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Not sure if they've gotten bad or not. They've made some absolutely brilliant films but even in the early days I thought there were a few duds. Monsters Inc never did it for me, but A Bugs Life in particular was horrendous IMO. Toy Story, Up and Inside Out are brilliant though. On a potentially controversial point I don't get the hype over Wall-E. Absolutely hated it. |
Are Pixar really as good as everyone says? • Page 2
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Pierre2k 1,466 posts
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Registered 9 years ago -
up_the_ante 1,574 posts
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Registered 14 years ago@Dirtbox I could sum up Fantasia in a lot less words than Toy Story. Toy Story is a fun kids romp on one level but has the whole subtext of relationships on another. -
mal 29,326 posts
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Registered 20 years agoRogueywon wrote:
Studio Ghibli laid almost everyone off after 'When Marnie Was There', as far as I know. At least most of the animators have ended up at Studio Ponoc, which I think was set up by the director of 'When Marnie...'. At the moment Ghibli is merely a publishing label most recently giving their name to a dutch animation (that Red Turtle film), but they are supposedly starting up again now Miyazaki's announced he's coming out of retirement to direct a last feature.
I think they're on a downward trend now. You only stay on top of this game for so long. Even Studio Ghibli are a shadow of their former selves (and barely even a functioning company any more).
There was a dip in quality after Miyazaki announced his retirement. There was a bit of a struggle to find anyone capable of his type of stories and storyboarding and directing anything of the same quality. But Studio Ponoc's first picture is out soon here I think ('Mary and the Witch's Flower') and it's based on a kids book by an English author like 'When Marnie...', 'Howl's...' and 'Arriety'. It probably doesn't hurt that the girl on the poster is very reminiscent of Kiki, or perhaps the youngest from 'Totoro' grown up a little.
Regarding Pixar, 'Monsters Inc' is a classic. Cars was their first creative misstep as I recall, but as has been said 'Inside Out' was proof they're not bankrupt, and can perhaps just afford to take more risks now. Disney by comparison produced shit between about '75 and '05 as I recall without looking up their films in that period.
I didn't especially like Ratatoulli when I was it by the way. Seemed like classic christmas crap when I saw it, although I might have overimbibed on the christmas spirit itself at the time, I suppose. -
samharper 1,124 posts
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Registered 9 years agoBug's Life was not great (don't go towards the light scene excepted) and Cars 2 was a bit of a wreck, but yeah I think they generally live up to the hype. Some weaker films like Ratatouille are made up for by some excellent ones like Up. I thought Cars 3 was fantastic. Don't think they've produced anything absolutely outstanding since Monsters, Inc., but the first half of Wall.E was gold.
That said, I'm getting confused as to what is Pixar and what isn't. Could have sworn Big Hero 6 was... -
JoelStinty 9,530 posts
Seen 30 minutes ago
Registered 8 years agoPersonally i think they are, sure they have stuff like cars , but a large portion of their out put are stone cold classics. Incredibles, Inside out, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Toy story series, Wall E, and even films like Ratatouille which are more traditional are blooming marvellous. And i haven't even mentioned UP (which i didn't get on with). Like Studio Ghibli , they create worlds and characters that capture the kids imagination, alongside dramas with full character arcs for adults to get their teeth into. Considering all the shit that gets released (particularly in animated films) and you see the calibre of films Pixar released , yeah they are are as good as everyone says.
Maybe the bastion as passed on now, we're in purple patch for animation, with so many great movies coming out (lego movie, Red Turtle, Princess of Kuguya etc etc) but it was good whilst it lasted, and i'm sure we haven't heard the last of them either. -
elstoof 28,125 posts
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elstoof 28,125 posts
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Registered 16 years agomal wrote:
Cars made, still makes, a fortune in merchandising, hence the sequels. Disney’s comeback began in the early 90s, with Little Mermaid and Lion King. 80s were packed with shit like Oliver & Company
Cars was their first creative misstep as I recall, but as has been said 'Inside Out' was proof they're not bankrupt, and can perhaps just afford to take more risks now. Disney by comparison produced shit between about '75 and '05 as I recall without looking up their films in that period. -
The only Pixar film I've not really enjoyed has been Cars. The rest I've seen have ranged from enjoyable through to classics.
Toy Story 1-3, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. The Incredibles and Wall-E are classics (though I do think that Wall-E is only a classic because of the first half, but it's enough). Ratatouille, Up and Inside out are unusually good too. Monsters University and Bugs are enjoyable but throwaway. I've not see the others, but get the impression they aren't classics.
Pixar are not infallible, but they're still the most consistent of the CG studios. Dreamworks are incredibly hit and miss, and
I enjoyed the first Kung Fu Panda and I really love both How To Train Your Dragon films, but neither come close to Pixar at their best. I do like Disney's own more recent stuff. I can see a few people criticising it, but I really enjoyed Frozen and Zootopia (better name than Zootropolis) was great. -
Not-a-reviewer 7,686 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 7 years agoI don't know many people that are certain a new Pixar film will be great these days. They have a far better hit rate than most even over the last 5-10 years but after the cars trilogy, the dinosaur one and the bear one there's no reason to assume their next film will be amazing. -
retro74 3,798 posts
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Registered 13 years agoInteresting that Ratatouille is seen as one of the average ones on here but it's the best rated by critics they've ever done
The new one, Coco, looks like a straight rip-off of The Book of Life to me -
reviewer wrote:
I don't think the Bear one was them?
