits. As for nature loving, shouldn't we all care more about the environment? The point to the native people was to live in harmony with nature. Oh well.
In closing, perhaps small children shouldn't see this without adult supervision, but then , they shouldn,t watch the daily news or prime-time TV alone, either, but there is a fine moral to this story, and is well worth adding to your DVD collection.
71 Bearly credible
This is a dreadful film. It's a cheap Bambi remake for the 40 somethings who cried the first time Mummy Dear got plugged, sneered the second time and then, finally on the third showing, cooed over their offspring when Thumper revealed the inner beauty of life.
Similarly, this film is all about death, and America's continuing inability to come to terms with the 'big one'. Apparently we're to be comforted by the knowledge that dead relatives can always stroke our chin when we're at our lowest ebb and that Grandad is now an eel.
To be fair, my five year old son was delighted by the cub and then thoroughly confused (but not upset) by the ending...why did his mummy come back from heaven and then leave him...again ? The answer, my son, is that there's nothing more callous than a dead mummy bear...except for a sicko Disney executive.
72 ULTRAMAGICAL!!!! EVEN THE ENDING!!!!
"BROTHER BEAR" IS ULTRAENCHANTING! ULTRAMAGICAL! HAROLD GOULD'S VOICE AS OLD DENAHI ADDED LIFE TO THE STORY. THE STORY OF A BOY WHO BECAME A MAN BY BECOMING A BEAR!!!! THOUGHT PROVOKING!!!! ENDEARING!!!! IT WILL TOUCH YOUR HEART FOREVER!!!! OH, YES!!!!
I ENJOYED THE LITTLE COMIC ENDING AT THE END OF THE CREDITS!!!!
YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE TO ENJOY!!!! BUT ENJOY!!!! WITH ALL YOUR HEART!!!! FOREVER!!!!
73 A Diamond In The Rough
I remember seeing the preview of this film, in of all places, The Disney Store and was immediately anticipating the release of this film. As one in love with nature and animals in particular, I was moved by the substance, textures and moral of this beautiful film. As an artist, I have never been one to subscribe to the "Art of Comparison", but rather the Art of Appreciation. This film stands alone from its Disney predecessors, and postures itself with great nobility. The lesson of the film is beautifully articulated, and the fusion of music and animation is done with seamless precision.
To stand in ones shoes as a means of developing an understanding of our differences and likenesses is both profound and moving. As creatures who live and abide in the same dwelling space, it stands to reason that we would not need to do as Kenai. However, the lesson is one of beauty and virtue. I do hope that more people view this film. In doing so, I hope that people are able to see the lesson within the film, the beauty of artistry and develope a more thorough understanding that our differences in culture, beliefs and stature is what makes the world so beautiful. Diversity and stature, whether Bear or Man should be perceived as a virtue and nothing less.
74 ULTRA ENCHANTING DISNEY FOLK LORE!!!!
FROM THE MOMENT YOU ENTER INTO THE REALM OF "BROTHER BEAR", YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL ALL THE MAGICAL SPIRITS SURROUNDING THIS MOST ENCHANTING STORY. SET IN PREHISTORIC TIMES IN THE GREAT MORTHWEST, THE TALE EVOLVES AROUND THREE NOT SO ALWAYS GET ALONG BROTHERS. THE OLDEST IS SITKA (D.B. SWEENEY) WHO IS THE LEADER AND GUIDES THE OTHER TWO. THE NEXT IS DENAHI (JASON RAIZE), THE TROUBLE MAKER TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, KENAI (JOAQUIN PHOENIX) WHO LONGS TO BE A MAN! SITKA HAS RECIEVED THE TOTEM "THE EAGLE OF GUIDANCE", DENAHI RECIEVED HIS FOR "WISDOM." AND KENAI HAS JUST RECIEVED "THE BEAR OF LOVE"; ALL TOTEMS WERE GIVEN BY TANANA (JOAN COPELAND), THE NATURE ENTRANTRESS OF THE PEOPLE.
TROUBLE ENSUES WHENS THE FISH BASKET KENAI DID NOT TIE UP WELL IS TRASHED BY A GREAT GRIZZLY BEAR! BEFORE LONG THE THREE BROTHERS ARE AT BATTLE WITH THE GRIZZLY, ENDING TRAGICALLY THE LOSS OF SITKA. DETERMINED TO GET THE BEAR, KENAI GOES AFTER HIM AGAINST DENAHI'S HELP AND TANANA'S PLEA FOR HELP!
