X
- 2003
- G
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 25 m
- 2003
- G
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 25 m
Summary The powerful and playful bond between brothers, and man's bond with nature, are explored with great drama and comedy in this exciting new animated tale of brotherhood, bears and breathtaking outdoor adventure. [Walt Disney Pictures]
- 2003
- G
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 25 m
- 2003
- G
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 25 m
Brother Bear
48
6.7
Where to Watch
Summary The powerful and playful bond between brothers, and man's bond with nature, are explored with great drama and comedy in this exciting new animated tale of brotherhood, bears and breathtaking outdoor adventure. [Walt Disney Pictures]
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
48
32% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
54% Mixed
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
14% Negative
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
48
32% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
54% Mixed
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
14% Negative
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
It is bearable, in every sense of the word, and that's worth something for parents looking for G-rated entertainment.
A sweet celebration of brotherhood in its many forms. It gently encourages human communion with animals, nature and our fellow man.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 158 User Ratings
6.7
58% Positive
91 Ratings
91 Ratings
28% Mixed
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
14% Negative
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 158 User Ratings
6.7
58% Positive
91 Ratings
91 Ratings
28% Mixed
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
14% Negative
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
A wonderful movie for children and adults alike. I'm very impressed with the subject matter brought up here. Is 10/10 too high? Maybe, but I am trying to counteract the ridiculous "0/10 THIS IS RACIST" reviews.
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At times is heartbreakingly sad -- maybe not quite Bambi territory, but certainly moving in its own cute and furry way.
There's something vanilla about the whole enterprise, from the one-size-fits-all spiritualism to Phil Collins' generic world-music songs.
This opulent movie, with gorgeous rainbow animation, is heavy on message but light on humor.
Tykes may giggle at the Rick Moranis/Dave Thomas–voiced moose, but there's little for adults.
Today's street-smart moviegoing kids don't need to be so shamelessly pandered to.
Don't pay attention to the Metascore, this movie is much better than it may seem at first glance. The OST is over the top, and the way the story develops is clever, entertaining and memorable. Not only my favourite Disney classic, but also my favourite movie of all time. MUST SEE!
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In a post-ice age Alaska, the local tribesmen believe all creatures are created through the Great Spirits, who are said to appear in the form of an aurora. A trio of brothers, Kenai, the youngest; Denahi, the middle; and Sitka, the eldest, return to their tribe in order to receive their totems, necklaces in the shapes of different animals. The particular animals they represent symbolize what they must achieve to call themselves men. Unlike Sitka, who gained the eagle of guidance, and Denahi, who gained the wolf of wisdom, Kenai receives the bear of love. He objects to his totem, stating that bears are thieves, and believes his point is made a fact when a Kodiak bear steals their basket of salmon. Kenai and his brothers pursue the bear, but a fight ends on top ****, during which Sitka gives his life to save his brothers by dislodging the glacier, although the bear survives the fall. After Sitka's funeral, an enraged Kenai blames the bear for Sitka's death. He hunts down and chases the bear up onto a rocky cliff, fighting and eventually slaying it. The Spirits, represented by Sitka's spirit in the form of a bald eagle, show up and transform Kenai into a bear after the dead bear's body evaporates and joins them. Denahi arrives and, believing that Kenai was killed by the bear from earlier, vows to avenge Kenai by hunting it down.
Kenai falls down some rapids, survives, and is healed by Tanana, the shaman of his tribe. She does not speak the bear language, but advises him to return to the mountain to find Sitka and be turned back to a human, but only when he atones for his actions; she vanishes without an explanation. Kenai quickly discovers that the wildlife can now speak to him, meeting a pair of moose brothers named Rutt and Tuke. He gets caught in a trap, but is freed by an outgoing bear cub named Koda. They make a deal: Kenai will escort Koda to an annual salmon run and then the cub will lead Kenai to the mountain. As the two eventually form a brother-like relationship, Koda reveals that his mother is missing. The two are hunted by Denahi, who is still determined to avenge Kenai, unaware that the bear he is pursuing is actually Kenai himself. Eventually, Kenai and Koda reach the salmon run, where a large number of bears live as a family, including the leader Tug. Kenai accepts his new surroundings and is comfortable living with the other bears. During a discussion among the bears, Koda tells a story about his mother recently fighting human hunters on a glacier, reminding Kenai of his and his brothers' fight with the bear that lead to Sitka's death and making him realize that the entire time, the bear he killed was Koda's mother herself.
