source: The Care Bears Movie

Despite many criticizing the pre-Renaissance 1980's as the worst-ever decade for the animation industry, it produced memorable films like "NIMH 1", "An American Tail", "LBT 1" (all three produced by Don Bluth), "Oliver & Company" (Disney), and this, one of the first full-length cartoons ever to be based on a toy franchise. From the Canadian company Nelvana comes the first installment in a trilogy of big-screen movies centering on the Care Bears and the Care Bear Cousins follows the adventures of Kim and Jason, two small children who feel that people don't care for them enough. At the start of the movie, they are starting to be befriended by the Bears when Friend and Secret Bear come by them on the city streets. This mild-mannered masterpiece (if not a real classic in the wake of "Rock & Rule", also produced by Nelvana, as well as the Disney films of the early 90's) is so sweet, you'll think the whole world needs more films than this and not slice-fests like Q & U's "Kill Bill". ALSO RECOMMENDED: Nelvana's Care Bears show (all of season 1 and a few in season 2), the next two Care Bears films, and "My Little Pony: The Movie". 9/10

I care! I care! I care... wait a minute, I don't care, and neither should you. What's the point of brainwashing a bunch of kids to care? To sell toys? It would have been a lot better if at the sugar-coated climax of this animated kid's classic, instead of projecting all that caring, the care bears projectile vomited in the same manner as the viewers--in horror at what the kids of '85 were being spoon fed. The only redeeming value of the film is the high level of realism and social commentary that portrays an America torn apart by violence, class warfare, predjudice, and Hi-C. Share Bear, Birthday Bear... how 'bout Disgusted Bear. Please don't subject your children to this piece of un-Carefully illustrated nonsense. Take them to the park instead.

I loved the first and second movies as a kid. I know people dislike the Care Bears, but while I can understand why, I do think some of the hate goes a little too far. Saying they're rather saccharine is understandable, to some extent they are, but calling them evil is stretching it. I still love this movie, if not as much as when I was 6 or so. The dialogue is cheesy, which was kind of what I was expecting but a lot compensates. The voice acting is terrific, especially from Mickey Rooney and Jackie Burroughs, and the characters while saccharine to some extent are likable such as adorable Grumpy Bear and the villain while not as scary as DarkHeart from the second movie is just as memorable. The animation is surprisingly good, colourful and fluid, and the songs, while none come to the Forever Young(the single best song of any of the Care Bears movies)standard, are sweet and catchy. The story is charming and has its heart in the right place, skipping along nicely with good messaging and a nice array of childhood innocence. All in all, I loved this movie and still do, it's far from the best movie I've seen, but it is sweet, charming and a breath of fresh air. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox

The 80's were really the decade to live in! I have to admit, for someone my age, I honestly believe that the Care Bears movie is a very well-made movie. It came out the year I was born, and I'm reasonably sure that it is also the very first movie I ever saw in my entire life. Now, where should I begin? Ah, yes. It makes me enjoy the movie a lot more now that I know that some famous people were involved in it. The story is narrated by Mickey Rooney, someone with a very kid-friendly voice. There was also Cree Summer, who did voices in various different cartoon series', and of course, Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph). This is a great children's movie, and some adults can enjoy it too. I don't recommend this movie to the 7 to 18 range. It's pretty enjoyable, but it also has a lot of frightening parts. I was always scared to death of the dark spirit. To help lighten the mood, there are also some catchy songs in this movie as well, which are all done by famous pop artists such as Carol King and John Sebastian. Today, the only thing I really love about this movie is the finale song, "It's Great to Be in the Care Bear Family". For some odd reason, I'm such a sucker for all those "Kids of the Kingdom"-types of songs. This movie was followed by two sequels. The first of the three was really good and really dark and dramatic, the second one was just as good but seemed more like a comedy than a drama, and the third one was just plain weird. Right now, I just wish I could watch this movie again and see how much stuff I can remember from it. I'm sure it will bring back to me some very fond memories.

Ya see, when i was a kid, i sat down in front of the tv and care bears was what i would watch. I thought it taught kids a lot! Its a great movie for kids, obviously adults will think it is not as interesting as the kids and thats understandable. But when you like something as much as i liked it, it definitely becomez a classic in my heart! So if you want your children to enjoy a great movie, go get the care bears movie!

Ahhhhhh! This is really cute, especially the cousins. Its message is subtle and not laid too thick. The evil spirit is really scary. Her voice drips with pure poison and you have to admit that the world would be terrible if nobody cared. The good characters have plenty of charm and personality. They're not cloying. You really care about what happens to them and that's what makes a good movie. 8/10

This film, unlike it's sequel, is a masterpiece. I grew up with this movie, It was one of my first theatre-going experiences as a child, This film unfortunately has never been given the credit it deserves. This film that has such a deep meaning to society has been all but forgotten. The animation is about the quality of that that Disney was turning out in the mid-80's, but the purpose behind the movie is what is so great, this movie that was concieved to sell toys actually conveys a sense of morality to its audience. The music is wonderful, John Sebastian and Carole King did a wonderful job. Before long, you'll find yourself singing along with the songs. The comical lines in this film are far better than those in the sequel, the humour is actually funny. Whether you're six years old or twenty-five, this is a very enjoyable movie, and hopefully it will reappear on video again soon, because a virtuous film like this should be readily available to everyone.

Wow. It really saddens me to hear people going on about how evil the care bears are and how they should be tortured and how bad they are for children. I grew up with the care bears. I used to watch the movie and then rewind it and watch it again. I saw it for the first time when I was 3. Scared me something shocking. (This may be a spoiler) But everything in the movie turned out alright in the end. Good triumphed over evil, love triumphed over all. Sure it may be corny, but life is nothing if you don't have hope. I'm 18 years old and I watch my 3 care bear movies regularly. I take my Wish Bear to bed every night. Each morning I get up at 6:30 before school (I'm in year 12) and I watch Lizzie McGuire. My lunch is packed in a barbie lunch box and my pencils are carried in a Care Bears case. I'm not retarded, I don't have a mental disease. But I'm an exception. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't have sex. I believe that a lot of the way I am is due to the Care Bears. I'm a compassionate person, I care about everyone, even when they don't care about me. You may think that makes me a walking doormat, but it doesn't. The values of the Care Bears were drilled into me at a young age. My mother would get frustrated after she sent me off to kindergarten because I'd share my play lunch, and not have much for myself. The people that say the Care Bears are evil obviously didn't grow up with them. I feel sorry for them. The cartoons nowadays such as South Park, Ren and Stimpy etc, are based on violence. That is not something we want to be teaching our children in a world that is full of terrorism, suicide and violence. They teach that fighting is the way to go to gain power (Pokemon). The Care Bears movie teaches valuable lessons, without beating people over the head. It also teaches the difference between right and wrong and instills moral values. Sure the language can be a bit syrupy at times and I guess it may be one of those things you either love or hate. From the day I was born I've been surrounded by Care Bears (I was prem and a small Tenderheart Bear was the only thing that would fit into my humidity crib)and I honestly thank my parents for that. I know that when I have children, I'll bring them up with the Care Bears, and not other cartoons because I'd much rather have my child tell me they love me than attempt to shoot at me with a cap gun. So in conclusion I am grateful to the Care Bears for the fact that I remember my weekends, my positive spin on life and for who I am today.

Not recommended for diabetics or anybody over the age of four. This sickly-sweet, cloying piece of tripe has all the depth and feeling of a third-rate greeting card. If your kid insists on seeing it (I presume at a friend's house, since you will have better taste than to bring this into your home), there's no harm in it. There's just nothing to gain but smarmy platitudes the kid should be learning from you anyway.