(Insert stupid Blog name here)

The Incredibles aside I'm usually not too crazy about the pixar stuff, in fact I think Incredibles is the only one I actually really like

 

That being said, the two best computer animated films I've seen this year with my kids are "How to Train your Dragon" and more recently "Despicable Me", which I think are both absolutely must-see

 

We recently also saw Sammy's Journey, which is basically the old WWF-Save-the-Planet IMAX flic blown up to 80 minutes. The story is horribly lame, but technically it's defintely got the best 3D effects I've seen since Avatar, maybe even better.

 

And regarding traditional Disney, last time I tried it they gave me 2 hours worth of hell on earth with "Kiss the Frog". Brain torture like that should be covered by the Geneva Conventions

 

Anyway, waiting for Tron here. I really like how the real world is flat and the computer world is 3D in the trailer

Wow, Cars 2 looks pretty good. I like the spy story, too. I wonder how they'll handle the backstory with Doc -- or if they'll even mention him -- since Paul Newman passed away.

 

Definitely see Megamind. I'll admit, I was skeptical, but was pleasantly surprised.

 

-B

The Incredibles aside I'm usually not too crazy about the pixar stuff, in fact I think Incredibles is the only one I actually really like

 

That being said, the two best computer animated films I've seen this year with my kids are "How to Train your Dragon" and more recently "Despicable Me", which I think are both absolutely must-see

 

And regarding traditional Disney, last time I tried it they gave me 2 hours worth of hell on earth with "Kiss the Frog". Brain torture like that should be covered by the Geneva Conventions

 

I haven't seen a traditional Disney film in the theater since Mulan (1998). I've seen Emperor's New Groove (which I liked), but I'm pretty sure I only saw that on DVD. Some of the others I've seen just enough bits and pieces of to know I don't want to see the rest of them.

 

I missed How To Train Your Dragon, although I heard it was very good. Just never got out to the theater for it. Same with Despicable Me. I find it's more of a chore (and en expensive one at that) than something I usually enjoy anymore. Part of that is finding someone else who's willing to go when I can make the time. I hate going by myself.

 

Just curious - what is it about the Pixar films don't you like? Generally, I've found something to like about all of their films (except A Bug's Life, which I didn't care for), but part of that is certainly an artistic appreciation, since that's my background.

 

Anyway, waiting for Tron here. I really like how the real world is flat and the computer world is 3D in the trailer

 

My understanding is that's the plan for the movie, too. Sort of a Wizard of Oz black & white/color effect. I think that's a smart use of 3D. That is, if the audience gets it, and don't start complaining "the 3D is broken!" while the film is running.

 

Wow, Cars 2 looks pretty good. I like the spy story, too. I wonder how they'll handle the backstory with Doc -- or if they'll even mention him -- since Paul Newman passed away.

 

Definitely see Megamind. I'll admit, I was skeptical, but was pleasantly surprised.

 

I suspect that if Doc or Fillmore (George Carlin) are in the movie, they'll re-cast them, as they did with Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) in Toy Story 3.

 

If Megamind is still around in a month, I'll probably see it while I'm on vacation. Or maybe I'll check it out over Thanksgiving. But I can't say it's high on my "to-do" list at the moment.

 

Wow, Cars 2 looks pretty good. I like the spy story, too. I wonder how they'll handle the backstory with Doc -- or if they'll even mention him -- since Paul Newman passed away.

 

Definitely see Megamind. I'll admit, I was skeptical, but was pleasantly surprised.

I suspect that if Doc or Fillmore (George Carlin) are in the movie, they'll re-cast them, as they did with Slinky Dog (Jim Varney) in Toy Story 3.

 

If Megamind is still around in a month, I'll probably see it while I'm on vacation. Or maybe I'll check it out over Thanksgiving. But I can't say it's high on my "to-do" list at the moment.

 

Damn, I forgot that George Carlin was in that, too. Any more actors from that movie die and it'll give Poltergeist a run for it's money.

 

Megamind wasn't high on my to-do list, either, but the kids have different priorities than I do!

 

-B

Damn, I forgot that George Carlin was in that, too. Any more actors from that movie die and it'll give Poltergeist a run for it's money.

I'll have to write up a blog entry some day about my theory of "The 'Weird Al' Curse".

Damn, I forgot that George Carlin was in that, too. Any more actors from that movie die and it'll give Poltergeist a run for it's money.

I'll have to write up a blog entry some day about my theory of "The 'Weird Al' Curse".

Now that's something I'd like to read!

It's on my 'to-do' list.

Just curious - what is it about the Pixar films don't you like?

 

It's hard to put in (english) words. The Pixar movies always feel too nice, too sterile, too polished, too tame, too streamlined and too politcal correct. The characters often seem to be generic role models, they lack personality, depth and attitude. The stories are mostly linear and flat, based on worn out standard schemes (growing-up // father-son) and, worst of all, they're usually just not my humor.

 

Everything was fine in The Incredibles though, which is why I consider it their masterpiece by far. Since then it's going downhill again.

 

BTW: I'd rate Pixars output somewhere in the middle. Over the Hedge, Shark's Tale, Bolt, Polar Express, Madagascar, the one with the surfing penguins and Sammys Journey are worse

 

(The Penguins of Madagascar Spin-off series is cool though. Good to see that they at least managed to isolate the single one bit of Madagascar that actually worked )

... worst of all, they're usually just not my humor.

I can certainly understand that.

 

A lot of what passes for 'humor' just doesn't work for me either. I've known some people who'll laugh at nearly anything. For me, if something really makes me laugh - and I mean absolute, gut-busting, out-of-control, gasping-for-air, tears rolling down the cheeks, laugh - it's a very rare thing indeed. I can think of only three instances where I laughed so hard I couldn't stop. That's not to say I don't laugh, or enjoy laughing, but it takes something really unexpected and personally funny to get more than a mild chuckle out of me. With most humor (especially on TV) I can see the jokes coming a mile away. There are exceptions though - Top Gear, MythBusters, Craig Ferguson - all typically get a good, honest laugh out of me on a regular basis.

 

I think with Pixar films, it's not so much that they're all that funny to me (although they certainly have funny moments), but rather that I'm a sucker for well-crafted sentimentality. And really good visual storytelling. And I appreciate their willingness to go out on a limb and do some different, not particularly 'commercial' things (Up and Wall•E, for example).

 

I agree that The Incredibles was their best work. I hadn't felt that sense of adventure and excitement when watching a film for a very long time prior to that. Not just animated films, either, but any film. Although The Incredibles wasn't so much a "Pixar" film, as it was a "Brad Bird" film. That's one of the reasons it stands apart.

 

My own personal preferences in animation lean much more heavily towards classic Warner Brothers short cartoons, than anything Disney ever did. Pixar's own short films aren't all that funny for the most part, either. They're more technical and artistic experiments, used to try out new techniques for CG animation (cloth, hair, fluid) or to give more people the opportunity to direct something, without handing them an entire feature film.

New Cars 2 trailer:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h_f3GbDKFc

 

That will definitely will be a hit with the 12-year-old crowd:

• Cars
  
• Spies
  
• Poop jokes
  

 

And speaking of poop jokes, here's a trailer for Kung-Fu Panda 2:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ftH73f3xg

 

Looks pretty good though. The first one surprised me by being better than I'd expected.