Horrified and traumatized at what he has done, Kenai runs away in a fit of guilt, but Koda soon follows him. Crestfallen, Kenai confesses the truth to Koda, who runs away, grief-stricken. An apologetic Kenai leaves to reach the mountain. Meanwhile, Rutt and Tuke, having had a falling-out, reform their brotherhood in front of Koda, encouraging him to forgive Kenai. On the mountain, Kenai is cornered by Denahi, but their battle is interrupted by Koda, who steals Denahi's spear. Kenai sacrifices himself for Koda, out of love, prompting Sitka to appear and turn him back into a human, much to Denahi and Koda's surprise. However, upon realizing that Koda needs him because of his own mistake, Kenai asks Sitka to transform him back into a bear with Denahi's support. Sitka complies, and Kenai is transformed back into a bear. Koda is reunited briefly with the spirit of his mother, before she and Sitka return to the Spirits. In the end, Kenai lives with the rest of the bears and gains his title as a man, through being a bear.
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May hardcore sensitive or young viewers, but Brother Bear cannot avoid its flawed result and crappy animation. Disney's animated classics have been better than this one.
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This movie is hot garbage. After a strong opening, it devolves into a trashy baby movie with terrible jokes and annoying characters and never recovers. People like to rag on Hunchback of Notre Dame for having tonal issues, but this one's honestly even worse. All the terrible humor after the main character becomes a bear makes the second and third acts frustrating and unbearable (no pun intended) tonal nightmares. Why does this have a 7 when it's just not good?
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This is one of the examples of a "forgettable, mediocre Disney flick". Yes, I know it's for kids and the story needs to be kept simple, but that doesn't mean that you have to do a pretty by-the-numbers, formulaic, cookie-cutter story. The characters are underdeveloped and not fleshed out at all. The comedy was pretty bad and all because of the stupid moose characters. They are so unnecessary and added just for "comedic" relief. I didn't laugh once the entire movie. Did I cry at least? No, because the emotional moments felt pretty cheesy and didn't feel natural at all. Was I amazed by the music? Not at all. The score itself it's fine, I guess. It's pretty forgettable and just "serviceable". The songs are also pretty forgettable and just obnoxious. There was a moment in the movie were the characters were talking about something important that had the potential to be a powerful and devastating scene but then SAD PHIL COLINS SONG started playing. I was just like "Turn it off I want to hear the damn conversation!!". It is so obvious that they included Phil Colins songs to earn another Oscar nomination for Best Original Song (Well that didn't happen, so it was pointless. It's no coincidence that Phil Colins, as of 2020, hasn't composed songs for a Disney movie again). So this movie didn't make me feel anything. I'm not talking too much about the animation because at least the movie looks good and many backgrounds look great and highly detailed, but that doesn't make it a great movie or anything. Like I said, the story was fine, I guess, but the ending was so lame. I just didn't see why a certain character changed his motivation so easily. It felt so unrealistic and forced.
Overall, this wasn't a terrible movie, but it's certainly one of Disney's weakest films. Don't be like "Oh it's fine because it's for kids" because there are better kids movies. Also I don't think children would enjoy this too much(? I personally didn't enjoy it as a kid but now that I see animation with different eyes I decided to give it a chance and I just watched it and I barely remember things about this movie. It's so forgettable and dull. It doesn't have relatable or charismatic characters, the comedy it's pretty lame, the emotional moments are lame, I don't know, I just don't see how can this movie be enjoyable for kids. I think they'll get bored too. Also I've seen that the people that, strangely, like this movie laud the "message" but I just don't see what this movie tried to say. Brotherhood? Maturity? How? None of those themes are communicated in a logical way or according to the character actions and the overall story. I don't know, this movie left me nothing.
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Production Company
Walt Disney Pictures,
Walt Disney Animation Studios,
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida
Release Date Oct 24, 2003
Duration 1 h 25 m
Rating G
Tagline The story of a boy who became a man by becoming a bear.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Annie Awards
• 8 Nominations
Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
• 2 Nominations