Monsters Inc. (2003) 3D (2012) review

Running Time: 92 mins
Directed By: Pete Docter
Starring: Voice cast: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Frank Oz
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson
UK Release Date: 19th December 2012 - US/ 18th January 2013 -UK

Review: Every single Pixar film is known as a gem, even if you’re one of those where Wall•E and Ratatouille didn’t particularly move you. With the success of recent Pixar’s in 3D, it seems fitting that the original beauties should be converted and what better time for a Monsters Inc. in 3D than now, with Monsters University gracing our screens in the next few months.

  For those who don’t know, Monsters Inc. is set in the City of Monstropolis, which is inhabited by Monsters. To generate their power, some monsters work in the factory, Monsters Inc., to scare human children because their screams are collected as power. Human children are believed to be toxic in the monster world, so when one accidentally makes its way through a closet portal and into the hands of Sully, he and his best friend Mike have to find a way to get rid of her. In Pixar fashions, everything about Monstropolis is bright, colourful and beams off screen. The entire appearance of the film is glorious and it’s no wonder it cheers people up straight away.

  Monsters Inc. is certainly one of Pixar’s best films; there is no doubt about it. The laugh-out-loud physical gags for kids, mostly Mike, hit the adults, making it a bigger success than most kid’s films. Pixar, as everyone knows, don’t aim for the younger generation, but family. By seeing it in a room full of children and adults, laughing is more contagious and the majority of the hilarious events on screen end up making stomachs hurt from laughter. John Goodman, Billy Crystal and the rest of the brilliantly voiced cast aid the fun and likability of Monsters Inc. Mike and Sully are an iconic dynamic duo, and their chemistry from their voices is so evident at times, it feels as if Goodman and Crystal were destined for these roles in their career.

  On the most part, the 3D conversion works pretty well and most evidently during the opening sequence of them beautifully coloured doors. In the last 40 or so minutes, where the tension begins to build, after Mike and Sully realise Randall’s evil plan, the danger seems to be amplified by the 3D. The real scary monsters like Mr Waternoose and Randall appear far more frightening in 3D than before, as their spider legs or scales are in your face while the rushed chases through closet doors seem more like a narrow escape route. 3D puts audiences into a film and despite the fact it’s animation and about monsters, Pixar and the use of 3D do their job to make it feel real.

  There are moments when the 3D isn’t used as well as it could be, but it is only a conversion and the film didn’t plan on shooting things towards the screen and into people’s faces. The biggest benefit of 3D was the opening short of For The Birds, which seems like it was made for 3D with flying feathers.

  11 years on and Monsters Inc. hasn’t lost any of its spark and fun, while the 3D works nicely for kids who have yet to see it on the big screen. One of Pixar’s winners still remains on top.

5/5

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Brave (2012)

Running Time: 100 mins
Directed By: Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson
UK Release Date: 13th August -UK

Quick Plot: Adventurous Princess Merida, of ancient Scotland, is set to choose a suitor for marriage as part of her fate. Hoping to change her fate, Merida is granted one wish but is tricked into a curse and must use her courage and strength to do what is best.

Review: Setting a family animation in ancient Scotland, as opposed to the sea, a monster headquarters or a young boy’s room could seem like a risky move for Pixar, but keeping their family approved fun and heart-warming glow, Brave is a Pixar charmer all over.

In a world where trailers reveal too much of a story and often expose twists, Brave’s publicity did everything right. With so much concerning the film back when it was titled ‘The Bear and the Bow’, Pixar have been able to keep the majority of ins and outs under wraps meaning that the film is full of surprises.

From the moment the film starts, Brave sets up the story with a touching cold opening to enlighten viewers to the characters back-story before it gets to the main tale. Unsurprisingly, Brave’s character development is an essential part to the film’s story, at the same time focusing on the relationship between audience and characters- a fundamental Pixar feature. Merida’s flashbacks and narration give her something a lot of female leading Pixar characters are missing. Without using a heartbreaking montage like Up, Merida’s small intro still captures the sense of connecting emotionally with characters for audiences of all ages. Strength and boldness define Merida, and although at times the sympathy falls on her side, she’s a courageous female influence nonetheless. A perfect example of a Disney Princess fighting their own battle.

It’s not Merida who sticks out as the main attraction of the show though; it’s her three little red-haired, adorable brothers, who go about causing more mayhem and troubles than her sister. Every time they are on the screen, both children and adults laugh because they give the film the cute factor.

Clearly technology is advancing as the years go on, so Brave has an advantage over previous Pixar films in that it is visually gorgeous. There are some stunning landscape shots of Scottish grounds as well as Merida’s vibrant hair, and despite the fact it’s all animated, it feels real.’ Real’ in the sense that it feels extraordinary to be so high up over glorious castles and waterfalls, being able to notice all the fine, human-like details.

