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theoneandonlygothicrainbow · 1 year ago

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Pixar Movie Reviews

I’ve watched, reviewed, rated, and ranked every Pixar film with the exception of Elemental, which I haven’t seen yet, and all of my reviews will be in this blog. The blog will go in chronological order, starting with Toy Story and ending with Lightyear.

I’m sure my interpretations will not be unanimously agreed upon, and that’s ok. These all just my opinions and I respect other opinions as long as they respect mine.

Key:

Pink: Transcendent with no significant issues

Purple: Has one main problem holding the film back, but still excellent

Blue: Great but not mind blowing

Green: Good but not great

Orange: Above average despite its problems

Red: Pretty average for the most part

Black: Below average or bad

Toy Story

A classic staple of animation, and it’s easy to see why. While a lot of the ideas in this film are pretty dated by today’s standards, the film still proves to be pretty engaging with a lot of the humor, character arcs, and heartwarming moments. Buzz and Woody have a very entertaining dynamic and it’s refreshing to have a protagonist that’s as morally flawed as Woody is. Many are bothered by Woody’s behavior and think he’s too harsh, but honestly, I have the opposite problem. I think the main flaw with this film is the other toys. They’re not infuriating, but a lot of their actions are pretty one note, inconsistent, and dare I say harsh considering what the movie shows us regarding Woody’s character. It’s not a major issue but it does hold this film back for me. There’s also a lot of cliches in this film but again, that’s expected because these ideas were fresh at the time. It’s by no means a perfect film, but it’s definitely a must see for the history.

A Bug’s Life

This film is considered pretty mediocre in the Pixar line up, and it’s definitely one of their weaker films. That being said, I still like this film ok. I think I really like the premise for how dark it kind of is, with the ants having to pay to a higher power and fighting back for it. I also really like Dot. Very cute and sweet, even when Flick, a pretty typical protagonist, fails. Hopper is also an AMAZING villain. He’s very intimidating and brutal in such an awesome way that still fits the story. So what holds this film back? Well, the story itself is kind of hard to buy. Flick believing the circus bugs are warrior bugs is really contrived and silly, and it’s such a forced liar revealed plot line. Liar revealed plot lines are among my least favorite plot lines and this film’s use of it is atrocious. It’s really unbelievable that the town would shame Flick for lying when the bugs were being so helpful toward the town. Also, I hate Princess Anna. She’s so rude and annoying and I hate that she ends up with Flick by the end. They have no chemistry and Flick deserves better than her. It’s not a must see at all, and I don’t know if I’d say I recommend it, but if you want to see it, I think there’s some good stuff to get out of it despite it’s major problems.

Toy Story 2

This film is such a huge step up from Toy Story 1. In fact, I’d argue this was the film that really cemented the Toy Story franchise into fame. It’s honestly one of the most polished films I’ve ever seen, and probably the best sequel film I’ve ever seen as well. The humor in this film is honestly among Pixar’s best. There are a wide variety of jokes and I don’t think a single one misses. The heart behind this film is also very strong. It’s a really heartbreaking follow up about Woody’s realization and fear that he’ll eventually be replaced, and wanting to avoid that heartbreak for the interests of the other toys. Speaking of which, Jessie, Bullseye, and Pete are all very charming characters. Bullseye is adorable and I love how he acts like a dog. He often serves as someone who makes Woody truly doubt his actions. Jessie is also very interesting. Her whole story with Emily is very sad and all of her PTSD with abandonment is really sad. It’s really heartwarming to see her find family again with the rest of Andy’s toys. Pete is also a pretty good villain. I love how manipulative he is of Jessie and Woody and seeing him lash out is really intimidating. I also love Buzz and the other toys in this film. They all have a decent amount of highlight in the rescue mission and I love the role reversal they pull with Buzz trying to bring Woody to reality. The other Buzz character and Zurg are also pretty fun, even if it is a bit odd that toys didn’t suspect that he was off, but it’s not totally unbelievable. This film has so much heart and variety that I think everyone would find something they love about it.

