Ranking Pixar's 10: The Complete List

So here's how my ranking of Pixar's first 10 movies look:


1. Toy Story (1995)
2. Up (2009)
3. Toy Story 2 (1999)
4. WALL-E (2008)
5. Finding Nemo (2003)
6. Ratatouille (2007)
7. A Bug’s Life (1998)
8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
9. The Incredibles (2004)
10. Cars (2006)

Shortly, I'll review Toy Story 3 and place it amongst these fine films. For now, I'm curious as to how you rank Pixar's 10. Please offer your rankings and insights in the comments section below. And I just came across this ranking by Entertainment Weekly's critics for a quick comparison.

1. Toy Story

2. The Incredibles

3. WALL-E

4. Finding Nemo

5. Up

6. Cars

7. Toy Story 2

8. Ratatouille

9. Monsters, Inc.

10. A Bug's Life

To Infinity and Beyond!: The Story of Pixar Animation Studios

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 1 - Toy Story

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

1. Toy Story (1995)

In 1995, the animated motion picture industry changed dramatically forever. It is only fitting it was a tale of old versus new. In Toy Story, a cowboy from the old west conflicts with the new, space-aged slinger from the stars. In reality, the new computer age of animation was coming into focus after nearly 60 years of hand drawn animated features. Would the old-fashioned be washed up forever or find a place side-by-side with the shiny new technology? In the movie, the answer is the latter. For moviegoers, it seems the former has proven to be the answer.

I think it would be easy for some to put Toy Story No. 1 because it was the first. It set the stage. It started a revolution. It made Pixar Pixar. But that’s not why I have it here at all. Toy Story rests here because it earned its way here, standing the test of time. It wasn’t until I saw the double feature of the first two films of the franchise in theatres last fall that I fully saw how wonderful and perfect this film really is—and it really is perfect. This was a movie that touches on so many levels.

The movie is immediately familiar. We all had toys growing up. Characters like Woody and Buzz reminds us of them. And some are actually characters in the film! The Mr. Potato Head that has entertained generations of kids turns out to be a wise-cracking hothead. We see familiar games, including Mousetrap and Monopoly. We know places like Pizza Planet. We remember the excitement of our early birthday parties. Above all, we remember using our imagination to bring our toys to life. Now, they finally have.

Abandoning the traditional nuclear family, Toy Story shows us a single mom doing her best and succeeding quite well. Not since Bambi has a single mom taken center stage in an animated film. But it is far more relevant here. We don’t know what happened to Andy’s father and it’s not important. But we know there is a hole in Andy’s heart, one he fills with his escape into the play world he’s creates with his toys. His loyalty to them is fostered because he needs them, a loyalty that is shown to be reciprocal, led by the spirit embodied in Woody.

When a brash newcomer comes into town, the hero Woody sees him as an intruder. But Buzz really enters the stage with a sense of innocence like a child. Next door, Sid tortures toys, striking fear in those in Andy’s room who can’t wait to move away and into a safer neighborhood. The escape from Sid’s house brings us to the final climatic moments of the film.

Still, the true antagonist of this film is Woody himself. We watch as he battles his own insecurities, desires and prejudices. Think of the extremes that Woody goes to keep his place as top cowboy in Andy’s room. He is so unsure of himself that he attempts to imprison Buzz behind Andy’s desk and instead knocks him out of a window! Then, when the truth is revealed, Woody sets out to rescue Buzz not out of guilt or remorse, but instead to regain his stature amongst his fellow toys. It is not until enduring the final conflicts, reaching the last moments of the film when Woody literally removes his hands from his eyes that he acknowledges all his wrongs at last. Buzz answers with total humility and grace.

Woody: Hey, Buzz, you’re flying!

Buzz: This isn’t flying. This is falling—with style.

Toy Story is a story we all face in life about finding our place. It is of the conflicts we face not just with the outside world, but mostly within ourselves. Woody had for a very long time what he wanted in his struggle for self. Then it all of that was dashed with the presence of a new and strange outsider. Through Woody’s trials and tribulations, he overcomes the demons within. And of all of Pixar’s characters, that makes the little stuffed cowboy toy the most human.

