BROTHER BEAR 2 (DVD Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.3|5.0 Starsììì Brother Bear 2—old theme—relies on the Shrek idea of changing one's natural being to experience romance. Not a new concept...think of Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid...the list goes on and on, this time it's a girl and a bear. One wonders what is a child's 'take home' message? Many of the transition scenes are jarring. The music is probably the best part of the film. Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Kenai (voice of Patrick Dempsey), who now lives as a cave bear, remembers when he was human.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Ben Gluck for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Jim Ballantine and Carolyn Bates for making the film possible. Cast include: Mandy Moore, Jeremy Suarez, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara,  Wanda Sykes, Wendie Malick, and Kathy Najimy.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

No. This sequel movie has a weak story. It does not reach basic standards of quality.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BROTHER BEAR (Released to Theaters USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Brother Bear runs on a ‘protect and save wildlife/plant life’ theme. It’s a fair to middling animated film for children.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Kenai (voice Joaquin Phoenix), the youngest of three brothers, Sitka (voice D.B. Sweeney), the oldest, and Denahi (voice Jason Raize), the middle brother, play, ride canoes, and catch fish together. The two eldest brothers catch a basket full of salmon and then leave to go to a ceremony. Kenai ties the basket to a tree and hurries to go to the ceremony, too. He notices that the basket has fallen to the ground, but follows after his older brothers anyway. At the ceremony Kenai, the youngest brother, is nominated as the Bear of Love. When the brothers come back to the salmon basket, it is missing. Kenai goes after the basket and gets into a duel with a bear. His brothers come to help, but in the process the oldest brother attempts to save the two youngest brothers by taking his spear and breaking the mountain ice around himself and the bear. The bear and older brother cascade to the river below. The bear makes it out of the freezing water, but the oldest brother does not surface. When the two younger brothers only find their older brother’s skin coat, Kenai wants revenge and, against his middle brother’s advice, goes after the bear. He provokes the bear into another duel and the story is off and running.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producer Chuck Williams for making the film possible. Cast include: Jeremy Suarez, Harold Gould, Joan Copeland, Rick Moranis, and Dave Thomas.

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It works for a young audience. It is a message feature, not made for pure entertainment.

Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BEETHOVEN'S 5TH (DVD Release USA 2003)

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 3.5|5.0 Starsììì 

Beethoven's 5th is the odd story within the Beethoven franchise. It does not follow the usual Beethoven story format and seems quite amateurish in its presentation. Everything is okay, not good, but low budget. There are some great actors in the movie, but this film does not allow them a gold standard performance.   

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Beethoven travels to Quicksilver, a town known for its old mercury mine, ghosts, the death of two robbers, and lost stolen goods. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Mark Griffiths for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer/Producer Mike Elliot  and Line Producer Joseph P. Genier, for making the film possible. Cast includes: Dave Thomas, Faith Ford, Daveigh Chase, Tom Poston, Katherine Helmond, Sammy Kahn, Richard Riehle, Clint Howard, Kathy Griffin, John Larroquette, Rodman Flender, Tina Illman Tom Musgrave and Joel Hurt Jones. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Maybe. The story is much different than the usual Beethoven stories. At the end of the movie, the audience may feel they have watched something with little substance to it. 

Video Critique Available Here: 

Ben Meyers