Brother Bear [Special Edition] [2 Discs]

Overview

The Oscar-nominated animated feature Brother Bear comes to DVD with this feature-packed two-disc set from Disney. The film is presented in a pair of transfers. The widescreen 2.35:1 transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of the film, while a second image is presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The supplemental materials strike a nice balance between providing fun stuff for kids and more substantive filmmaking information for movie lovers. A fairly involved making-of documentary, deleted scenes, interactive games, and a music video for the Phil Collins song "Look Through My Eyes," are all fine, but the best part of the disc is the commentary delivered by Rutt and Tuke, the moose in the film voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. They are very entertaining and will bring a smile to the viewer's face regardless of age. This is a solid release from Disney DVD.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/30/2004
UPC:	0786936224023
Original Release:	2003
Rating:	G
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, THX-Supervised Mastering, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	1:25:00

Special Features

Closed Caption; Three viewing options: Family-friendly aspect ratio (1.66:1) enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions; original theatrical aspect ratio (2.35:1) enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions; "Rutt & Tuke's Commentary" -- watch along with the hilarious moose from the film; Fully animated outtakes (exclusive to the DVD); Deleted scenes, including a new character; Two games featuring your favorite animals from the film; All-new song by Phil Collins, "Fishing Song"; "Paths of Discovery: The Making of Brother Bear"; "Look Through My Eyes" music video featuring Phil Collins

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Joaquin Phoenix	Kenai
Greg Proops	Male Lover Bear
Pauley Perrette	Female Lover Bear
Bumper Robinson	Chipmunks
Oscar Kawagley	Inuit Narrator
Sherry Lynn	Additional Voice
Mickie McGowan	Additional Voice
Debi Derryberry	Additional Voices
Patrick Pinney	Additional Voices
Paul Christie	Ram #1
Daniel Mastrogiorgio	Ram #2
David Thomas	Voices
Mark Mancina	Composer
Phil Collins	Composer

Technical Credits

David Hoselton

Ron J. Friedman

Lorne Cameron

Steven Bencich

Tab Murphy

Robert Walker	Director,Director
Aaron Blaise	Director
David Hoselton	Screenwriter
Ron J. Friedman	Screenwriter
Lorne Cameron	Screenwriter
Steven Bencich	Screenwriter
Tab Murphy	Screenwriter
Bob Walker	Director

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Brother Bear
1. Prologue: Denahi Remembers [:02]
2. "Great Spirits" [2:00]
3. Kenai's Ceremony [2:00]
4. Glacier Fight [3:12]
5. Goodbye Sitka [:12]
6. Argument [:12]
7. "Transformation" [:27]
8. Bear's Eye View [:36]
9. Rutt & Tuke [:36]
10. Meet Koda [:34]
11. Ice Cave [1:42]
12. Denahi Finds the Ice Cave [:14]
13. "On My Way" [:14]
14. Nightmare on the Mammoths [:44]
15. I Spy [:25]
16. Abandoned Village [:25]
17. Butting Heads [:29]
18. Valley of Fire [:18]
19. Arrival at the Run [:18]
20. "Welcome" (aka Fishing Song) [:25]
21. Bear Party [2:39]
22. No Way Out/Kenai's Confession [:14]
23. Denahi Sees a Sign [:14]
24. Moose's Advice [:16]
25. Mountain-Top Fight [:47]
26. Epilogue: "Great Spirits Reprise" [:23]
27. Vignettes/End Credits [:23]
28. "Look Through My Eyes" [2:10]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Brother Bear
   Play
   Bonus Features
      Koda's Outtakes
      Rutt & Tuke's Commentary
      "Look Through My Eyes" Music Video
      Brother Bear Games
      "On My Way" Sing Along Song
      Bear Legends - Native American Tales
      Making Noise: The Art of Foley
      Art Review
      Register Your DVD
   Scene Selection
   Sneak Peeks
   Set Up
      Spoken Languages
         English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
         French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
         Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
      Captions
         English For the Hearing Impaired
         None

Editorial Reviews

Nominated for an Academy Award, this mystical coming-of-age fable offers a compelling story, some awe-inspiring animation, a menagerie of cute and comical critters, and power anthems by Phil Collins. Brother Bear also marks, if not the end of an era, at least an interruption, as Disney famously closed its Florida animation studio after completing the production. The film's lead character is Kenai, an Ice Age youth eagerly awaiting his manhood ceremony, where he will be given the totem that is said to guide its owner through life. Kenai is disappointed that his totem is "love," even though it's regarded as the most precious of all. But what's love got to do with it when a bear kills his brother? The vengeful Kenai hunts the beast down and kills it, only to be transformed into a bear himself. Here, in the theatrical version of the film included in this two-disc set, the movie goes through its own transformation; a Wizard of Oz-like demarcation at the 24-minute mark when the aspect ratio widens to reflect Kenai's new, ursine perspective. En route to a mountaintop where his late brother's spirit may return him to human form, Kenai is joined by Koda, a frolicsome young bear who shows Kenai the ropes. Though Kenai insists that Koda "keep all the cuddly bear stuff to a minimum," it is not long before the feisty and adorable cub inspires a change of heart in Kenai. SCTV fans will delight in two tag-along moose characters, Rutt and Tuke, voiced by the McKenzie brothers themselves, Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. Beauty, eh? The funniest moose since Bullwinkle, they also provide the commentary, which alone is worth the price of purchase. If it is true that Disney has decided to forsake for the foreseeable future traditional cel-animated features, then Brother Bear is a triumphant swan song -- or bear song, if you prefer.

Barnes & Noble - Donald Liebenson

Brother Bear is a piece of familiar Disney material. The tale of learning to walk a mile in someone else's fur involves the young hot-headed Kenoia (voice of Joaquin Phoenix) being transformed into a bear by his older brother in order to learn compassion. The sentiments expressed in the film are run-of the-mill love-thy-neighbor bromides that are great for youngsters but, considering the two-dimensional character development, will seem familiar and dull to parents. Brother Bear does have some good animation. The film was hand-drawn, a technique which, at the time, was being touted as soon-to-be-dead. The film is pleasant to look at, unlike the computer effects-heavy Treasure Planet. Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis provide a few welcome moments of humor as a pair of Canadian moose who sound more than a little like their Strange Brew characters Bob and Doug McKenzie. While the film offers no surprises, it certainly lives up to the studio's brand name.

All Movie Guide - Perry Seibert