Previously ranked:

2. Up (2009)
3. Toy Story 2 (1999)

4. WALL-E (2008)

5. Finding Nemo (2003)

6. Ratatouille (2007)

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

Toy Story (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ Blu-ray Packaging)

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 2 - Up

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

2. Up (2009)

If you aren’t crying in the first 10 minutes of Up, I would question if you have a soul. If you’re completely bawling, then I know your humanity is intact and not headed down a WALL-E slippery slope. Up is Pixar’s biggest emotional roller coaster, which did not scare away moviegoers. Both kids and adults alike went and saw this film in droves, making it the blockbuster studio’s second highest grossing film to date, behind Finding Nemo. And oh so deservedly so.

Up has almost everything in place for a perfect film. Opposing protagonists in an old curmudgeon and young explorer. High-speed adventure in a trek to South America in a house powered by balloons. New discovery in the exotic species of Kevin, who plays both comic relief and MacGuffin. But there are a few items that limit the film’s greatness. They seem to get down to South America pretty darn quickly, prompting me to believe there was some storyline in there that they simply cut out because it wasn’t strong enough. Also, how old is Charles F. Muntz? This guy was already an established adult when Carl Fredricksen was a kid. Now that Carl is well aged, how is this Muntz character still bouncing around? But these are really points you question after the film, not during your first watch, leaving it near perfect.

The heart of the film is coping with loss. Brilliantly played by Ed Asner, Carl must cope with the loss of his beloved Ellie, but also his role in society. He stays cooped up in his home, seeming without relevance with every breath he takes. Russell must dealing with losing his father, though metaphorically. He compensates by investing his time with the Wilderness Explorers. Both are ultimately rewarded when Carl presents his most prestigious and loving recognition in the Ellie Badge. Even Muntz must facing losing his reputation and Alpha battles losing his true voice. Triumph in the film is the result of overcoming loss, not being consumed by it.

To me, there is one thing that truly makes this film great: the phenomenal score by Michael Giacchino. I can’t imagine watching this movie with any other music in the background. It truly is synonymous with Up. Thankfully, the Academy recognized the work of Giacchino, which he so richly deserved. And the music really catches you in that first 10 minutes. It’s the score that takes you up and down, through the twists and turns of the opening emotional rollercoaster. It excites. It comforts. It moves. It sets the stage for 96 minutes of motion picture excellence.

Previously ranked:

3. Toy Story 2 (1999)

4. WALL-E (2008)

5. Finding Nemo (2003)

6. Ratatouille (2007)

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

Up (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 3 - Toy Story 2

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

3. Toy Story 2 (1999)

I still find it hard to believe that Pixar’s third film was a sequel. A studio that has shown so much creativity and inventiveness over the years churned out a sequel third! Of course, I’m sure Michael Eisner was screaming “get me another one of those cowboy and spaceman movies stat,” but it would be another two years after Toy Story 2’s release that the fourth film premiered.

But to call Toy Story 2 a sequel is a misnomer. To me, sequels are rehashes of the original plot with a new setting but still familiar territory. Toy Story 2 really is a continuation of the fantastic world started in Pixar’s first full-length feature. The plot is different. Woody realizes he is a collector’s item and seriously considers abandoning Andy forever for the glitz and the glamour of museum attention. We meet new characters: Jessie, Bullseye, Wheezy, Mrs. Potato Head and the Al of Al’s Toy Barn. And it’s a story full of emotion. “When She Loved Me” tugs at the heartstrings, beautifully sung by Sarah McLachlan. (The song would lose the Oscar race to Tarzan’s “You’ll Be in My Heart.”) Jessie brought energy and depth to the film, first asking the question, “What happens when a toy has run its course?” This question will be central to the plot of Toy Story 3.

Many feel that this film was better than the original. I think that’s mainly because sequels rarely live up to their predecessors. But like I said before, I don’t see this is a sequel, but rather the next chapter in the secret lives of toys. It’s a subsequent chapter worthy of its predecessor, but not one that trumps it. Zurg’s statement that he is Buzz’s father is overdone. The baggage-handling scene is a bit too crazy, and I think it was taken from storyboards of Monsters, Inc. And the fact that they catch the plane at the end is just a bit too much. Overall, a fantastic film, but not enough to say it’s better than the first.