Monsters Inc

This film is one of the most famous Pixar movies to date and it’s easy to see why. The worldbuilding is really creative and interesting. I like seeing a lot of different monsters that vary in style, personality, and ability. It’s also cool to see the film set in a factory like setting and have it be really interesting. The main characters in this film are very strong. Mike and Sully have a great dynamic and they share a lot of iconic and funny lines. This film honestly has amazing humor, definitely among Pixar’s best. Randall is a pretty menacing threat and a good representation of a coworker having a bitter rivalry for a promotion. And Waternoose is honestly the best twist villain in animation I’ve ever seen. You don’t expect it because you already have Randall as a villain, but at the same time, it makes sense that he would be so adamant about harming children with how fixated he is on keeping the company running. He’s an amazing representation of corrupt CEOs who do immoral things to keep profits coming (*cough cough* pretty relevant in this day and age *cough cough*). Boo is adorable and her bond with Sully is so charming and sweet. I also really love the romance between Mike and Celia. There are a couple of story contrivances that bother me and prevent me from calling it a perfect film (the scene where Boo escapes the door for the first time in particular has a lot of that), but this film is still a lot of fun and definitely worth quite a few watches.

Finding Nemo

This movie is considered a classic among Pixar films, and while I can’t say I love this one as much as others, I do think it’s pretty great. The underwater world is absolutely gorgeous, the overall theme about disabilities and being protective over them is really beautiful, and the adventure is really suspenseful and great character development for Marlin. I loved Dory’s character and how she helps Marlin see the fault in his actions. She has a lot of great inspirational lines that are still well used to this day. Nemo and Marlin have a pretty realistic child and parent dynamic that escalated well to the main conflict. Darla is pretty funny threat that’s realistic for the fish to be scared of. The comedic moments are hit or miss for me, but the ones that hit are very funny. Also, this is a film I blocked out from memory because a lot of the imagery scared me when I first saw it when I was younger, particularly Hank chasing Marlin and Dory and Nemo getting taken away by the divers. Even watching this now, I’m still shocked by the amount of scary imagery in this film. It’s kind of weird when coupled with some of the more juvenile (but not super obnoxious) humor. I’m also not a huge fan of the tank gang, even if they do have a lot of good jokes. I still definitely recommend this film, as I’m sure my issues with it are not very common because many rank this as one of Pixar’s best and I can see why.

The Incredibles

Wow this film is…incredible (haha funny pun). I love how it takes the concept of a family of superheroes and plays it realistically. The dialogue in this film is very natural. The interactions between each of the family members feel authentic, and it gets you invested in each of their personal hang ups. The whole idea of society banning superheroes is really interesting and it definitely helps capture the “midlife crisis” and “glory days” vibe the film is going for with Bob. I imagine a lot of older audience members will relate a lot to both Bob and Helen with their struggles about an unsatisfying job and trying to raise their kids the best they can. I also really like Violet and Dash. They aren’t as well fleshed out as the parents but they still feel like real kids who are struggling to adapt to the world around them, especially a world where superheroes are illegal and villains want to kill them. Syndrome is a really strong villain as well. I like that he’s so bitter about Mr. Incredible ignoring him and his technology and plan make him feel like a major threat. The action is well blended with the drama of the main story and is really engaging to look at. There’s also a lot of memorable side characters like Edna Mode, Frozone, Cari, Mirage, and many more. This film is just all around very sophisticated and I definitely recommend it.

Cars

This film is often considered to be mediocre in Pixar’s lineup, and yeah, that’s definitely true. The worldbuilding is easily this movie’s biggest flaw. A lot of this world just feels like “human world but everyone is a car”, and the world definitely has a couple contradictions. It leaves a lot of questions for people watching this film and it can distract from the main story. The story itself is alright though. Lightning learning to be less arrogant isn’t the most amazing arc in the world, but it’s fine for what it is. And I can appreciate some love being shown for Route 66. I don’t think the romance between him and Sally is that well developed though. The side characters are kind of a mixed bag as well. Mater is really annoying, and a lot of the other side characters are just kind of forgettable and occasionally annoying. I do like Doc and King though, as they were interesting and charming whenever they were a focus. Chick Hicks is a passable and funny villain, even if it’s odd that the physical sabotage wasn’t really prohibited mid race. The two best things in this film for me are Life is a Highway, an AMAZING song, and the ending where we see Lightning’s arc wrapped up in a pretty satisfying way. This film is definitely flawed in a lot of areas, but it does have some charming moments. Not a must see but not a must avoid either.

