The Bear

Rating:
Summary: An Endearing Gem
Review: "The Bear" is one of those rare movies that it's hard to imagine anyone disliking. Kids and adults alike will find this film genuinely heartwarming. The dialogue is minimal; the little bear and his surrogate father do most of the "acting" -- and do it very well.

One disturbing point about a movie that has been made with such care: the most memorable segment of the musical score, played several times during the movie and throughout the closing credits, is in fact by Tchaikovsky. It's his Barcarolle in G minor, Op. 37, No. 6 ("June" from "The Seasons" suite). Nowhere in the film is Tchaikovsky credited as the composer. Although this musical theft is not illegal -- the piece is in the public domain -- taking credit for someone else's work sits uncomfortably with the movie's message of fair treatment and ethical behavior.

Rating:
Summary: There needs to be more movies like this
Review: "The Bear" is the only movie I've ever seen of its kind. It's the story of a little orphaned bear and a wounded Kodiak bear who become friends and try to elude a couple of bear hunters. Along the way, the bears' friendship will grow stronger and they will face dangers other than from the hunters, such as a mountain lion, dogs, and swift waters.

"The Bear" is a great movie to watch, especially one to watch with the family. The bears are real bears, so they don't talk where you can understand them, but you can understand them perfectly by their actions and gestures. It's an exciting adventure with the bears. The movie has great photography with all the closeups and the footage of the animals. It also has great scenery because the movie was filmed in the Alps.

If you like animals, I recommend getting "The Bear." It'll be a movie that you will never forget and that you will want to watch again and again for many years to come. There needs to be more movies like "The Bear."

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking and Moving! A Must See!
Review: 'The Bear' is a fantastic nature film and then some that is not to be missed, with absolutely breathtaking nature and mountain vistas! In short, it is a story about hunter and hunted. The main actors are in fact, real life bears, who were trained to be in front of movie cameras but in a real life mountain setting. They are very very convincing to say the least, and they will touch your heart. The 'cuteness factor' is off the scale here. In addition, there are 2 other main human actors, the hunters, in this case. 'The Bear' is chock full of many profound messages and lessons, the main one being that all life is precious and sacred, and that animals have a right to their natural habitat and to be free from suffering undue cruelty, as do we. This is a lesson that knows no political or ideological bounds, that all humans can and should relate to. If this movie does not touch you in any way, you are an automaton. I am a grown man of 43, and I got very misty during some powerful scenes. Don't miss this excellent work of art!

Rating:
Summary: Emotionally very strong
Review: A film in which human and animal natures confront each other. Man is portrayed as a barbaric creature pitted against the humanized bear. The loyalty and friedship which exist between the bears contrasts with the meaness of the hunters. Much of the film uses subjective camera technique, quite originally, to show the events from the bear's perspective. The ending suggests man's weakness in the bear's natural habitat. A film which stirs up strong emotions for sensitive and compassionate people.

Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary film
Review: Almost all fictional films about animals have either cuteness or unreality or both. Documentaries are often engrossing, but always in the third person--we watch as the outside, disinterested observer.

This amazing film provides an almost unbelievable window into the lives of the two bears, from their perspective, with but or two false steps. There are many small, non-dramatic moments that cumulatively fill the canvas. The attention to detail is extraordinary.

With hardly any dialogue, only the spare speech of the hunters, the film yet moves forward, sometimes dramatically, more often over over a small moment. In many instances we do not see the entire animal or person, but only enough so that the essence of whatever is occurring is so clear and immediate. The film makers' framing, shot selection, and editing is so completely convincing.

With awe inspiring scenery that takes away the breath (and pangs over missing the deeply felt emotion that backcountry beauty has provided me) and a view of animals being animals in nature.

Yes, there is some sentimentality. But it is little compared to most other fictional films, and I no longer think of animals in the wilderness as I did before.

The Bear belongs up there. No, not in the pantheon, but significantly higher in the firmament than most. Perhaps an extraordinary claim, but this is an extraordinary film.

Rating:
Summary: RUN LITTLE GUY, RUN!
Review: An uplifting, intelligent movie that does not portray hunters in the usual stereotypical way. This film teaches the lessons of compassion, partnership and honor in the actions of both the bears and the hunters.

That little cub will grab your heart and never let go. At the end I was shouting, "Run! Run!"

Rating:
Summary: How did they do it?!
Review: During whole movie I couldn't stop wonder how did they film all this amazing actions with bears. You really start to believe that bears 'act'. The scenery where the action takes place (British Columbia) is gorgeous. The main character, the bear cub, is unbelievably cute. The main message of the movie is very straighforward: let them live. I had some issues with the way the message was delivered, which annoyed me just a little. It was to simplified, too cliche. I would understand if this movie was for children but it's really not and PG-13 rating is right. Still, amazing beautiful movie.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST NATURE MOVIES OF ALL TIME
Review: Eventhough the movie starts with the usual Disneyesque beginning of killing off a parent, creating the manditory orphan, this story of coming of age and bonding is a superb film that pushes all the buttons from laughter to tears. Great experience for every age.

Rating:
Summary: The Bear
Review: Favorite movie of all time! You can actually feel the emotions of the Bears. Good movie for all family members. It will touch your heart, make you laugh and make you cry.

Rating:
Summary: deeply compelling
Review: For lack of a better explanation, if I were a female, I would have cried during this movie, especially during the first 15 minutes. I had to ask myself if this was originally a documentary that was so astounding that they just decided to call it a movie. It's not long before the viewer developes a sincere connection with the young bear. The emotion and humanistic behavior exerted by the "stars" of this film will leave you in a state of awe and childish wonderment not recreated by any other movie you've ever seen.