The starkest difference between this film and Toy Story is the collaboration rather than the competition between Woody and Buzz. We can tell that a friendship has truly blossomed in the time between the two movies. What a great life lesson that teaches us! Often, those we see as enemies can teach us a lot about ourselves and eventually become our dearest friends. They can challenge us to grow and strengthen our character. As Buzz puts himself on the line to track down Woody, we know that bond is true and genuine. And there is little doubt that Woody means what he says that he’s not worried about the future because he will always have Buzz “for infinity and beyond."


Previously ranked:

4. WALL-E (2008)

5. Finding Nemo (2003)

6. Ratatouille (2007)

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ Blu-ray Packaging)

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 4 - WALL-E

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

4. WALL-E (2008)

Minimalism is a form of art where the work is stripped down to the most fundamental elements and features. It shows more with less. And here we are with WALL-E, a true expression of minimalist art. Very little dialogue. Just a small cast of characters. The action taking place on a small planet and small ship in the expanse of the universe. The ultimate irony, of course, is that the true enemy of the film is excess.

I want to get this out of the way right now. WALL-E wasn’t nominated for Best Picture. It should have been. Yes, had the number of nominees been stretched to 10 like it was the following year, it probably would have gotten recognition. But that’s of no matter. I should have been acknowledged as one of the five best films in 2008. Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk and The Reader received those nods. I assure you, WALL-E was better than at least three of those films.

After Andrew Stanton created a vast undersea world with Finding Nemo, he took to the final frontier, creating a similar landscape in space with WALL-E. The opening reminds us of immense universe in which we live, while the music of Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s Hello, Dolly! reminds us of our humanity. The use of that film is vital WALL-E’s success. Pixar doesn’t paint a cartoon world, but a warning regarding a possible future for us. Critics complain that future humans would never divulge into looking such a cartoonish way. I fear I have seen people this day and age who already come close. I also think it’s an important look that shows the loss of humanity in the years to come. And what does it say that the most human characters left in the future are two robots tangled in love?

The truly emotional story is what brings this film into the top five. But its great minimalist aspects keep it from reaching a higher notch. WALL-E doesn’t embrace the full potential of its technology, unlike the films further of in my top five. However, if it did, it certainly would not have been the same film and not as high up for me. But WALL-E himself never demanded much in his life, so I would think he’s happy right where he is.

Previously ranked:

5. Finding Nemo (2003)

6. Ratatouille (2007)

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

Wall-E (Three-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 5 - Finding Nemo

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

5. Finding Nemo (2003)

A colorful cast of creatures of the sea full of vibrant voices. A lush tropical setting with danger at every turn. Still, Finding Nemo is a film is full of opposites. A clownfish that isn’t funny. Sharks that view fish as friends, not food. It is often in life that when we see opposites to ourselves, we understand ourselves even better. Had Marlin never met Crush, what kind of father would he be now?

This story speaks to every parent and every kid. From a mother looking for a lost son in a shopping mall to a daughter desperately seeking daddy in a crowded street, the theme of separation and the desperation to reconnect is a universal theme. But what do you do when that separation is forever? Pixar boldly created such an outcome at the start of the film and had the audience hooked for all 100 minutes of this adventure.

Finding Nemo was Pixar’s first true emotional masterpiece, only topped later by Up, which also has a deeply emotional opening ending in an eternal separation. It was the first Pixar filmed that I watched where I cried. That’s a credit to the story, but more so a credit to the fine work of Albert Brooks. Ellen DeGeneres often gets raves for her performance as Dorey, yet to me, Albert Brooks really shines as the star of this film. I sense the desperation in his voice, not only the desperation to find his son but also the desperation to be a good dad. At the end of the film, he finally lets go of the need to be a perfect father, and becomes a better one because of it. I happened to watch this for first time over Father’s Day weekend with my dad. It was perfect

The success of this film was unprecedented at the time and remains so today. Finding Nemo surpassed The Lion King as Disney’s highest grossing animated film, and stands at No. 2 all-time right behind Shrek 2. However, my guess is there will be a new No. 1 by the end of the run of Pixar’s latest release. But I am convinced that without the success of Nemo, we would never have gotten the bold productions of WALL-E and Up. And for that, little clownfish, I thank you.

Previously ranked:

6. Ratatouille (2007)

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 6 - Ratatouille

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

6. Ratatouille (2007)

Someone might think I have something against Brad Bird since I have put both of his films in my bottom five. But that’s not it at all. I think he’s turned out two great films for Pixar. Both won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, producing two memorable acceptance speeches by Bird. His films’ placement on my list is more a testament to the great work Pixar has produced over the past 15 years than my dislike for them.

