IMDb > Brother Bear (2003)
Brother Bear
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Brother Bear (2003) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 36 | slideshow) Videos (see all 21)
Brother Bear (2003) -- A young Inuit hunter seeks vengence against a bear, only to be magically changed into a bear himself, and his only chance to change back is with a talkative bear cub.
Brother Bear (2003) -- US Home Video Extra (Clip) from Walt Disney Pictures
Brother Bear (2003) -- US Home Video Trailer from Walt Disney Pictures
Brother Bear (2003) -- A young Inuit hunter seeks vengence against a bear, only to be magically changed into a bear himself, and his only chance to change back is with a talkative bear cub.
Brother Bear (2003) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   12,273 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Tab Murphy (screenplay) and
Lorne Cameron (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Brother Bear on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 November 2003 (USA) more
Tagline:
The story of a boy who became a man by becoming a bear. more
Plot:
A young Inuit hunter seeks vengence against a bear, only to be magically changed into a bear himself, and his only chance to change back is with a talkative bear cub. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 17 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(34 articles)
The Berenstain Bears Go to Hollywood!
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 4 November 2009, 9:15 PM, PST)

This is Happening: A Berenstain Bears Movie
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 3 November 2009, 11:35 AM, PST)

User Comments:
An improbable gem more (137 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Joaquin Phoenix ... Kenai (voice)
Jeremy Suarez ... Koda (voice)
Jason Raize ... Denahi (voice)
Rick Moranis ... Rutt (voice)

Dave Thomas ... Tuke (voice)

D.B. Sweeney ... Sitka (voice)
Joan Copeland ... Tanana (voice)

Michael Clarke Duncan ... Tug (voice)

Harold Gould ... Old Denahi (voice)
Paul Christie ... Ram #1 (voice)
Danny Mastrogiorgio ... Ram #2 (voice) (as Daniel Mastrogiorgio)
Estelle Harris ... Old Lady Bear (voice)

Greg Proops ... Male Lover Bear (voice)

Pauley Perrette ... Female Lover Bear (voice)
Darko Cesar ... Foreign Croatian Bear (voice)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Bears (USA) (working title)
Tierra de osos (USA: Spanish title)
more
Runtime:
85 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Originally, Kenai was supposed to have an older bear named Grizz guide him through the woods and become like a brother to him. He didn't work out, and was replaced by Koda. more
Goofs:
Continuity: While Kenai is falling of the ledge before he goes into the ice cave, his rope completely disappears. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Denahi as an Old Man: This is a story from long ago, when the great mammoths still roamed our lands. It's the story of my two brothers and me. When the three of us were young, we were taught that the world is full of magic. The source of this magic is the ever-changing lights that dance across the sky...
more
Movie Connections:
References L'ours (1988) more
Soundtrack:
Look Through My Eyes more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
22 out of 24 people found the following comment useful.
An improbable gem, 29 May 2004
9/10
Author: Brett Chandler (Thunderbuck) from Whitehorse, Yukon

I didn't go out of my way to see this film, as it had already been pretty much disregarded by both the critics and the public. Shame on me. BROTHER BEAR has many strengths to recommend it, and I hope it eventually finds an audience on video.

I'll admit a bias: I live in the Yukon Territory, and the story obviously takes place in next-door Alaska (with characters named "Sitka", "Kenai", and "Tanana", it's pretty obvious). Like many other Disney movies, it takes its inspiration from a traditional legend. Unlike many other Disney movies, this movie manages to remain respectful to the original legend.

The messages are wonderful. That love is an important thing for a real man to learn. That "the spirits" need to be respected. That vengeance can have a terrible price. This movie manages to do it (mostly) without resorting to daffy sidekicks and sappy tugs at the heartstrings. Yes, there's Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas revisiting their "Bob and Doug Mackenzie" roles as the two moose, but I didn't find them jarring at all. The story works.

So does the animation. This is a visually beautiful film. Yes, it's apparent to my (computer pro) eye that Disney's animation unit is making more use of computer techniques. Mostly, though, you see them used to wonderful effect, like making a realistic snowfall, or moving the point of view through a shot. The animation style is also very appropriate for the story. And as a northerner, I loved the many aurora shots; they looked spot-on.

Not everything in BROTHER BEAR worked for me, unfortunately. Phil Collins' music for TARZAN was quite good, but it mostly falls flat here (except maybe for "On My Way"). A couple of numbers come close to the embarassingly bad category.

Still, this is nowhere near enough for me to disregard this movie. I put it above THE LION KING (way above), probably a little ahead of TARZAN, and almost on the same upper-echelon with THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Brother Bear (2003)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Brother Bear VS. Finding Nemo Rapsucks499
No death scenes in kid's movies please birdseed-11
What area did this movie take place? badeofpoet
Probably the last good Disney film DisturbiaWolf
Why did this movie fail? witchangel
Rutt n Tuke VS Timon and Pumbaa atchoo_i_sneezed
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