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WILL TAKE YOU ON A MAGICAL JOURNEY AS YOU ENTER A TRANSFORMATION OF MAN AND BEAST WHERE YOU ARE TOUCHED BY THE LIVES OF DIFFERENT CREATURES INCLUDING A RASCALLY BLABBERMOUTHED LITTLE WILD BALL OF FUR NAMED KODA (JEREMY SUAREZ) AND TWO DUMB FOUNDED MOOSE RUTT (RICK MORANIS) AND TUKE (DAVE THOMAS) AND MANY OTHER WILD BEAR, SQUIRREL, AND MAMMOTH.
THE MAGIC IS REVEALED AS TWO SEPERATE BEINGS KENAI AND KODA, THROUGH MANY STUGGLES AND DISLIKES, GROW A MUTUAL BOND OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE, EVEN AGAINST THE ODDS OF HIS VENGEFUL BROTHER DENAHI WHO WANTS THE BEAR DEAD, NOT KNOWING THAT THE BEAR IS REALLY HIS LITTLE BROTHER KENAI.
IT ISN'T UNTIL THE TRANSFORMATION COMES AGAIN, THAT ALL IS REVEALED! AND THE TOTEM OF "THE BEAR OF LOVE'S" POWER HAS TRUELY SHOWN THAT KENAI HAS BECOME A TRUE MAN! EVEN WHEN HE HAD TO REVEAL TO KODA HOW HE AS A MAN KILLED HIS MOTHER, HE NEVER LOST HIS LOVE! THIS TRUELY ONE OF THE GREATEST DISNEY MASTERPIECE'S OF ALLTIME!!!! I'M SO GLAD I SAW IT!!!! I'M GLAD I OWN IT!!!! IF FIFTY YEARS OLD!!!! THIS IS ONE DISNEY CLASSIC WORTH WAITING FOR!!!! IT FOLLOWS ON THE MAGNITUDE OF "POCAHONTAS" AND "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!!!!"
"SPECTACULAR!!!! ULTRA ENCHANTING!!!! MAGNIFICENT!!!! SUPERMAGICAL!!!!"
75 It's Amazing, It's Original
Disney has been limping along recently by capitalizing on what they have always done well. However, how many remakes and versions of the same movies can you make? Disney finally smashed through the originality barrier with "Brother Bear," an original story inspired by Inuit legends and myths.
The story revolves around Kenai and Koda, a bear and cub. The story is complex, and may lose some viewers the first time around. Kenai kills Koda's mother shortly after his brother dies in an encounter with Koda's mother. However, Kenai's brother, sensing that Kenai has a lesson to learn about life, has Kenai changed into a bear, and then has Kenai meet up with Koda. It takes some time for Kenai to discover that Koda is the cub of the bear he killed, but when he learns the story behind the encounter between himself and the mother bear, he realizes that there are two sides to every story.
Incidentally, another review stated that this movie does not contain Christian values. This movie is entertainment, but I think the core lessons, that there are two viewpoints in every encounter, love instead of hate, friendship, forgiveness, and understanding, would all seem to be Christian values to me, at least, Christian values as I understand them.
While the movie has a "G" rating, the movie does contain death, as does real life. "The Lion King" also had death. As much as we often do not like to face death, it is a fact of life. The death in this movie is not glorified, nor is it bloody. One of the central points of the movie is that the man and the bear had to completely different viewpoints regarding the encounter, and the lesson that should be learned is that when wild animals act in a certain way, they are completely in character with how they were made.
Two additional characters were added to this movie to lighten the serious nature of the topic. Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas voice Rutt and Tuke, a pair of moose, in a reprise of the roles as the McKenzie brothers from the long-defunct SCTV. While not every one of their jokes is funny, they do still provide good comic relief throughout the movie. They also do a commentary track that my daughter and I thought was hilarious, though my wife did not care for it.
The extras on this DVD are wonderful. In addition to the Rutt and Tuke commentary, there are funny out takes, interesting deleted scenes, and quite a lot about the music. The video of the Bulgarian women's choir and how the Phil Collins' song was translated into Inuit was fascinating.
