Monsters, Inc.
2001-11-02 14:53:38+00 by Dan Lyke 15 comments
The latest Pixar film, Monsters, Inc, opens today. Sam is one of the voices. Let's hang reviews off this entry.
[ related topics: Pixar Animation Movies ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment made: 2001-11-02 14:57:15+00 by: Dan Lyke [edit history]
Charles Taylor at Salon says it's a fun kid flick:
It's the thought of what it might have been in different hands that keeps it from being more enjoyable.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:10+00 by: TC
Looks like Sam got promoted to Director!! Damm! I didn't know he had it in him <giggle>
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:10+00 by: Dan Lyke
The Austin Chronicle Movie Guide for Monsters, Inc gives Sam a promotion to director, in a very positive review.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:10+00 by: Dan Lyke
The little guy in the SF Chronicle is only sitting up and clapping.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:10+00 by: Dan Lyke
Whoops, sorry Todd about that coincident post...
#Comment made: 2001-11-03 01:04:06+00 by: debrahyde [edit history]
Well, an eye witness here, having attended the 5:10 showing at the local cinema. The movie was charming and funny and we loved it. Randy Newman's best score ever. Strong casting. Fun cultural riffs -- especially the Harry Hausen Restaurant. And my kids are already saying, "Kitty!" when they spot you from across the room and want a hug. I didn't even get tired of the action segments of the plot. I only wish they'd done the blooper reel at the end. Or at least an end of credits tag.
So, I just gotta ask: Was last summer's electricity shortage just a promotional stunt for the movie? Ya gotta wonder.
Deb
P.S. Everyone was howling at the end of the birdie short. And all the adults let out a collective "ahhhh!" at the end of M,Inc. -- just before exploding into applause.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:11+00 by: Dan Lyke
I hit the 9:00 show in Fairfax last night. Wow, I'd heard second-hand the pitch for For The Birds![[Wiki]](/adbanners/lookingglass.png){kind=small}
, and thought "yeah, like they're going to make that tired gag funny." They did. In spades.
Monsters was everything, good and bad, that the reviewers have claimed. Seems like quite a bit more of a kids movie than the previous two, and that younger targetting meant that there were a couple of gaping story holes.
Still very fun.
And I didn't expect Sam to have such a big part. A mumbled line or two, but that was a real character! Go Sam!
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:11+00 by: Dan Lyke
Check out the Landover Baptist review. "Jewish Actor, Billy Crystal, stars as talking testicle in new Disney film".
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:11+00 by: Dan Lyke
Rotten Tomatoes has a huge list.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:12+00 by: Dan Lyke
Yow! I guess the whole "invest in entertainment during the downturns" thing is right. $63.5 million on a 2 day opening weekend. The Disney machine rocks again, now we'll see if it's got staying power, especially since it'll be up against some heavy stuff.
And Debra, I can neither confirm nor deny that some point later in the fall movie season Pixar might or might not have some out-takes lined up to drag people back into the theatres for a second viewing. Just thought I'd mention that this may or may not happen, I'm actually not sure about the details, but I've heard the word "outtakes" in several social gatherings (at which too many people were present to actually trace it back to a specific source... [grin]).
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:12+00 by: Dori
If you want lots of reviews, you want the Movie Review Query Engine.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:13+00 by: debrahyde
Dan,
Well, they could lure me back with out-takes. [s] By the way, I meant to post first time around that some of Sully's fur rendering was breath-takingly real. I had to remember that it was animation.
Tried to post this earlier, but it must've gotten lost: Re: Landover Baptist review. Well, Billy Crystal did have to fend off a one-eyed monster comment from Matt Lauer this morning on the Today show. LOL!
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:14+00 by: Dan Lyke
Acanit chaperones a bunch of Somali kids seeing Monsters, and talks about the culture shock.
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:14+00 by: Mars Saxman
I saw Monsters Inc. last night. The Monstropolis economy is as peculiar as that world's genetic system, but the movie was an original concept which is always satisfying. The kid was cute. I liked how it babbled in what sounded like words but said nothing understandable.
What's the joke with "Harry Hausen Restaurant"? Is that someone famous?
-Mars
#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:33:15+00 by: TC
Ray Harryhausen was perhaps the first special effects wizard in the film industry. His work dates back to the 1950's but I remeber vividly being amazed at the Sinbad films and even Clash of the Titans because those effects were (almost) impossible in those days? The Pixar insider restaurant joke is "Hidden City" which BTW was consider as the movie title early on.