I don't know many people that are certain a new Pixar film will be great these days. They have a far better hit rate than most even over the last 5-10 years but after the cars trilogy, the dinosaur one and the bear one there's no reason to assume their next film will be amazing. -
Dougs 100,414 posts
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Registered 18 years agoHa, that's exactly what my son said when he saw the trailer for Coco.
I agree with Zom on Moana. It's possibly Disney's best yet. -
mangojoe 2,529 posts
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Registered 11 years agoI think Frozen will go down as a Disney Classic imo. Many films after though are trying to chase that "let it go" kinda song in a film. See Moana .
As for Pixar I agree with the comment about many great ideas in some of their films then having a shit 2nd half. Some sequels that aren't needed and they are doing an Incredibles 2 this year.
I think some of the magic is going now as the effects aren't a new thing anymore and we have grown up! Probably better asking the opinion of my 5 year old. -
Zomoniac 10,628 posts
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Registered 17 years agomal wrote:
Between ‘89 and ‘94 they put out The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
Disney by comparison produced shit between about '75 and '05 as I recall without looking up their films in that period. -
simpleexplodingmaybe 19,992 posts
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Registered 6 years agoPixar have definitely settled into a bit of a plateau recently but when they were on it they really were doing some of the best films of any kind coming out of Hollywood.
And when it comes to kids films just look at that run when Pixar and Dreamworks were making rival films on the same subject, Pixar won hands down every time.
Cars is probably the cut off point if there is one for when things start to settle but you can be releasing a Wall-E every 18 months. -
Tomo 19,565 posts
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Registered 18 years agoMola_Ram wrote:
This times a million.
They were spectacularly good until they got bought by Disney
Disney buyout was about 2006. Soon after this they released Ratatouille, Wall-E and Up, which were in production before Disney could properly sink its claws in, and hence maintained Pixar's record of great films. Then Toy Story 3 happened which was awesome (not sure if this was greenlit by Disney or it was already in the works). And then by the time the Disney effect had fully struck, we had Cars 2, Monsters sequel and Brave which were pretty mediocre.
This is why I'm surprised the Star Wars films have been so good thus far. But give those 2-3 more years and they'll be garbage too. Alarm bells are already sounding for the Han Solo film. -
simpleexplodingmaybe 19,992 posts
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Registered 6 years agoRatatouille is so underappreciated
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disusedgenius 10,677 posts
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Registered 14 years agoZuluHero wrote:
Although this did only happen once Pixar more fully merged with Disney and effectively took over Disney Animation at the top.
Moana isn't pixar though. In fact now Disney have caught up in the CG department, combined with their ability to tell more than one-note storytelling have surpassed Pixar. -
Fake_Blood 11,093 posts
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Registered 12 years agoOne think I like about Pixar is they don't use famous voice actors. -
Zomoniac 10,628 posts
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Registered 17 years agoTheir first film had Tom Hanks in the lead role and starred Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn and John Ratzenberger. -
simpleexplodingmaybe 19,992 posts
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Registered 6 years agoI think the difference is Tom Hanks plays Woody whereas other companies will put someone like Will Smith or Eddie Murphy and just have them do them -
Dougs 100,414 posts
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Registered 18 years agoAnd Edina Menzal is up there with the best in musical theatre. -
simpleexplodingmaybe 19,992 posts
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Registered 6 years agoAnd Newman from Seinfeld
Newman -
Lukus 24,639 posts
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Registered 17 years agoI'd quite like to see Pixar do a film purely for adults. No, not hentai, but something that isn't designed to appeal to both children and adults. Just something completely unrestrained by studios or targets. It'd be interesting to see what direction they headed in. Some of the themes in their family films are ripe for further exploration, without simply ending in a comedy chase scene. -
Lukus 24,639 posts
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Registered 17 years agoNorm from Cheers.
Goodman.
Ellen.
Buscemi.
Owen Wilson.
Billy Crystal.
Yeah, no famous people in Pixar films... -
Zomoniac 10,628 posts
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Registered 17 years ago@Dougs she is, but Frozen isn’t Pixar. -
Steve Jobs played a central role in their history, so Pixar wins by divine authority -
Lukus wrote:
Wasn't that what Monster's University was? To be honest, as a grown man I think I missed the comedy chase scene at the end.
I'd quite like to see Pixar do a film purely for adults. No, not hentai, but something that isn't designed to appeal to both children and adults. Just something completely unrestrained by studios or targets. It'd be interesting to see what direction they headed in. Some of the themes in their family films are ripe for further exploration, without simply ending in a comedy chase scene.
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