Cars (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Cars (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: Slick Movie With Lots of Heart
Summary: 5 Stars
My son and I watched Cars on the big screen and I LOVED it! The songs were perfect--especially Real Gone and Life is a Highway.
I've just watched the movie again, twice, on DVD. Unfortunately, my 25 inch TV screen doesn't do this movie justice! (It's one of those movies that pack a wallop when watched on the big screen...)
The realism achieved in this movie is amazing, especially with Lightning's shiny red paint job and the "fumes" rising from the drag cars. The writing is especially clever, too. (Look for the shapes in the rocky background at Radiator Springs.) For example, Harv, Lightning's fast-talking publicist/agent admonishes his client to get out of "Radiation Stinks" (you gotta hear it to appreciate it.)
Every single time I watch this movie, I choke up twice during the last race. There are some critics who say that Cars doesn't have "heart" like Toy Story or other Pixar features. I can't help but wonder if we're talking about the same movie! I feel that Cars has more heart than ANY Pixar movie thus far--especially as it shows that winning isn't everything and that dignity is found in much more than an "empty cup" (like the Piston Cup).
The voices in this movie are perfect, especially Owen Wilson as Lightning and Larry the Cable Guy as Mater. (Gosh, what a scene stealer that Mater is! And the funny thing is, if you watch the 16-minute "Inspiration for Cars" clip, you'll see the actual Mater--who sounds a lot like the character!)
Speaking of the 16 minute Inspiration clip, I'm surprised that this DVD didn't have more extras--not even a commentary or movie video or sample story boards or anything! That was a disappointment, I admit. (I'm used to Disney packing the extras on there! Heck, I found out neat trivia bits--like why number 96 was chosen for Lightning's car--but I didn't find this out from the DVD!)
However, the 16-minute clip was quite touching, especially hearing how the director was inspired for Cars. Turns out that he has several boys and his wife said to him one day: "You know, we supported you through Toy Story 1 and 2 and your other projects...but one day, you'll wake up to find that your little boys are now off to college."
This sobering realization spurred him to take an entire summer off with his wife and kids--a road trip in a motor home. He said it was the best time of his life. Alas, he combined the two loves of his parents (his mother was an artist and his Dad was a car buff) to create the wonderful movie Cars, which also reflects his newfound wisdom: you can push, push, push for that next accomplishment, and one day realize that you're friendless or perhaps alone.
There's also some great laughs in this movie; I LOVE the tractor-tipping scene with Mater and Lightning! (OMG--and that Frank is scary!)
As I said, the extras are slim pickins:
--New animated short Mater and the Ghostlight (Amusing. Fans of Mater will *especially* love this short!)
--Academy Award-nominated animated short: One Man Band (This was the cute short about two deuling musicians fighting for a coin that a girl wants to throw into a fountain. It's the same short shown at the theater before the Cars movie.)
--John Lasseter's inspiration for Cars (Very good. Inspirational in its own right.)
--Ratatouille teaser trailer (A movie about a mouse in France with expensive tastes)
--Deleted scenes
This is an exceptional movie in terms of script, voice acting, music, authenticity, and animation. Car and racing lovers will no doubt love it, as will fans of Pixar. (Personally, I can't STAND car racing--or country music--but I loved both the soundtrack and the plot! Goes to show that one doesn't HAVE to be into cars to enjoy this movie.)
Movie Review: so far, so good...
Summary: 5 Stars
Disney movies really aren't my thing. For example, I recently bought a few movies from WalMart: Serenity, Slither, and Final Destination II... none of which are Disney movies. I used to think that Disney movies were mainly for kids. Granted, I do have the entire Lilo and Stitch series, but beyond that, my late Disney experiences have been from watching old WD movies like Beauty and the Beast and Finding Nemo with my 5-year old cousin (and don't take that as a rip on Finding Nemo; I actually really liked that movie). What really attracted me to Cars in the first place, however, was the fact that it had Larry the Cable Guy in it, as the lovable but somewhat dimwitted Tow Mater (known throughout the film simply as Mater), seeing as I am a HUGE fan of Larry's material. I finally got to see the movie as a result of a bootleg copy I got from a friend. I must say, it is one of THE best Disney movies I have ever seen. It was very family-friendly and overall quite hilarious.
*Warning- Spoilers Ahead... Proceed With Caution*
The premise is quite simple: a NASCAR-like superstar named Lightning McQueen is one of three cars that tied for entrance into the Piston Cup, one of the most premier races in the nation. While on his way to the race, however, his transport truck Mac falls asleep, allowing Lightning to roll out the back of Mac's tailflap; when Lightning awakens, he chases down what he thinks is Mac, but isn't. He finally stops in the quiet little town of Radiator Springs... but not before ripping a statue of an engine out of its base and completely tearing up the main road through the city. The judge and town lawyer (who happens to be a very attractive female car [I feel really weird saying that]) sentence him to repave the road before he can leave for the race. He ends up having to repave the road twice, cause the first time he didn't do it right and the road was all bumpy.
