The OP is right. All these years later, I still remember the emotional scenes of this movie very strongly. Others have mentioned them from the little cub trying to survive, the sparing of the hunter, the dogs hurting, and the big bear saving the cub. When I saw this film originally it did bring me to tears as I am very empathetic towards animals (or any innocent life really). I had to remind myself the trainers were there and the animals were all just fine to bring myself some reassurance. Thankfully the end brought peace to everyone involved in a very believable manner.
But it was a very good movie despite its harshness and apparently has made a resounding impression to most all who have had the chance to witness it.
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein

I know - it makes me cry, too. =(
I just love bears so much. And seeing a poor cub get chased, battered, stolen, and rejected is just heart-breaking. Bears are so magnificent, and terrifying, and beautiful.

Saw this as a kid and cried my eyes out
If I saw it today I'd probably do the same!
/28yr old male

Thanks for the warning. I don't watch movies in which animals die. I can watch slasher films all day long but if a dog or bear or dear dies, forget it, I don't see why films like that are made.
One exception would be movies in which an animal is trying to kill someone like in The Edge (1997) where a bear is trying to kill people.

I went to see it when I was around 10 or so and it also really got to me. The innocense of animals -especially the cub facing the harsh world and the indifferent men was what I related to. It must have been a delicate age to me losing my own innocense but not really wanting to. Similar as with Waterboy995 the movie culminating in hunter sparing the bears life was powerful to me and gave hope: even if it is harsh world you can in the end still trust people to "do the right thing".
I think the movie is well constructed on the emotional level and in a way that is "good for crying" (no pun intended, I also cry every time). After all, there is not much of dialogue or even story so lot of effort went there and cinematography. The emotional balance is good in a way that it does not go over the top and be overly intentional. So you do not feel that you are being tricked into it -and that makes it even more succeptible. And it does help that you first watch it as a child so you are more open and the theme is set for you. Overall I believe the movie was made for children. After all most children have a tendency to relate to animals, especially to young animals. If I would watch it now at age of 30 I am sure the movie would not touch me so much, but now it does every time I watch it. Also the music gives you cues and you are almost conditioned to reach the state you do cry (the violins in minor). Anyway, this is how I think about it.

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Boy oh boy, you are not alone. This movie came out when I was three and I can still remember watching it on video at home and bawling my eyes out. I remember shortly after the mother's death scene, the paper boy came to our door to collect and my mother had to explain that I was in hysterics because of a movie I was watching. Ha! I'd love to see this movie again.
www.myspace.com/poetessbynight

I've been watching this movie since I was four years old and 19 years later I still cry like a baby when Momma Bear starts foraging for honey and the rock slide kills her and the cub lays down with her.
I love this movie. I wish I could find it on DVD!

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I just watched this film, I'm 28, I just started balling after the movie was over.
The key to getting a girl is through the parents, have sex with them and you're in.

That scene was hilariouscause the wee little bear had just eaten those wild 'shrooms. HAHAHA.
And yes it is on DVD.
Sadly, if you're in the USA, hunt for the Tri-Star release, not the current Sony release.

Just found it on dvd at play.com, but it will only play on European Region 2 or multi-region DVD players.
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/656262/The-Bear/Product.html

HAHA! That's all I remember either! LOL I saw it in the early 90's though, only once and not again since then, so there's been a lot of time to cover over my memories. LOL

Sigh I've seen this movie so many years agoI was only 2-3 years old,and the only thing i remember almost clearly was the scene (if it was in this movie) in which the cub had creepy nightmares about frogs with sharp teeth or something along these lines
Do you know maybe if there is a dvd of this flick?

what about the part when the one hunter's life is spared by the bear and he still has the automatic intention of getting the kill as a second chance, but as he is about to shoot him in the back, defenceless and accepting, something clicks in him and he can't do it. then when his father comes and he purposefully shoos him off until his only option left is to physically pull the gun away form his father. though there were no words spoken in that gesture, there was such a clear understanding conveyed in that scene between the father and son: "what we are doing here is wrong." gets me every time. of all the movies ive loved, respected, enjoyed and appreciated this one hits me the the hardest by far. it's the most personal film i have for myself.

Me too, and I'm a 41 year old male! I find myself crying at this (and other movies) more & more, as I grow older! Oh, well..
Trust me,
Swan

I see that I am not the only one who feels the same way about this movie. I only ever saw the movie once, when I was about 6 years old, and I remember the whole time that I felt incredibly sorry for the little bear cub. There are two parts that I especially remember, the first being were when the mother bear was killed in the rock slide and the cub is squealling and crying out as he tries to pull away the rocks (such as I remember it). The second was where the cougar starts clawing at the cub at the end and all he can do is bawl at it. I remember I was about to cry just before the camera panned around and the massive male bear was there, roaring. Of all the movies I've seen (and they are many), I have never been so glad/relieved at the end of a film. One could finally release their breath.
Like another poster, I refuse to watch the movie again, as the emotional torrent it released in me as a 6 year old boy has stuck with me to my current age of 21. Too heavy to be entertainment for me.
The Bear not just a film, it is an experience that one remembers for years.
"Layeth the Smacketh Down!!"

I'm 27 and this was the first movie I cried atI still get tears in my eyes when I see it now But the part that gets me the most, is when the hunters finally are nice to the cubgives him milk and stuffso touching!

Ah it is nice to see that I am not the only one who cried when I watch this movie. Yeah I remember the first time I saw this when I was 4 and balling my eyes out. I watched it tonight (6-22)since then and I still I cried. I am 20 now and a guy!

The Bear is the best wildlife movie ever. Since my last post I've watched it with my 9 and 12 year old nephews and they absolutely loved it.

yeah it surely does especially when the puma attacks the cub and the bear saves him. it really moved me and redused me 2 tears..im 16 yrs old

I was 30 when I first saw this film. My boyfriend and I watched it in my apt. on cable and you would have thought we were in a movie theatre, because we clapped at the end of this film. It delivered a powerful message to hunters. Masterful!!! Wonderful!!!

beep i cry too1 im 20 y/o! i cried on this film when i was like 5-6 then again at like 14 and still now!

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