Review #30: The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant (1999)

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, Harry Conick Jr., Christopher McDonald, Eli Marienthal, John Mahoney

Directed by: Brad Bird

Released by: Warner Bros.

Synopsis: Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) is a boy living in 1950s Maine. Like any typical boy, he loves science-fiction movies. One night, a giant robot monster (Vin Diesel) falls from the sky just a few miles from his house. Soon, a friendship grows just as the fears of a nuclear attack put a small town in danger.

Review: Film history is filled with movies that are simply brilliant in every way possible but for one reason or another they failed to find an audience. The best thing, though, is that when you have a great movie people will eventually find it and thus a legacy is born. The Iron Giant is one of these movies. Released in the summer of 1999, The Iron Giant was a big failure at the box office, due to both the audience feeling indifference towards animated films at the time, and a poor marketing effort on Warner Bros.’s behalf. Those that dared to give the film a chance, however, quickly discovered that what they just saw was more than just a silly animated film. It was a beautiful, moving film featuring some of the best writing seen in an animated film.

Every element of the story has received a lot of tender, loving care. Even if the whole narrative is similar to other “Boy meets alien/animal” plots seen in other movies, The Iron Giant greatly combines a boy’s innocent relationship with a creature from outer space with the paranoia of nuclear war people experienced back in the 1950s. People in that era had a genuine fear of a nuclear weapon attack, and this is seen throughout the film. From the nuclear bomb drill film the characters watch in a scene to the Iron Giant’s arrival being considered a warning from enemy countries, this gives the film a mature atmosphere that never loses its sense of whimsy and wonder.

The other element of the plot that gives the film a lot of power are the relationships between the characters. All of them feel very authentic and honest, once again giving the film depth not seen in any other animated film. As Doug Walker, aka the Nostalgia Critic, expressed in a video once, all of the relationships are subtle but all contribute to the film’s emotional substance. Never do you feel that a character is superfluous to the story. Each one is genuinely affected by the arrival of the Iron Giant, contributing a lot to the already impressive narrative in many ways possible.

The Iron Giant is also a big emotional rollercoaster thanks to its many themes of life, death, conspiracy and even artistic expression. And yet, never does it all feel heavy handed or pretentious. It’s a very fun film that you can watch again and again and never grow tired of. This is because, once more, the movie is very subtle in its execution. You as a viewer know what is going on in the movie but never do you feel uncomfortable watching it or think the creators are forcing you to accept its message. It’s also a very loving tribute to 1950s living as well as classic science fiction, seen in its designs and the movies the characters see. It’s a good example of how a lifestyle or even the entertainment of an era can create a modern tale that becomes timeless in the process.

It moves at a great pace, too! The Iron Giant will take you through its major events quickly, and yet it is slow enough that you get to see how the story and its characters develop. Very rarely does a scene feel redundant and pointless. All of them give us a window into what the character is thinking, never forgetting that it has a very important story to tell.

The voice casting is perhaps one of the best seen in an animated film. Not all of the actors are household names, and yet they give the film many of its strengths. Before he was known as one of the most famous action stars of the last decade, Vin Diesel does the voice of the Iron Giant. As surprisingly as that sounds, he does a really good job with the role, being intimidating and very friendly when he needs to be. Eli Marienthal as Hogarth is great. His performance is true to that of a little boy, evoking a lot of wonder and innocence, but also expressing maturity and wisdom beyond his years. If you allow me to be blunt for a bit, casting Harry Conick Jr. as Dean the junkyard artist was the best decision made concerning this film. Harry Conick Jr. nails the role, always calm, cool and collected, even when he has an iron giant sleeping in his junkyard. You quickly grow to love him the minute you first see him on screen. Jennifer Aniston as Annie Hughes is also very calm, the perfect mother that is stern but is still very warm and caring. Finally, Christopher McDonald as Kent Mansley is a very funny, over the top performance. He perfectly captures the essence of being a paranoid US agent, suspecting everyone and inspiring fear in others. What’s great, though, is that with the rest of the characters being so calm throughout the movie his exuberance stands out like a sore thumb, creating both a hilarious comic relief character as well as a threat to the Iron Giant as well as the town.

The animation is simply stunning, easily rivaling Disney’s best efforts in the 1990s. With the story taking place in Maine, it gives the animators and artists the opportunity to create beautiful forests, quaint towns and inspiring snow scenes. My favorite thing about the animation, though, is the characters themselves. Drawing human characters in animation is always a giant task. Yet the animators in this film achieved the impossible. They created characters that look and act human, yet exist in a very animated reality. Their design is stylized, but never does is manage to disturb or annoy. They move fluidly and convey the film’s complex emotions with flying colors, regardless if the scene is very grand or very moving. The Iron Giant himself is a computer generated element that definitely looks 3D, but blends with the rest of the hand drawn animation effortlessly. His design is also a tribute to the creatures seen in science fiction movies in the 50s, and overall it’s a very pleasing design. It’s a great example of how old techniques can be used with new techniques to create an enthralling animated universe.