Ratatouille

Fun fact: before doing this Pixar marathon, I had never seen this film before. And GOD do I wish I saw this sooner because this film is beautiful. It’s among the most thematically rich films I’ve ever seen. I love how the film puts a twist on the theme of “anyone can cook.” The critic makes it known that not everyone has the capability to cook, and the film further shows this with Linguine, who was trying to be someone he wasn’t and felt the need to live up to his family member’s legacy. Instead, they make it known that a great cook can come from a wide variety of backgrounds. The ending is easily the highlight in this regard with how it brings these themes together. Easily the best ending to any Pixar film. On top of that, this film really helps you love cooking so much through the amount of passion the characters, particularly Remy, have for it. I kept feeling hungry throughout this film when I watched, which was enhanced by the beautiful animation. And the side characters in this film are also very funny along the way, with a lot of their jokes being very subtle yet still able to be picked up on. The intro definitely bored me a little bit, but considering the differences in lighting compared to the rat sewers and Paris, I’m guessing that was intentional to show how Remy hates being a rat. If so, I applaud this film for it’s very good visual storytelling, along with everything else about it. It’s a very mature film that not everyone would find engaging, but it’s definitely a very well written and thought provoking film that I urge EVERYONE to see.

WALL-E

I see so many people consider this film Pixar’s best, and after seeing it for the first time, I can definitely understand why. The first half is absolutely beautiful with the amount of wordless storytelling about WALL-E, EVE, and Earth in general. Seeing WALL-E and EVE bond is very touching and adorable, and it also provides a decent amount of slapstick humor. I love the overall environment of Earth and how desolate and ruined it is. The second half is often considered to be weaker, but I’d argue it’s just as strong as the first. While there certainly isn’t as much wordless storytelling, there is still a lot of it. We see how lazy and dependent humans have become after leaving Earth, especially in their body mass. There’s also that beautiful scene of WALL-E and EVE dancing in space, and we also see a lot of different robot characters that vary in personality and humanity, in which Otto, the villain robot, has no sense of humanity and is merely following his prior orders. And the captain’s line “I don’t want to survive, I want to live” is among my favorite lines of dialogue in anything. While this film can definitely be pretty slow at points, this film is an incredible cautionary tale about environmental issues and global problems in general. I think this film will always continue to be relevant no matter what situation humanity faces. Definitely watch this one if you haven’t already.

Out of every Pixar film, this one is easily the most overrated to me. The theme about remembering the small moments with people rather than the grand ones is a great moral, but the film doesn’t have a great connective tissue to the message. All it has is the first 10 minutes (which is nice but pretty overhyped imo) and the callback to scrapbook before the climax. The whole bird adventure is technically fine but I found it pretty boring for most of it. I guess it’s meant to be a reflection of how the smaller moments (protecting the bird) are more meaningful than the larger moments (going to Paradise Falls), but I feel like there could have been a more engaging way to execute that idea. I also didn’t like most of the characters. The dogs are cute and funny, but Russell and Carl are kind of eh. They are relatable and have some good moments, but they also have a lot of irritating moments. The villain is definitely one of the better twist villains due to how early his reveal is, and I like that he’s an antithesis about desperation for adventure, but other than that he’s not very engaging or interesting. This film is pretty great in a lot of ways, but it’s definitely not top tier Pixar, nor is it a film I’m in a hurry to see again in general.

Toy Story 3

I don’t this film is quite as perfect as Toy Story 2, but it is still an absolutely fantastic entry to the Toy Story franchise. The progression about the toys moving on from Andy is a really natural and emotional progression to take. I’m sure this was an emotional film for people attached to the Toy Story characters and/or those who related to the big change that moving to college is. The denial over growing up is a very realistic feeling to have and it causes a lot of emotional weight for the toys, as they realize Andy does really care about them despite having outgrown them. The daycare setting is pretty fun and I love the variety of toys we meet this time. Barbie and Ken, Lotso, Big Baby, the monkey, the telephone, the toys at Bonnie’s house, and even some of the background toys are really memorable. And the rest of Andy’s toys get a decent amount of highlight as well. Lotso is a very effective villain who is a great foil to the other toys about moving on from their owners. The way he manipulates and takes control is especially scary. If I had any complaints, I do think it’s a bit odd the toys don’t believe Woody when he said Andy wasn’t abandoning them, and I wished Buzz had a bit more going on than being essentially mind controlled for half the time, but this film is still a lot of fun and deserves the love it gets.

Cars 2

I think it’s no surprise to say that this film is Pixar’s weakest. And it’s astonishingly bad considering their line up of films beforehand. The whole plot is very forced. The racing and spy elements don’t blend well at all and making Mater the main star is very annoying. The spies act unreasonably stupid for the plot to go anywhere and most of Mater’s jokes are very bad. The reveal behind the villain is also very confusing and makes no sense considering the context of the rest of the plot. There are also confusing world building elements that are mainly left over from the first film but they are still annoying. The whole friendship message is pretty cliche and is not a very good match with the spy plot. Lightning is also uncharacteristically sympathetic towards Mater for half of the film out of nowhere. This film does have some positives with a couple of very good jokes that land as well as some somewhat heartwarming moments from the side characters, but overall, this film feels like such a mess that didn’t need to be made at all. I recommend you skip it.

