Brother Bear (DVD, 2004, 2-Disc Set, Special Edition)

Disney's "Brother Bear" is more mystical and New Age than your average animated movie about animals, although it does have a couple of talking moose and a cute cubby bear. It's ambitious in its artistry, incorporating images from prehistoric cave paintings and playing with the screen width. But it doesn't have the zowie factor of "The Lion King" or "Finding Nemo," and is sweet rather than exciting. Children and their parents are likely to relate on completely different levels, the adults connecting with the transfer of souls from man to beast, while the kids are excited by the adventure stuff.

The story begins in a Native American tribe in the Pacific Northwest, thousands of years ago. We meet three brothers: brave older brother Sitka (voice by D.B. Sweeney), strong-willed middle brother Denahi (Jason Raize) and the troublesome young Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix). Each wears a totem around his neck, representing the animal spirit he is identified with. Sitka wears an eagle, Denahi a wolf, and Kenai -- well, Kenai gets a bear, and considers himself short-changed, especially when he's told that the bear represents the quality of love, which he considers pretty far down, so to speak, on the totem pole.

Kenai doesn't like bears, and picks a fight with one that tries to steal his fishing catch; he recklessly chases the bear, and when Sitka tries to protect him, the older brother is killed and is transformed into an eagle. Kenai is counseled by the tribe's wise woman Tanana (Joan Copeland) to accept this outcome as the will of the universe, but determines to kill the bear. He succeeds, but the universe proves it has a sense of justice, or perhaps of humor, by transforming Kenai himself into a bear -- so that Denahi assumes it was Bear Kenai who killed Kid Brother Kenai. Denahi continues the family tradition of vengeance by tracking down Bear Kenai, in an irony that is positively Shakespearean, and no wonder, since I learn that this story was originally inspired by "King Lear," although the notion of three siblings seems to be all that survived.

The opening scenes are in a conventional screen ratio of 1:85 to 1, but after Kenai becomes a bear, the colors deepen and the screen widens to 2:35 to 1, so you'd better hope your projectionist is on his toes. Given Kenai's prejudices about bears, he is extremely unhappy to be one himself, but soon he's getting bear lessons from little Koda (Jeremy Suarez), a cub who shows him the ropes. Kenai discovers from the spirit of Tanana that he must seek Eagle Sitka on a mountain where light touches the Earth, and Koda leads him on the mission -- perhaps because he really knows where the mountain is, perhaps for reasons of his own.

Their trek there involves many adventures, including a scary encounter with flowing lava from a volcano. Two Canadian moose named Rutt and Tuke turn up and have conversations that sound amazingly like the McKenzie Brothers from SCTV, maybe because they are voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. The outcome of the story, which I would not dream of revealing, has Kenai making a career choice that is far from practical but certainly shows he has learned to see things from a bear's point of view.

I LOVE Brother Bear!!^_^ This is a most EXCELLENT movie from Walt Disney, and clearly one of their best. Wonderful lessons in it, and BEAUTIFUL songs and music! I just wish that the climax in which Kenai changes back was a little bit longer and more in details, but still, it is very SATISFYING and NICE!!^_^ I truly love this movie, and it deserves to be one of the best ever!!^^

This is a movie about loving all things created on our earth, the brotherhood (and friendship and love) between different animals, and the importance of understanding and accepting different people and animals. Really strong lessons in this beautiful movie, and the 2-disc special edition is worth your every cent! It has lots of features and 2 (I think) fun (if not adventurous^^) games, interesting facts, and lots of behind-the-scenes! I really love this movie!!

An excellent movie for the whole family. It has a good story line about 3 brothers growing up and learning about life; family values, traditions and above all, the true meaning of love; no matter if your human or little animals. It's very heart warming yet a touching movie. The animals will all make you laugh. The animation is supurb. The music is beautiful and has a great sence of humor, magic and charm to it. I bought this movie for my 3 year old grand daughter. It's a movie you can see over and over again. It will touch your heart!

Brother Bear is an excellent movie for the whole family to watch together. The lesson about respecting others and caring for one another is a wonderful lesson to teach children. Also, the characters are easy to empathize with. It teaches children and their families about what hatred of others can do to a person or a whole group of people, but in the end the lesson of love wins out. Teaching children to love people and not to hate is easier by using this movie. Over all I give this movie two thumbs up. The animation and music are wonderful, and my children love to watch this movie several times over!!!!

Brother Bear is an excellent film. It's animation is flawless and the music is catchy. It teaches the lesson of learning to keep one's perspective open to views and individuals who are different than you and that you will not be able to understand what an individual is experiencing until you walk a mile in their shoes. Koda teaches his new "brother" Kenia what it is like to be a bear and that they have emotions as well; that just because they are different doesn't make them less real. In other words, don't fear the unknown to the point of it turning you to anger and hatred. Learn first before judging.