Throughout the film, Lightning's pride almost stops him from being able to make the friendships he does while in Radiator Springs; guys like Mater (played/voiced superbly by Blue Collar Comedy Tour regular Larry the Cable Guy), a rusty old pickup truck who runs a towing company (Tow Mater... get it? hahaha... ok. I'll stop.) and Doc Hudson, a old (1951, I believe) Hudson Hornet who was the winner of 3 Piston Cups during his own racing days. He eventually becomes Mater's "new best friend" and goes out on a tractor-tipping expedition with him... which, btw, is one of the funniest scenes in the whole movie. The movie ends like you wouldn't expect it to (hint: Lightning doesn't win the Piston Cup), but Lightning ends up making a decision that leaves everyone watching with a nice, warm, happy feeling inside. ^_^
One of the nice things about Cars is that, like Finding Nemo, it is quite the unconventional movie. The title suggests that the movie will have something to do with racing and/or cars, but the real delight is in that the main characters are the cars, not the racecar drivers; in fact, there are no drivers. The cars in Cars are completely autonomous (they move on their own) but can talk, drive, and overall act like regular humans... remind you of the fish in Finding Nemo (which reminds me... I haven't reviewed F.N. yet... watch for my review a bit later). It's also, as I said, very funny, yet completely "safe for the whole family", to borrow the slogan of a local Christian radio station. I personally loved the movie and would highly and enthusiastically recommend this for anyone who loves movies about cars... or for that matter movies in general.
Rated: G
Andy ~O~
Movie Review: Stop and Smell the Pavement
Summary: 5 Stars
Race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) has had a fantastic rookie season and could easily become the first rookie to win the coveted Piston Cup. All he has to do is win the run off race against veteran The King (Richard Petty) and perpetual runner up Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton). If he can do that, he might be able to get a new sponsor. After all, being the spokescar for Rust-Eze is a little embarrassing for a sleek racecar like Lightning.
On the way to the big race in Los Angeles, Lightning accidentally gets separated from his transport truck and finds himself in Radiator Springs, where he accidentally destroys the road. Much to his dismay, he's sentenced to repave the road before he can continue on the way.
Radiator Springs is the town that time forgot. A former way station on the famous Route 66, it is barely surviving now that the big interstate has been build nearby, making stopping there no longer necessary. Of course, this is exactly the type of town Lightning wants to avoid. He's living life in the fast lane and just wants to get on his way.
But to complete his community service, he has to deal with the locals. Mater the Tow Truck (Larry the Cable Guy) quickly labels Lightning his best friend and wants to help him have a good time. Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt) is cute and distracts the rather single focused Lightning. In fact, everyone in town seems to enjoy having Lightning around. Everyone but Doc Hudson (Paul Newman). What kind of secret might he have? And will Lightning take what he is learning to heart?
This movie might bore kids. More so then other Pixar films, the main conflict is internal, focused on what Lightening is learning from his experiences in Radiator Springs. There is a villain, but he gets little screen time. And this is the first movie to not have on of Pixar's patented climaxes that will not quit.
All this isn't to say that the movie is bad. I saw it twice in the theater, and loved every minute of it both times. The story is ultimately heartwarming, the characters endearing, and the movie is funny. The tractor-tipping scene alone is guaranteed to make you laugh. Plus there is lots of fun during and after the final credits.
And then there's Pixar's attention to detail. Watching the car's backup lights turn on and off or the bugs being VW Beetles, for example, add to the charm. The animation in the movie is flawless, and many of the scenery shots are absolutely breathtaking. If I didn't know better, I would say they were real. This is a movie to watch on the big screen for those shots alone.
Surprisingly, this is the first Pixar film not to get a two disc special edition. Frankly, I find that disappointing. Still, the movie looks and sounds wonderful. There's a new short with Mater, deleted scenes, and the "One Man Band" short that showed in theaters before this movie.
While kids might not find it as engaging as Pixar's other films, they will enjoy it. The lack of extras is disappointing, but the film more then makes up for it. This is another triumph for Pixar.
Movie Review: Another Animation Success
Summary: 5 Stars
Pixar has proven its animation metal a few times. FINDING NEMO and THE INCREDIBLES are their most notable achievements, pulling off excellent scripts mixed with fun animation and great star-power voices.
