Cast: Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Ned Beatty (Lotso)
For complete info, see IMDb's Toy Story 3 page.
I'm a huge fan of Pixar, so I'll see anything they do as soon as possible on the big screen. Naturally, I had to see Toy Story 3 in IMAX 3D while it was still available, which didn't give us much time before Eclipse opened.
Toy Story is one of my favorite animated movies and I enjoyed Toy Story 2, but Toy Story 3 was the only one of the series that got me to tear up near the end. I liked Toy Story 3 more than the second movie and will definitely be there for Toy Story 4 if they make it.
I know John Lasseter will never allow them to make a Toy Story movie without a great story and Toy Story 3 definitely lived up to my expectations. If you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend checking it out. Pixar knows how to make animated movies adults will enjoy as much as kids and they're keeping that tradition alive with Toy Story 3.
Grade: A
Labels: 2010, adventure, animated, comedy, Disney, family, Joan Cusack, movie, Pixar, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:21 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Ed Asner (Carl Fredricksen), Christopher Plummer (Charles Muntz), Jordan Nagai (Russell)
Another winner from Pixar. I saw an article somewhere that said with this release Pixar has proven they can do no wrong. I think they had proven it a few movies ago. They haven't had a single movie I haven't enjoyed (okay, so I didn't think Cars was the best movie in the world, but I still own it).
Up is definitely worth seeing in digital 3D if possible. There's really no better way to see a Pixar movie.
The story of Up is surprisingly touching. I didn't expect to get teary in yet another Pixar movie. Since I was very close to crying in WALL-E, that makes two Pixar movies in a row that had me emotionally involved enough to tear up. It's amazing how much they can make me care about animated characters (human and robot, alike).
I don't want to spoil the movie, but it goes without saying that I recommend seeing it in a theatre, preferably before it leaves the digital theatres, so you can see the best possible quality film.
Needless to say, John Ratzenberger appears in this Pixar movie, too. All Pixar fans know they'll hear him at some point in every Pixar movie.
3D movies seem to be the in thing now. I was amazed by all the 3D previews. Of course, I'm already to see the original Toy Story re-released in 3D this October, so it obviously makes sense for them to animate (or re-render) in 3D.
Grade: A
Labels: 2009, 3D, animals, animated, Christopher Plummer, Disney, Ed Asner, family, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: John Lasseter, Brad Bird, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
For complete information, see IMDb's The Pixar Story page.
This documentary wasn't quite as interesting as the book The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company, but you can cover a lot more in a book than you can in an hour and a half long documentary. I've been a fan of Pixar since they released Luxo Jr. and I love that they finally released the shorts on DVD last year (too bad I didn't realize it was available on Blu-ray before I purchased it). If you're at all interested in the history of Pixar, you will definitely enjoy this documentary. If not, then clearly it's not worth renting The Pixar Story.
Grade: B+
Labels: 2007, animated, documentary, John Lasseter, movie, Pixar, Tim Allen, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Ben Burtt (WALL-E & M-O), Elissa Knight (Eve), Jeff Garlin (Captain), Fred Willard (Shelby Forthright, BnL CEO), John Ratzenberger (John), Kathy Najimy (Mary), Sigourney Weaver (Ship's Computer)
For complete info, see IMDb's WALL-E page.
Another wonderful movie from Pixar! I see few movies in theatres these days (thanks to my great new TV and Netflix, I'm not missing much). I try to see those I want to see that are released in IMAX and those with special effects I know will look better on the big screen, but I often don't find the time. I always make time for Pixar movies and (as always) I'm glad I saw WALL-E in a theatre and I'll gladly see it again in a theatre if anyone I know wants someone to go with them to see it. It's possible that this will end up being my favorite Pixar movie, which is saying a lot.
It's amazing that a movie with so little dialogue (nothing is spoken for a LONG time and once there is speaking, there is very little until near the end) can be so captivating and engaging. If you would have told me that the relationship between two robots (one which reminds me a lot of the robots in Star Tours at Disneyland and Short Circuit) could involve me enough to where I'd get a bit teary at one point, I would have thought you were nuts. WALL-E is such a great story that I was completely involved in the outcome throughout the movie.
Everyone coming out of the movie (young and old) seemed to love it. I can't remember seeing such a wide range of people who loved an animated movie (even one by Pixar) - ever. WALL-E is wonderful and I can't recommend it enough!
Grade: A+
Labels: 2008, animated, comedy, Disney, drama, family, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar, romance, sci-fi
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Patton Oswalt (Remy), Ian Holm (Skinner), Lou Romano (Linguini), Brian Dennehy (Django), Brad Garrett (Gusteau), John Ratzenberger (Mustafa)
For complete info on the talented voices and creative team, see IMDb's Ratatouille page.
Pixar did a great job, as always! I highly recommend Ratatouille. This great story about a rat who dreams of being a chef has amazing animation, great voice talents, and a wonderful story. Everything looked so real that at one point, my friend I went to see the movie with got creeped out due to all the rats running around. That's a huge compliment for an animated movie about rats.
Although the title is hard for people to pronounce, I'm glad to see audiences are going to see Ratatouille. It's another fun Pixar movie that's well worth the time and money to see it in a theatre.
I've liked Pixar since long before they hooked up with Disney and made the first full-length computer animated film (Toy Story) and I have yet to be disappointed with anything they've done. I love that they still show the latest short before their full-length features. It's always fun to see what they've been doing. Lifted, the Pixar short before Ratatouille, was also very well done. It's a cute little story about a teenage alien trying to learn how to abduct humans.
