Brother Bear

Rating:
Summary: Fun Family Movie
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: An incredibly pleasant surprise
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't work on our Sony DVD player
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: don't bother
Review: this movie is absolutely horrible. The plot is tired and the characters weak. Avoid this one.

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Rating:
Summary: I LOVE BROTHER BEAR!
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Disney's Best Movie in Years
Review: 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!!

Rating:
Summary: Mom of two
Review: My husband and I took our 6 year old and our 2 1/2 year old to this movie. We really enjoyed it! Each of my children enjoyed "Brother Bear" at their own level of understanding. My husband and I even got a bit emotional during certain parts of the movie. I purchased the CD for my children soon after and they have been listening to it frequently. We even made a copy for my son's teacher, so that his class can listen to the soundtrack. We hope that Disney will do more movies like "Brother Bear."

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful movie!
Review: This is a beautiful movie, through and through, both for the superbly vivid animation and Brother Bear's core messages of love, inner strength, respect for all, and connecting to the spiritual side of life. The characters are easy to relate to, even in their moments of stubborness or mischief. The moose are, of course, absolutely hilarious! A great family movie for parents and kids or grandparents and grandchildren to watch together. Stunning alpine scenery, inspiring story, and some pretty funny lines blend together for a delightful family viewing experience.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful movie!
Review: Well done, all the way through. A captivating story that engages viewers of all ages right from the start. The animation is absolutely superb -- vivid, colorful, magical, alive! The visual images alone make this movie worth watching, but I was happy to see that Brother Bear also delivers powerful messages of love, courage, integrity, responsibility, and community. And plenty of comic relief throughout. A great, wholesome family movie, bound to be a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Great film
Review: This is definitely the best Disney animated movie since "The Lion King": it has a good story, it has a great soundtrack (especially the songs, by Phil Collins) and has some moving moments that will reach even adults. I consider this the best animated film of 2003 and think it deserved the Best Animated Feature Film of the Year academy award. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it to everyone.