But I think there is a clear delineation between my bottom five and my top five. It is almost like Pixar created two natural tiers. My top five themselves have moved around in my thoughts processes. However, they have always been the top five. And none of the bottom five came close to ever breaking in.

What I love about this movie is the sheer imagination. Where The Incredibles can be seen as simply as another addition to the superhero genre, Ratatouille is fresh, inventive and unbelievably creative. And Bird didn’t need a splashy voice cast to make this film work. Rather smalltime comic Patton Oswalt brilliantly takes the lead and gives Remy his life. Lou Romano, Linguini’s voice, started off as an animator and supervisor with Pixar. The only real A-list actor in this film is Peter O’Toole as Anton Ego, which is a relatively small role in the film.

Of course, Ratatouille lends itself to some unique theme park tie-ins. The use of Remy at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris and the French Pavilion at Epcot are perfect. The little rat plays host to the fine French restaurants those locales offer. Really, could it get any better? (Okay, maybe real rats cooking, but let’s not go crazy here!) The film is truly about culinary delights. And it taught a new generation of kids how to pronounce “ratatouille.”

Previously ranked:

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)


Ratatouille [Blu-ray]

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 7 - A Bug's Life

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

7. A Bug’s Life (1998)

To me, by far, the most underrated Pixar film is A Bug’s Life. Perhaps because it had a tough act to follow. Perhaps because Antz stole some of its thunder. It certainly performed well at the box office, just barely beating the worldwide total of Toy Story. But I think this film is great. And yet it still sits in the bottom five.

Look at the voice cast: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Hyde Pierce, Richard Kind, Phyllis Diller, Bonnie Hunt, Madeline Kahn, Brad Garrett and a very young Hayden Panettiere. Talk about star power, each with a very unique voice style. We also got the animated outtakes and blooper reel for the very first time over the credits. And it was packaged with my favorite Pixar short, Geri’s Game.

Still, I think one of the biggest drawbacks of this film was its overall look and feel. Sure, the humans in Toy Story still had a very cartoonish style. But the toys looked just like real toys! And some of them were beloved toys from our childhood. There was an instant connection there. Ants, well, for the most part are pests in our life. (I fear a lecture from It’s Tough to be a Bug coming on.) And we didn’t get a real colorful world and with that a chance to see what the computer animation can real put forth. The environment was dominated mostly by greens and blues.

But I think one element of this film was overlooked and really set the stage for Pixar to push the envelope in later years. The villain actually died! And Hopper faced a pretty gruesome death if you think about it. What would happen if one of us were feed to hungry animals? But people didn’t call it shocking or indecent. I think that was a sign to Pixar to say, “Go ahead. Take this new technology and really run with it. Tell a good story, and people will follow.” And like ants marching, we certainly have.

Previously ranked:

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

A Bug's Life [Blu-ray]

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 8 - Monsters, Inc.

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

With Monsters, Inc., John Goodman started to show he was this generation’s Phil Harris, the beloved voice of Baloo, Little John and Thomas O’Malley. Shortly after The Emperor’s New Groove and long before The Princess and the Frog, Goodman showed he was Disney’s go to man for any large and lovable character. While I’m biased towards the tale set in New Orleans, this was probably Goodman’s best turn in voice acting, which says a lot because they have all been great.

When released in 2001, Monsters, Inc. quickly became Pixar’s best earner to date with $525 million, topping the worldwide haul of Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. But I think this ranks low for me because of the simple rival antagonist plot and the “oh, who we thought was a good guy is actually the bad guy” tired motif twist at the end. One of the main complaints I hear about this film is that people find Boo annoying, which I do not agree with at all. But hopefully she will have grown up some if she makes an appearance in the sequel. The fact that monsters are actually scared of children is what really makes this a solid feature.

Monsters, Inc. has produced some great theme park attractions as well. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! is a nice and underrated dark ride that was a well needed addition at the time for Disney California Adventure. While we have seen the interactive technology of the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor elsewhere, I find the show to be entertaining and fresh each time I see it. And Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek at Tokyo Disneyland sounds like a nice twist to interactive dark rides.