This movie is a breakthrough for Disney. It is a completely original story. It is a little violent and intense for children under the age of five or six, but older children should be captivated. The movie is a wonderful basis for parental discussions about many of the attributes we would like to pass on to our children. I recommend this movie highly to open minded people who see the art and creativity in this movie.
76 Loved this movie!
I'm 17 and recently seen a lot of disney latest movies and was kind of dissapointed but this movie was different. I loved the story and the caracters. It is a story that has it all. It made me laugh, cry, and in the end warm my heart. I'd recommend everybody to get the DVD or a least see it once. All does bad reviews come form disney haters and people who can't take the time to really analyze a movie. I'd recommend this movie to everyone, even adults. The music in the movie is also great. Do yourself a favor and see this movie. You won't regret it.
77 Hilarious!
I Just Recieved this movie as an Easter present today and I absoulutely loved it.It is so funny and very entertaining you will love this movie.
78 A good movie
Brother Bear could have been an excellent movie if the makers of the film would have come to the point a bit faster. It story build up slow in the beginning but definitely becomes better halfway. A Disney Classic. The story does make us think about certain things in life and has a clear message: we shouldn't judge by the outside appearance. We should try to understand the opposite party by slipping into their skin to be aware of their life and culture - even if that means crawling into the skin of a bear. Fighting it doesn't mean solving it, it only means getting rid of the problem for a certain time. A great way to teach children to understand what life is and can be all about. A good movie!
79 a new family classic, with lessons and laughs
I haven't been particularly enamored of recent Disney films but thoroughly enjoyed this most recent offering. This is the story of Kenai, the youngest of three Inuit brothers, who is on the verge of ritual manhood though he is still immature. His actions lead to his brother being killed by a bear; Kenai decides to track the bear and kill it; the spirits decide to teach Kenai a lesson by changing him into a bear, and he must make a long journey with a bear cub named Koda. The story and voices are very well done, and the comic relief offered by two slacker moose and silly goats will keep adults and children entertained. This film seems to show a more organic depiction of aboriginal culture than was Pocahantas, the Phil Collins songs are fine (though not as good as those from Tarzan), and the animation is terrific.
DVD extras include songs, sing-a-longs, outtakes, deleted scenes, very funny commentary by the moose pair, and two games -- Find Your Totem and a pattern-matching puzzle. The film can be heard in English, French or Spanish and subtitled in English.
80 Great Family Entertainment
"Brother Bear" has elements that every member of the family can enjoy. Adults will love the new Phil Collins music, children will fall in love with the adorable bear cub, Koda, and everyone is sure to love the moose, voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. The theme of "Brother Bear" is seeing through another's eyes. Kenai is a member of the inuit tribe. When his eldest brother is killed by a bear, Kenai seeks revenge. To teach him a lesson, the spirit of his older brother turns him into a bear. He teams up with a cub named Koda and through their journey, Kenai learns to love him as a brother and sees the error of his previous lifestyle. "Brother Bear" is the kind of Disney film that leaves you happy and makes you want to watch it again and again.
I think there could have been better special features. 2-disc dosen't mean the special features are great. The first disc has a "Family Friendly" widescreen version of the film. "Brother Bear" was filmed with two aspect ratios. The first 21 minutes of the film was filmed in the standard widescreen size, and after Kenai is turned into a bear, the movie switches to cinemascope, which is really widescreen. The "Family Friendly" version on the first disc keeps the normal widescreen for the whole film. When you watch the second disc, the whole movie is in cinemascope, so the first 21 minutes has black bars on the side of the film, as well as on the top and bottom. I prefer the original aspect ratio on the second disc, but I wish they would have kept the first part of the film looking normal on it. There are special features for kids, including games, a sing-along, and more outakes that weren't on the ending credits. For adults, there is a 45-minute making of. I wish there would have been art galleries and a more extensive behind the scenes. But this release is good for now.
"Brother Bear" is going to be remembered ten years down the road the same way that "The Lion King" is. It has all of the elements that make a Disney animated film a classic.
81 One of the most meaningful movies
Excellent Plot. Teaches a life lesson. Has deep meaning to it. Exceptional scenary and drawings. The best I have ever seen for 30+ years. This movie is probably more for children of age 15 or above... not a kid movie... although they may understand it in a kid's way.
