Pixar: A Quick Look Back (Part Two)

Continuing my look back at the Pixar library...




The Incredibles is, without a single doubt, my favorite Pixar film. It's writer and director Brad Bird, the first of the Pixar film-makers to be called an auteur, created a stunning film. It's action packed, mature, funny, touching, beautiful, and discussable (an under-rated aspect for most animated films). It was 33rd on my list of my Top 100 Films of All Time list...I love The Incredibles

Grade: A+



Pixar followed up my favorite film of their's with my least. I've heard that this is actually Disney/Pixar's most lucrative film, they sell a ton of backpacks and lunchboxes based off Cars, but it's a total dud in terms of entertainment. It's way too long, too dull, and takes place in a world I find totally uninteresting. It's earnest, and innocent, but a movie I never care to see again.

Grade: C-



Ratatouille is a great film that I did not like. I honestly feel that Ratatouille is perfectly constructed, beautifully animated, and cleverly written...I just did not fall for it. It's one of Ben's favorite Pixar films, and I can understand why, but it just did not work for me. I must mention the scene when the film's "villain", food critic Anton Ego, tastes the Ratatouille. It's a brilliant scene, and even though Ego's following voice-over is a bit...obvious, it does not take away from that moment.

Grade: B



Wall-E is, after the first Toy Story, Pixar's greatest achievement. The first 35 minutes of Wall-E are utterly splendid. The cinematography, the character animation that echoes of Chaplin and Keaton, the social commentary...it's an art-film disguised as a children's movie. You can read Sam and mine original thoughts here and my opinion hasn't changed. Wall-E is not my favorite Pixar film...but I think it might be the best.

Grade: A



Up is a bit over-rated. It's very good, and Dug is a great character, but I'm not sure why many critics called Up the best Pixar movie of all time. The opening montage moved many to tears, and it is incredibly well done, but I can't say I ever had that kind of connection with the film. I thought it was funny, and exciting, but I never thought it was the work of art that many critics claimed it was.

Grade: B+



That's all of them so far...my review of Toy Story 3 will go up Wednesday