Brave

Yeah this film kind of sucks. It doesn’t really piss me off that much but it just feels very cliche, boring, and predictable. It feels more like a low tier Disney movie rather than a Pixar film. The story is very uninspiring and the characters are the most unlikable and bland out of all the Pixar movies. Merida is such a brat, which is definitely the point of the film but the execution of her arc is very sloppy that it doesn’t feel satisfying when she learns by the end. Eleanor is also very obnoxious and Merida’s little brothers are useless and don’t fit the film’s darker tone very well. The animation is also pretty poor. The lighting is unusually dark to the point where I can’t see a lot of the time. It’s unfortunate because this film starts off well with a cool mystery in the forest, and it has great music and an interesting setting. Not to mention that the archery moments are really badass and cool. But those attributes sadly just make me notice the poor story and characters more. To me, this film had a lot of potential to be very mature and artistic but it’s cliche and forced story beats make it very bland. I don’t recommend this film.

Monsters University

Out of every single Pixar film, I think this one is the most underrated. This film really adds a lot to the world building about the science behind scaring works and how doors are made. It’s really cool. Mike and Sully also have a very entertaining dynamic between the hard worker who just wasn’t meant to be a scarer and the coaster who is relying on his raw skill and family name. I like these two separate character dynamics. They are pretty realistic to many people in college. The overall mature theme of dreams sometimes not coming true is also beautiful. It’s really refreshing to see things not work out perfectly for Mike, even though he really wanted to scare. Sometimes dreams aren’t meant to be, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness in other ways, like Mike eventually realizes by the end of the film. The climax is also very epic. A lot of emotional moments between Mike and Sully and both of them feel like very flawed characters who learn a lot about life through college and their mistakes. This film is a lot more mature than you would expect! The scare games plot is definitely the weakest one, as it has a lot of cliche, forgettable, and sometimes annoying moments with Oozma Kappa, who aren’t awful but they’re definitely not super interesting. I like that they included an adult in college though, as that’s rare. But the scare game plot also proves to be pretty satisfying in the success and some pretty solid jokes. Honestly, I definitely recommend you check out this film. I feel like people are sleeping on how great this is.

Inside Out

God…words can’t describe how much I adore this film. The overall concept about exploring someone’s brain is so fascinating, and the way they portray a lot of these psychological concepts is so interesting and creative. It really helps people, even those not well versed in psychology or neuroscience, understand how the brain works. The dream world being a movie studio, the unconscious being a deep cavern, the imaginations being a row of exhibits, long term memory being an infinite route (like real life!), it’s all so cool! The characters in this film are also very strong. All of the emotions are flawed yet likable characters who have their own perspectives on certain issues that surprisingly don’t come off as one note. I also like the small amount of depth and character given to Riley and her parents. They feel like realistic people who would act the way they do when certain emotions are in control or out of control. The jokes are also very funny. I like how they match with the characters and emotions of the situation as well as fit with the setting. The themes, OH MY GOD THE THEMES. The themes are written so strongly, it’s among the best writing I’ve ever seen. The message about accepting sadness and bad emotions is written in subtle ways throughout the whole film, as well as ways that are very obvious for the characters to learn and understand. It’s a very human film that can resonate with everyone. Everyone feels sadness and everyone wants to push it away, but sometimes it’s incredible necessary. This film is the only Pixar film to have ever made me cry, and it made me cry 6 TIMES. The ending in particular gets me everytime with how heavy, satisfying, and authentic it feels. This film is just…absolutely flawless and incredible. It’s not just my favorite Pixar film. It’s not just my favorite animated film. It’s my favorite film of all time.