[may spoil the movie:]
This movie teaches us to look into the difficulties of other people, and to look at things in other people's shoe. Sometimes we look at things in our view and think it is the absolute truth, but we may not know the other half.
It may help us treat people with a kinder heart, although, I still feel some companies and people treat me as "money" or treat me as a thing or sucker to grind money out.
So there is love... I appreciate that and feel that if it wasn't for love, we probably don't need to exist any more. But what about the bears eating tons of fish? It is still a cruel world out there. There was just Finding Nemo, in which the life of a fish is so precious, and we have this film in which a fish is just a biteful.
By the way, I don't like Lion King at all but I like this movie... maybe it is just me.
82 Don't listen to those trashy reviews below!
This movie was a great suprise for me as I was disappointed with several recent Disney pics. I thought this was going to be the same deal because the first 15 minutes were unspectacular and the Tina Turner song didn't belong.
After that, it gets 5 stars.
Don't pay attention to the reviews below giving it only 1 star! Giving this movie only 1 star is like giving Lion King only 2 stars. Those people are just anti-Disney. We all know the type. I played the first half of this where I work and everyone was "captivated". I think I just sold probably 10 copies of the film for Disney because many of my co-workers plan to buy it now.
Listen, I don't care if you buy it or not, just don't go on the opinion that "the Magic somehow left the building" or "it's too scary". Those opinions are in error.
Hats off to Disney for finally putting together a worthy tale full of fun and good music! For that, it get 5 stars!
83 A Pleasant Surprise
I had the opportunity to watch this film with my nephew not too long ago. He got it as a birthday present, and we all watched it together. I know that one reviewer said that Disney should realy tone things down for small children, but I found the brutality in this particular film to be reminiscent of "Bambi," in that it was necessary to really move the story along.
Other than that, my own real criticism about Disney films in general at the moment is that the industry itself seems to think that it's the actual "quality" of the animation that makes it necessary to do everything with computers. What Disney tends to neglect sometimes is that the actual dialogue and story has as much to do with the success of a film as the actual look. "The Little Mermaid," for instance, is done entirely by hand, with no computer images at all, and the story is what really makes the film timeless. The character development, the quick-witted responses, and the fact that you can actually feel what's going on with the characters are really just as important, if not more so, than how the final product really looks.
This movie was beautiful on so many levels. The animation is brilliant, the dialogue, although sometimes preachy and cliche, is more often creative, intelligent, and can keep audience's interest. The characters are developed so well that you can feel their fears, anticipate their sadness, and you are compelled to really feel all aspects of elation when things go well and everyone is happy and has learned something. The music has a lulling quality which also serves its purpose of really pulling all of your senses to believe the magical realism of what is being portrayed.
I personally was impressed! Not a whole lot of Disney animated films can capture my interest, but this one could almost get me believing that the magic and wonder that Disney has built its reputation on, still dwindles in some recesses of their imagination.
84 Disney pushes the envelope yet again...
If you are a Christian - please do not waste your time on this movie. As a Christian mother I was warned that this movie was full of spirit worship and bought it for my 3 1/2 year old son anyway. Well, the spirt worship is one thing but the movie is just plain BORING on top of that. The moose use the word "stupid" to the point is not humorous and it teaches our children to use inappropriate language as well. I am sorry but Disney should be a name you can trust and when a movie is written for children such language and inuendo should not be present. Disney just pushes the envelope too far with some of their stuff and they seriously need their wrists slapped for some of it.
Again, take out the religion and word "stupid". The movie is just dull and boring.
85 SO CUTE
this movie was SO cute. it even made my 21 year old boyfriend cry! Such a heart warming story line and incredible ending. see this movie
86 Scared my daughter!
Finally, after some time a Disney movie that was actually rated "G". Atlantis and Lilo and Stich were PG and for the most part for good reason. Looking at the cover of Brother Bear it looks like a fun and colorful movie. "Look Honey, I got you Brother Bear", I said to my daughter. We pop in the movie and watch the first few minutes. Great songs, colorful images and family playing around with each other. I ease up a bit feeling that this will be an entertaining cartoon for my 3 year old and the rest of the family after getting burned by Atlantis. Then BAM, roaring bears and brothers falling to their deaths. My daughters eyes were like saucers and then ran out of the room saying "No more bears". I guess my review of this movie is really only for the first 15 minutes. I kind of would like to see the rest of the movie, but I have to see it without my daughter. It would be nice for Disney to make movies to actually cater to kids and not worry so much if the parents will be entertained.
