Purely Joyful Movie!

Absolutely the worst movie.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

It's extremely difficult for a well renowned animation studio to consistently pump out masterpieces, and instead opt to release lesser stories for artistic value. This film is exactly that. It gave Disney the opportunity to experiment with technical elements and still convey a meaningful message. Kenai's brother is killed by a bear, overcome with vengeance he seeks to kill the beast but in doing so transforms into his spirit animal in an attempt to be taught a valuable lesson. What lesson is that you might ask? Brotherhood. The title gives it away, let's be honest. It's a fairly formulaic narrative evoking themes of maturity and the importance of caring for nature but a consistently heartwarming story that boasts excellent character development. It's not an exciting spectacle, the fact that it knows it's a lesser production enables the animation studio to play around with the plot's structure. Nearly two thirds of the film is just Kenai and Koda communicating as they bond through Kenai's new beastly perspective, that in itself creates memorable characters. Forming a brotherly bond between the two was enough to carry the moral of the story, and it does so with elegance. The animation was exquisite and I loved the experimentation of the widescreen shift. When Kenai is human, the aspect ratio begins at 1.75:1 but as soon as he transforms it increases to 2.35:1 and the colour palette becomes brighter watercolours. This shift illuminates the screen and portrays Earth's natural beauty when viewed innocently. Technically this animation is glorious, it's just a shame the story is told very heavy handedly. Its basic and feels unmemorable despite some interesting and humorous characters embedded within. I also desired more intrigue from the Inuit culture, I found the spirit animal tradition to be interesting but it left me wanting more. Lastly, the musical numbers honestly didn't fit...even if it was Phil Collins singing in the background. Overall though, Brother Bear was a tender yet basic animation.

Brother Bear (2003): Dir: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker / Voices: Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, D.B. Sweeney: Entertaining animation about man's relationship with nature. Three brothers catch fish for their tribe. It is custom that when they get older they receive necklaces carved in the likeness of animals to symbolize a particular strength. Older brother is eagle of guidance. Middle brother is wolf of wisdom. The youngest is bear of love. This comes as a disappointment due to ridicule. An encounter with a bear renders the death of an older brother who gives his life by causing a glacier to collapse. The bear survives and the younger brother seeks revenge. Upon slaying the bear the great spirits transforms him into a bear and is companioned with a bear cub. Directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker are aided by glorious images but the screenplay is far from glorious. Joaquin Phoenix voices the transformed victim but such an act comes off as contrived with a predicted resolution. Jeremy Suarez voices the cub whose mother is killed and he forms a friendship with her killer. D.B. Sweeney voices the resourceful older brother. Strange Brew duo Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas voice two moose in the comic likenesses of themselves. Themes of independence and friendship marred by new age elements and a debatable ending. Score: 7 / 10

I don't know why this movie got bad reviews. I think it is an adorable children's movie with funny moments and real-life moral dilemmas and situations. It is relatable, whilst at the same time, goes off in a way that is more make-believe.This movie is about Kenai, a man who resents all bears, after his brothers get into a fight with one, and is sadly killed. I don't like Kenai's attitude towards bears at the beginning of the movie. After all, the bear was just protecting itself, just like any human would. Kenai is then turned into a bear to see what it's like to be in a bears "shoes". He sees life from a new and different perspective and realizes that not it really wasn't the bears fault. On his journey, he meets an adorable bear cub, Koda, who is trying to find his way home. Meanwhile, Kenai's other brother worries that he has been killed by the bears, until he comes face-to-face with bear Kenai. Overall, I give this movie an 8 out of 10.

I think this a very heart warming story for all ages!! It also shares a lesson that bears and people can get along and we can live for peacefully then what many people think! I am giving this a 7 because despite it's wonderful plot and story line there are some major moments in this movie where I cried like a baby!! For those of you have seen Bambi or other Disney movies you will know that almost every one of there movies actually does have 2 or more parts that really do make you cry like a baby!!! When I first watched this in the theatres I was like okay so I am going to see a Disney movie with my son so I am sure we will both enjoy a quiet night out and seeing a new Disney movie. When I left the theatre I was kike wow I almost want to go out and buy this movie again because it was just that good of movie!!! In fact I did go out and buy It right after we left the theatre and my son watched it again when we got back and I asked him why are you watching brother bear again and he said, I love it that much!! So in total I really think this is the best movie Disney as ever made!!