Bob Peterson has turned out some great work. He was a layout artist and animator for Toy Story, wrote the screenplay for Finding Nemo and voiced Mr. Ray and Dug. But does it get any better than Roz? I think not! Honestly, if there was ever a character I would like to greet and take my picture with, it’s Roz. (And I’m talking a real character, not like the cardboard cutout at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…which I do have a picture with, by the way.) Roz was the first of secondary characters that really stood out on their own, which would be a staple for Pixar films down the road. If any of the monsters were scary, it was her, simply because she is “always watching.”

Previously ranked:

9. The Incredibles (2004)

10. Cars (2006)

Monsters, Inc. (4-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 9 - The Incredibles

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

9. The Incredibles (2004)

More than $631 million earned worldwide. A 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Best Animated Feature Academy Award. And I’m just not into this movie. Maybe it’s because we’ve been onslaught with superhero movies over the past decade. Maybe it’s because it was all too close to the Fantastic Four. Maybe it’s because I found the plot to be far too predictable. Unlike the rest of the world, I just have never dug The Incredibles.

Think about it. Here’s a film that hasn’t really built a strong franchise around it. No planned theme park attractions. No announced sequel. And now that Disney has Marvel, is there really any need for this set of superheroes? I would firmly argue “no.” Why keep Mr. Incredible around when you have The Thing. Of course, no one probably could ever have dreamed that the Marvel would come into the fold back in 2004. The point is, there isn’t anything all too original here.

This was also Pixar’s first turn at a film truly about human characters. After toys, bugs, monsters and fish, maybe it was time. But I had come to rely on these totally imaginative worlds that Pixar had created with anthropomorphized characters. It’s a Disney staple. It was also the first film not originally dreamed up by the founders of Pixar. It started at Warner Bros. until that studio shut down its animation wing.  Plus, it was a holiday release. And to me, Pixar should always come out as a summer blockbuster. In time, I fear The Incredibles will become a forgotten Pixar tale.

The highlight of the film for me was Brad Bird’s own turn as Edna Mode. You can tell Bird enjoyed throwing in his own personal touch with this character. But it’s not pretentious or overwhelming. It works. In fact it works really well, for Edna steals every scene she’s in. If there ever is another movie from this universe, I’d say make it an Edna spinoff, not a true sequel. I think she could carry a film in her own wacky adventures.

Previously ranked:

10. Cars (2006)

The Incredibles (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Ranking Pixar's 10: No. 10 - Cars

In 15 years, Pixar has created not only some of the finest animated motion pictures, but also some of the best films of the last decade and a half. Before the 11^th film, Toy Story 3, comes out on June 18, here’s my ranking of Pixar’s first 10 outings.

10. Cars (2006)

This was the first film the media started the persistent question “will this be Pixar’s first flop?” This was a question that would continue through the next three releases as well, all answered with a resounding “no!” In fact, Pixar may in time prove to be a veritable flop-proof factory, as Toy Story 3 will undoubtedly perform extremely well worldwide, possibly becoming Pixar’s biggest success.

The action sequences of Cars were a huge step up from the previous film, The Incredibles, and brought an even more lifelike feeling to the setting. The race scenes are absolutely amazing and I imagine very true to a real NASCAR competition. We get some great voice turns by Larry the Cable Guy, George Carlin, Bonnie Hunt and John Ratzenberger, in one of his more prominent Pixar roles (I am also a huge fan of the drive-in movie sequence at the end).

But when ranking all 10 films, there has to be a bottom choice. And here we sit with Cars. Yes, Cars is a fun film that has inspired a sequel and an entire land at Disney California Adventure. Yet it sits at No. 10 because it is many ways a retelling of Toy Story, which should be no surprise that John Lasseter directed both films. The conflict boils around old versus new. In this case, instead of Buzz versus Woody, we get Lightning McQueen versus Doc Hudson. Perhaps this is why it now ranks as the lowest “fresh” rating of any Pixar film on Rotten Tomatoes.

To me, Cars will be best remembered as Paul Newman’s last performance before his death in 2008. He played his 1951 Hudson Hornet well, and his voice shone his own personal genuine love of cars and racing. And I can’t imagine what Cars 2 will bring about without the Fabulous Hudson Hornet voiced by a true Hollywood legend. But of course, Cars 2 doesn’t focus on Radiator Springs, but a racing trip around the world, leaving behind the nostalgia inspired setting along Route 66. Perhaps this will deliver a fresh turn for these revved up characters.