Simply put, The Iron Giant is an animated masterpiece that deserved to be discovered and be successful. Its story has depth but it’s very easy to enjoy. It talks about the importance of life and death and how in life it’s you who is in control of your destiny, and yet it never forgets that the best part about childhood was having fun and discovering something exciting each day. The pace is magnificent, the voice talent incredible and the animation very pleasing, warm and colorful. In my honest opinion, The Iron Giant is up there with the likes of Disney’s Fantasia, Snow White and Toy Story as a film that dared to go beyond the boundaries of animation and created a story that delights the heart and touches the soul. Never has being invaded by aliens from outer space been so endearing.

Rating: 5 filmstrips out of 5

Review #29: High Society (1956)

High Society (1956)

Starring: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kely, Louis Armstrong, John Lund, Celeste Holm

Directed by: Charles Walters

Released by: Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Synopsis: Jazz Musician C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby) has recently divorced New York socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly), but still has deep feelings of love for her. Tracy is about to marry boring but well meaning George Kittredge (John Lund), and Spy Magazine is set to cover the event. They send a reporter (Frank Sinatra) and a photographer (Celeste Holm) to cover the nuptials. Soon, what started as a simple wedding affair becomes a complicated mess of a love story.

Review: If the synopsis sounded familiar to you it’s because High Society is a musical remake of the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story (which I recently reviewed). Both films were based on the stage play by Philip Barry and both cover the topics of love after divorce, social statures and scandals among the rich and powerful. What makes High Society different from The Philadelphia Story, besides the musical score, however, is that its characters are far gentler, but still retain some the edginess seen in Barry’s original play.

The Philadelphia Story was successful thanks to the strength of its three lead performers. Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart performed their respective roles splendidly, calling forth the feelings and emotions needed to tell a complex love story. High Society loses a bit of that power but still remains a highly entertaining story. Bing Crosby as Dexter Haven is very fun, differing greatly from Cary Grant’s performance in the same role. While Grant played Dexter as an angry, bitter man with some lust still left in him, Crosby is the complete opposite. In High Society, he is far more romantic and hopeful with some small hints of frustration. To me, Crosby’s performance is the best thing about the movie. Even if his role differs from Cary Grant’s turn at the character he is still very memorable. There’s no denying had amazing talent as a singer an in High Society he doesn’t disappoints. He is smooth, lively and completely unforgettable.

While James Stewart had a bit more edge and complexity in his performance Frank Sinatra does a pretty good job as the reporter. I feel, though, that the romance between him and Tracy was played to better results in The Philadelphia Story. Finally, Grace Kelly is admirable as Tracy, but Katharine Hepburn made the role hers. In fact, it is believed that the character was written especially for her, and it shows. Hepburn had the tenacity and presence to play the character. Grace Kelly just lacks those elements that made the character so amazing in the original film.

In terms of story, both movies have the same plot and characters, but High Society plays it to a far grander, livelier and romantic scale. As I explained in my review of The Philadelphia Story, the movie didn’t feel romantic enough due to its focus on former couples being angry at each other and thus trying to make each other miserable until they realize that they needed each other. High Society remedies this by focusing more on the characters’ feelings. This is accomplished through song and dance. Some of the key scenes in the story, such as when Dexter gives Tracy the model boat in the pool, are told through song, and the performances are unbelievable. You clearly understand why the characters loved each other and thus see why they feel frustrated at the outcome of their respective relationships. High Society may lack some of the edginess that made the original story unforgettable but creates some truly fantastic scenes in the process.

Speaking of which, High Society features a wonderful Jazz soundtrack that fits with the story and themes very well. Louis Armstrong as expected plays his horn like only he could, while Sinatra and Crosby bring their legendary talents to the screen. Like I explained, it’s the music that gives the story a very lighthearted and fun feel, making it a tried and true MGM musical that lifts the spirits of its viewers while they enjoy a very solid story.

Many fans and critics have called High Society a very inferior film when compared to the 1940 version. I disagree with this. In the end, what determines which version is the best is personal preference. The Philadelphia Story trades in romance in favor of more character based humor as well as a biting satire of socialite values and tradition. High Society focuses more on the romance and the characters’ feelings, but ultimately makes them tamer and thus slightly forgettable. Despite its stature as an “inferior” remake by some, High Society is still a very entertaining film thanks to a great Jazz soundtrack and some solid performances.



