Originally Posted By actingforanimators I've posted this same thought elsewhere, but thought it worth saying here. Something that isn't being talked about, and which I very strongly suspect has influenced CARS, is that John Lasseter (and Pixar in general) lost his story compass with the passing of Joe Ranft. Joe's influence is in the best parts of CARS - particularly with Mater and the kind of character specifics that make stand out in contrast to Doc, for example - two vastly different ways of underscoring the moral conscience of Radiator Springs. Mater's is much more moving, to me, and much less forced. I do not believe Joe Ranft's passing will have as negative an effect as...say Frank Wells's passing had on Michael Eisner, which I believe to have been the point from which everything was forever different at Disney. However, I do think it means that somewhere within Feature Animation John will have to find someone who has a similarly free-spirited sense of what matters and what doesn't in telling a great story through fascinating characters. Whether he carries on in the heart of Joe Ranft or ends up gilding it and making it impossible for anyone to measure up to...well, that will make the difference. Joe Ranft didn't take things too seriously, although he was very emotionally complex and something of a sentimental guy. The paradox of that is that he had a particular genius for cultivating the heart of the least likely heroes, and he also understood when to walk away from a character beat or a story beat before it became overtly sentimental. Joe Ranft passed that understanding on fairly well to a number of people up at Pixar as well as back at Disney. Mike Gabriel is one of those people, and his sensibilities in this way are truly superior. John Musker is another, and his association with John, while not as strong as Joe's was, is close enough to have potential impact. How Lasseter will respond to counsel from these people and a few others, once he starts providing real guidance to WDFA, will be the deciding factor. In the end, however, I sincerely think CARS suffered from the almost too precious hold and oddly reverent tinkering Lasseter applied in the last year of production, just after Joe Ranft's tragic death. The story is so careful at times that it actually feels "scrubbed" of anything quirky and cleansed of the kind of moments it otherwise could have earned quite nicely, and authentically without too many lingering shots or instrumental reminders. More like its end credits. If Lasseter had been willing to take it all a little less seriously at times - to walk away before the sentiment became overt - then I think the film would have been much more like the open road it seeks to celebrate and bring to life, but instead sadly ends up memorializing with a misty nostalgia that is simply too dull, too long, and too obvious.
Originally Posted By hopemax While, Cars may not be as satisfying as Monster, Inc or Finding Nemo, it is certainly one of the better animated movies I have seen recently. It's interesting to go back and look at the reviewer's previous grades. Movies that rated higher than Cars, in this reviewers opinion. Over the Hedge (B) Home on the Range (A-) Lion King 1 1/2 (A-) And tied with Chicken Little, Teacher's Pet and Pooh's Heffalump Movie. Never in a million years, would I put Cars in this group of films.
Originally Posted By Rivkah86 Well I just saw it last night with my family, and we all just loved it. The animation was A-MAZ-ING!!! The scenery was breathtaking, and at times, the cars looked so real, you might think they were live action. The whole story was sweet and heartwarming, and it's become one of my top three favorite Pixar movies. My favorite scenes were the drive that Lightning took with Sally, and the final race all the way through to the end of the movie. The end credits were hilarious, and I really enjoyed the new short at the beginging of the movie. A+!
Originally Posted By Ursula I saw this movie this morning courtesy of Disney. They had a CM screening this morning in Burbank. I loved the movie and disagree with the Toon Talk writer. I don't think the villian was the veteran car who never won (I don't knw the names by heart..yet!). I thought the villian was Lightning himself, as he was on a quest to find his better self. Even though it was not self-inflicted, self-discovery seems to be the driving plot. The scenery was breathtaking, and I found the plot to be just find. The artisty of having cars stand in for certain rock formations was pretty cool. I also loved "One Man Band." I found it adorable and I'm very happy there are no words in it as it won't drive my husband nuts in creating the DVD sound files for all languages, as I know this will become a popular short.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I saw it last night for the second time (went to the Premiere in Charlotte) at a drive in, of all places. It was sold out, which apparently never happens. I still think that it is a great movie, but not as good as after seeing it the first time. There were people talking in the opening sequence where he is pumping himself up, and it became really difficult to connect with Lightning without the 30 second intro at the beginning. Without that, the entire character was lost and really difficult to grasp onto as a main character/hero. After a second viewing, I realized how amazing Sally's description of the old Raidiator Springs is. It gives each of the characters a huge backstory and makes the entire area come alive. It manages to do all of this without feeling forced at all, and even more amazingly, by a character who never actually saw what the city used to be. I thought that One Man Band (which wasn't shown at the Premeire) was really funny. I went with a bunch of my friends, and we're all in band. There was one girl who came along who plays cello, and the competetion between the string player and the band guy was particularlly funny for a group of people who pretty much live that way. Overall, the film was really good and I plan on seing it at least once more before the DVD comes out, to see what it is like inside. I found a shot that needed to be changed (the stoplight was changing instead of flashing when the city was being sleepy) but I really couldn't find any other plot holes or things that didn't fit in the context of the story. I think it will do very well, and is probably one of the most character driven movies ever animated (second to possibly Monsters, Nemo, and Pocahontas). One quick question: the review said that this was the first Pixar movie without humans. I don't remember seeing any in A Bug's Life. Did I miss them, and if so, when do they come along?