Cars Gift Set (Combo Pack with DVD) [Blu-ray]

Lessons from California Food and Wine Festival: Why it is called "India Pale Ale"

The California Food and Wine Festival is not just about culinary discovery and libation succulence. It’s educational too! Here is a tidbit I learned during a seminar in the Festival Showplace.

Every wonder why it’s called an India Pale Ale? Did you just assume it came from India? Well, you’d be wrong!!

India Pale Ales are known for being hoppy beers and their more distinctive bitter flavor. Hops (pictured) is a very important ingredient in the beer making process. It serves as a preservative. So the more hops, the longer a beer can be preserved.

During the time of the British Empire, soldiers would be shipped off to colonies around the world, including India. With the soldiers also came beer. To make the long journey from the British Isles around the horn of Africa (there was no Suez Canal yet) to India, brewers added more than usual quantities of hops. The beer was intended to be diluted once it was tapped in India.

At some point, the beer stopped being diluted and simply served as is and soldiers loved the distinctive flavor. When they returned home to Britain, they would go to the local pub and ask for a pale ale like in India. Soon, British brewers were serving up pints in this style soon to be dubbed India Pale Ale. And a new style of beer was born.

And that's a wrap for now!

Starter Home Brewery With Organic India Pale Ale Ingredients

Wading through "Oceans"

“Oceans” was pretty good. Not great. Not bad. Just pretty good, which is why I think the box office numbers have paled in comparison to Disneynature’s first feature film “Earth.”

“Earth” started off with a bang, grossing just over $4 million on its first day. It opened in the number 5 spot for the weekend, with a three-day total of $8.8 million. On the flip side, “Oceans” took in less than $2.5 its first day and $6.06 million it’s opening weekend, for the number 8 spot on a very week overall box office weekend.

Why the disparity? First, “Earth” came in with a lot of momentum. It was the offshoot of an extremely successful television documentary series “Planet Earth.” Plus, it was the very first Disneynature release, with lots of buzz and anticipation.

But “Earth” had something that “Oceans” severely lacked, leaving me to fidget and yawn half way into the feature. It had no story! A film is lost without a story, whether be a Pixar feature, an animated classic or a documentary film. If there is no story, it’s just another Discovery channel special or IMAX film you see at a museum of natural history.

While the stories of “Earth” were fragmented, they were still compelling. Will the elephant rejoin the herd? What about the polar bears?

And frankly, I didn’t like the forced nature of the staged beginning and ending of the film, with one of the director’s sons standing on the edge of a beach gazing out into the ocean blue. I felt this is where they were going for with a story, but it simply wasn’t engaging.

It was cool to see animals I certainly never caught a glimpse before in other documentaries. There are some crazy looking creatures down there!!

Yet, I kept wondering that the movie would be more engaging in 3-D. Why not? Imagine the jellyfish swimming around you, like you truly were immersed in the ocean. I hope Hollywood doesn’t keep technology in the realm of action and animated features.

“Earth” went on to make $106 million at the box office, an incredible feat for a documentary film. “Oceans” will be lucky to get half of that, which wouldn’t even cover production costs.

Let’s call this Disneynature’s sophomore slump. But I do have high hopes for next year’s feature, “African Cats.” The movie will follow the story of three mothers —a lioness, a leopard and a cheetah — as they fend for their families in the wild of Africa. I think that has the makings of a better story than “Earth.”

Disneynature sponsors the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. Fingers crossed that they find a way to bring the studios’ name to the Disneyland Resort. Of course, there would be no better place than Adventureland, which was inspired by Disney nature’s predecessors, True-Life Adventures.

What did you think of “Oceans?” Are you glad Disneynature is pumping out films in full effect? Leave comments below and be sure to vote in the poll too!

So that’s a wrap for now!

Welcome to my wonderful world of blogging!

Thanks to all of you who have been following me on Twitter the past few months. I thought it was due time to kick it up a notch. So, you'll find my personal insights and thoughts on the Disneyland Resort here, amongst other things Disney.


I hope you'll enjoy this journey with me. I welcome all your comments and feedback on the blog posts as well as on Twitter.


So that's a wrap for now!


Birnbaum's Disneyland Resort 2010