Rating: 4 filmstrips out of 5

Review #28: The Philadelphia Story (1940)

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Starring: Cary Grant, James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, John Halliday

Directed by: George Cukor

Released by: Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Synopsis: Tracy Samantha Lord Haven (Katharine Hepburn) is about to marry George Kittredge (John Howard). Tracy’s ex-husband Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) is sent to cover their wedding, and brings his comrades Macaulay "Mike" Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) with him. But what they don’t realize is that Tracy may still have feelings for Dexter, while Mike may be falling in love with her.

Review: The Philadelphia Story is one of the first films that I saw when I started this classic film experiment. Not only that, it was the first Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart film that I saw and immediately fell in love with these great performers, inspiring me to further investigate their careers and learn more about them.

Cary Grant is magnificent as Dexter Haven, the bitter divorcee who seeks to ruin his ex’s life on her wedding day. Despite the apparent bitterness Grant plays the role very well, being funny, believable and a gentleman above all. There are some very un-PC moments (like the opening scene involving a face shove), but Grant plays them to great strength.

Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Haven is a great character that is very familiar to her to great finesse as an actress. Like Grant’s character there’s a subtle anger and frustration in her that shows up through her awkward encounters with the characters, ultimately revealing a woman that is dissatisfied with her life but too proud to admit it.

Finally there’s James Stewart as Mike Connor. Like in most of his famous roles, he plays the well intentioned, shy man who is able to win the heart of the main character. Even then, his character has an edge to him like the rest of the cast. Shy at first, there are many scenes that show us what he truly thinks. Stewart proves once more than regarding the film or the character he plays he can be grand and dramatic or subtle and enjoyable. The Philadelphia Story showcases the actor’s both talents in a performance that manages to be familiar for Stewart fans but at the same time different from anything he had done before.

The chemistry between the three performers is great. The Philadelphia Story is a love triangle story, and you believe that the two men are secretly in love with the same woman. Both Grant and Hepburn had appeared in other movies together such as “Bringing up Baby” and “Holiday”, and the chemistry created in both of these films is carried over to Philadelphia Story. The two actors play off each other very well, regardless if the characters are expressing love or subtle indignation.

The chemistry between Stewart and Hepburn, however, is slightly different, but works for the type of role he is in. There is a clear difference between Stewart’s earnest and Hepburn’s determination, and Philadelphia Story pulls it off. I enjoyed their time together on-screen and believed that Hepburn’s character was truly in love with these men, but didn’t know how to handle it.

The rest of the cast also shines through, despite the presence of these three great talents. Ruth Hussey as Liz Imbrie plays her character well, despite being a secondary character. She is Mike Connor’s love interest, and like the three main characters she too has complex feelings of love that doesn’t quite know how to express while trying to remain professional throughout. John Halliday as Seth (Tracy’s Father) is very solid as well, giving us one of the best lines in the entire movie, effectively summarizing Tracy as a character and creating the film’s message. My favorite of all the supporting characters, though, is Virginia Weidler as Dinah Lord. She is hilarious, presenting us her thoughts on her family’s ordeals in a precocious and even mean spirited manner.

My only issue with the film is that some of the acting feels a tad stiff and much rehearsed, often giving us unnatural characters that can be hard to relate too. This being a comedy of errors the plot can get convoluted, forcing us to try and follow a couple of stories, often in the same scene. Finally, The Philadephia Story just isn’t that romantic. Yes, there are a couple of scenes where we see Tracy lusting over her past loves, but the movie spends its time showing us how much these characters hate each other. It doesn’t ruin the overall movie, mind you, thanks to some fantastic writing and wonderful performances. Just don’t come in expect a romantic love story. This is all about how pride can lead to breakups and how awkward these feelings can be.

Regardless, The Philadelphia story is a magnificent film with some incredible talent behind it. All three lead actors get to strut both their comedic and dramatic skills while the supporting cast gets to have fun with them. It might not be romantic enough for some audiences, but the talent this film features is more than enough to create an enjoyable evening at the movies.

Rating: 4 filmstrips out of 5

Filmstrip Reflections #4: My all-time favorite Pixar shorts!

Pixar started out as a small, independent animation studio that did computer animated shorts. These shorts served as both experiments to the numerous techniques they could pull off using computer animation as well as spread around the talents at the studio. The Pixar shorts quickly grew in popularity, and when their first film, Toy Story, became a roaring success for the studio the Pixar shorts were celebrated as being integral to the growth of the studio in terms of talent. Since then, most Pixar films come accompanied with a short before the main feature, and they make a new short for their home video releases.

Considering that short films are vital to the studio I decided to list my favorite Pixar shorts! Note that I will divide this list into two categories: Original Shorts (shorts not based on any pre-existing ideas) and Feature Film Shorts (shorts based on Pixar films).

