Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Fantastic animated fun
Pixar is quickly becoming a gold mine. Not only does it manage to produce witty, intelligent movies but they are also visually stunning and a hit with both adults and children. This particular movie takes another look at an old theme, just as the 'Toy Story' films did, by taking a peek at the monsters that live in our closets. We're told that they don't live in our closets but in a world of their own and their power source is us or, more specifically, children's screams. Our two heroes are Sully, a big hairy blue creature, and his little one-eyed green friend. Sully is the best worker at Monsters Inc, managing more screams than any other worker. There's a fuel crisis though, and children aren't as easily scared as they used to be, so something has to be done. All of a sudden, a little girl called Boo enters into the monster world and is swiftly taken under the arm of Sully. Meanwhile, villains are afoot building a new and terrifying device to extract human screams from kidnapped children.Although the fact that the initial feelings of fear and trepidation turn into feelings of love and caring is quite obvious, it's the way it's done that's so good. In this part it's even comparable to movies such as 'Three Men and a Baby', but it's so affectionate, funny and thankfully un-cutesy that you have to give it credit. Also worth mentioning are the countless little details that will make both adults and children laugh - i.e. a newspaper headline reading 'child born with five heads; parents delighted'. Just like the 'Toy Story' movies, there are plenty of visual gags and a host of likeable, well-drawn characters such as Cecelia, a one-eyed Medusa, and the abominable snowman that deludes himself that his icy home is both pleasant and accommodating. With all this, you can't fail to fall under its spell. It's well acted, visually interesting, innovative and even gently touching. The inevitable separation scenes are not only done well, but they are devoid of schmaltz and sentimentality that would ruin the moment. Even if this isn't as funny as the 'Toy Story' movies that it's bound to be compared to, it's actually more touching and yet more proof that children's movies can be good too.
Rating:  - Destined to be a classic.
My title may sound a tad cliche, but I believe it. The guys at Pixar understand the mind of children - because they still haven't grown up! That's why Monsters, Inc. is the perfect balance of children's entertainment and adult sophistication. I love it when a studio produces movies that kids love, but at the same time are able to add a level of maturity and sophistication that adults appreciate - without sexual innuendo or appealing to the lowest-common denominator. (i.e. several instances in the movie, Shrek)The animation is simply incredible; the characters are compelling and hilarious; Boo is worth the price of TWO admissions; the plot and backstory are completely ingenious. Buy this movie. Enjoy it. Enjoy Disc 2. (Tons of extras - including "Mike's New Car" and another Pixar short entitled "For the Birds" -- PLUS, clips from the Monsters, Inc. office musical production "Put that thing back where it came from or so help me..." !!) With the possible exception of Toy Story 2, one COULD argue that this is the (or at least ONE of the) greatest animated movies ever made. Sorry if I'm gushing too much. I love this movie. My kids love this movie. It's just plain, good, old-fashinoned FUN.
Rating:  - Even Crystal can't save this one
Let it be known that this review does not apply to children, who obviously love this film (although I definitely include something very much germaine to kids later in this review, so please read on). However, as an adult who loved the "Toy Story" movies (by the same filmmakers) and generally appreciate well-made films, I was very sadly disappointed in "Monsters, Inc."Perhaps part of my problem is that I never have understood why anyone would care to spend time being "entertained" by John Goodman, who doesn't even have the benefit of his large presence here, but only contributes his voice, which is thoroughly forgettable. The fun provided by Billy Crystal, especially in scenes with administrative assistant Roz, provide about most of the fun you will find here, and I think they have a total of three brief scenes together. Otherwise, put simply, I just did not laugh. I recall chuckling about three times during the course of this film, and that's not going to earn more than two stars from me, I don't care how cute the little girl is or how great the animation is (admittedly wonderful, although the opening titles "doors" theme is just shabby looking). On the other hand, "Toy Story" still gets me rolling on the floor. In other words, it's not that I'm inured to this computer-generated method of filmmaking; it's just that this one is far inferior to earlier efforts. If the viewer is willing to be charitable based only on the animation, it could be viewed as a really terrific film, but that's like seeing a sci-fi spectacular and only being able later to recall that the special effects were great. A comedy should be FUNNY, not just look good. The thing that really pushed this one into the "really dislike it" category is the boss, the creature who runs the factory. He and Goodman's character have a really nice mentor/protege relationship for most of the way, which is a neat and refreshing change of pace. But, inevitably, they fall into the nasty, class-envy cliche of making the boss the bad guy. Pathetic! So we again indoctrinate our children with the image of an authority figure being evil. Wonderful message, Pixar/Disney. Stuff it.
|
