CS Daily Archive > DVD of the Day > 03/30/04

Beautiful Brother Bear

BY Matthew Reynolds

The details make this story of vengeance, brotherhood, and bonding rise above expectations, and the extras shine a light on how Disney animators approach an original story.

Screenplay by Tab Murphy and Lorne Cameron & David Hoselton and Steve Bencich & Ron J. Friedman

When selfish young Eskimo hunter Kenai dies while killing the bear that killed his brother, he's transformed into a bear himself -- much to his chagrin. Setting out to find the place where the lights of the sky touch the earth, Kenai picks up bear cub Koda and a pair of comic relief moose along the way. He learns lessons about cooperation and companionship -- and that the "monsters" we fear may not be so monstrous after all.

At the risk of oversimplifying, the difference between good movies and bad movies is in the details, and this film gets most of them right. This could have been a pandering nature story with simple easy lessons, but like Bambi there is a grown-up dark undercurrent to things -- animals and people can and do die. This darkness brings some good tension to the lighter middle section, with its plethora of talking animals and musical numbers, to good dramatic effect.

It also has a restrained sensitivity and a sophisticated sensibility, generating a goodwill that makes you want it to succeed. Kenai's transformation into a bear is majestic, blessedly absent are the spiritual nonsense and formulaic Hollywood storytelling you'd expect. Instead, it is a gorgeous moment, unencumbered by many words or reactions. It truly seems a force of nature. And just when you think things might be getting too serious, there is wonderful relief when bear Kenai realizes that he can hear other animals talk too. It's moments like this that let this film rise above expectations and become something better.

- Humorous "commentary track" by Rutt and Tuke
- "Paths of Discovery: The Making of Brother Bear"
- Deleted scenes
- Animated "outtakes"
- Two games
- A new song by Phil Collins, "Fishing Song," and a "Look Through My Eyes," music video

Directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker explain the background for the film in the making-of documentary. Shortly after The Lion King (one of the few Disney animated films with an entirely original story), Disney CEO Michael Eisner urged his staff to think about an animal movie in a North American setting. The concept of humans transforming into animals in a ritualistic fashion originated from Native American myths and legends. Working with an original story was daunting, and it was a challenge to maintain focus (both dramatically and thematically) with so few boundaries.

The deleted scenes also feature intros by Blaise and Walker, as they explain why certain scenes were dropped or combined with others; it's interesting, if somewhat basic, to hear their reasoning.

A reverence nature and myth, and an unexpected sophistication transform Brother Bear into a better film than expected, while the extras provide insight into the creation of an original animated story based on actual Native American legends.

Brother Bear
Walt Disney Home Video
Rated G; 85 min.
Street date: March 30, 2004
$29.99

Buy it now for only $20.99 (save 30%)

Rent it now

Matthew Reynolds is a former journalist now working in feature film development. He is not responsible for items lost or stolen during the reading of this review.

From the Trenches (Monday)
Working screenwriters discuss in their own words a particular aspect of screenwriting, from the mechanics of writing to the personal and professional impact that writing has had on their lives. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Art of Craft (Tuesday)
Screenwriting experts discuss how to approach various aspects of writing and the writing life. A mini-seminar each week from the people who write the books and teach the classes. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Expert Witness (Wednesday)
A panel of experts assembled to provide the facts about the screenwriting business. Readers will be able have their questions answered by an agent, producer, entertainment attorney, and WGA representative—and without paying that 10% commission. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Son of a Pitch (Thursday)
A weekly tutorial on how to write a script. Each week deals with a different element of creating a script, with the ultimate goal to provide a step-by-step instruction manual for new writers. The guide for this is a writer just diving into screenwriting himself, who asks the pros questions any new screenwriter would have about this brave new world. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Weekend Read (Friday)
Film, book, web site and technology reviews from a writer’s perspective. How can these items help a writer on his or her journey, or make that journey more enjoyable? > VIEW ARCHIVE

DVD Review of the Day (Every Weekday)
DVD reviews from a writer’s point of view. What aspects of this script and features of this DVD illuminate the writing, development, and storytelling process? > VIEW ARCHIVE