Original Shorts



1. For the birds
If I was given the task to convince people that Pixar is great, I should show them this. I love how the birds talk in chirps and whistles, resembling Woodstock’s speech in the Peanuts cartoon series and specials. The visual humor is fantastic, and the short’s finale presents us the greatest lesson of all: he who laughs last laughs the best.



2. Presto
This short is essentially a love letter to classic Tex Avery/Goofy cartoons, and succeeds greatly at capturing the manic pace of these shorts. Presto is simply hilarious thanks to its amazing comedic timing and insane animation. Presto proves that the people at Pixar have a great sense of humor, often unleashed in the form of manic shorts like this one.




3. Knick Knack
A word of warning: this short features a very, very, VERY catchy soundtrack. Knick Knack displays Pixar’s sense of ironic humor, presenting us a snowman characters who wants to break out of his prison to join the much hotter characters. It’s very funny and you will feel bad for the little guy.



4. Luxo Jr.
The one that started it all so to speak, Luxo Jr. is simply adorable. What’s very impressive about it is that despite the characters not having any faces they are very expressive, proving that in animation it’s all about movement and acting. The short was so effective that Luxo Jr. would become Pixar’s mascot, bouncing around at the beginning of each film. If you are wondering where he came from give this short a try.



5. One Band Man
A common trait in Pixar short films is that music and acting drive the story forward. One Man Band employs both, giving us great character animation with some great music. What I love the most about it is that the music perfectly grows more intense as the rivalry between the music men gets more and more heated. It all leads to a very satisfying ending that is funny and even silly.

Feature Film Shorts

These shorts are usually created to expand the film’s universe, giving us another chance to spend time with the characters or even take us back to the storyline and tell it through a different perspective.



1. Your Friend the Rat
My favorite Pixar film also has my all-time favorite Pixar short. People criticized it being a tad long, but to me it features great tongue in cheek humor and many different styles of animation. Don’t listen to what the short says, though. BEWARE RATS!



2. BURN-E
BURN-E is an example of a short film that takes the original story and tells it again through a different perspective. It tells the story of the BURN-E unit as it tries to replace a lamp post while the story was going on with Wall-E and EVE at the AXIOM. It ends on a very hilarious note, even if we feel bad for the little guy.



3. Dug’s Special Mission
The short takes places moments before Carl and Russell meet Dug, explaining us why he is so insistent to taking the bird back to his master. The short is mainly comical in nature as Dug tries to be the best dog he can be, making things hard for the rest of the dogs. Dug’s Special Mission ends on both a sad and uplifting note, giving even more depth to the relationship between him and Carl.



4. Mike’s New Car
Mike’s New Car doesn’t expand the characters or the universe. It’s just a silly short with no real reason for existing other than to take the characters and place them in a funny situation. And funny enough, it works! There is some great visual humor, showcasing Pixar’s both crazy and subtle animation.



5. Mater and the Ghost Light
Unlike many fans, I loved Cars, and I loved Mater the best. This short takes us back to Radiator Spring and gives us some great humor and character moments. The ending, though, is what makes the entire short so great. I won’t spoil it, but you have to see it to believe it.

Pixar on From Screen to Theme

Disney World of Color isn’t the only event you will find Pixar characters. As I explained in the post Pixar has a major presence in the Disney theme parks, whether they are attractions or just passing glimpses of the characters. If you want to know where to find all of these Pixar references I can’t recommend Brent Dodge’s book, From Screen to Theme, enough. The ultimate Disney reference book, From Screen to Theme takes a look at all the animated film references found at the Disney World theme park, Pixar films included.

So if you want to know how many Toy Story references there are at Disney World or see if the Incredibles can be found, From Screen to Theme is the book for you!

You can order your own copy here.

And remember… Anything can happen if you let it.

-Pedro

Classic Film References Homages and Tributes #7: Pixar on World of Color

The Walt Disney Company has perfected the art of marketing their films beyond their original theatrical premieres. Elaborate home video releases, theme park shows and attractions and an endless array of merchandise are some of the things the company does to make sure their movies are still fresh on our minds. Call it capitalizing on our nostalgia and collective love of movies, but they do an incredible job of it, often going through great lengths just to put on a show. Disney’s World of Color is the latest in Disney’s efforts to inspire our love of all things fun, animated, magical and even inspirational.



Disney’s World of Color is a dancing water show on Disney’s California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, California, similar to the dancing water show in the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show has been in development for over five years and finally premiered on the evening of Friday, June 11th, much to the delight of thousands. World of Color takes some of the greatest moments in Disney film history and recreates them through the use of dancing water fountains (around 1,2000 of them, lights, lasers, mist, digital projectors and even fire. In honor of Pixar week here at Filmstrip Memories, we are going to take a look at the role Pixar movies plays in this homage to the magic of Disney.



