Review of Brother Bear (2003) by Chloë F — 30 Nov 2010

This film teaches the valuable lessons of guidance, love, wisdom, anger, revenge, and death, respecting others and respecting the environment. Brother Bear is a beautiful coming of age story for the whole family. Three brothers: Kenai who was voiced by Joaquin Phoenix, Sitka who was voiced by D.B Sweeney and Denahi who was voiced by Jason Raize.

Kenai desperately wanted to become a man and was given a totem; the totem of love. A bear shaped charm that was given by the Sharman woman who was guided by the spirits of their ancestors.

After Kenai received his totem he wasn't completely excited he expected a totem that represented strength or courage. Sitka explained that Kenai's totem of love was very important. Sitka also explained that he wasn't excited when he received his eagle totem of guidance but now understands that he was given the totem because he was to guide his brothers. This moment foreshadows the events of the film to come. Sitka was killed while saving Kenai's life from a raging hungry bear. Sitka's death angered Kenai to stalk then kill the bear that he felt was at fault for his brother's death. Kenai had angered the spirits which ascended Kenai into their magical rays then descended him back to earth. Denahi whose totem was wisdom tried to convince Kenai not to take revenge but he later sought revenge on the bear who he thought killed Kenai, coincidently the hunted bear was Kenai. Before any tragedy could take place Sitka transformed Kenai back into a human.

The valuable lessons taught in, Brother Bear reminds me of a passage about the indigenous people and their sacred ways in Living Religions by Mary Pat Fisher. "Becoming familiar with death, a potential mystical intermediary must undergo lengthy training in spiritual techniques, the names and roles of the spirits, and secrets and myths of the tribe. Novices are taught both by older shamans and reportedly by the spirits themselves." Even though these brothers weren't shamans they were trained by death, guided by spirits and even were metamorphosed into animals to learn the lesson of Love.

Fisher, Mary P. Living Religions. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2008. 55. Print.