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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.Read full review
Didn’t realize it’s in French!! The Disc menu is in English but when I go to settings and select English it reverts back to French! Either I didn’t read the description carefully or it wasn’t disclosed! Grandson will have to learn French I guess! Plus there was only one disc not two as stated! 😳
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
It is beautiful, funny and sweet. It's humor is appropriate for every age.I love the music and the Northern Lights. So Fun!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great movie. Dvd case has a few dents , but overall the dvd was in great shape.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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!!Read full review
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