This “Alice in Wonderland” segment was actually deleted from the final show

Pixar has contributed a lot to the Disney lore as of late. Starting with Toy Story, Pixar is now synonymous with the company Walt Disney founded decades ago. You think of one movie and the worlds “Disney and Pixar” pop up. It’s no surprise that Pixar movies have made countless appearances throughout the Disney theme parks, often in attractions, lands and character meet and greets. Disney’s World of Color dedicates a great segment of its show to Pixar’s most amazing efforts, old and new. Pixar even contributed to it! They took their most iconic film moments and re-animated them so they could take advantage of the show’s watery presentation.



Pixar’s films were already present in the concept artwork. On the left you can see an image of Crush the turtle from the Finding Nemo segment

Here is a video of how they did it, as well as their thoughts on being represented on such a prestigious show:


Let’s take a look at their segments, shall we?



Mickey’s Fun Wheel even has a role in the show! Its lights play along to the music in some segments

The show begins with a Little Mermaid segment starring Ariel’s “Part of your world” and culminates with Sebastian’s “Under the sea”. Right after this song is over the first Pixar characters that we see are Crush the Sea Turtle and Squirt, his baby turtle son from Finding Nemo. It’s appropriate that the first Pixar film we see featured in this show is this one. For the longest time, Finding Nemo was Pixar’s most popular film, seeing a lot of representations in the Disney theme parks. Some of these include the Submarine Voyage in Disneyland, the Finding Nemo musical in Walt Disney World Florida and The Seas with Nemo on Epcot. When Crush and company leave, Dory and Marlin appear, recreating the famous “whale talk” scene. Once this scene is over we are taken to the “Pines of Rome” segment from Fantasia 2000.



Pocahontas in all her stunning beauty

As the last whale finishes his dance in space we then cut to a view of a beautiful galaxy, with glowing orbs representing different planets. A familiar face then appears: It’s Wall-E! The scene is the one in which Wall-E and EVE are in outer space, they “kiss” for the first time and they perform an amazing outer-space ballet. This scene is wonderfully recreated through the use of water effects, lasers and lights. The ending of the scene has Wall-E moving across the screens using his fire extinguisher. The puffs of smoke he leaves behind then turns into a familiar set of clouds…



Crush the turtle in another version of the artwork

The audience then sees two great friends: Buzz and Woody. The scene is from Toy Story, where they meet for the first time. After their now iconic argument, Woody challenges Buzz to fly around the room. But instead of “falling with style”, Buzz literally blasts off into infinity and beyond, taking the show to recreate the amazing opening sequence from Toy Story 2.

This is my favorite part of the whole show. Buzz battles a giant, laser version of Zurg as water fountains recreate laser blasts and Buzz flies left and right, with the giant water screens creating a great illusion of depth and movement. When Zurg is finally defeated all of the fountains shoot water up hundreds of feet into the air, culminating with the Little Green Men (aka the Toy Story Aliens) being amazed at the whole spectacle.

As the water screens go black, a single balloon appears on screen. This balloon signals the arrival of Carl Fredicksen’s house, taking us to Up’s segment in the show. The scene is very short, but very sweet. As the scene progresses we hear the first few notes of the film’s heartbreaking “Married Life” song. The house scrolls up and we begin to see Up’s main characters: Kevin the large colorful bird, Carl Fredicksen, Russell the Wilderness Explorer and the very lovable Dug. Dug then talks to the audience saying “My name is Dug, I’ve just met you, and I love you!”. The scene then ends with Dug saying “SQUIRRELL!” while a single Mickey Mouse balloon flies up, signaling the end of Pixar’s segment in the show. From this point on, World of Color focuses on the famous animated films from the 90s, which include Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and even Pocahontas.

But Pixar hasn’t completely left the show. After the Pocahontas scene, a couple of leaves fly across the screens. A big, red leaf then appears and stops in the center screen. We are introduced to Heimlich from A Bug’s Life! His stay, however, is cut short by the arrival of wind and rain, leading up to the Little April Showers segment of the show.

Disney’s World of Color concludes by presenting us once more all of the previous scenes while adding new ones as well.

Watching the show online doesn’t top being actually there, but the show is so amazing that even watching it on your computer screen you can't help but be in awe! Here’s the full show in case you missed Disney’s broadcast last Thursday night (Warning, the show is over 30 minutes long! Loading the video, especially in full high definition, may take a while):


Oh yes, I forgot to mention one thing. Before the show begins the audience is treated to a great pre-show parade. What’s so cool about it? Performers walk around with giant, Mardi gras puppets of classic Disney characters. Best of all, they are lit up! For the Disney side of things we have Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid”, Lumiere from “Beauty and the Beast”, Genie from “Aladdin” and Tigger from “Winnie-The-Pooh”. Care to guess which Pixar character got to dance around? That’s right, it’s Mike from “Monsters Inc.”!

