User Reviews

It is difficult to judge this movie for me, as a Norwegian, because I've heard this fairytale since I was a child. The story is an old folk tale, written down in the mid 1800, by the "folk tale collectors" Asbjørnsen and Moe. The tale is very similar to both "the beauty and the beast", and especially the old Greek myth of Eros and Psyche.

The tale is built up as an ordinary fairytale, with the "3-times rule" and the moral. This movie can be a bit boring, and confusing, if you don't know the story. That is why my vote for the movie is 5, and an extra point for the fabulous fairytale:) I encourage anyone to read the tale of "Kvitebjørn KOng Valemon", especially if they would like to watch this movie.

People wanting great special effects or a rather adult plot will be disappointed. This movie is wonderful in context with its true purpose. It's a fairy tale...a child's folklore...and a great rendition of such at that. I first watched this movie when I was eight or nine and immediately fell in love with it. It contains all the elements of a classic fairy tale. Also, the Scandinavian influence in the movie is remarkable. As i have matured over the years, i am no longer as captivated by the movie. However, this movie still embodies what is good about a child's fairy tale. It is still great to watch when you feel like being a little kid once again.

This film is very emotionally detached. In the way it is acted, the way it's told and presented, the way the audience receives and relates. You'll receive the story, but won't ever really feel any of the emotion. Perhaps this is because, as others have mentioned, the story is presented as if you were sitting around the fire, safely out of the action, being told the tale by some storyteller, with the visuals to go along. But even the facial expressions, especially of the princess, are shallow, vague, and distant. Besides that, there is very little character development, especially of King Valemon. But probably the most emotional part of the movie is at the end, when he pretends to be mean. To me, at least, this part comes off as the most "real" in all the film. So you'll learn the traditional story, but you won't really know the characters.

This movie reminds me of the Princess Bride, but is slower and more detached.

When I was a little kid, I remember watching this movie over and over. Now that I've seen it again, I realize it's campy and cheesy, and I didn't find anything spectacular about it. It's pretty nice visually, and the acting is so so. But really, I'd avoid this movie if I were looking for a movie to rent for my peers and myself, or something of the sort.

However, I can guarantee that your kids will love it. It's bright and colorful, the story is hardly complicated and is easy to catch on to. Also, it teaches good lessons (never give up, etc), it's innocent, and it is pretty fun. If you want a movie to keep your kids busy and entertained, I do highly recommend this for you.

I first saw this movie when I was about 7 and I loved it. It has enjoyable characters, and a interesting (but understandable to children)plot. Now a teenager, I came across this movie again and checked it out, curious if I would respond to it the same way. I did! The special effects are definetly not spectacular, but it is still a wonderful story.I recomend this movie to people who love fairytales, or childrens movies or your basic uplifting, romance, "good verses evil" plot. I would give this movie 7/10 stars. Definately a family film.

By no means is this a fabulous movie, there are infinitely better films. Truthfully, there are much higher rated movies that are much much worse than this one. However, it is a wonderful retelling of the children's book. As a family film - 6 and 12 year olds - we enjoyed this film. The scenery is wonderful, stark as it should be.

This film is paptastic, with gaping plot holes everywhere - in fact to call them holes is actually giving the writers too much credit. With terrible dubbing, acting, special effects and a random man whose hair went grey (??????????) you would have thought this film would not have been an enjoyable experience. HOWEVER it's so bad, it flips all the way back to awesome. If a film which contains no real polar bears, just people in a panto horse style costume lumbering across landscape while spouting such great lines as "Snow - it's cold and strong" and "He only comes after dark" then you'll love this. The only thing that would have improved the experience would have been large quantities of alcohol or mind altering drugs.

I absolutely love this movie. Though I have to say the bear? A little cheesy.

But in regards to how it's acted and how the story flows I find it completely loyal to the fairytale/folktale genre. I obsessively collect and read folktales and one thing that characterizes them is that there is very little superfluous information, like the movie they are just bare bones.

I first saw this movie when I was younger, and now as an adult I have to say I'm impressed with the fact that it retains it's integrity and stays true to the genre of folktales. The movie is really someone sitting around and telling you a story. There just happens to be people acting it out at the same time.