87 Unfortunately, the magic has left the building.
Here's what I can say is good about the movie...the colors and the animation are pretty.
Otherwise, it's simply boring. The music is uninspired. The dialogue is preachy.
The changing of the aspect ratios 24 minutes into the film is gimmicky and lame, downright annoying in fact.
Buy practically anything else made or distributed by Disney and you will be better off.
88 Exremely underrated
I am absolutely appaled at all the negative reviews of this film, both from critics and consumers. This is one of the best Disney films since "The Lion King," and certainly the most dramatic and heartbreaking.
The story centers around the physical and spiritual transformation of a yound Inuit man named Kenai, who, after killing a bear without any remorse, is transformed into a bear by the Great Spirits. Now instead of being the hunter, he is now being hunted--by his own brother.
This is a very exciting and very entertaining film. The only negative I really have is that the lyrics for the "Welcome" song are a bit on the simplistic side. All the other songs (and their corresponding sequences in the film) are great, even the "Great Spirits" song, which, I must admit, took some time to grow on me.
The film itself is very drmaatic and rather emotionally intense, all of which pays itself off not only during the process of experiencing it, but it also makes the film's happy ending that much hapier. However, parents would be advised to screen this film for very young kids first; this is no "Land Before Time."
This film is the second-to-last Disney film to be done using hand-drawn animation , due to the erronious beliefs that CGI animation is cheaper, faster, or better. "Brother Bear" revels in the fact that much of it was painted by hand (although there is plenty of CGI work in the film as well), featuring spectacular production design and backgrounds, and appealing character animation that does a great job of brining the characters to life and moving them around in three dimensions (I never understand why hand-drawn animation is sometimes called "2D" and CGI "3D"...neither is more dimensional or flatter than the other. The difference simply is that in CGI, the computer does the work of translating a three-dimensional character to a two-dimensional film frame, while in hand-drawn animation, this responsibility lies in the talent, imagination, and ability of the animator and his pencils. And even if Disney phases out hand-drawn animation, it is not outdated, for as long as people continue to draw it will never be obsolete, and it will never die.)
The production design, special effects, and backgrounds are absolutely stunning in this film, and the characer animation does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. The voices are also very well done, the best being Jeremy Suarez (from "The Bernie Mac Show"), as Koda, a little bear cub that becomes Kenai's surrogate brother as the film progresses.
This film is also interesting in its inventive use of cinematography. The first 24 minutes of the film feature muted colors, a strong focus on realism, and an aspect ratio of 1.75:1. After Kenai is transformed into a bear, the film widens to the CinemaScope aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (becasue Kenai's going to get a "whole new perspective" on life), the colors become bright and strongly saturated, and the tone of the film segues into the realm of fantasy (what with Canadian moose, New York rams, and such).
This film was stunning to watch in the theatres, and the 2-disc DVD is very well put together as well, featuring both the original theatrical version and a 1.66:1 pan & scan version (better than a 4:3, but still not as good as the original theatrical..and besides, watching this film in pan & scan robs it of its symbolic aspect ratio change). There are plenty of bonus features, including a review of the production art (similar to what Pixar did for the "Finding Nemo" DVD), deleted scnes, making-of documentaries, and a hilarious commentary by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, in character as the Canadian moose Rutt and Tuke from the film.
In closing, I'm interested in the fact that many people call this film "The Lion King-lite" or a "Lion King" rip-off. This is the film "The Lion King" wanted to be. "The Lion King" (in my humble opinion, the weakest of Disney's "second reinassance" films) tried so hard to be oh-so serious and dramatic, while "Brother Bear" does so without even trying. This film is certainly much better than another film it is often compared to, 20th Century Fox's pleasent-enough but unexciting "Ice Age." This is a film that every member of every family (and of any age) should see and enjoy.
89 Better Than Expected
I am in college and I really enjoyed Brother Bear. It was cute, fun, sad, colorful, and actually quite moving. When this feature came out at the theaters I was not expecting much and didn't bother to see it. I rented the movie and just got so into it. The story between the friendship of Kenai and Koda is cute. Their evolution from acquaintances, to friends, to family is a good message for us all. The animation of the wilderness is beautiful (makes me appreciate 2D animation again). And, well, the movie was moving and a bit reminiscent to the Lion King and Bambi. I have to lastly saw that I loved the two mooses in the movie. They just cracked me up so much.