Here’s a video of the festivities taking place before the show:


In many of the videos I’ve seen the audience reaction is incredible to say the least. When Dory and Marlin appear on screen, people begin to laugh and applaud, remembering how amazing the characters in Finding Nemo were. Wall-E’s segment also drew a lot of reactions. Despite the film’s controversial premiere due to its daring themes of mass consumerism and pollution the reactions were very positive, especially when Wall-E and EVE kiss and danced together. Toy Story perhaps drew the biggest reactions, with Buzz and Woody’s appearance creating a lot of applause. Buzz’s space battle amazed the audience with its great use of lasers and light. The one reaction that surprised me, though, was with Up. Up’s scene was very brief and simple. But as soon as the first notes of Giachinno’s “Married Life” started playing, people started going “Aaaaaaww” due to the tune’s usage in the film’s most memorable scene.

Shows like World of Color prove that Pixar’s movies have created a deep, emotional connection with audiences. It doesn’t matter if the story takes place inside the room of a child or into the deepest regions of out space, if a father clown fish is trying to find his son or a family of super heroes is trying to lead a normal life, all that matters is that the audience enjoys a great story that touches their souls, enlightens their hearts and inspires their imaginations.

Disney may be guilty of over-capitalizing on these wonderful memories of ours, but when you have amazing shows like World of Color it’s easy to forgive them for it. This is one great example of extending a film’s legacy and creating an amazing show, assuring that its presence never dies in our hearts. It’s why we love referencing movies so much, and Disney is the best at this practice.

-Pedro

Review #27: Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Nemo (2003)

Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, Allison Janney, Vicky Lewis, Brad Garret, Geoffrey Rush, Barry Humphries, Eric Bana, Alexander Gould

Directed by: Andrew Stanton

Released by: Walt Disney Pictures

Synopsis: After losing both his wife and his other children clown fish Marlin (Albert Brooks) is now an over protective father to his only son Nemo (Alexander Gould). When Nemo is kidnapped Marlin embarks on a journey as epic and wide as the sea itself, meeting an unlikely partner named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) in the process.

Review: Back in 2003, I became obsessed with this film. When I entered the theater, I was expecting a good Pixar film as always. But when it was over I realized that it wasn’t just a good Pixar movie, it was the greatest thing I had seen all year. Soon I became obsessed with the movie, watching it constantly when it came out on home video and trying to get as much merchandise as possible. For the longest time, Finding Nemo was my all-time favorite Pixar movie. It’s story and characters stayed with me long after the credits began to roll and it’s universe is one of the best realized in any kind of motion picture.

To me, Finding Nemo marks the beginning of a new, daring Pixar. Their stories would become more complex from then on, diving deep into complicated emotional issues to create engaging characters that were easy to root for while still being realistically flawed. The movie doesn’t even begin on a bright note as we see firsthand why Marlin is so overprotective of his son. It’s a scene that goes by quickly, but leaves the most impact in the audience. Once the film starts it doesn’t let go of its emotional values, with each character we meet bringing a new point of view that adds a lot of depth to the story.

That’s not to say that Finding Nemo isn’t a fun movie. It’s a movie you can watch again and again (something I did as I explained at the start of this review) and still enjoy. The pacing is top notch, delivering over an hour and a half’s worth of content without ever slowing down. Even when the movie feels episodic in nature all scenes fit the main narrative perfectly. Each scene stands on its own in terms of comedic value and storyline, showing us some of the most unforgettable characters ever committed to film.

Marlin is magnificently voiced by Albert Brooks, bringing to him nervousness to his character while still being an earnest father that just wants the best for his son. He is never grating, maintaining his likability even during the darkest scenes. Nearly the entire supporting cast are scene stealers, each shining through in their respective scenes. Ellen DeGenere’s Dory is superb as a comic relief character, once again bringing a great balance between a solid characterization and goofy antics. You will fall in love with this little blue fish. The other characters such as Geoffrey Rush’s Nigel the pelican, Willem Dafoe’s Angel fish Gill and even Vicky Lewis’s Deb are amazing as comic supporting characters. Finding Nemo easily has the best ensemble cast out of all the Pixar films, doing the film’s incredible narrative justice while never being superfluous.

The visuals are Finding Nemo’s best assets. As I stated at the start of this review, it features one of the most beautiful digitally created films ever. The sea can be a strikingly beautiful and even frightening place in the real world, and the digital wizards at Pixar have done an amazing job in recreating that natural beauty. The colors simply pop out of the screen in its rich detail and carefully constructed structure. The fish characters are authentic, staying true to their anatomy while practicing Walt Disney’s belief of the plausible impossible. It is common knowledge that fish can’t talk nor have blinking eyes. Yet, the animation in Finding Nemo makes that thought a possibility in that the fish are cartoon characters, yet act and move like real fish would. It’s this level of dedication that has made Pixar one of the most respected in the entertainment industry.

