Re: Say what you will of Cars 2, it's not this...

[RoninFox]

I'm trying to have faith but between Toy story 3,Cars 2,and Monsters Inc 2 it sure feels like Pixar is being turned into just another sequel factory.

Toy Story 3 was a beautifully written, animated, and performed movie and it is one of the best examples of why Pixar is awesome.

[Invader_quirk]

Cars 2 is an enormous disappointment for me. The trailers look just awful and, like many people, I thought Cars was very weak. Plus, all the cars 2 merchandise already out as well as the promotional tie-ins and general sellout-i-ness make me inclined to agree with Doc. I expected Pixar to have more dignity. Did Disney actually force them to do Cars 2? Is that known information or just speculation? Because I already have a hefty mound of hate for Disney and I'd have no problem tossing another heap of hate on the pile, but I'd rather not resent Pixar.

[doggans]

Yeah, Toy Story 3 is exactly why I trust Pixar with sequels.

I liked the original Cars. The sequel looks...different...but I was one of those folks who wondered if they could pull off a movie about a cooking rat or a bunch of balloons tied to a house, so I've stopped judging Pixar based on the weirdness of the premise. Sure, my expectations are low, but Pixar has this strange habit of almost always exceeding them.

I doubt I'll see Planes since it's not technically part of the Pixar canon, but aside from being a tenuously-connected spinoff, I don't see much reason to assume it'll completely suck.

And hey, if the trailer makes Doc Who go off on another hyperbolic rant, then it's served its purpose.

Plus, all the cars 2 merchandise already out as well as the promotional tie-ins and general sellout-i-ness make me inclined to agree with Doc.

Huh, I can't say I've noticed any more merchandise and promotional tie-ins than there were leading up to, say, any of the Toy Story films. Of course, it could just be that I watch a lot less TV now than I did in 1995.

[Invader_quirk]

You know, Toy Story 3 was great, but Toy Story 2 wasn't. I know most people think it's as good or better than the first, but I've never thought that. IMO, it's sequelly as hell and feels like a cash-in. So, no, I don't completely trust them with sequels, especially to something as shallow as Cars.

[doggans]

You know, Toy Story 3 was great, but Toy Story 2 wasn't. I know most people think it's as good or better than the first, but I've never thought that. IMO, it's sequelly as hell and feels like a cash-in.

Interesting. To me, a "sequelly" movie is one that just tries to redo everything the first one does--IE, The Hangover.

While Toy Story 2 has a few callback jokes, it introduces more to the series than most sequels do. The antagonistic force wasn't a mere rehash; it was the opposite side of the coin--instead of being destroyed, the fear was of being preserved and never really "living". And while the first movie certainly touched on ideas about mortality, the second one had Woody actually accept his mortality, which always felt quite mature for a kids cartoon about toys. If anything, the third movie's themes were just an expansion of the ideas introduced in the second, so TS3, while fantastic, strikes me as much more "sequelly" than TS2 does.

[Johnny Unusual]

I haven't watched Cars in it's entirety, but I kind of liked what I saw.  I have a thing for sports movies, so that helps, and though it is definitely one of the weaker movies, it was kind of nice.  That said, every trailer for Cars 2 makes it look very unappealing.  I do appreciate they are going in a different direction with it (spy movie), but there's nothing about it that stokes the fires of my hearf.  They could pull it out (not that way), and  I like to try to not judge movies I haven't seen yet, but I am quite indifferent and disappoint that there won't be a Pixar movie I'm excited about.  Planes, however, has no Pixar involvement, which bodes very ill for the film.  Disney has done some good non-Pixar animated movies (I've heard good things about Bolt and The Princess and the Frog) but if they are going to make this one work, they have a real uphill battle.

Well I guess it had to happen some day.  Pixar has just become another studio in it for the cash not to be creative.  Mark my words from now on all their movies will be bad sequels or be adds for toys like Cars.

I have no intention of ever seeing another Pixar movie,they no longer make films they just make adds for toys.

As was said, you realize that Planes is not a Pixar joint.  Besides, I think that just because they make a sequel, they aren't creative.  The Toy Story movies got better with each subsequent movie, and it certainly didn't seem to me to be a "sellout" movie.  It really rounds out the character's arcs quite nicely.  Though I'm not really looking forward to Cars 2, Monsters University seems like it could be a lot of fun.  That said, I would rather see films focused on all new stories, but I don't think I'll be holding it against a sequel, certainly not if it's good.  Also, I think you can be creative and want to make money.  After all, there are a lot of people out there struggling to sell books or paintings.  I think that money is not necessarily an impediment to creativity, as long you know where your priorities are.

You know, Toy Story 3 was great, but Toy Story 2 wasn't. I know most people think it's as good or better than the first, but I've never thought that. IMO, it's sequelly as hell and feels like a cash-in.

Interesting. To me, a "sequelly" movie is one that just tries to redo everything the first one does--IE, The Hangover.

While Toy Story 2 has a few callback jokes, it introduces more to the series than most sequels do. The antagonistic force wasn't a mere rehash; it was the opposite side of the coin--instead of being destroyed, the fear was of being preserved and never really "living". And while the first movie certainly touched on ideas about mortality, the second one had Woody actually accept his mortality, which always felt quite mature for a kids cartoon about toys. If anything, the third movie's themes were just an expansion of the ideas introduced in the second, so TS3, while fantastic, strikes me as much more "sequelly" than TS2 does.

