Narrator: John C. Reilly
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Run Time: 78 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
“Bears” is the latest in the Disneynature series. I thought that their past films like “Chimpanzaee” and “African Cats” were amazing but this film is literally the best of bunch. It is not just a boring documentary. It has has an epic story. It includes some really breathtaking cinematography. It also has this very beautiful and intimate feel. If you don’t fall in love with Sky and her two newborn cubs, Amber and Scout…you have no soul. Not only sweet, this is actually laugh out loud funny as well. John C. Reilly (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) is not what I expected from a narrator and actually a nice addition to the film. A must see for any fan of Disneynature films. Can’t wait to see what they have planned next.
Official Premise: From Disneynature, the studio that brought you Earth and Chimpanzee, comes Bears – an epic story of breathtaking scale. Showcasing a year in the life of a bear family, mother Sky teaches her two impressionable cubs, Amber and Scout about life’s most important lessons. Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop, their journey begins as winter ends. Emerging from hibernation, the three face the bitter cold and an exciting but very risky outside world. Astonishing footage captures the fast-moving action and suspense of an endearing family learning to live life to its fullest in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses.
“Bears” is being released by Disney as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Ultraviolet Copy. The 1080p transfer looks stunning. Some of the shots from the film are just simply breathtaking. The film has such a large scale yet you feel like you are spending time alone with Sky and her cubs. Match that with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and this is a real win. George Fenton, who is known for his scores from the BBC series “The Blue Planet” and “Planet Earth”, really delivers a perfect match for this film.
The special features included for this release are also impressive given us a an entertaining and also education look into how this film was made. First off we have “Welcome To Alaska”, which follows the filmmakers into the Alaskan wilds to film Sky and her cubs. “The Future For The Bears” looks into the behind-the-scenes into the interactions with the bears during the production. “A Guide To Living With Bears” tells us about the safely precautions taken with these animals. “How Did They Film That?” shows us how this film got its best shots. Lastly there is a music video for “Carry On” by Disney Channel star Olivia Holt.