The Good Dinosaur

Ironic to me that Pixar released my least favorite film from them after they released my favorite film. While Cars 2 is objectively worse, I would rather watch that than this because this film is one of the most boring films I’ve ever seen. There is such a lack of story for me to get invested in, and half of the time I feel like the film is trying to cover that up by showing pretty scenery. What little plot there is is pretty typical: a dinosaur wants to prove that he’s courageous and then gets lost and has to find his way home, while learning to be courageous. It’s a fine enough story but a lot of it feels dragged out and uninteresting. The theme is just so dry and boring, as well as the characters. Arlo and Spot’s relationship is very mediocre. I like the scene where they explain what happened to them with sticks, but other than that, they feel like every other buddy duo in every other film. The other characters are pretty forgettable too. I also think a lot of the scenes are pretty gruesome compared to the very minimal and kiddy story and characters. It doesn’t really mend all together that well. There’s also a lot of story contrivances, such as Arlo surviving a wave his father was killed in (and the death has NO emotion because it happens in such a stupid way). Definitely don’t watch this one. It’s not entertainingly bad like Cars 2 COULD be. It’s just boring and not a good time.

Finding Dory

This is a hot take, but honestly I like this film more than the first one. I think it does a better job at showing how disabilities don’t limit us as people and that we can still accomplish things regardless of them. I also found the newer side characters to be a lot more fun and interesting this time around. Destiny, Bailey, and Hank are a lot of fun and I like that they are further representations of disabilities. There’s a lot of respect with the subject in how they don’t really bring too much attention to the disabilities. They’re simply there and a part of them, making the lesson feel natural. I also love how they explain a lot of Dory’s attributes from the first film, such as talking to whales and reading. The aquarium is a fun location for this film with a lot of cool hijinks as Dory finds her parents, which proves to be such an emotional journey. This film is definitely very similar to the first one and Marlin is a bit harsh, but overall I thought this film was a lot of fun and an improved version of the first.

Cars 3

This film blew my expectations out of the water. Granted, my expectations were not very high, as it’s a Cars film, but I’m genuinely shocked at how good this film is. The worldbuilding issues are nowhere near as prevalent as they are in the first film, as they try to draw their focus away from that, and the overall story is a lot more interesting than the story of the first two Cars films. I think a lot of older audiences can relate to Lightning’s struggle about falling behind with a newer generation of people in whatever field of work, and trying not to let other people tell you when you’re finished. The overall focus with Doc was really sweet, and it’s really moving to see Lightning try so hard to keep racing until he realizes mid race that he’s not cut out for it. I love the final act of this film because Lightning was able to accept that he’s not qualified to race anymore and give that opportunity to Cruise, a newer racer who has a chance to prove herself, and also take Doc’s legacy of mentoring Lightning. Cruise was a hit or miss character for me and the other side characters, while nowhere near as prevalent in this film as the other films, still have their annoying moments. But Lightning’s overall journey is immensely satisfying. It really feels like this film was an apology for the first two Cars movies, and if that’s the case, I accept their apology wholeheartedly. Nowhere near a perfect film, but it’s a triumph of quality for this franchise. I honestly recommend this, especially to people who have already seen Cars 1. I think they will underestimate the amount of emotion they’ll feel while watching this miracle.

Coco

Before my Pixar marathon, Coco was my second favorite Pixar film behind Inside Out. But after watching a lot of new films and rewatching this one, this film definitely moved down in the rankings for me. That being said, it’s still absolutely fantastic. I love how rich in Mexican culture this film is, as you could not really set this film in another place without dramatically changing the entire story. The whole story itself is really cool. I like how they take the “follow your dreams” lesson and apply it to the reality of corrupt celebrities desperate for fame to the point where they leave their family and morals behind. Miguel is a pretty relatable protagonist that acts like a real kid without being super annoying. And it definitely hurts to see the family be so judgmental of music. It makes you hate them, but at the same time, sympathize with them, because you understand where they’re coming from. The whole Land of the Dead world is absolutely gorgeous and I love the worldbuilding with the skeletons and the spirits. The colors are beautiful and it makes every frame stunning. There’s definitely a lot of emotion with the beautiful song “Remember Me”, which didn’t make me cry like it did for many others, but it was definitely pretty close to making me cry. I like how they foreshadow the song being stolen with the fast version with Cruz feeling kind of out of place and unnatural. So what brings this film down? Two things. One, Dante was useless. He was really gross and was mainly there to be a nuisance, apart from knowing over the photo, which could have been changed a little. Two, Cruz is a good villain with an interesting ideaology, but his actual plan and actions are kind of stupid. He shouldn’t have made a film resembling Hector’s death. He shouldn’t have kept Hector’s photo. And I don’t really understand why Hector didn’t really mention how he wrote Remember Me and Cruz stole it from him. Hector himself is a fun character though, and his love for Coco is so sweet. It’s still an absolutely wonderful film despite a somewhat weaker villain and comic relief animal, and I definitely recommend it.