Well, said.  Though I disagree with the last remark a bit.  I think that while TS 2 did a lot of implying about what happens when a toy reaches it's end,  TS 3 balls out shows it.  I suppose the threat is a bit similar (both toys embittered by their circumstances), but while 2 was about letting go, 3 was sort of about these characters being put in a crooked retirement home) metaphorically, and finding your place after you lose your job.  Of course, it's not a perfect metaphor, but in my opinion, few are if you go beat for beat with the metaphor, and it seems to me about finding where you belong after retirement.

Also, I kind of wanted to meet the Christmas ornaments that the other characters implied that they didn't care for.  I love that these's incredibly friendly characters were so ambivalent about these guys.  Are they really such a pain?

[Darth Geek]

The biggest problem with Cars was the cliche as hell story and characters. And the premis of Cars 2 is yet another (what we can tell from the trailers) cliche idea. That is what worries me the most.
  I actually did enjoy Cars, to an extent. Because as stock of an idea it was, they at least did it well. But the lack of creativity into the story is why it is BY FAR the least of the Pixar movies. And really, the sequel lookslike more of that.

[ScottotD]

Wait, so Pixar is making a movie that doesn't appeal to me but to KIDS!??! HOW DARE THEY?!!?!




*no mod intervention here I notice.

[Pak-Man]

My favourite bit of it is that they're using More Human Than Human in the trailer, that has to be one of the most family friendly songs ever, plus it's probably in the record collections of a bunch of the parents, that'll be fun for the kids to listen too.

"Why is the lady making those noises at the beginning mommy?"  

It was weird enough when Lilo and Stitch used an AC/DC song in the trailers.  But then again Disney is also a company that released an album of cover songs from Nightmare Before Christmas featuring Marilyn Manson, so whatever.

Remember when they were using Semi-Charmed Kind of Life to promote The Tigger Movie? And then after the commercials aired a couple weeks, someone said, "Hey you know that's about Crystal Meth, right?"

Seriously, Cars wasn't bad by a long shot. I'll grant that it doesn't sit up on the same level as a Wall*E or an Up, but have we really reached the point where if a Pixar movie isn't a genuine work of art that it suddenly falls into the "bad" category? I'll grant that the premise isn't entirely new (Cars with faces are almost as old as cartoons themselves) but the themes dealt with, like hanging on to the past while making way for the future, and the movie's pining for a little slice of Americana, really aren't themes you see in a lot of children's movies.

As far as I'm concerned, Pixar has a perfect record with sequels. Every Toy Story has been better than the one before, so I'm prepared for Cars 2 to be better than the original Cars. What's important is that they're picking movies that have stories still to tell. I'll be worried when they announce Up 2. :^)

[Tripe]

My favourite bit of it is that they're using More Human Than Human in the trailer, that has to be one of the most family friendly songs ever, plus it's probably in the record collections of a bunch of the parents, that'll be fun for the kids to listen too.

"Why is the lady making those noises at the beginning mommy?"  

It was weird enough when Lilo and Stitch used an AC/DC song in the trailers.  But then again Disney is also a company that released an album of cover songs from Nightmare Before Christmas featuring Marilyn Manson, so whatever.

Remember when they were using Semi-Charmed Kind of Life to promote The Tigger Movie? And then after the commercials aired a couple weeks, someone said, "Hey you know that's about Crystal Meth, right?"

Is that what that's about? I've generally avoided 3rd Eye Blind, but that is priceless.

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

See i guess im in the minority here cause i sure thought cars was gold.  I really liked that whole route 66 nostaligia.  And although i am not a fan of small towns it some how drugded up a bunch of sympathy from me for this small town.  To me there was a lot of really good charectar in that movie.  Plus they snuck all sorts of real racing history like the hudson.  As much as the trailers dont work for me on the new one, i still got faith in the company.  Also i got to talk to one of the animators for pixar and he told me they do have an original coming down the pipe line.  I think it was called the bear and the bow.  A nordic story adapted it sounded like to me. 

[spaceforarent]

See i guess im in the minority here cause i sure thought cars was gold.  I really liked that whole route 66 nostaligia.  And although i am not a fan of small towns it some how drugded up a bunch of sympathy from me for this small town.  To me there was a lot of really good charectar in that movie.  Plus they snuck all sorts of real racing history like the hudson.  As much as the trailers dont work for me on the new one, i still got faith in the company.  Also i got to talk to one of the animators for pixar and he told me they do have an original coming down the pipe line.  I think it was called the bear and the bow.  A nordic story adapted it sounded like to me. 

It's called Brave now. And Craig Ferguson is in it.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/28/brave-pixar-first-look/

[sarcasm_made_Easy]

Sounds awesome quite a cast and crew there. 

[Darth Geek]

See i guess im in the minority here cause i sure thought cars was gold.  I really liked that whole route 66 nostaligia.  And although i am not a fan of small towns it some how drugded up a bunch of sympathy from me for this small town.  To me there was a lot of really good charectar in that movie.  Plus they snuck all sorts of real racing history like the hudson.  As much as the trailers dont work for me on the new one, i still got faith in the company.  Also i got to talk to one of the animators for pixar and he told me they do have an original coming down the pipe line.  I think it was called the bear and the bow.  A nordic story adapted it sounded like to me. 

It's called Brave now.

So it's no longer the epic journey of a Native American to discover Bar B Q Sauce? DAMMIT!

[Johnny Unusual]

As far as I'm concerned, Pixar has a perfect record with sequels. Every Toy Story has been better than the one before, so I'm prepared for Cars 2 to be better than the original Cars. What's important is that they're picking movies that have stories still to tell. I'll be worried when they announce Up 2. :^)

To be fair, the guy still probably has the Spirit of Adventure (both figuratively and literally) and that alone would allow for sequels.  It doesn't need one, though, I'll concede, but it's not like everyone's dead in the end.