But the one thing that animation studios (including Pixar) have trouble with is displaying human beings within their animation. Many times they look plastic or stilted. The Incredibles avoided this by harkening back to animations-of-ol' but applying new styles. Finding Nemo didn't have many human faces so it wasn't such a hurdle. With CARS, Pixar did something very wise: they didn't show a single human face. Personalities were under the hood (so to speak) of the automobiles which juxtaposed nicely with their humanity.
The story follows a cocky up-and-coming race car named Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson, WEDDING CRASHERS) who's triple tie win forces a showdown in California where the three would-be winners will face off. Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton, FIRST DAUGHTER) and The King (racing icon Richard Petty) are the other two contestants and they make it to California without any problems. They are ready to win "The Piston Cup." But Lightning's driver Mack (John Ratzenberger, CHEERS TV series) falls asleep on the road and Lightning slides out the back (also while asleep) while on "the highway." Lightning soon wakes up and tries to find Mack, but stumbles upon a one-cylinder town along abandoned Route 66 called Radiator Springs. Unfortunately, Lightning also tears up the town's road and must do his civic duty by pulling the paving machine for the length of the city. Stuck without any resources, Lightning grudgingly does the job, but not before learning to slow his rpm's and smell the proverbial roses. He meets up with Radiator Spring's city attorney Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt, MONSTERS, INC.), a sexy little Porsche model whom he finds himself oddly attracted to. There's also Doc Hudson (Paul Newman, THE STING) the town's physician/judge who harbors a big secret; Ramone (Cheech Marin, TIN CUP), a low-riding, paint-shop owner; Luigi (Tony Shalhoub, GALAXY QUEST), a tire store proprietor with a love of Italian cars; and, of course, Mater (Larry The Cable Guy), the rusted out but trustworthy tow truck who adds the most hilarity to the film.
Cars gushes with family friendly messages but no one should hold that against it. Animation features, by their very nature, are directed toward younger audiences and allowing that innocence to come out in Cars is pulled off well without becoming achingly super-sweet. But we've also learned that adults enjoy these movies and Cars does an admirable job of entertaining them, too. Most kids probably won't know what cow-tipping is, so might not understand the slow natured tractors that double as cattle and are tipped over by Mater and Lightning. But adults with experience in this area will probably laugh themselves silly.
That there are no human faces in Cars also aided it immensely. Suspending disbelief was easy and will allow kids and parents alike a great ride throughout.
Movie Review: Undoubtly this will become just like the rest of the PIXAR films: Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Though Cars will not premiere in theatres till June 9th, 2006, I sincerely beleive it will become another PIXAR classic.
In my past, I have considered every Teaser trailer of PIXAR's to give me the impression that the film would be disasterous. From A Bug's Life to The Incredibles, the teasers usually left me groaining, thinking of inevitable disaster. But every single time I saw the actual FILMS, I would be surprised, relieved, and overall GIDDY with happiness from the Quality of Work PIXAR puts into its films.
SO when I saw the Cars Teaser in November before seeing The Incredibles, I actually was impressed and now wait dearly for the upcoming film, because when six films out of six films made from PIXAR are MEGA-BOX OFFICE HITS, as well as Oscar Winners . . . then its future films are bound to be great, if not PERFECT!
I give this film 5 out of 5 for now . . . out of sheer precedence . . . but I doubt that I'll change it in the coming months!
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And now it is August 2006, and I have seen Cars and given it a lot of thought. While it may not be MY favorite PIXAR film to date, Cars remains an amazing film in all aspects, and it further shows how hard work & commitment really help in making a great film (Heck, it's the ONLY way!).
This film prefectly captures the spirit of a road trip. I may be off the edge here, but one of my favorite moments of the film was actually in the beginning, during the "Life is a Highway" Scene. The very animation is stunning, and it throws me back in a time when I was but a wee child looking out my side window and seeing all those fields go by. Honestly, I haven't been bored in a car since watching this movie. That Road Trip vibe just keeps reappearing, even if I only travel to the supermarket!!
One thing I do have to say, this DVD is NOT up to par. Sure, the Movie is Awesome, and We'll get two shorts and the teaser to Ratatouille, but after that, it's just a few deleted scenes & ONE Featurette!! This is seriously skimping out on the traditional PIXAR DVD, where two discs will give you tons of Bonus, too many to list (ALONGSIDE hundreds of little Easter Eggs). Many of the PIXAR DVDs out even include BOTH formats. Why this sudden change in tradtion? Aside from a possible Disney-initiated "Double Dipping," I really have no idea. This is a great film, the DVD should be JUST as great.
I'll still give this Film & DVD five stars. But if a Two-Disc does not come out, then I'll be dissapionted indeed . . . .
PS - GO SEE RATATOUILLE!! NEXT Summer is going to be GREAT!!