Cars

[Haggis Killer]

Took Benzilla to see Cars at a special work screening on Sunday. Last time I'll get to do that sort of thing. After this friday, I'm on the outside of the movie biz.

Ben didn't make it for very long. The intensity of the racing scenes was too much for him. And the volume, even though we were at a "kid friendly" lower volume screening. I think the cars bumping & fighting on the track also didn't help him.

I thought he'd be all right once Mater was on the screen, but it was too late by then. I had to take him out, so Shoshana and her Mom could enjoy the rest of the film. We did that a few times on The Incredibles, but he was always willing to go back in and try for some more.

Not on this one.

Still, I think it's one of the best Pixar films yet. Possibly my favorite, even. Need to see it again.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Although, it wasn't my favorite Pixar film ever,(Incredibles, come on) it did have the best use of closing credits ever despite the fact it was devoid of a certain name. Has HK's name been forever blackened on the Pixar company rolls?

There was something about the cars color that was awesome in this film. I'm sure they said a small prayer of thanks they didn't have to deal with hair on this one. Instead they focused on glistening car paint. Everytime I saw it, I thought wow. I didn't say it aloud because I didn't want to interupt the fascinating conversations going on around me.

The story was as old as the hills and you saw the ending coming from a mile away, but it was so skillfully done, it didn't matter. As usual, each character was unique. Paul Newman did a great job and I"m glad he continues to find work.

My favorite review of why somebody didn't like the film was because they couldn't warm up to the fact of the cars. They just weren't cuddly enough for her. I'm going to have to find this woman and smother her with a cuddly toy.

[Haggis Killer]

In the five years I was at Pixar, I never spent a minute working on this one. Didn't avoid it; just never needed. And it was pretty much going on the whole time I was there.

[The Queen]

...because I don't particularly like cars, or racing. But I enjoyed the characters and the excellent voice work (although it drove me insane the entire film trying to figure out the Porsche's voice -- didn't realize it was Bonnie Hunt until after credits rolled. The story was, of course, one of the same old stories and it was clear within about 90 seconds exactly what was going to happen, but it worked for the most part. Larry the Cable Guy/Tow Mater was good. I didn't think the one "Git-R-Done" was necessary but one of his other signature lines, "I don't care who you are, that's funny," fit in nicely.

As usual for Pixar films, I look forward to seeing it again on DVD, so that I can catch all the dialog and visual gags I missed because of the distraction of the yapping around us.

And one of these days I've got to remember to bring a blanket to the theatere. Jeeez that air conditioning is turned up high!

[Drunk Monk]

...because on DVD, I almost pulled a Benzilla and turned it off. Sure, the new effects were cool. The neon reflections on the cars when Radiator Springs was relit was spectacular. The scenic drive was amazingly real. But it was painfully predictable. I called every single turn this film took before it happened, to the point of absurdity. Every single turn. And I wasn't even trying. Quite the opposite, I was just trying to relax and enjoy it. I really wanted to enjoy it. I've been eagerly waiting for it to appear on the rental shelf since it got released. I kept hoping it would go someplace original. And it was way too long - so much could have been edited out. It felt like Pixar phoned this one in. I've enjoyed all the other Pixar films, but Cars was a huge disappointment. The quick Pixar style was wity as always - loved the governator hummer, the Emeryville reference, the VW bugs, and that sort of thing - that style is imitated in kid flicks everywhere now, but seldom duplicated - but the car characters were caracature to almost to a discriminatory level. It was the worst Pixar film so far. T said she liked it, but wasn't enthusiastic, probably because her daddy kept spoiling the next scene with his comments. The best stuff was the credits - 1. because it was classic Pixar self-parody and 2. because it was over.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Maybe you should see some more Kid Flicks so you can learn to appreciate them? Congratulations on figuring the intricacies of kids film. They can be pretty twisty at times.

Seriously, the opening racing scene on the big screen rocked out. It almost makes me want to give up the Grateful Dead and join Nascar.

[Drunk Monk]

..the effects were cool. It's just the story was lame. The other Pixar flix weren't so predictable.