Home Theater Forum - View Single Post

Phil Florian · 06-10-2006, 12:14 PM

Saw this last night at a Drive-In movie theater (we have a new baby and a 7 year old so it was the only way to get the whole family out...I refuse to even consider taking a baby to a regular movie theater). While not the best way to see a movie it was still a hoot. Also it is a fitting way to watch a movie about cars that has, as pointed out, a whole scene at the end set in a Drive-In. Cool stuff.

Put me up there with what seems to be the majority of folks here who a) didn't think the trailers did much but b) had faith in Pixar. I found it to be a fun movie with a good message, some nice performances and the usual Pixar visual wizardry that puts all other current-release animated movies to shame. The background designs (the moutains look like bits and pieces of cars jutting up through the earth) and the dedication to a car-centered world (even the bugs are cars) were beautiful. The story was a classic "fish out of water" tale that I shouldn't have to remind everyone didn't start with "Doc Hollywood." Recent animated movies like "Madagascar" comes to mind as well as Pixar's own "Toy Story." Or "Finding Nemo" (a literal fish-out-of-water story at times). The voice performances were top notch and the fact that they didn't rely on celebrity voices only (as most animated movies seem to do) was nice. Sure, it was known actors but they weren't playing themselves but playing characters. In particular Paul Newman was awesome and I have to say Larry the Cable Guy was good, too. Michael Keaton sounded more animated than he has in the last dozen movies or so. Nice stuff.

For kids, it is very inoffensive and not at all scary. My daughter loved it and though not her favorite nothing was as frightening (even in a fun way) as bits in some of the other movies. I agree with above comments that it is a much more leisurely paced movie than some of the others. I think that has to do with the lack of a real "villain" or any real threats. Nemo had sharks, fisherman, latern fish, etc. Toy Story had the neighbor kid and Bug's Life had a plague of grasshoppers. This really was more of an accidental tourist sort of deal with the only thing at stake being the hero and his dreams of grandeur. I must say, it was a refreshing change of pace. I think just about any kid could watch it and enjoy it.

Actually, the more offensive stuff was in the trailer for "Flicka." It wasn't that bad but two uses of the word "damn" was a bit heavy for me and my child who really didn't need to hear that once, let alone twice. Hmm...

It was nice to see a movie not rely completely on in-jokes or references to other movies (though, as in all Pixar movies, there are references to some of their other flicks). When most animated movies these days HAVE to have some references to current (or not so current) pop culture and product placement it was nice to see that mostly missing in this. The ones I did like were the aforementioned "Lightyear" tires, the inclusion of some real race-car driver voices and most of all to this NPR-loving fan was the inclusion of the "Car Talk" guys from NPR. That was a great treat.

I think all the negative criticism comes it not being the high water mark of "The Incredibles." That movie was definitely not for the young-youngsters but it was an outstanding family movie that worked on so many levels that anything following that would be sort of a let-down. And "Cars" really isn't, it is just another fine movie in the Pixar catalogue.

As usual the pre-show short "One Man Band" was yet another fine short, too. This one has a pair of one-man bands competing for the attention of a little girl and the coin she had intended to throw into a fountain. Simple, wonderful to look at a nice way to get into the night. Speaking of that, who does these movies? Is it done by the "next team," in this case the Ratatouille team? During Incredibles we had a movie set in a desert which I could see being done by the Cars team while One Man Band looked to be set in a little street scene in Paris, not unlike the next Pixar movie. Just curious. Neat way to overlap the teams.

Anyone believing the negative reviews or worse selling them can take all the one-off Pixar knock-offs that dot the movie screens this summer. "Cars" proves again that Pixar is king of the road. As always, stay through the credits as some fine bit happen as in all of them. Not outtakes as in previous years (I would assume those would be on the DVD) but something equally funny.

06-10-2006, 12:14 PM	#6 of 19
Phil Florian Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Local Time: 07:58 AM Local Date: 12-03-2008 Posts: 1,249	Re: Cars (merged) Saw this last night at a Drive-In movie theater (we have a new baby and a 7 year old so it was the only way to get the whole family out...I refuse to even consider taking a baby to a regular movie theater). While not the best way to see a movie it was still a hoot. Also it is a fitting way to watch a movie about cars that has, as pointed out, a whole scene at the end set in a Drive-In. Cool stuff. Put me up there with what seems to be the majority of folks here who a) didn't think the trailers did much but b) had faith in Pixar. I found it to be a fun movie with a good message, some nice performances and the usual Pixar visual wizardry that puts all other current-release animated movies to shame. The background designs (the moutains look like bits and pieces of cars jutting up through the earth) and the dedication to a car-centered world (even the bugs are cars) were beautiful. The story was a classic "fish out of water" tale that I shouldn't have to remind everyone didn't start with "Doc Hollywood." Recent animated movies like "Madagascar" comes to mind as well as Pixar's own "Toy Story." Or "Finding Nemo" (a literal fish-out-of-water story at times). The voice performances were top notch and the fact that they didn't rely on celebrity voices only (as most animated movies seem to do) was nice. Sure, it was known actors but they weren't playing themselves but playing characters. In particular Paul Newman was awesome and I have to say Larry the Cable Guy was good, too. Michael Keaton sounded more animated than he has in the last dozen movies or so. Nice stuff. For kids, it is very inoffensive and not at all scary. My daughter loved it and though not her favorite nothing was as frightening (even in a fun way) as bits in some of the other movies. I agree with above comments that it is a much more leisurely paced movie than some of the others. I think that has to do with the lack of a real "villain" or any real threats. Nemo had sharks, fisherman, latern fish, etc. Toy Story had the neighbor kid and Bug's Life had a plague of grasshoppers. This really was more of an accidental tourist sort of deal with the only thing at stake being the hero and his dreams of grandeur. I must say, it was a refreshing change of pace. I think just about any kid could watch it and enjoy it. Actually, the more offensive stuff was in the trailer for "Flicka." It wasn't that bad but two uses of the word "damn" was a bit heavy for me and my child who really didn't need to hear that once, let alone twice. Hmm... It was nice to see a movie not rely completely on in-jokes or references to other movies (though, as in all Pixar movies, there are references to some of their other flicks). When most animated movies these days HAVE to have some references to current (or not so current) pop culture and product placement it was nice to see that mostly missing in this. The ones I did like were the aforementioned "Lightyear" tires, the inclusion of some real race-car driver voices and most of all to this NPR-loving fan was the inclusion of the "Car Talk" guys from NPR. That was a great treat. I think all the negative criticism comes it not being the high water mark of "The Incredibles." That movie was definitely not for the young-youngsters but it was an outstanding family movie that worked on so many levels that anything following that would be sort of a let-down. And "Cars" really isn't, it is just another fine movie in the Pixar catalogue. As usual the pre-show short "One Man Band" was yet another fine short, too. This one has a pair of one-man bands competing for the attention of a little girl and the coin she had intended to throw into a fountain. Simple, wonderful to look at a nice way to get into the night. Speaking of that, who does these movies? Is it done by the "next team," in this case the Ratatouille team? During Incredibles we had a movie set in a desert which I could see being done by the Cars team while One Man Band looked to be set in a little street scene in Paris, not unlike the next Pixar movie. Just curious. Neat way to overlap the teams. Anyone believing the negative reviews or worse selling them can take all the one-off Pixar knock-offs that dot the movie screens this summer. "Cars" proves again that Pixar is king of the road. As always, stay through the credits as some fine bit happen as in all of them. Not outtakes as in previous years (I would assume those would be on the DVD) but something equally funny.