7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
In an epic story of breathtaking scale, Disneynature's new True Life Adventure "Bears" showcases a year in the life of two mother bears as they impart life lessons to their impressionable young cubs. Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop teeming with life, their journey begins as winter comes to an end and the bears emerge from hibernation to face the bitter cold. The world outside is exciting—but risky—as the cubs' playful descent down the mountain carries with it a looming threat of avalanches.
Narrator: John C. ReillyDocumentary | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (as download)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Bears is as close as Disneynature has come to full-blown cute n' cuddliness without crossing into dangerous territory. Earth didn't shy away from the harsh realities of the natural world. Oceans, Disneynature's most beautiful, powerful and best family documentary to date, explored a vast undersea kingdom but didn't exactly leave kids begging to bring home a blanket octopus. The Crimson Wing didn't leave anyone feeling much of anything, other than all too generic awe. African Cats toyed with cuteness and cuddliness but quickly, almost coldly reminded sniffling children that death is a pounce, disease or injury away. Wings of Life turned to insects. Fascinating... but far from huggable. And while Chimpanzee introduced one of Disneynature's more awwww-inducing leads in little orphan Oscar, it dealt with abandonment and survival. But Bears represents a departure, or perhaps a farther departure. Nothing particularly tragic occurs, no big scares await children scarred by African Cats, and the anthromorphication of the documentary's subjects is unmistakable. It's wildly cute and endearingly cuddly, and mama bear Sky and her cubs, Amber and Scout, are the most personable bears your family is likely to meet outside of an animated feature. And therein lies the success of Bears and, to a smaller extent, the problem. The film is extremely entertaining. Funny, adorable and heartwarming, all rolled into one. It's also heavy on charm and light on education, which will no doubt delight kids but leave some adults wanting. Is that such a bad thing? If you're a parent, the answer will be a resounding "no."
Like previous Disneynature titles, Bears doesn't disappoint in high definition. Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is something of a stunner (screenshots actually don't do the image justice), although a hint of noise and slight ringing appears from time to time. No matter. Colors are beautiful and naturally saturated, with eye-pleasing contrast and excellent delineation even in the darkest of scenes. Detail is exacting too, despite the fact that long lens sequences aren't quite as crisp as more intimate shots. Edges are nicely defined, fine textures are well resolved, and fur fares well. Moreover, significant macroblocking, banding, aliasing, shimmering and other anomalies are nowhere to be found, and there aren't really any distractions of note. What few flaws there are trace back to the source, not the encode. Simply put, Bears looks fantastic.
Bears has much more sonic oomph to offer than John C. Reilly's voice. Though the narration is clear and carefully prioritized at all times, it's the sounds of nature, nurture and the animals at the heart of the film that really make Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track a rewarding experience. Engaging rear speaker activity creates a series of convincing environments, from snowy mountains to grasslands, raging waters, deep forests, serene ponds and beyond. Anywhere Sky and her cubs go, the film's sound design is there to bring the reality of their struggles and accomplishments to life. Directionality is precise and playful, pans are smooth and the soundfield is wonderfully immersive. Low-end output is strong and reliable too, lending its full support to every roar, avalanche, storm, river and battle for survival. Bears' visuals may draw more immediate praise, but its lossless audio track is just as essential to the film's impact.
Bears is a ball of furry fun, quick on its feet and utterly charming. It's probably best suited to families with young children (or the casual natural history documentary fan), but that doesn't mean there isn't something here everyone. Disney's Blu-ray release is even better, with a striking video presentation and an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. I would have liked to see some more extensive special features, but so it goes.
DVD Packaging
2012
Disneynature
2015
DVD Packaging
2011
Disneynature
2016
Disneynature
2007
2014
Disneynature
2008
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2011
2017
Disneynature
2009
2011
2007
The Complete Series
2006
IMAX
2012
2019
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