Post by Kieran on Jan 14, 2012 1:17:52 GMT 2
One of my all time favourite Disney classics. And the sequel is ok.
I love the original's idea and plot to bits, not to mention Kenai and Koda's relationship...I think it's a brilliantly and effectively told story about brotherhood and human vs. nature. But mostly because of the way it touches the theme of brotherhood; a man killing a bear to revenge his brother's death, ending up forming a brotherly bond with a little bear cub whose mother he just killed, while his own remaining human brother is trying to kill him thinking he's the bear who killed both of his brothers...Brother Bear has such a delicious double-meaning.
And Koda is officially my favourite original character from Disney. He's just too darn cute. You know how an overly chatty child character could easily become annoying but in my opinion Koda is just endearing with that characteristic, especially as he's also slightly hyper-active yet still easy-to-follow (figurately speaking) and such a typical little boy. Oh it's so hard to explain! But I heart him to bits!
But the sequel...I think its idea/plot was created a bit hastily. They could've done so much better with a sequel to the original. Though I think my main problem is in that I can't form an emotional tie to the whole Kenai/Nita relationship. They're supposed to be 'meant for each other' and 'best friends forever' but we get too little to build up that sense, so it ends up remaining just a concept with not enough emotional charge to it. At least they should've left them seperated in the end...though the only way I can see that logically happen in the meant-for-each-others concept is if one of them died which I guess would've been too depressing for a film directed also at children.
I think if they'd come up with a plot that focused more on Kenai's struggle between wishing to be human again and his love for Koda, the sequel might have worked a bit better. The bonded-girlfriend from the past life idea kinda came out of the blue...
So in the sequel I enjoyed - again - mostly the Kenai/Koda relationship and the drama of Koda fearing Kenai would leave him for Nita, yet how judging by Kenai's tones of voice he never, ever, even considered it. And it's interesting to think how much of this bond was - at the time of the reunion with Nita- Kenai's guilt for killing Koda's mother and how much already the love he felt for the child. I daresay it was mostly the genuine brother's love as if I recall correctly, Kenai treated Koda like a little brother already before he found out that he'd killed the mother.
I cried a river at Koda's sorrow and drama when he believed Kenai was ditching him - the animators just did such a great job with this cute little cubbie and the voice actor (which unlike Kenai's, is from the original movie), is awesome. Though of course me hearting the character to bits affecte it too. And it's interesting to think, seeing to their past, what would've become of Koda if Kenai actually had not loved him enough to stay.
I love the original's idea and plot to bits, not to mention Kenai and Koda's relationship...I think it's a brilliantly and effectively told story about brotherhood and human vs. nature. But mostly because of the way it touches the theme of brotherhood; a man killing a bear to revenge his brother's death, ending up forming a brotherly bond with a little bear cub whose mother he just killed, while his own remaining human brother is trying to kill him thinking he's the bear who killed both of his brothers...Brother Bear has such a delicious double-meaning.
And Koda is officially my favourite original character from Disney. He's just too darn cute. You know how an overly chatty child character could easily become annoying but in my opinion Koda is just endearing with that characteristic, especially as he's also slightly hyper-active yet still easy-to-follow (figurately speaking) and such a typical little boy. Oh it's so hard to explain! But I heart him to bits!
But the sequel...I think its idea/plot was created a bit hastily. They could've done so much better with a sequel to the original. Though I think my main problem is in that I can't form an emotional tie to the whole Kenai/Nita relationship. They're supposed to be 'meant for each other' and 'best friends forever' but we get too little to build up that sense, so it ends up remaining just a concept with not enough emotional charge to it. At least they should've left them seperated in the end...though the only way I can see that logically happen in the meant-for-each-others concept is if one of them died which I guess would've been too depressing for a film directed also at children.
I think if they'd come up with a plot that focused more on Kenai's struggle between wishing to be human again and his love for Koda, the sequel might have worked a bit better. The bonded-girlfriend from the past life idea kinda came out of the blue...
So in the sequel I enjoyed - again - mostly the Kenai/Koda relationship and the drama of Koda fearing Kenai would leave him for Nita, yet how judging by Kenai's tones of voice he never, ever, even considered it. And it's interesting to think how much of this bond was - at the time of the reunion with Nita- Kenai's guilt for killing Koda's mother and how much already the love he felt for the child. I daresay it was mostly the genuine brother's love as if I recall correctly, Kenai treated Koda like a little brother already before he found out that he'd killed the mother.
I cried a river at Koda's sorrow and drama when he believed Kenai was ditching him - the animators just did such a great job with this cute little cubbie and the voice actor (which unlike Kenai's, is from the original movie), is awesome. Though of course me hearting the character to bits affecte it too. And it's interesting to think, seeing to their past, what would've become of Koda if Kenai actually had not loved him enough to stay.