Finding Nemo’s soundtrack is simply beautiful. Composed by Thomas Newman, the soundtrack adds to the already heavy story with themes that evoke fear, love, happiness, weirdness and sheer joy. It expresses the calm yet eerie nature of the sea, becoming a character in itself. Finding Nemo would only be topped by Michael Giachinno’s score for Up, and even then it still remains a wonderful soundtrack.

Typically, I would talk about a film’s flaws here, but Finding Nemo is a rare case in which the film presents very few flaws. It flows perfectly from beginning to end while giving us a profound father/son story, set in one of nature’s most amazing creation: the sea. Finding Nemo has more than earned its legacy as one of the best films ever created. If my top two favorite Pixar films, Ratatouille and Up, had never been released, Finding Nemo would still be my top favorite Pixar movie. It doesn’t matter than the movie is about cartoon fish, Finding Nemo has a great story that resonates with anyone who has ever loved a child and has done anything to make them happy.

Rating: 5 filmstrips out of 5

Two Previous Pixar Features!

Only three more days till Toy Story 3 opens in theaters!

Before I decided to do Pixar Week here at Filmstrip Memories I had already written two articles regarding two Pixar movies.



The first is "Future Film Classics" in which I look at a modern film and analyze if it has potential to be a timeless classic. The first movie to receive this honor is Up, the inspirational story of an old widow who takes flight and tries to fulfill his late wife's wishes.

You can read more about it here.



The second is a segment of Classic Film References, Homages and Tributes dedicated to Wall-E. In this article I look at the film's use of the classic film musical "Hello, Dolly!" to tell the story of Wall-E and EVE. Read more about it here.

Stay tuned for more Pixar goodness!

-Pedro

Filmstrip Reflections #3: My Favorite Pixar Films!

Toy Story 3 comes out this week and I am more than excited. I simply can’t wait to see how the film concludes the adventures of Andy’s toys and see all the great characters on the big screen once again. As both a Pixar and film fan, it becomes increasingly difficult to list the Pixar films due to them always being successful and simply the best. I am sure that once Toy Story 3 is released many will struggle to place them in their own lists. I will, however, try to rank my favorite Pixar films, starting with my all time favorite and ending with my least favorite. Note that all of them are great in their own way, and in no way I am saying that some of them are bad, just that I preferred some over the others.

Without any further delay, here are my top ten favorite Pixar films!



Remy can rest assured knowing that Pedro thinks he is number one

1. Ratatouille (2007)
To me, this movie has proven to be one of the most personal and inspirational of all time, all because of its message of being whoever you want to be if you work hard to achieve it. Ratatouille is fantastic on nearly every level. The animation is very stunning, with great uses of caricature as well as presenting us Paris in a romantic manner. The story, however, is the real winner here. All characters are very well written and developed, and the story handles its twists and turns valiantly. Everyone is presented evenly and even the ending (which isn’t fully traditional) is very satisfying. Its message (“Everyone can cook”) is a testament to how we can accomplish anything in life and be rewarded for our determination. For these reasons, Ratatouille is a magnificent film and my all time favorite Pixar film.



”I told you that if we went into this adventure someone would call it the greatest ever Mr. Fredricksen!”

2. Up (2009)
Up is barely a year old, but has quickly become one of my all time favorite films. Up is a great mix of old and new Pixar traditions. You have both Pixar’s willingness to push strong concepts forward through great storytelling and their own unique brand of humor and heart. The characters, even the highly fantastical ones, feel very real and easy to relate, while the story handles issues such as the loss of someone special to idolizing false heroes with finesse. But its greatest message of all is that life, for all its bumps and obstacles, can be a great thing to experience. It celebrates both the grand moments as well as the little ones we come across often, and assures us that life is better spent with a friend that alone. Because of this, Up has become my second all time favorite Pixar film despite still being relatively young in the Pixar canon.



And just as she finds out that her movie is number three on my list, Dory forgets all about it…

3. Finding Nemo (2003)
When Finding Nemo came out in the summer of 2003 I was obsessed with it. I knew every scene by heart and couldn’t get enough of it. It is considered to be one of Pixar’s crowning achievements, becoming the highest grossing animated film ever at the time of its release. This is thanks to both its heartwarming father/son story as well as the beauty of its creatures. The characters are instantly likable thanks to great voice work and its story is just as charming and complex as the rest of the Pixar features. The scenery is easily the best element of the movie, giving us an animated world that stays true to the beauty of nature while creating magical world under the sea.



