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 11th 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]
No comments:
Post a Comment