Brother Bear is not the best Disney movie that I have ever seen. It is not in the ranks of Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, but it is nowhere near Disney movies like Atlantis. It is a cute movie and I think adults will like it if they see it.
90 Ok if you can get past the greenie tree hugging
Another kid's movie hiding a pagan world view with tons of greenie lectures.
Ok, animals are cool and we should all live in harmony.
Anyway, this is one I won't be in a hurry to watch again and can't recommend owning.
91 "Not this Daddy! Not this!", A disappointed Dad
"Not this Daddy! Not this!"
That's the review my 3-year old son gave Brother Bear after about 15 minutes, not counting several minutes of previews we sat through before I gave up and fast forwarded through them.
To be honest, I was a bit relieved. The animation was lush but unengaging, the narration was overly preachy, and the Phil Collins music was, well... Phil Collins music.
It wasn't a total loss -- we spent the rest of the evening putting puzzles together and coloring.
92 Bearly Good: Enjoyable, But Lacks Power and Originality
First, please, please, do not say "Brother Bear," good as it is, is a 5-star feat. If so, how many stars do we need to describe the delightful experience of watching "Little Mermaid"? Ten stars? Or twenty?
There is nothing wrong with "Brother Bear," and that is the problem with it. I'm talking about the originality. OK, the story itself is interesting. Young native American Kenei is turned into a bear by the mystrious power after inconsiderately killing another bear. Kenai, to return human, has to go to the mountain with a kiddie bear Koda. There you see the story of friendship between animals and humans, against the background of Mother Nature.
Probably "Brother Bear" would appeal to the fans who prefer traditional Disney animations. And that is a good thing even though American market recently saw the change in animation films. Pixar and Dreamworks are now the force to be reckoned with, and their creative minds are not to be ignored. Clearly, compared with "Finding Nemo" or "Shrek," "Brother Bear" looks old-fashioned.
And again I say, that is not a bad thing. "Brother Bear" uses traditional 2-D animation, which is soft in color and natural in movement. And the story, which revers the culture of native Americans, is not without merit, being always engaging and smooth, and there is even a slightly surprise ending. The message is a worhty one, and vocal actors (starring Joaquin Phoneix as Kenei) are doing a good job. And the two silly mooses are joy to see, thanks to Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.
However ... sorry, but these flaws. Phil Collins songs are just forgettable (where is Elton John?), and at many scenes I thought to myself: "I have seen it before" when I saw the bears dancing to the tune; when I saw the picture on the rock (is it in "Ice Age"?); or when I saw the glacier and manmoths (again, "Ice Age"... perhaps). Call me whatever you want, but I see the lack of imagination here and there.
Rememebr, it's Disney where they produced "Fantasia", and we always want a great thing from that company. Not just a good film.
93 Not for my kid.
I don't quite understand other reviewers' comments that this is a "family-friendly" movie. First, one brother got killed then later the cub found out that his mom is dead; not to mention that throughout the other part of the movie, the other brother is ruthlessly hunting a bear (who's actually is the other brother). Why is it that most animated movies always killed off a family member? Bambi lost his mother, Simba in the Lion King lost his dad, Nemo's mom got killed, Long Neck in Land Before Time lost his mother. If animated movies are to be for kids then they should make it fun, entertaining, and perhaps even be silly for innocent minds, not filling them with fears of losing a family member. While watching this movie, my 3-year-old kept on asking where is the mommy bear, why is the hunter after the bear. She started to cry when the hunter was fighting with the bear. If the point of the movie is to teach compassion, I wish they would have done it differently.
94 Fun Family Movie
"Brother Bear" is a good family movie. It has a good message to it and the story is very enjoyable to watch. The cub, "Koda," is fun to watch and the moose brothers, "Rut and Tuke," are just hilarious. The movie's message of loving one another and protecting family is fantastic. The entire film has a good "family" feel to it without coming across as too gushy or preachy.
It's also a great comedy. There are multiple scenes in the film that make children of all ages laugh. My two-year old loves watching "Koda" be silly. "Rut and Tuke" provide great comedy for the adults. The character of "Kenai" is also very funny when he comes to realize that he isn't human anymore.
