From my 2011 DVD Talk Animation Challenge Discussion Thread remarks

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/10887740-post139.html

We just watched Brother Bear, one of the few animated titles that has languished in our Unwatched Pile. The first 24 minutes are in a different aspect ratio than the rest of the film and because of the way it's presented on DVD, it creates a pillar box effect that was annoying. The upside is that there's some pretty bold content in those 24 minutes--surprisingly dark and violent for a G-rated Disney feature marketed heavily on the basis of the Canadian Moose voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.

The animation is gorgeous and while the story is predictable and recycled, I was fairly invested in it emotionally. Maybe if I saw it when it came out (or even when we bought a few years ago) I would have been more impatient with it and more cynical, but I'm much more receptive to these kinds of stories at this point in my life. I'd give it a solid 4 stars except for the horrible use of songs. There's not one song in the lot that really added to the movie, which I could overlook...except that one song actively ruined the most important scene in the whole thing! It would have been acceptable had the dialog in that scene been muted for part of Mark Mancina's fine score, but Phil Collins singing over the confession felt like a complete intrusion on the most intimate scene there was. Absolutely the worst use of music I've seen in a movie in years, maybe ever.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/10888738-post145.html

I was nauseated as hell yesterday and spent the entire time in bed (asleep, mercifully, for most of it) but I kept thinking about Brother Bear. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got about that damned song near the end. I've made a concentrated point in the last several years to avoid the trap of being the viewer who passes absolute judgment on something, but that was a singularly egregious choice. I don't know who's to blame for it, be it the directors, writers, Disney or Phil Collins's agent--or some combination--but I hope the responsible parties all hang their heads over this one.

Like I said, I think I would have accepted it had the dialog given way to scored music rather than the ballad. The facial expressions were very well done and suggestive enough that I don't think we have to hear what's being said. But that ballad...God, I just wanted to yell, "Shut up! They're having a moment here!" at my TV. Not just "a" moment, but really the moment of the whole damn thing.

The more I think about it, though, the more I realize that my anger stems from the fact that it wasn't just those two characters having the moment. I was invested in them and I was wanting to have that moment with them. So on the one hand, I tip my hat that they crafted a story that drew me in like that--I'm a pretty malleable viewer, but I rarely find myself responding emotionally to a movie; most of my reactions are intellectual in nature instead. On the other hand...they completely screwed up the most important part of my viewing experience.

I may eventually forgive them for this and concentrate on the positives, but for right now I'm just mad about the whole damn thing.

Just finished Finding Nemo.

Starting Igor which I've watched once before and enjoyed. Not as much as Nemo but it's pretty funny and I remember liking the music a lot.