Brother Bear (2-Disc Special Edition) | Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez

Brother Bear (2-Disc Special Edition) | Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez | Fun for all - nice features to boot

DVDs:

Brother Bear (2-Di...

	Brother Bear (2-Disc Special Edition) Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez Walt Disney Video, 2004 average customer review:based on 215 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Better than most of the recent Disney fare

For once, the Mouse has done something right. After the typical butcherings of classic tales (Hunchback, anyone?) and the endless dribble of mindless, plotless, pointless sequels, Brother Bear is a breath of fresh air.

The theme of walking in another's shoes is handled well-- not hammered obnoxiously into your skull by way of song, nor buried by the comic releif. And the songs themselves are upbeat without being sugary. And for once we are not subjected to an obligatory romantic subplot. The love in Brother Bear is brotherly love, a nice change from the everyday plots of romance.

The comedy comes from all of the characters, rather than a side-cast of characters inserted for the role so that the main cast can get out of having to be funny. Likewise for the drama-- everybody does something and nothing seems shoehorned or tacked-on. Overall an excellent story beautifully animated.

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Fun for all - nice features to boot

Its been a while since Disney released a classic family movie like Brother Bear (Pocohontas, Mulan). Brother Bear chronicles the lives of three Inuit brothers who are torn apart after the death of the oldest one. The youngest of the two (Kenai) remaining seeks to avenge his brother's death by taking the life of a bear. With blind rage, he ends up taking the life of a mother bear and ends up being transformed into a bear as a tribulation and journey of growth. He then befriends a cub (Koda), unbeknownst to him is the cub of the mother bear he killed, and the two journey all over Alaska so Kenai can change back into a human. Along the way, they meet colorful characters, share stories and have adventures. The best part of the film is the score done by Phil Collins (Tarzan).

The bonus features are a treat. After having watched the movie, viewers can get to go behind the scenes and check out the making of Brother Bear, or play games and listen to different scores featuring never before seen shorts. Overall, you'll love this movie for the very fact that it gives you that Disney experience. Whether purchasing it for children, teens or adults, its something everyone will enjoy.

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More meaning than most!

This movie is excellent and I recommend it for everyone. It has wonderful lessons and simple explainations. It can be used as a great tool to teach children and adults as well. It never hurts to put yourself in someone elses shoes. We can learn important lessons from the animals.

Lovingly brothers from 2 different world!

Before I watched this movie, many friends have told me that it was very touching. And I wacthed it expectantly, then I found it was so good as my anticipation, and just like my friends said, it was touching!
I can't say which plot has impressed me most, because many plots were so unforgettable. I can still remember every tableau of the plot of the song "Welcome". Bears fished and played together, there was warmth and love everywhere, the salmon run was filled with family atmosphere! When I saw a mother bear played with her cub, suddenly, I associated them with Koda, who has been without his mother, I tried very hard to stop my tears. The plot of the song "On My Way" was very impressed. We could see lonely little Koda was so strong and confident! The plot of the song "No Way Out" was so sentimental. Kenai's sorry and sad face, Koda's helpless expression and sorrowful tears, and the falling winter snow, made my tears flood. By the end of the movie, the 3 brothers, the orphan bear and the spirit of his mother, all united. "He needs me." When Kenai required to become a bear for lonely Koda, I could feel the strong bond between these 2 brothers from 2 different worlds. But just love exists, brothers are all the same, even if they came from 2 absolute different worlds! Well, I found this story was a little similar to the story of "Tarzan".
Besides, if this movie has been without so glorious music, it won't be so touching. "Great Spirits" "On My Way" "Welcome" and "No Way Out" were perfect songs, and they were very fit for all the plots where they came up. I attributed the success of this movie to its wonderful music composing.
This is really a touching movie. And every Disney fan won't miss this, I bet everyone will be moved by it. Finally, it told us that we should love our sibling and our family. And we should love the nature and all the creatures. Human beings and all kinds of animals are in one family named Earth!

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ONE OF DISNEY'S BEST RECENT EFFORTS IS WELL WORTH SEEING

IN A NUTSHELL: HIGH QUALITY ANIMATION & A GOOD KID-FRIENDLY STORY

This may be a walk-a-mile in his/her shoes in order to gain understanding and comprehension formula film, but it is a very entertaining one. What's more, it relates very nicely to children of all ages, though the younger the better it seems. The animation is hand-drawn and set in very soft-yet-bright, pleasing-to-look-at tones. I think the use of light and color in this film adds greatly to the magical theme, making it moving to behold. The story, which involves three brothers and a self-discovery process for each of them, is definitely a worthwhile one that children seem quite willing to sit down and enjoy. Unlike many recent animated films by Disney, this one has excellent pacing, coupled with a mix of action and plot that seems quite natural and unhurried.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: [some plot spoilers]

Three young men coming of age have their lives and destinies intertwined with a bear and her soon-to-be orphaned in the process cub. What ensues is an outdoor odyssey into fantasy which includes a spirtual epiphany with the aid of the sudden
and magical personification of all the animals in the forest.

BUT THERE'S MORE -- LOT'S MORE: 2-DISK EDITION

ANIMALS - LOTS OF THEM: We have Bears at the Salmon Run plus two dopey moose and, of course, they all talk. We have Mammoths giving the bears and moose a lift and a forest filled with animals that think this new bear on the block [Brother Bear Kenai] is a bit crazy. Leading the way to an animal epiphany for Kenai, is Koda, the orphaned cub whose situation is of Kenai's making. To complicate matters, all during this journey for Kenai and Koda, Denahi [Kenai's brother] is tracking the bear that he believed was responsible for the death of his brothers. Unknown to Denahi, however, that bear is now Kenai. How this story plays itself out is at the core of "Brother Bear".

Joaquin Phoenix - Kenai [Voice]
Jeremy Suarez - Koda [Voice]
Jason Raize - Denahi [Voice]
Rick Moranis - Rutt [Voice]
Dave Thomas - Tuke [Voice]
D.B. Sweeney - Sitka [Voice]
Joan Copeland - Tanana [Voice]

AWARDS:

Best Animated Feature [nom] 2003 Academy

ABOUT THE DVD: LOVELY ANIMATION & COLORS COME THROUGH ON THIS DVD

The hand-drawn animation, with soft though bright pastels, comes across stunningly on this DVD. The 2-DVD set has many features, however, our youngest son won't let us put them on as he prefers the film itself.

BOTTOM LINE: BRILLANTLY ANIMATED TALKING ANIMALS & ACTION: NEVER GETS OLD!

Having five children whose ages vary by nearly twenty years means we are fluent in animated films and have come to appreciate them on different levels. "Brother Bear" is a highly worthwhile film that combines an excellent-though-predictable story that isn't at all cliche to children, especially as it is told in this highly-inventive storytelling format of true movie magic.

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