Incredibles 2

This film gets a lot of hate, but I honestly enjoyed this film quite a bit. I like how this film puts more of a focus on the Superheroes being illegal law and trying to overturn that. It’s funny to see Bob try his best with parenting, as we didn’t see too much of that in the last film. His jealousy with Helen is a little inconsistent and weird at first, but I like how it develops into an inferiority complex. I also like how they focus on how being a superhero affects Violet and her love life with Toni. Dash was pretty annoying and one note in this film though, which is kind of disappointing. The story behind Helen’s plot is really interesting and the action is very good. I also like meeting more superheroes and seeing their powers. Winston and Evelyn were pretty cool characters for most of the film. I do like how they shared the same situation but had different perspectives, one wanting to legalize heroes and one wanting to ban them. Which does bring me to the biggest problem: Evelyn as a twist villain. Her actions and ideaology don’t make too much sense in universe, as she did a lot to raise heroes up, more than what was needed. And Winston didn’t really notice the goggles at that point either which is kind of annoying. Bottom line, the story itself is not as polished and cohesive as some other Pixar films, but there’s still a lot of good stuff from this film that makes it worth at least one watch.

Toy Story 4

Easily the weakest Toy Story film. I definitely would have preferred if this film never existed in the first place, as Toy Story 3 is a much better closer for the franchise. But I will acknowledge that this film does have a decent number of quality elements. The idea of having an antithesis to the first 3 films is interesting. I like how they make Woody’s loyalty unhealthy to the point where he needs to consider other life opportunities that are better for him in the long run. It definitely challenges the ideas of the first 3 films, particularly Toy Story 2, and that’s pretty daring all things considered. There are some solid jokes and moments with Bo Peep, Gabby Gabby, and Forky that support the main conflict well. The hijinks are alright with the van, old timey shop, and the carnival, though not as fun as the ones in the other Toy Story films. Bonnie is adorable and I can buy that she doesn’t really play with Woody as much, even if Woody meant a lot to Andy. It is kind of cruel and unusual to have the parents be so neglectful of Woody though. I’d expect them to know more about the importance behind the toys, particularly Woody. Even if Bo Peep says that “kids lose toys all the time” (a very good point that definitely supports what this film was going for, toys being able to find purpose without owners). The story itself is definitely not very tightly written, as the plot meanders a lot, Buzz’s B plot is awful and annoying, and there is so little relevance to the rest of the gang that they could have been cut entirely. I also can’t stand Duck and Bunny. They were so obnoxious everytime they came on screen. Out of all the Pixar films, this one is easily the one I’m the most mixed on. There are some interesting if not controversial ideas in this film that may be emotional to some and aggravating to others. If I could describe this film in one word, it would be “challenging.” I think whether or not you want to see it depends on how attached you feel towards the other films, but I do think there is some good stuff in this one.

Onward

A lot of people really don’t like this film, which I can somewhat get, but I still thought it was a good time. I think the fantasy like world about magical creatures abandoning magic in favor of technology is a really cool idea. While this film doesn’t really focus on that idea that much, I do like how it plays into the main plot about Ian trying to assert himself and grow, as well as him realizing that Barley helped him a lot through that. The ending is easily the highlight, as we see Ian make an adamant decision that puts Barley’s happiness first. Ian and Barley have a nice and realistic brother like bond that’s definitely a huge facet of them overcoming their personal struggles. The overall magic system is neat. I like that there are specific spells that Ian needs to use and it results in a lot of really cool fight scenes and character designs. There’s definitely a lot of creativity in this film. Sadly, I think this film could have really utilized said creativity a lot more and in a lot more interesting way. There are definitely a lot of contrivances and annoying moments in this film that prevent it from being great, not to mention a lot of missed potential, but I still think it has some charm and heart to it that make it worth a watch.

Soul

This film is amazing, and while I can point to many recent films to refute the claim that Pixar has lost their touch, this film would definitely be the first one I point to. The whole idea behind the purpose of life and finding what keeps us going is beautiful, and there’s so many smaller moments that capture that idea, from 22 eating food to 22 catching the leaf. Joe is a very relatable protagonist and his love for jazz is really touching and inspiring to people who have that passion that keeps them going. The great before world is gorgeous visually and I love the way they set up the souls obtaining their erth pass. 22 and Joe have a great dynamic that develops into something very meaningful for both of them, and I like how vague they leave things by the end. The start of the movie has Joe have an idea with what he wants to do, but as he keeps talking to people about life and as he remains unsatisfied with the gig, he realizes he still needs to figure things out. This is further reflected in the title card being shown only at the end, saying that Joe’s life truly begins now. Bottom line, this film is an absolute masterpiece that shows us that Pixar still has its magic touch.

