How low can you go?

Originally Posted By skinnerbox

In other words, Cars 2 is indeed a very weak film, and deserving of its 34% in RT? That's what you're arguing?

So, you agree with the critics, that the other Pixar films all deserved their 95% - 99% ratings (sans Cars at 74%)? And that none of those were overrated? Not even a little bit? That all of the critics were genuinely delighted with all of the previous Pixar films except for the Doc Hollywood remake? And that most of them genuinely hate this one for good reason?

Sorry, but I don't buy it.

Either these critics were too generous in their previous Pixar film reviews and are now waking up to reality, or the conspiracy theory has some merit and many critics are slamming the film because of some personal bias against Lasseter and/or Larry the Cable Guy. For the group as a whole to swing from one end of the review spectrum to the other for a film that is no where near as "rotten" as the picture they're painting, something must have shifted in their overall attitude towards Pixar as a studio. There's simply too much venom in the Cars 2 reviews to make any sense otherwise.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

Depends on the reviewer. I've read quite a few now out if curiosity and some really are pretty venomous. But many are just of the "could have been better" variety yet count as just as "rotten" on RT.

Their system really is limited and is basically "pass/fail". I can certainly believe that the previous Pixars besides Cars got 90+% "pass" ratings legitimately.

Now some of the critics have been harsh indeed and SOME of them might have been animated (sorry) by animus, and others by disappointment at seeing the first Pixar they didn't like (leading to a harsher review, because they expected more). But many just seemed like generic "eh" reviews.

 

Originally Posted By mawnck

>>o, you agree with the critics, that the other Pixar films all deserved their 95% - 99% ratings (sans Cars at 74%)?<<

Again, check Metacritic. A more accurate assessment of the critics' opinions, with ratings in the high 70s to mid 90s (with winds from the SSW at 5 MPH).

But to the point of your question, I say yeah. They really are that good, and Cars 2 really is that bad. It happens to the best studios. The numbers are polarized by the fresh/rotten thing, but make perfect sense given the quality of the movies.

See also: Tales from Earthsea. WAY worse than Cars 2.

 

Originally Posted By JeffG

>> "In other words, Cars 2 is indeed a very weak film, and deserving of its 34% in RT? That's what you're arguing?" <<

I actually liked the film, but I'm not so arrogant to believe that critics that disagree with my opinion of a film must be basing their reviews on something other than their own genuine reaction to the movie. Critics are human beings with their own likes and dislikes, just like anyone else.

>> "Either these critics were too generous in their previous Pixar film reviews and are now waking up to reality, or the conspiracy theory has some merit and many critics are slamming the film because of some personal bias against Lasseter and/or Larry the Cable Guy" <<

I think you are pretty firmly in tin-foil hat territory here. I seriously doubt that most film critics are nearly as aware, much less interested, in the corporate aspects of Disney/Pixar as those on these boards.

As Dabob2 stated pretty eloquently, sites like Rotten Tomatoes really only provide a vague, high-level overview of a film's critical reaction. If you read the actual text of the reviews, you will find a pretty broad range of opinions and any kind of conspiracy theory quickly becomes highly unbelievable.

-Jeff

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

Wasn't there always one critic that had it out for Pixar and on each film would be the sole dissenting voice on rt.com? Who was that? I would be interested in reading his review of Cars 2!

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

That would be Armond White. He takes the contrarian position just be cause he can. For example I believe he thought Toy Story 3 was just an excuse of a toy ad while Transformers 2 was somehow a warning of technology run amok.

 

Originally Posted By ChiMike

Thanks DDMAN!

I just tried to look for his review and it is not listed. Too funny. The guy finally has the chance to take pithy, on-target, shots and he takes a week off.

 

Originally Posted By cheesybaby

<--- Big fan of the first Cars, very disappointed with Cars 2. A loud, talky mess.

 

Originally Posted By ecdc

Mawnck speaks truth about Metacritic.

JeffG always speaks truth.

I moved today, so after the unpacking maybe we can hit the local googoplex and check it out.

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

^^ Where to