Brother Bear (Animated) > Reviews > gets better every time you watch it

Author's product rating:   

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

Advantages:	typical disney, great everything .
Disadvantages:	bit slow to start

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Introduction, setting the scene:

i Just noticed this is in the video's section, sorry people, this is actually a DVD review!!! We brought this film for my toddler just as another different film to add to his collection, but it is now up there as one of his favourites along side 'Shrek 1 +2, monsters Inc and Nemo'. The packaging is exciting and lovely to look at with all the cut bear characters and the breath-taking scenery shots of show. The box makes you want t buy it without knowing anything about it, n fact that's exactly what I did. The disc itself has the same lovely picture scene as the back cover.

Cast and music:

Joaquin Phoenix -Kenai
Jeremy Suarez - Koda
D.B. Sweeney - Sitka
Jason Raize - Denahi
Rick Moranis - Rutt
Dave Thomas - Tuke

Directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker
Music by Phil Collins and Mark Mancina.

Watching it for the first time, with one eye on Kodi's little brother, it wasn't that good. Then I got a chance to actually sit and watch it properly with him, and it is actually great! It gets better and better every time now! Some films are great straight away but no ones to re-watch very often. This film is the complete opposite; every time you watch it you pick up something else cute or funny and await the pleasure next time round.

Set in the ice age, where mammoths still roamed the earth, we are following the story of three brothers living in a tribe with a very close knit community. When a male in the community comes of age, he gets given a 'totem' of an animal with a quality which he has to follow. The story follows the youngest brother who gets given the totem 'bear of love'. It has a fairly slow start, but again if you re-watch it; it makes a lot more sense second time round when you know what's coming on later. First time around you kind of wonder what it's all about and when the real story will start.

The story:

The oldest brother Sitka gets tragically killed by a bear. Feeling guilty that he was partly responsible the youngest Kenai kills the bear, but this was wrong as the bear, unknown by the brothers was only trying to protect her cub. The spirit of Sitka magically turns Kenai into a bear so he might learn his mistake, take responsibility for his actions and follow his totem. He is told by the wise woman of his village to find where the lights touch the earth to speak to his brother's spirit. This is where the true Disney charm as we know and love it begins.

Kenai, now as a bear, meets a young cub called Koda. By coincidence he is heading for the bears salmon run, which just happens t be by where the lights touch the mountains. The third brother thinks that Kenai is dead and his new bear form is actually the bear that killed him. He starts to track the pair. The two set off on their own personal quests, an unlikely pair, and along there way become the best of friends. It's a race against time to get to his brothers spirit so he can be turned back into a human before Denahi catches up with him.

Along the way they meet two moose, Rutt and Tuke, brothers who are very silly and highly comedic. The story continues with these four unlikely friends outwitting the hunter and having a whole load of laughs on the way. Add a mixture of classically uplifting Disney songs along the way and this film is just outstanding!

Story spoiler, don't read if you haven't seen the film and don't want to know!

The story ends with you finding out that Koda is actually the cub of the bear Kenai killed. The cub is sad and disbelieving that Kenai had killed his mother, but proves a love like brotherhood when he comes to Kenai's rescue from the hunter. Then the oldest brother's spirit changes Kenai back into a human and the too brothers make-up. As a final twist Kenai then decides to remain as a bear and is welcomed into the village as one.

Appearance

It has amazing scenery shots! The whole film is beautiful and really grasps the beauty of completely unspoiled nature. It takes you back to a time where even humans lived WITH nature instead of just building roads and houses through it and caging up the wildlife. The animation is excellent as with all Disney films. The characters are cute and lovable. The only negative point I can come up wit is the low start which first time round seems a bit off topic from what you expect the film to be about from looking at the cover.

DVD extras:

This DVD has sooooo many extras. Great for the children:
Rutt and Tukes commentary
Look through my eyes music video
Bear legends (Native American Tales)
Making noise: the art of Foley
Art Review
Deleted Scenes
Fishing song (never before heard song)
Transformation song (with original Phil Collins lyrics)
Koda's out-takes - this is really funny, it's from Koda's point of view, a made-up series of supposed filming mistakes.
Brother bear Games: there's one that's really fun for the kids, it's a find your totem game. They have to answer questions completely suitable for little people like 'what would you do if your mum called you in for dinner' and 'what would you do if you lost your favorite toy' with multiple answers. And they get assigned an animal totem depending on there answers with characters traits. Harmless fun but a big hit with the little ones who ive seen playing it.

yes its the same review as on dooyoo, and i'm the same user (look at the names) its not stolen :) just it took me forever to write so i'm gonna get what i can for it! lol