Luca

I loved this film a lot more than I thought I would. I heard from other people that it was a really slow paced and simple film and I was worried that I was going to be really bored with it. But this film is unbelievably charming in its simplicit nature that I got pretty attached to the story. I even cried at a couple points. Luca, Alberto, and Giulia are all very charming characters that have pretty simple goals that you can’t help but get attached to due to their enthusiasm. It’s really cool to see Luca explode about the world he was restricted from for so long and seeing him fall in love with a lot of stuff from it. Alberto and Luca have a beautiful friendship and they play off each other very well. I also love Giulia’s father. He’s very sweet and I like how he has an arm missing just because he was born that way. Props to body diversity! This film also handles liar reveals very well, with Alberto exposing himself rather than Luca and Giulia being more concerned with their safety than the fact that they were lying. And I also love how Alberto reflects on his jealousy over Luca’s friendship and Luca reach an understanding with him. The whole outsider message is there, even though it’s not a big part of the film, and it’s a really realistic fear many children have growing up. Main reason I don’t think this film is a 10/10 is because I don’t like the bully villain nor do I like the parent subplot of them trying to find Luca, but at the end of the day these aren’t things that will ruin the film at all. It’s still a very sweet and cozy film that many people will love.

Turning Red

This film is epic and I HEAVILY disagree with the majority of the criticism against it. The whole film really plays into the idea of growing up and becoming a person separate from your family. I like how this is reflected in Mei’s culture as well, as Chinese culture tends to be very collectivist in nature. While I am not Chinese myself, and thus cannot comment on the accuracy of representation, I really appreciate the overall aesthetic and how it adds to the story. From Mei’s mother being overbearing and her dad not so much, to Mei embracing elements of individuality outside of her culture, this film has a lot of thought. And considering how this film was directed by a Chinese woman and the feedback I’ve heard from Chinese people is pretty positive, I’m inclined to believe this movie has very strong representation. I really buy the exaggerated style because it portrays family dynamics and growing up very realistically. Mei, along with her friends, feel like very real teenagers. They have a great dynamic and memorable personalities that surprisingly never got overbearing. Their bond is very sweet with how much they care for each other. The climax is also amazing with how Mei’s friends and family team up to save the day, further shown with the combination of the mantra music and 4Town’s music during the ritual. And WOW 4Town’s music is so good. Everytime they sang the song, I was having a really fun time. I love how the lyrics are all about individuality. And I also love how a lot of the things Mei embraces are often perceived as cringe by most people. Growing up is a messy experience and teenagers are often incredibly cringy when trying to figure out who they are. But the cringe never really gets that overbearing. If anything, it really helps add to the film’s comedy, which is very strong. I was so close to giving this film a 10/10, but sadly, one thing is preventing me from doing that: Tyler. Tyler is just a really annoying prick that kind of got off way too easily, especially when he was acting racist towards Mei in a later scene. The film didn’t really need him in all honesty, and anytime he was a focus, he was really obnoxious. They definitely show human sides to him, but if they wanted to redeem him, his arc needed a heck of a lot more polish. But this film is still absolutely amazing and I highly recommend EVERYONE to see it.

Lightyear

I was really nervous about this film, as I heard a lot of people consider it among the worst of Pixar, and I felt like the film was a huge executive push ever since I saw advertisements for it. Having seen it now, it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting and I don’t think it’s Pixar's worst film. But it’s still a pretty big mixed bag that is among the weakest they’ve ever made. I think this film had a lot of really cool stuff going for it with the overall space ranger aesthetic and music. It’s very cool and it definitely makes you curious about the world the film takes place in. But sadly, the world is not fleshed out well at all. If you can buy the whole time travel space plot point, which is a bit of a hard one to buy, it’s hard to get invested in Buzz’s struggle when we don’t see a lot of the world he’s living in changing, nor do we have time to get emotionally invested in his fear. All we really have is a nightmare that’s way too short for us to get invested in. Buzz’s overall character is kind of inconsistent and bland. A lot of conflicts he faces kind of come in and out and they don’t really help his arc become satisfying in any way. The side characters in this film, with the exception of Sox, are pretty mediocre and forgettable. Their dynamics feel unoriginal and it makes it hard to get emotionally invested. And of course, I’ll address the most infamous part of this film: the Zurg reveal. Zurg is a pretty poorly written villain whose actions, ideologies, and of course, overall existence, don’t make a lot of sense in the universe they’ve made. And the dynamic between Zurg and Buzz is so lifeless and rushed that it doesn’t feel suspenseful or emotional at all. Honestly, I feel like this film had potential to be a really interesting and good spinoff from the Toy Story universe. But as it is, it’s just a mash of mediocrity.