Visually it's gorgeous and if you really love folk or fairy tales I can guarantee you'll love this movie.

If six year old me was writing this movie I'd give it a 10/10 and say it was the best film ever made! As an adult, it's something to be enjoyed by kids. I'm one of those people that loves cheesy horror and sci-fi, but this is bad. However, I would say it's a movie where they did what they could with what they had.

I watch it for nostalgia and that's about it. If you have kiddos then they'll probably enjoy. As an adult you may not. However I always say watch it for yourself and make a judgment call.

This movie is so bad, don't waste your time on it! The stupid polar bear keeps making stupid sounding roars which really make this bad movie even worse then anything which you could ever imagine. The plot is bad, the dubbing is worse, the movie is terrible. Don't see it (unless you are a masochist)!

The Polar Bear King is a beautifully made movie that is sure to entrance young girls. My sister and I watched over and over as kids, and even as an adult I enjoy watching it. Though it was originally made in Norwegian, it is so perfectly dubbed that I didn't realize it until I looked the movie up on IMDb! The story is based on or very similar to the fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" found in Andrew Lang's The Blue Fairy book, and was one of the things that inspired my love of fairy tales!

This is the perfect movie for children and adults. It's very clean and even the "scary" parts are manageable for young children.

I probably would never have watched the movie all the way through, but my grandaughter loved it. I couldn't recommend it to the older viewers, unless they are simply curious about this example of filmmaking, but the younger crowd will probably enjoy it..

The first time I saw this movie, I was ten years old. After my grandmother's death(it was her movie), this movie went to my aunt, and I have just now gotten the chance to see it again(I'm 19). I don't see why people think this movie is horrible. Yes, the acting is dry, yes, the storyline is corny, but you know what? That's what makes a story interesting. I am a die-hard romantic, and Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairy tale. This is just a retelling of it, and honestly, it is a sweet story. The locations kind of remind me of the Princess Bride, and while I think the witch's demise could've been done a lot better, it's the things like that that should be overlooked to see what lies beneath the surface. A sweet retelling of a favorite fairy tale.

To be fair I grew up on this movie, so I'm biased. I love this movie so much. The beauty of the landscapes and set pieces is stunning. It's such a fun fairy tale with so much sweetness to it. The audio dubbing is a bit off because they had European actors that some got dubbed over with English speaking actors. It's especially noticeable with the King of the winterlands, but they edited around it well. It's definitely got a lot of fairy tale elements we are all familiar with, but also new fairy tale bits. Like a princess with some (not forced) self agency which is always refreshing in this genre. The special effects are a bit dated, and the animatronics of the polar bear aren't quite Jim Hensen quality but certainly passable. The score is some wonderful early 90s type composition typical of the era which I find nostalgic and fun.

Though suffering from some less than ideal dubbing, The Polar Bear King still manages to weave its spell thanks to charming practical effects, good performances, a wonderful musical score, and good old fashioned great storytelling.

Based on the fairy tale East of the Sun West of the Moon, The Polar Bear King has a few similarities with Beauty and the Beast with its enchanted princes and brave young women who see the good inside them and try their hardest to brave the spell. As in that story, a handsome prince has been turned into an animal by a vengeful sorceress and it's up to a pure princess from a neighboring kingdom to see past the facade, break the curse, and become the enchanted prince's wife. This would be easier if it weren't for the wicked sorceress getting in the way and trying to stop her at every turn.

The Polar Bear King is lushly photographed and well paced with just enough to keep both parent and children's attention throughout. It's one of the lesser, more obscure fairy tales out there, but it's very well told and sure to enchant viewers of all ages.

Well some people may not like this movie...But it's my all time favorite! So what if the dubbing is bad and the bear looks fake... I love it anyway!!! '91 I was 4... and this was the movie I watched over and over again! It's good :)

Let me just kick off this review by saying wow. WOW. This movie has changed my life forever. The message that too much evil will destroy evil will stay with me forever. And the ingenius use of siberian huskies as wolves? Priceless. I loved every second of this movie