4. Wall-E
The story of this little robot will always hold a special place in my heart, your heart, and the heart of director and screenwriter Andrew Stanton, who has divulged about the movie that, even as he was working on Finding Nemo he’d be working on this script as it was his absolute favorite pitch at the dawn of Pixar as an animation studio. The love and care put into Wall-E shines through, and while it has a message of environmentalism that beats you over the head than any subtext in other Pixar productions, it has proven itself to stand amongst some of the greatest science fiction storytellings as it tells of an Orwellian fate for humanity: We trash the earth, go to space and all get fat. Beyond this, however, we get to know Wall-E the trash compactor robot, and his new romantic interest EVE, and audiences found that they felt more empathy and adoration for two little machines that barely spoke in less than 20 minutes than they would for a massive wealth of movie’s characters in the last 8 years. Author- Evan
3. Monsters Inc.
Far from being the best looking Pixar film, it doesn’t matter when it’s a movie about monsters, right? With stellar voice performances from Billy Crystal and John Goodman, Monsters Inc. is a fun adventure comedy that is thoroughly engaging and surprising throughout – the most surprising being the film’s subtle but affecting emotional core. The strength of friendship, the deceptiveness of fear, and the power of happiness are the film’s strongest qualities and explain why the film is so loved by our generation. Author- Gaby
2. The Incredibles
As the first true ‘outsider’ to direct a Pixar film, Brad Bird was able to make The Incredibles his own film while still confining to ‘The Pixar Feel.’ The retro vibe that recurs throughout Bird’s work is fully present here, and the influences that he draws on all blend together into a cohesive whole. Like a lot of superhero films, The Incredibles pulls from a variety of stories to fully flesh out the plot. More importantly, it’s a film that truly captures what makes the Fantastic Four and X-men work at their respective peaks. While they are effective fighting teams, they are families first and foremost. By making The Incredibles an actual family, the themes of bonding and teamwork that thrive within those famous teams are brought to the forefront. The Incredibles is also aided by a strong sense of retro style and one of the most fascinating villains to come out of the superhero mythos. The approach to Syndrome as a villain is similar to how Bird approaches the overall tone of the film: serious and dramatic while still remembering to have a sense of fun. To me, that’s the essence of ‘The Pixar Feel.’ We’re along for the ride as the well balanced story take us on an infectious cinematic journey. Author – Matt
1.Up
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Up is arguably the best Pixar film released to date. You’ll realize this easily 10 minutes into the film while you’re desperately tryi,ng to stop ugly crying through your 3D glasses. The first 10 minutes alone are a testament to the emotional mastery the film possesses. It gives us a brief backstory by showing the origin of what would transform into a beautiful love story. It is then explored through a dialogue-less, time-elapse montage that runs the gamut of the relationship, as well as our emotions. The first 10 minutes carry more of an emotional punch than most films have in their entire length.
We are suppose to feel overcome with sadness and loss at the beginning because the entire film is meant to show the overcoming of grief. One happy-go-lucky scout, an affable dog that can speak, and a physics defying house held up by helium balloons later and you have a deep tale about life after death and never being too old for new adventures. There is also a wonderful message on the true nature of family and how it can exist beyond blood relations. This film is one of the wisest and most mature, but also not without its leavening silliness. It is universal to anyone who has experienced a form of loss in their life and a great reminder of the imprint people leave on us, past, present and future. Author- Jon E.
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