Elemental

There’s been a mix (I’m so punny) of reactions to this film, and I would definitely put myself in the category of people that really enjoyed it. I thought the overall story was really passionate. I like the immigration plotpoint in this film and how it connects so much with the family’s business and Ember’s internal conflict about her future. It definitely makes me more curious about the immigrant experience and I would love to learn more about that subject on my own time. I love a lot of the smaller details of their heritage that some into play, such as Ember’s father messing up English and the bow. Ember and Wade’s relationship was absolutely adorable. Their interactions feel very natural and heartfelt. Wade was a character I was a bit iffy on when he was first introduced but he definitely won me over pretty quickly with how sweet he is. I love the banter the two characters share and I won’t lie, I teared up at a lot of moments. The animation was also beautiful. It’s a given because it’s Pixar, but I feel like it’s more impressive here because of the fact that they had to animate subjects that were less solid in nature. A lot of people call this film basic and it definitely does tread a lot of familiar ground, but I didn’t mind that too much because when the cliches were used, they were used in a way that a) boosted the theme of the film and b) avoided a lot of the annoying moments the cliches tend to bring (particular Wade not holding a grudge in the third act breakup). I think the only cliche that kind of bothered me was the fake out death, but the moment where they bring back Wade is still very moving. This film is definitely not perfect. Clod thankfully had very little screen time but he was really annoying whenever he was a focus. The worldbuilding is cool but it definitely has a couple of contradictions and plot holes that aren’t enough for me to take my enjoyment out of the film, but they definitely make your head scratch a bit, particularly the fact that air and earth people were so sidelined. It kind of weakens the prejudice aspect a little. I still think this film is pretty good though. You can tell it comes from a place of passion and it dampers the blow on some problems. I recommend it!

Inside Out 2

I was one of the few people who didn’t need an Inside Out sequel, but this film was definitely a worthy addition to the Inside Out series. I really love the additions to the world building. The idea of beliefs is a very clever one in how they tie into the limitations of the emotions. It’s also great to see the way previous world building elements have evolved, such as the new areas in Imagination Land and the changes in size of the personality islands. The characters in this film are very strong, as always. Anxiety is a very good villain and I also love how Ennui, Envy, and Embarrassment also affect Riley’s personal experience. While Anxiety is the main player here, the other three definitely play a part in Riley’s breakdown and I appreciate that they weren’t useless. I especially love Embarrassment. They were adorable and I loved how their character changed. It makes perfect sense, as they were embarrassed about what Riley’s been doing. The old emotions are also a joy (hahahahaha please laugh at me) to watch. I love seeing Joy’s growth in the first film and how she’s questioning her ability to solve the problem when every solution she uses keeps failing. She’s an excellent foil to Anxiety and her growth showcases how she could have become Anxiety, and I love her helping Anxiety out because of that. This film also has a strong sense of comedy and tension. It was less predictable than the first film and I also found it a LOT funnier, from the sarcasm casm to some amazing one liners from the emotions. The secret vault scene in particular was amazing, with Lance, Bloofy, Dark Secret, and of course Pouchie. I also appreciated the film’s use of varying animation styles with these characters as well as in other scenes such as a Joy plan scene. They fit in well and are very nice to look at. I don’t think this film is as emotional as the first one, but the emotional core is definitely present in many moments such as Joy thinking you feel less happy as you get older, the panic attack, Joy confronting Anxiety, and the ending lines. The ending in general is very well done. The emotion repression is a great idea and I love how it comes back towards the climax. I also respect how they don’t call Anxiety bad all the time, and how they leave things on a vague note, showing how the world is unpredictable sometimes and that’s ok. I probably still prefer the first one overall, as I do have more minor nitpicks with this one, but it’s still an amazing film that I urge everyone to see. I was anxious about it, as many were, but it brought me so much joy.

Final Ranking

1. Inside Out

2. Toy Story 2

3. Ratatouille

4. The Incredibles

5. Inside Out 2

6. Soul

7. WALL-E

8. Turning Red

9. Toy Story 3

10. Coco

11. Luca