Disney's Brother Bear [DVD]

Always a favorite arrived earlier than expected

Good Old Disney

Good

Better for older children a bit frightening

I took my then 21 month old daughter to see this film. She didn't last twenty minutes in Nemo (and has, at 25 months, yet to sit through the whole DVD) but she LOVED Brother Bear. I think it was the 'realness' of the animals (which, like in Lion King, move like the real species) combined with action right from the beginning. There's also a wonderful sense of place and being outdoors - you can almost smell the pine trees. She loved the story of a boy who turns into a bear and back and back again. Every time we passed the cinema, she dragged me back to the poster and when my U.S.-based mother brought her a Brother Bear book, she adored it. Daddy and I liked the film, too. I've never been a Phil Collins fan, but 'On My Way' was a good tune and the story was very strong and very well animated. I especially like how the film introduces very young children to another culture and way of looking at the world (without the preachiness of Pocohontas). I'm looking forward to seeing it two or three hundred times in the next months!

Good

Some films are so popular and they are shown everywhere, and when they come on the TV I see them by accident and find them formulaic, with stock characters, poor animation and sketchy backgrounds, made quickly and cheaply but was it worth the effort, really?. Yet there are other films that are beautiful, with lovely unusual stories, and you have never heard of them.Brother Bear is one of the latter, brilliant but I have never seen it advertised. The visual art is in the style of the Canadian 'Group of seven', the story is entertaining, and there are strong female characters. I can't recommend it more highly, it's for all the family. BTW 'Balto' is another film that is underrated.

Wow.. looks great on my ps3. Recently bought about 12 disney movies for my little girl and i think this definately looked the best. Anamation crisp, bright and colourful. Story didnt grab me at the begining but unfolded slowly into a very good movie with laughs coming mainly from the two dopey moose.(Rick Morranis). And then a few tears as some parts are quite sad. Another excellent Disney film. Also i watched TARZAN. Didnt like it when it first came out. Now i think its fantastic...! Still dont like pochahontas though.