It’s been 11 years since Woody, Buzz, and the gang were last on the big screen, and in that time, it’s not just Andy (their owner) who has grown up.
The passage of time is what gives Toy Story 3 so much of its emotional heft. No matter how old you are, and whether you see it with or without a child sitting next to you, it’s hard to deny that this third film hits you in all the right places.
It’s surely worth the wait.
And then some. Continue reading
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.
And then there are Pixar movies, where the beautiful imagery is just priceless.
So it goes in the company’s latest, the simply named Up, which is a gorgeous, bright, colorful movie that has as much depth and emotion as it does stunning visuals.
I just don’t know how those Pixar folks do it. Every single film they make is an impressive achievement, each one better than the last. Continue reading
The geniuses at Pixar keep on cranking out animated films, and each time they do, people think they’re kids movies.
Well, with Wall-E, they’ve made a film that might not appeal to kids all that much. And that’s fine with me.
Wall-E is a beautiful film about loneliness, love, caring for the Earth, and other grown-up topics, and it stars a robot — not exactly the kind of thing a kid can cuddle up with at night.
In addition, nearly half the film, if not more, is completely dialogue-free, which will surely make the little ones antsy. Continue reading
One of the major themes of Ratatouille is that anyone can cook. But watching the movie, it’s almost as if Disney and Pixar are saying, “Yeah, but not just anyone can make a good animated film.” And they’re right. There’s a reason those companies are the gold standard for animation. While films like Surf’s Up may be fun, they’re not as sophisticated as a Pixar movie. And Ratatouille ranks up there with their best.
The film tells the story of Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), a rat with a taste for good food and an uncanny ability to cook. Remy teams up with a young kid in a fancy restaurant and together, the two cook up some great dishes — which, of course, frustrates the head chef. Told with visual flair and featuring some great action-packed scenes, just like Brad Bird’s last Pixar film, The Incredibles, Ratatouille is not really a movie for kids. In fact, I’m sure they’ll be totally bored by it. That’s because the film really does focus on high-end food and doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator. It almost never takes the easy way to a laugh (although, a food critic with the last name Ego does seem a little obvious), and focuses as much on character and plot as it does on awesome animation. And yes, Paris does look great. But more impressive are the scene where Remy is sent down the sewers into Paris and the ones where he’s running through the kitchen. Also worth noting are the voice talent, which includes Brad Garrett and Peter O’Toole, and the score by Michael Giacchino (Lost, The Incredibles). And please stay through the credits for the final, stylized animation sequence. That is, if you’re not too hungry.
After last summer’s Cars, which I didn’t love, I thought maybe I had outgrown the Pixar films. Thankfully, that one was just a minor detour. In the right hands, they can still be magic. And that’s surely what Ratatouille is. I’m giving it an A–.
(p.s. As a testament to just how much Pixar films are beloved, when the trailer for their next release, Wall-E, came on, the place went absolutely silent. For a trailer.)
Cars is cute.
And that’s both a good and bad thing.
It’s good because it’s colorful and fun to look at, but it’s bad because it borders on childish and doesn’t have the wide appeal of Pixar’s other recent films.
I’d even say it’s the worst of Pixar’s films since A Bug’s Life.
Now of course, let’s put things into perspective: a bad Pixar film is still better than many other releases. And Cars isn’t necessarily a bad movie. It just doesn’t have the same spark or endearing qualities of The Incredibles or Monsters Inc. Continue reading
Martin's Musings 