Whoa!
What a great doc.
Watching it, you become amazed that Treadwell wasn't killed much sooner. His footage is astounding, no doubt, but he is seen standing inches away from 10 foot grizzlies, reaching out to touch them, and saying things to them like, "Hi Mr. Chocolate! How are you today?".
This guy was not a professional scientist or biologist or zoologist or anything, he just liked bears. It seems he took it very lightly, and many of the people in the film agree that he was doing more harm than good.
He himself was a little annoying to watch - he reminded me of Stuart Smalley from SNL ("I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like me").
Often the film seems to be more about him than the bears, as he takes center-stage in his own filming, sometimes going off the handle and having temper tantrums.
Still, one of the better docs I've seen in a while, if not solely for the close-up footage Treadwell shot.
Herzog narrates the whole thing and pretty much disagrees with Treadwell's ways of doing things, so it's interesting to hear that contrast in story-telling. See this film - it's NOT a nature channel feature extended to movie house screen time.

Yup, I'm with mitchay on this one. Brilliant film. A character portrait of a truly disturbed person, with obvious borderline personality disorder (takes one to know one!). I also share Mitch's observation about the naration provided by Herzog. His bleak, realistic view of the world is oddly enough quite refreshing, in the sense that it contrasts so much of the philosophical tripe that we are force fed most of the time. Nonetheless, his views are not depressing. They merely remind us of the harsh reality of life - not that this harsh reality takes away from life, rather this point of view serves to enhance the value of life.

One of the best of the year for sure.

Against this is Herzog, on the soundtrack: "I believe the common character of the universe is not harmony, but hostility, chaos and murder." And over footage of one of Treadwell's beloved bears: "This blank stare" shows not the wisdom Treadwell read into it, but "only the half-bored interest in food."

- From ebert's review

Hmmm... Looks good. Perhaps I\'ll give it a shot...

I heard the bears were all CGI'd

**SPOILERS** (sort of)

I heard that they had FOOTAGE of the Bears eating him but Herzog didn't want to put it in...

"Da Bers" - Chris Farley

I was going to ask that if u saw him get mauled to death....well what do u expect, there fierce creatures. dumb man!

No, not footage, just audio tape.

The lens was on the camera, so they weren't filmed, but the tape recorder was going and apparently you hear them being mauled, but Herzog (wisely) didn't use it in the film. It wasn't necessary. You actually see him listening to it on headphones in front of one of Treadwell's friends, then tells the friend (who hasn't listened to it) to destroy the tape because it's too horrifying.

I have to say I was somewhat dissapointed after reading Mitch & Jeff's reviews above.

Very interesting and worth the watch. the footage is exceptional, but at the end of the day I don't know if it really was a good documentary. the guy's a bit of a nut job, and has some serious self issues. He reminded me of Mr Garrison (South Park) talking to Mr hat
"Hi Mr chocolate, can I rub your belly?"

As far as actual doc films go, I have a hard time rating this as high as Sicko (which I just saw and loved). Still, the story itself is facinating and worth a watch.

How could you not call this a good doc?!?
You were into it from the get-go and rated it highly. Explain.

He did rate it highly... 3.5 stars... yet, I agree his written words don't match his rating. Moreover, how can you compare a Werner Herzog film with a Michael Moore movie? Apples and Oranges, Deril!

sigh....

I DID like it. It was VERY good, I just like M. Moore's stuff better. Yes apples & oranges, but I guess this is what I compare it to.

Hope this explanation satisfies all. As Jeff mentioned, I DID give it 3.5 stars. I just don't think it's a 4 star for whatever reason.....deal with it, ok?