Originally Posted By FoxHound I had very low expectations for this movie, mostly because of the subject matter and some of the negative reviews. I ended up loving it and cannot wait to see it again. I've never collected toy cars, but I'll probably end up getting all the die cast ones I can find. Not to spoil the end credits, but I hope they make toy cars out of some the characters seen during that segment!
Originally Posted By MouseBear Salutations All, I went to "Cars" with two ten year olds. The movie does wander a bit and I think it could have been tightened up. I noticed that the boys (and my attention) did tend to wander during the slow parts. That being said I thought the movie ended extremely well, and that it had a great message. Not Pixar's best effort, but still an excellent movie. ) MouseBear
Originally Posted By AZDLDad <<Santa Monica-The film makes you wanna visit those forgotten roadside towns.>> I felt this way too. I grew up riding between and lived in many Route 66 towns- Amarillo, Oklahoma City, and Miami, OK. Before it took the Big I-40 moniker. I am glad I got to experience a time when it was fun to ride 8-10hrs between parents homes and stopping every few hours at a gas station and getting an ice cold soda in a 'glass' bottle from a 'Coke machine.' This instilled in me as an adult the desire to find those out-of-the-way places and pleasures I seek today. Whether it be a small niche in a Disney park or a quaint town off the beaten path on a roadtrip. Life is a highwaaaay.......
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Over the Hedge (B) Home on the Range (A-) Lion King 1 1/2 (A-) And tied with Chicken Little, Teacher's Pet and Pooh's Heffalump Movie.<< Yeah, erm, Kirby, there is definitely an issue here somewhere . . . <------reminded for some reason of Roger Ebert's review of "Howl's Moving Castle." Ebert: It has amazing visuals, a great story, relatable characters, it really takes you to another world, I give it thumbs down. Roeper: Whaaaaaaaaat? WHY? Ebert: It wasn't as good as "Spirited Away."
Originally Posted By TheRedhead Teacher's Pet and Lion King 1 1/2 are both better movies than Cars. There. I said it. Ah. It feels good.
Originally Posted By smeeeko Lion King 1 1/2 was good but wasn't that direct to video?? Teachers Pet should have been though.. if it wasn't, (the songs were good though).
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^ However, NOT better by a long shot than any Pixar film including Cars. =) sorry different category alltogether.. It's ok if you don't like Cars but please don't compare it to Disney Saturday morning stuff. Not even close. =)
Originally Posted By Nestle i thought it was SO cute! I agree with all the positive reviews about the characters, design, etc.
Originally Posted By electra Lion King 1 1/2 better than Cars?!? O__o Lion King 1 1/2 was just a Dreamworked version of the first film with more whining from Timon...
Originally Posted By DlandJB Loved Cars. I thought it was a terrific family film. Amazing animation, good story, fun characters, lots of laughs and little asides that make me want to see it again to see what I missed the first time. It was refreshing after sitting through a slew of animated garbage recently (The Wild, Madagascar, Hoodwinked, and even Chicken Little) to see a well thought out, entertaining film with a positive message. I agree, I'd like to have more music, but otherwise, loved it and can't wait to see it again.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I've seen it three times now, and enjoyed it each time. I do agree that the story sags a bit in the middle. (P.S. Anyone else notice that the Users Rating over at Rottentomatoes.com is at 90%?)
Originally Posted By DlandDug 77% is the Critics Rating-- which would change only if new critics weigh in. I didn't track the Users Rating over the weekend.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Ah... thanks for the correction. No matter, I think it's a wonderful film... I want to see it again.
