Brother Bear (Animated) > Reviews > Heart Warming

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Funny, touching, entertaining
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have always loved animated films and having Brother Bear was no exception. It holds a slightly more special place in my heart as it was one of the first films my girlfriend and I ever saw in the Cinema together - hence when I was quick to get a copy when it came out on DVD.

As is the case with Disney animations it has a very traditional, classy animations and this is no different. The film is set in a time log past and focuses on a traditional Red Indian family, particularly 3 brothers Denahi (voice of Jason Raize), Sitka (voice of D. B. Sweeney) and the youngest Kenai (voice of Joaquin Phoenix). The film starts as Kenai is about to 'come of age' and receive his totem, a symbol that should guide him for the rest of his life.

Like all young lads he hopes for a strong, glamorous totem such as a tiger or lion, something that would symbolise true power, however he finds himself presented with the totem of love, symbolised by a bear. Upset he leaves the totem ceremony only to find that all of the fish that he and his brother had caught had been eaten by a bear (although this was due to the fact the Kenai hadn't tied basket containing the fish up properly !). In an attempt to try and prove himself he, against his 2 brothers advice goes after the bear, of course his brothers follow. Kenai does find the bear but it is larger than he expected and too big to handle. Sitka has to step into to save his little brother, but this heroic act costs him his life.

This all makes Kenai even more angry, pursuing and eventually catching and killing the bear. The spirit of his dead brother takes over and transforms Kenai into a bear to live as part of another and the only back to human form is to make peace with his brothers spirit and the place known only as 'where the light touches the earth'.

What follows is a very touching tale, with Kenai being befriended by Koda, a young cocky little bear. They first meet when Koda offers to help Kenai out of a bear trap, Koda typically doesn't want any help but soon discovers otherwise. As a reward for the help Koda insists that they go to the Salmon Run, again Koda isn't keen but his attitude changes when he realises the Salmon Run is close to 'where the light touches the earth'.

There travel there is amazing meeting several 'characters' along the way accompanied by the superb Phil Collins soundtrack, with Koda learning that things are not always what they seem.

This is a great film for those who are young or young at heart. This 28 year old enjoyed just as much 2nd time round.