”It’s a good thing Pedro put our film very high in the list, I was about to scare the pants off of him!”

4. Monsters Inc. (2001)
Monsters Inc. came out at a time in which the world was nearly paralyzed in fear. The terrorist attacks on 9/11 got a lot of people worried and scared about the fate of the world. Just a few months later after the attacks Pixar released Monsters. Inc, a movie all about conquering your fears, no matter how big or small they are. Sulley is one of my all time favorite Pixar characters, being both intimidating as well as lovable. His relationship with the little girl Boo is one of the highlights of the film. It pushes the belief that once we put aside our own false notions of reality we can discover something far more meaningful. Monsters Inc.’s heart is unrivaled in the animation world. Even if bigger successes have been created at Pixar Monsters Inc. still shines through thanks to its belief that often the things we fear the most are those that we know little about.



Never mind the fact that Earth is a complete wasteland, Wall-E’s greatest mystery is the solution to Rubik’s Cube!

5. Wall-E (2008)
Easily the most controversial of all the Pixar films, Wall-E is bold and daring, creating an unabashed look at how Earth would look like if it was completely destroyed by mankind’s own greed. But what truly stood out for me was the relationship between Wall-E and EVE. Pixar’s first love story is highly successful thanks to its very quiet but deep scenes. The usage of the classic film musical “Hello, Dolly!” works great as a portal into Wall-E’s heart and deepens the beautiful love story. Whether you love the film or not Wall-E is sure to inspire discussions due to all the symbolisms it employs, a mark only some of the best films ever made are proud to display. It only takes a moment to fall in love with Wall-E.



So ALL of these characters are annoying and make the movie bad???

6. Cars (2006)
At the moment, Cars is easily the most maligned project in the studio’s portfolio. Successful as a merchandise franchise the film received a lot of mix reviews, making people wonder if the studio was beginning to lose its luster. In my case, while I agree that the film does have some issues (like an uneven pace, superfluous characters and a slightly rough storyline) it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. Cars has a very enchanting and clever vehicle world, dealing heavily with progress affecting some of our smallest towns. Some of the characters are quite enduring despite their highly stereotypical personas, and overall Cars is a very fun film. If you can forgive its flaws you’ll be able to see this fact.



Note to Michael Bay: A film can have incredible action and tons of explosions and STILL have great characters and story!

7. The Incredibles (2004)
I admit that I am not a big action film fan (though many movies are favorites of mine), and The Incredibles is very focused on action, almost to the point where it can be very tiring. But still, despite being directed by an outsider (Brad Bird), The Incredibles has some very fascinating character development and is edgy in that it isn’t afraid to put its characters in grave danger for our enjoyment. Super or not, The Incredibles is worth watching at least once.



Woody isn’t pleased to hear that the greatest movie of all time is so low on my list…

8. Toy Story (1995)
The only reason this movie is down in the list is because I feel that Pixar has improved significantly in terms of story, and thus watching it again it feels very light. It’s a groundbreaking film that I really enjoyed back when it was released, but has been surpassed by its successors. Regardless, Toy Story is a very important film that paved the way for many of my favorite movies, and even being ten years old the film is still great fun and is very polished.



Between trying to save Woody and learning about this movie’s place on my list Buzz hasn’t been experiencing the greatest of days

9. Toy Story 2 (1999)
If the movie improves significantly on all aspects of the original film why is it so low in the list? As much as I enjoyed this movie once again it never truly created the desire to watch again and again. It definitely deepens the story by focusing on a toy’s heartbreak after losing a child, and there are some unforgettable moments that shouldn’t be missed. It’s just that I enjoyed the other movies, Toy Story included, much better. But once again, it’s still an amazing film that is more than just a quick sequel made to capitalize on the movie’s popularity.



Even Flik is stunned to learn that Toy Story 2 ranked so low!

10. A Bug’s Life (1998)
Before Cars was released, A Bug’s Life was the one film considered to be Pixar’s weakest. Even if its success cemented Pixar as a powerhouse in the industry it just didn’t strike a chord with people, me included. The cast of characters are very charming and wonderful, but the story doesn’t stick to you as well as it hoped to do. It has some laughs and some thrilling scenes, but it’s all fluff in the end.

And these are my top ten favorite Pixar films. I can’t reiterate enough that ALL of these films are the best ever created and fine examples of how animated films should be. Movies are a very personal thing, and each Pixar film has different themes that resonate stronger in some people while doing nothing to another. All showcase great storylines with unforgettable characters. Some might be more effective than others, but all ultimately entertain and delight thanks to amazing visuals, wonderful music and storylines and characters we can learn from.

As long as Pixar keeps making great movies this list will always be changing. That is something we can all agree on.

-Pedro