Grade: A
Labels: 2007, animated, Brad Garrett, comedy, Disney, family, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar
Reviewed by Kat at the 6:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Owen Wilson (Lightning McQueen), Paul Newman (Doc Hudson), Bonnie Hunt (Sally Carrera), Larry the Cable Guy (Mater)
For complete info on the amazing voice talents, see IMDb's Cars page.
Another amazing movie from Pixar! The new Disney regime made a great decision when they decided to buy Pixar. John Lasseter's direction is always amazing and I think the fact tht he cared so much about Cars (which he'd researched on his own before they decided to do the movie) really shows!
The voice actors were wonderful - even Jay Leny playing Jay Limo. Wonderful names for some of the characters, too. Of course, the funniest cameo is probably the Hummer who's the governor of California...
The story of Cars is fabulous! The movie is sweet and funny and a joy to watch! It's not just the typical hot shot gets stuck in a small town story. It's very sweet - and done with cars! Who would have thought you could care about the feelings of a car? This movie even made me (who couldn't care less about NASCAR or any other kind of car races) interested. That is amazing!
Another great thing about Cars is that there is no real bad guy. There is one section where they're chased, but there is never any real danger. This makes Cars one of the first Disney movies ever that is perfect for children of ALL ages! Grab the whole family and go see Cars!!
The animation is an example of the best out there, as always from Pixar. And, like every other Pixar movie, the credits are a joy to watch. The only problem with this is that I like to read the credits and I have to divide my time. Definitely stay around till the end of the credits, whether you like to read them or not. As always, you will not be disappointed.
Grade: A
Labels: 2006, animated, Bonnie Hunt, comedy, family, John Ratzenberger, movie, Owen Wilson, Pixar, sports
Reviewed by Kat at the 12:40 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Craig T. Nelson (Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible), Holly Hunter (Helen Parr/Elastigirl), Samuel L. Jackson (Lucius Best/Frozone), Jason Lee (Buddy Pine/Syndrome)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Incredibles page.
I'd see any Pixar movie in theatres and I will continue to do so. Disney needs to keep them as a partner or lose their best animated movie creator of late.
The Incredibles is great! Sometimes, you could even forget that you were watching an animated movie, since the characters seem so real. It was easy to get involved in the story line and to care about the characters involved. Pixar just keeps getting better and better. They never cease to amaze me and I'll definitely own The Incredibles, as I do the rest of their movies.
Grade: A+
Labels: 2004, action, adventure, animated, comedy, Craig T. Nelson, family, fantasy, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar, Samuel L. Jackson
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Ellen DeGeneres (Dory), Albert Brooks (Marlin), Alexander Gould (Nemo)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Finding Nemo page.
Another wonderful movie from Pixar! If you're at all into animation, I'm sure you've already heard of Pixar and will see Finding Nemo. The cast is great, the animation is amazing, and the story is sweet.
What more can one ask for from a movie?
Grade: A
Labels: 2003, adventure, animated, comedy, drama, family, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar
Reviewed by Kat at the 3:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): John Goodman (James P. "Sulley" Sullivan), Billy Crystal (Mike Wazowski), Mary Gibbs (Boo/Mary)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Monsters, Inc. page.
I doubt Pixar will ever make a movie I don't love. This story about a company of monsters who scare children for a living is hilarious. When you dive into the world of Monsters, Inc., you find out that the monsters are as afraid of the children (and any human, really) as children are of them. When a child gets caught in the monster world, all kinds of crazy things happen as they try to fix the situation and get Boo home.
As always with Pixar, Monsters, Inc. has amazing animation and a great story.
Grade: A
Labels: 2001, animated, Billy Crystal, comedy, family, fantasy, John Goodman, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Tom Hanks (Sheriff Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear/Buzz Lightyear II), Joan Cusack (Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl), Kelsey Grammer (Stinky Pete the Prospector)
For complete info, see IMDb's Toy Story 2 page.
Of course, this is not nearly as good as the first Toy Story, but it's still a wonderful Pixar movie! I will always love Pixar animation and I'm glad that they're continuing to put out great movies.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1999, adventure, animated, comedy, family, fantasy, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, movie, Pixar, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Dave Foley (Flik), Kevin Spacey (Hopper), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Atta), Hayden Panettiere (Dot)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's A Bug's Life page.
When the advertising material started appearing for A Bug's Life (initially entitled Bugs, I have to admit that I was very wary of it in spite of the Pixar name. All of my reservations were unnecessary. A Bug's Life was a very entertaining story about ants dealing with every day troubles of dealing with the grasshoppers who rule them and the bugs they meet in a traveling circus troup.
So many of the props used in this animated movie are funny, since it really is from an ant's perspective. The animation is amazing and I highly recommend A Bug's Life, as I would any Pixar movie.
Grade: A-
Labels: 1998, adventure, animated, comedy, family, John Ratzenberger, Kevin Spacey, movie, Pixar
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast (voices): Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen, (Buzz Lightyear) Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Jim Varney (Slinky Dog), Wallace Shawn (Rex), John Ratzenberger (Hamm), Annie Potts (Bo Peep)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Toy Story page.
I've liked Pixar's animation for years, so I was very excited when they were making a full-length movie. I thought that together with Disney (who have led the feature animation pack) Toy Story could be amazing and - wow! They did a great job! Pixar animation is getting better and better. The humans still need work, but toys were the perfect subject for their first movie.
The story is wonderful, the soundtrack is very good, and it's amazing how much they made me care about the life of toys!
I can't wait for Pixar's next movie.
Grade: A+
Labels: 1995, adventure, animated, comedy, Disney, family, fantasy, John Ratzenberger, movie, musical, Pixar, Tom Hanks
Reviewed by Kat at the 1:50 PM show | 0 screams