Customer Reviews

The Bear

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

_The Bear_ is based on the novel _The Grizzly King_ by James Curwood (Curwood was to Canada what Zane Grey was to Utah). But never mind the middling source material; the important thing is that director Jean-Jacques Annaud has used it as the basis of a truly astonishing film. The cinematography alone justifies the project -- but it must be seen in its proper widescreen ratio. Once the film is panned and scanned, most of the stunning British Columbia landscapes are lost, leaving viewers with a slow-paced, sentimental story about a bear cub they never quite see.
But in the proper widescreen ratio, the film's apparent flaws turn to strengths. The slow pace gives us time to contemplate characters' relationships to the land (even as it allows the film to establish its own rhythm). And the wild vastness of this land undercuts any sentimentality; it is always clear that the land is harsh, and that its dangers are real and terrifying.
By the way, this is probably the only film to depict (albeit fictionally) an animal getting high on psychedelic mushrooms. I suppose this is because bears don't have the sense to just say no. Or maybe it's just because the director is French.
Three stars, but add two more if you're seeing this film in widescreen. The bigger the screen, the better.

Set in the late 1800s in British Columbia, The Bear lets us in on the misadventures of a bouncing baby bruin (played mainly by a cub called Youk) and his big buddy (Bart the Bear). Due to a freak accident, the bear is orphaned as a tiny little thing; not knowing what else to do, he stays with the body of his mother until hunger gets the better of him and he must go in search of food. Before long he meets the old and wise Kodiak male who will become his friend, teacher and protector.

Beautifully and poignantly told tale, without the need for words.

Staci Layne Wilson

The first time I saw this movie, I was a little jaded. I was a big, tough 27-year-old without children. Although I was intrigued by the beautiful scenery, I thought the sounds made by the baby bear were voiced by a human child. This was a turn-off for me because I was not yet a fan of human/animal voiceovers. I mentioned this to my husband and he told me that the sounds of the bear were actually made by the animal himself. When I heard that, I started looking at the picture with new interest.

As I mentioned before, the scenery is exquisite. It is set in British Columbia during the late 1800's. Tcheky Karyo and Jack Wallace do fine jobs as rough and ragged hunters. Tcheky Karyo, in particular, delivers a magnificent performance. Given his suitably-twangy accent, it is hard to believe that he hails from France. The men serve as the perfect foils to the noble bears who are the real stars of the movie.

The movie opens with a mother bear and her cub foraging for honey. When the mother dies, the heartbroken orphan must travel the countryside alone. He fills his days with frolicking escapades, but his nights are fraught with horrid dreams. He continues alone until he meets a large male bear who has been wounded by the hunter's gun. He follows the understandably-cranky bear in spite of his best attempts to scare the youngster. His tenacity is rewarded when the large bear stops to soothe his wounds in a muddy pond. From then on, the two travel together.

The little bear learns many things about life from the older bruin. He teaches him how to fish, how to hunt, and how to impress a prospective mate. All the while, however, the human hunters are plotting their revenge against the older bear for destroying their camp. After a harrowing scene with the hunting dogs, the little bear is captured and taken back to camp. The older bear does not forsake his little one, however. He keeps continual watch over the camp, until the two hunters divide in an attempt to trap the big bear. When the bear isolates the younger hunter, we learn a beautiful lesson about the nobility of nature. Soon the two bears are reunited and take to the caves to hibernate during the winter snows. This poignant scene is beautifully set to the lovely theme of "June" by Tchaikovsky. I could not think of a more perfect way to end a perfect film. I would recommend this gem to anyone. Don't miss it!

I have to disagree with the reviewer who said this is not a film for young children. My son - now 12 - first watched this on video with me when he was 3 years old and he loved it. It became one of his favourite films. Yes, he did cry (quietly) when he thought the cougar was going to hurt the cub, and we did discuss other sad bits of the film, but it's about real life which children can actually be very good at dealing with. (I will conceed that if I'd had 3 children and been in a cinema this may have been more difficult!)
I have 5 year old twins now and my daughter gets scared watching most children's films because of the scary 'baddies' in them, but I'm not going to start telling all parents to avoid them!
The Bear is a beautiful film - if you're not sure whether your child will like it - watch it yourself first and then decide.

This is a wonderful nature movie that should have never been modified to fit a screen. The nature and animal scenes are stunning...but when slashed to fit the screen the beauty is reduced and some of the action is out of context or obscure. If I had read the fine print more closely I would have waited for the widescreen release. I am amazed that only full screen is available. Such a shame.

Quite simply, this movie is outstanding. Set in the mountains of British Columbia (you North Amercian's are lucky, we don't have those sorts of stunning mountains in Oz), it is a story of a grizzly bears experiences, and a cub, and their interactions with a few hunters, and the wild. However, for once it is told from the bears perspective, so to speak, and consequently there is very little dialogue in the whole film. But don't be put off, pictures speak thousands of words, and in this case an enyclopaedia. Adventures with pumas, 'magic mushrooms', hunters, a honey-laden beehive, 'Mrs Grizzley bear', hunting dogs, a man-campsite; and all done intelligently and realistically-trust me. Everyone I know who has seen the film, from juppies to scientists, has enjoyed it immensely.

A work of genius.

This has to be one of the best movies made - ever. Maybe it's not on the huge theatrical level as the Ten Commandments but the scenery is stunning and the bears in the movie - well if you don't fall in love with the little cub and his plight then you have no heart. His adventures, mishaps, struggles and ultimately surviving and winning can bring you to tears, laughter, anger and then joy.

The Bear shows what man can learn from animals - compassion and respect. That confrontation between two enemies does not have to end in death. Any person of any age can enjoy this film. When I watched it, it was with my five year old niece and up to my 75 year old father and no one left the room while watching this movie.

Please watch it and for a couple of hours rejoice in nature and good. And a very happy ending.

This is a magnificent, beautiful movie. Yes, it does have parts that are scary for kids. I was glad that we were watching it at home with our 7- and 9-year-old--huge scaredy cats--so that we could talk about those scenes and reassure them. We did fast forward through the brief opener in which the mother bear is killed. But after watching the rest of it, both kids wanted to go back and see the beginning, and have talked endlessly since about how much they love this movie. The DVD has a couple of interesting special features worth watching.

The Bear is a remarkable work of cinema. I think that anyone who sees this film will be moved by its depiction of the inherent dignity of all creatures. It stands as a moving indictment against killing animals for fun, trophy, or sport. The greatest thrill is not to kill, but to let live. Please take an opportunity to experience this film for yourself and share it with your family. Its moving message will definitely stay with you.

This is the most touching story I've ever seen put to film. Whether you love bears or not, this movie will touch your heart forever. It's the story of a cub and his protector friend, an older male bear that takes care of him after his mother is killed.

This is not a documentary but a movie with exceptional actors, animals included. One-of-a-kind and containing maybe five or ten lines of dialogue, the Bear is an incredible achievement that anyone would appreciate. This movie would be especially appropriate for children.

The DVD is a must, the scenery is gorgeous! did I just say gorgeous?

Even though the disc is only single layered and there were dust particles on the original film at the time of transfer (in the beginning of the movie and at the end only), the overall transfer to DVD is awesome. 2.35:1 aspect ratio (the widest) AND enhanced for widescreen TV's (not the 2.35:1 that just squishes everybody on a 16x9 TV).

BRAVO!