Monsters Inc. Prequel Pain
Remember when Pixar used to mean “pick of the litter” or “exception to the rule”? To me animated family-trade movies are a form of Orwellian horror. The oppressive sameness, the regimented “up” attitude, and the skin-deep humor perfectly express the bloodless corporate mentality behind them. These movies are cash cows, but the trick is to avoid making a parent-punisher. Monsters University (Disney, 6.21) looks like a parental torture device.
Your viewpoint on animated films is ancient and outdated. It does a great disservice to the real gems of the industry like Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton, and Hayao Mayazaki, to name a few.
Jeff’s right. Pixar probably have more bad/mediocre films now than good in their filmography, and the CG animation industry is stuck in such a miserable rut. Loud, wacky bright things shouting with cute little sidekicks and farts. At least when Disney were bossing the hand-drawn stuff some of their films had some artistry to them and a bit of a classy touch. I’d rather shove my head in a fire than watch The Kroogs or Despicable Me 2 or whatever. I couldn’t even finish this Monsters Inc trailer, it was shit.
The ultimate irony, for me, is the inclusion of a Motley Crue song in a children’s movie trailer. For a band that was reviled by parent’s groups in the 80s, I guess they are now fine for the kiddies.
The snail bit made me laugh, though.
If Billy Crystal gets another face lift, they won’t have to animate the next one.
“Monsters Inc”. was lesser Pixar, I thought. Still fun, if only for their incredible attention to detail. “Brave,” was also not up to their usual standards, but it again had some amazing imagery. I won’t mind taking the grand kids, it’s not quite the torture you make it out to be.
Cars 2 was awful, and Brave was a long sit. On the other hand, before they came out, I thought Toy Story 2 and 3 would be painful money grabs and that was far from right.
the first one has always been my least favorite Pixar. i’ll be skipping this one. Billy Crystal . . . yeahhhhh.
DoctorWho: I dig Miyazaki, but Pixar movies are all the fucking same.
Eloi: “At least when Disney were bossing the hand-drawn stuff some of their films had some artistry to them and a bit of a classy touch. ”
If you exclude the ones which plagiarized Jungle Emperor Leo/Kimba and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, then sure.
At a family gathering I criticized Pixar movies and expressed no interest in going to see the fish one and a family member practically pointed at me and shrieked like Donald Sutherland at the end of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.
Pixar has more bad/mediocre films in their filmography than good? Are you high?
Bad/Mediocre: Cars, Cars 2, Brave
Good/Great: Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monster’s, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3, Wall-E, Up
-The Toy Story films have no less than an 88 rating on Metacritic and 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
-A Bug’s Life has a 77 on Metacritic and 92% on RT.
-Monster’s, Inc. has 78 on Metacritic and 96% on RT.
-Finding Nemo has an 89 on Metacritic and 99% on RT.
-The Incredibles has a 90 on Metacritic and 97% on RT.
-Ratatouille has a 96 on Metacritic and 96% on RT.
-Wall-E has a 94 on Metacritic and 96% on RT.
-Up has a 88 on Metacritic and 98% on RT.
Hell, I’d argue that The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Toy Story 3 are masterpieces in the genre.
I swear, HE posters have some of the worst fucking taste in film.
Kakihara, they really aren’t. Many of them have very distinctly different characters, relationships, storylines, ambitions, and emotions.
That’s like me saying all indie films are the same because they portray sad, depressing individuals who try to find happiness in life through unconventional means and relationships.
Despicable Me was quite good.
The “children’s movie” syndrome you describe here only really applies to films made after SHREK, which really set that tone. I have no idea how you can generalize like that when there are children’s films like BAMBI, DUMBO, etc. out there that are terrific films.
I don’t know. I figure in this case, given the setting (college) is something only the parents can relate to, there’s all sorts of opportunities for college/college movie jokes/references for the adults. Didn’t notice it in the trailer, but I’d bet money there’ll be some monster that bears a strong resemblance to John Belushi.
Do guys actually go see these kids cartoons without, ya know, actually bringing kids? They should be put on a list…
I think Aladdin started this trend of kid’s movies supposedly now having to appeal to adults also, thanks to Robin Williams’ horribly coked-up improv (watch it again – it does NOT hold up). Now you’re looked down upon for calling most of these shit movies out for what they are – corporate cash grabs with celebrities voicing so they can go on Leno to promote, and horrible “animation”. For every gem like Wall-E and Coraline, there’s 10 that are embarrassing…
^Okay, Lex.
Back in the realm where most of us here are able to enjoy movies regardless of their specific form, TS3 was hands-down one of the most emotionally-moving films I saw in 2010 (which was a very good year for cinema, by the way).
I fucking defy you to sit through the last 5 minutes of that flick and not bawl your goddamn eyes out — whether or not you have kids, like “cartoons,” or have even seen it before.
That should actually be the new test for replicants or something.
Doctorwho: “Many of them have very distinctly different characters, relationships, storylines, ambitions, and emotions.”
But they all boil down to talking CG objects/creatures [Or in The Incredibles' case, superheroes.] go on adventures.
“That’s like me saying all indie films are the same because they portray sad, depressing individuals who try to find happiness in life through unconventional means and relationships.”
No, all indie films are the same, because they focus on white trash/suburban dysfunctional families or reformed ex-gangsters trying to do right.
Alobar: Also, Coraline ripped off Spirited Away.
I’d also bring up a certain South Park line about indie films, but apparently, Ang Lee was ironically oblivious about it.
You think Toy Story 3 was made for kids, @Kaned? If you can stand that jokey, awful animation and corporate 3D gloss, more power to you. See you in line in 5 years for Toy Story: TNG 4D…
And @Kakihara – who gives a shit if Coraline “ripped off” Spirited Away? Both are great films. Art borrows from other art every damn day – it’s one of art’s purposes. Besides, Gaiman was already writing Coraline when Spirited Away was released…
Alobar: “And @Kakihara – who gives a shit if Coraline “ripped off” Spirited Away? Both are great films.”
One just seems like some lazy stop-motion Hot Topic wannabe to me…
“Besides, Gaiman was already writing Coraline when Spirited Away was released…”
He was also in close contact with Studio Ghibli before Spirited Away was in the can.
“No, all indie films are the same, because they focus on white trash/suburban dysfunctional families or reformed ex-gangsters trying to do right.”
I for one think DZ totally has a legitimate point about indie films. At least the ones that focus on white trash/suburban dysfunctional families or reformed ex-gangsters trying to do right.
Miyazaki totally ripped off Lewis Carroll.
Shouldn’t it be called “Monster’s U” rather than adding all the extra syllables? Did they think people wouldn’t know what the “U” stood for?
ghost: “Miyazaki totally ripped off Lewis Carroll.”
Everyone’s ripped off Lewis Carroll.
Too bad he wasn’t more original about who to rip off.
Monsters Unchained?
The student union is called Monster’s Hall.