The only shortcoming of this film is the music. Don't get me wrong, it is nice to listen to, but it doesn't sound as inspired as past Disney efforts. As another reviewer stated, the music reminds me a lot of "Tarzan."
The DVD is chock full of extras. I like both the "family-friendly" version of the film and the original theatrical aspect that are offered. The games are fun and the "Bones" game is actually quite challenging for the younger lot. There are deleted scenes(including one with a character not seen in the movie) and funny "outtakes" a la "Bug's Life." "Stitch" even makes a cameo appearance in the extras! There are a number of other extras, including a documentary on different aspects of the film. You can pick and choose which parts you want to watch.
Overall, I highly recommend this film. Some folks have knocked it for the violence in the early sequences of the movie. This is ashame, because the scenes are handled with care and there is no blood actually viewed on-screen. If you're bothered by the violent sequences, watch the movie without your kids first and prepare yourself to explain the scenes to your child. I honestly don't think this is necessary, but I know how sensitive some folks can be. Others have questioned the spiritism used in the film. Considering this movie takes place at the time of the Inuit people, I find no fault with the totems or spirits involved. Don't let a few naysayers in the crowd ruin your experience.
This is a fine family movie that can be enjoyed by all.
95 An incredibly pleasant surprise
I have been so disappointed by Disney for so long, that I waited until Brother Bear was released on DVD before I watched it. Now, I don't understand why the movie did not receive more credit and I wished I saw it sooner.I think it was easily Disney's best movie since the Lion King. The characters are warm and endearing, and the humor has many layers, to appeal to adults and children alike. I laughed so hard. I found it much more entertaining (for children and adults) and introspective (for adults probably over most kids' heads) than Finding Nemo (which I found tedious at points) Shrek (which relied too much on fart jokes and [harrass], which was inappropriate and annoying for adults and young children at turns), or anything released in a very long time.
Too bad the musical score was not more memorable; the first song was pretty awful, but "On My Way" was upbeat and singable -I don't understand why it wasn't nominated at this year's Academy Awards (which severely lacked talent in the song arena). The high quality animation (far superior to the barn yard movie about to be released), gifted script, messages of brotherly love (includiing respect for human and animals), and charming characters more than made up for musical shortcomings. I recommend this movie not only to people with children, but for anyone of any age who wants feel good.
96 Didn't work on our Sony DVD player
Maybe it was a good movie, maybe not, but it didn't play in our Sony DVD player. Maybe copy protection gone too far. Worked in the Apex DVD player in the bedroom, but we are returning it since the kids use the Sony DVD player in the family room. Hopefully they will fix this in the future.
97 don't bother
this movie is absolutely horrible. The plot is tired and the characters weak. Avoid this one.
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98 I LOVE BROTHER BEAR!
this is coming from a 15 year old, and i want to say this movie is for everyone! brother bear was my favorite movie of 2003. it was hilarious, moving, and uplifting. (...) i'm so excited to see it again!
99 WOW~GREAT MOVIE
I am 13, and over my Christmas break at my grandparents house I went with my two sisters (9 and 3), aunt (33) and grandpa to see the movie bnecause it looked really cute. We missed the very beginning, but we all LOVED the movie. Any movie that can have so many ages interested must be good. The plot, for us older people-is extremely predictable, but that doesn't really werck the movie's quality. Also, the music and animation were amazing. I thought the movie was going to be just another little kid Disney movie like a lot of them-but it wasn't/
100 Disney's Best Movie in Years
I'm normally pretty tough on Disney movies but I have to say that this one is worht your money. I got to see this DVD in advanced and I must say it's very good. The animation is just beautiful, the story is very well told like out of a story book, the characters are very lovable (especially Koda) and the music is great. The music score that is. Although Phil Collins did a good job on this movie as he did on Tarzan, I thought they could have kept the songs to a minimum. It's not like Spirit: Stallion of Camarron where there was litterally one song after another for the whole movie. It just felt like there was a scene or two (mainly just one which I won't give away) were it should have been just diologue. This is easily one of Disney's best movies to be released in years. Highly recomended.
Oh yeah, do yourself a favore WATCH THE WIDESCREEN VERSION!! IT'S DISC 2!! SEE THE MOVIE THE WAY IT WAS MENT TO BE SEEN!!