Like all family films, the message in Brave is touching in all aspects of growing up, family bonds and being true to yourself. Like Finding Nemo and the father-son relationship, Brave emotionally portrays the precious bond between mother and daughter. There are a few parts of weepiness of course, but without it Brave would just be a tale of a rebellious teen getting her way. In this one, Merida learns a lot while being independent.

Being relatively short for a present day summer flick, Brave’s ending comes almost too quickly. With the story continually moving on to the next part, there is no time to feel discontented. Having the ability to not drag is something very few family films get right, but it’s something Pixar nearly always achieve.

At first glance, Brave might seem less of an adventure compared to talking toys or cars, but Brave’s glorious colours and touching sentiments make it just as, if not more, enjoyable and captivating as other Pixar greats.

4/5

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Monsters University: Teaser trailer‏

This is my second Disney post in less than a week, but there’s good reason for it. Today I got sent the very first teaser for Pixar’s Monsters University and I couldn’t wait to post it!

Along with it, Disney have released a little more concerning the plot:

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. “Monsters University” unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

The first teaser is simply marvellous and nothing less than we’d expect from Pixar. If this is the quality that only a minute of a teaser holds, then there is no doubt the film will be another success for the team.

Can you believe it’s been 11 years since the first film was released?! Make sure you watch the trailer in HD as the colours are bold, vibrant and gorgeous.

 

Monsters University is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”) and produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”). The film is due Summer 2013 for UK cinemas.

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Cars 2 (2011)

Running Time: 112 mins
Directed By: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis
Starring: (voices) Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Joe Mantegna, Cheech Marin, John Turturro, Emily Mortimer
Screenplay: Ben Queen, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis, Dan Fogelman
UK Release Date: 22nd July

Quick Plot: Every one's favourite race car, Lightening McQueen is back and this time competing in the World Grand Prix but while in Tokyo, McQueen's best friend Mater gets mistaken for a spy involved in a top secret investigation that might just affect the World Grand Prix.

Review: Everyone loves Pixar. Without a doubt they are at the top level of animation films, it's no surprise that the films are getting more vibrant, stunning and magical as they go along. Cars 2, I think, is so far the most beautiful and colourful Pixar film out of all 12 of their feature length films but that could be based on the evolution of the technology. My 4 year old cousins enjoyed the film a lot, they laughed, adored the new cars and thoroughly loved the action. Asking them what they thought after they gave it a thumbs up and one of them asked if they could go to the shop to buy it on DVD already! It's a must see for the kids this Summer and it does everything it tempts in the trailer, explosions, guns, new cars and laughs.
When I first heard of the plot to have Mater a more central character than Lightening McQueen for Cars 2 I was intrigued to see how Pixar would manage to keep the child audience fixated on Mater but they seemed to breeze past and the turnout was an incredible choice and made the sequel a different plot concept all together that worked perfectly. In the first film Mater was the additional character who added the humour but because he was the main character in Cars 2, I found the film a lot more funnier than the first and a lot more entertaining. Though I believe the English voice talents were part of my like for the film with Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer having such iconic voices, especially Caine's.
This visuals, like I've said, were completely stunning and the bright, vibrant colours got me completely enchanted by the beauty of Cars 2 but with that being said I feel as if it could have had a whole lot more in everything else. The story wasn't predictable which was great for people like me who try to guess everything, even in children films but I still felt something was missing.
But let's not dwell on my emotional disconnection with the film instead everything I loved about it.
I loved the energy and friendship bonds in Cars 2. It's nothing compared to Woody and Buzz or Karl and Russell but McQueen and Mater's friendship in this film has come a long way from the first film which I think gives off a good message for youngsters. Although the love story involving Mater is cute, but that's the extent of it and the ongoing romance between McQueen and Sally reaches the same level as the rest of the romance in the film.
I feel proud I noticed the A113 in Cars 2 (that is in every Pixar film if you didn't know) but I feel even more proud that I might have found the character who resembles a character in Pixar's next film Brave. In a few months time or when the DVD is released I will find confirmation of that character but at the moment I have a tiny hunch that one of the cars in the film had the, already, iconic Princess Merida's big, frizzy red hair- but I could have been imagining or creating things in my young Pixar fan head. Didn't spot much else because I was too fixated on the film but am sure a second viewing of the film in a few months time will give me the chance to spot more Pixar Easter Eggs!


It's a great film and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first in fact! The animation is absolutely beautiful and Pixar have made yet another great feature but with the success of  the magnificent Toy Story 3 last year, it was always going to be a steep mountain for Pixar to climb to try and create a good sequel. They've accomplished it but not greatly. I will no doubt watch Cars 2 again for my own delight and buy it as part of my Pixar collection. It's a hit for the kids this Summer and it's in my good books.


3.5/5

Cars 2 Trailer

 

Feature aside, the latest Pixar short 'Toy Story Hawaiian Vacation' is extremely enjoyable, entertaining and fun. The characters showing off their individual charm like always and it's delivers a funny storyline and works superlatively. It's a great add-on to one of the greatest film trilogy's and it definitely needed to be mentioned in my review.

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