Bao (2018)

I went seeing Incredibles 2 about a month ago and you know what stuck with me the most? Bao, the short animated film that preceded the movie. Not only because it's the first short film at Pixar directed by a woman, Domee Shi, but because it's a small masterpiece. 

The film follows a Chinese-Canadian woman. She just made dumplings for her husband and she, but he eats in a hurry and leaves for work, leaving her sad and alone. When she is about to eat her Boazi, one of them comes to life, it grows into a little dough boy and she begins to raise it as a son.

Incredibles 2 (2018)

I'm one of those people who completely snubbed The Incredibles when it came out —mainly because I was 10, I had a bigger brother and therefore I had no power over which film to see at the movies— and I kept avoiding it for the following years because it just didn't appeal me —frankly, I thought it was a kids movie. Then, about a year ago, I finally watched it, and I loved it which made me very excited for the sequel. I guess it's karma hitting me back for waiting so long to see the original that I got to see Incredibles 2 only now. That or the fact that I live in a shitty country. 

Anyways, the film follows the Parr family who once again has to hang up their suits as supers have been outlawed because of the collateral damage of their heroics. Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) and Elastigirl (voiced by Holly Hunter) are soon approached by tycoon Winston Deavor (voiced by Bob Odenkirk) who wants to restore superheros' image, and offers Elatigirl a job. She accepts and, when a new supervillain, Screenslaver, wreaks havoc with his mind control abilities, she has to face this new threat. Meanwhile, Mr. Incredible is left to take care of the kids.

Ratatouille (2007)

I love food. I love eating it, I love thinking about it, I love reading about it and, of course, I love watching movies about it. Since I woke up craving Disney Pixar and Incredibles 2 is yet to come out in my country, I decided to rewatch Ratatouille.

The film follows Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), an ambitious young rat with highly developed senses of smell and taste who, despite his family's disapproval and the obvious problem, dreams of becoming a cook. When he ends up alone in Paris, in the restaurant of his (dead) idol, Auguste Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett), he has the chance to make his dream come true as he starts controlling a garbage boy, Alfredo Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano), who is then given credits for Remy's dishes.

Lou (2017)

While Coco got the apparently obnoxious (I haven't seen it yet) Olaf's Frozen Adventure, the apparently obnoxious Cars 3 (yes, you guessed it right, I haven't seen this one either. And I'll probably never watch it) got Lou. Now, I don't usually watch shorts but I made an exception for this one because of the Oscar nomination (I watched this while I was waiting for the ceremony to start). 

Lou is a "monster" made from the unclaimed items in the lost-and-found box in a kindergarten playground. Every day, Lou picks up the toys the kids left behind and sets them out on the playground for their owners to find. Then one day a bully starts taking other kids' toys and puts them in his backpack so Lou peacefully battles him to return the stolen toys.

Coco (2017)

The first time I saw the Coco's trailer I thought it was a copy of The Book of Life and I told myself I would not watch it. But I do really love Pixar and everyone was saying how great it was and I couldn't resist.

Miguel Rivera (Anthony Gonzalez) is a 12-year-old boy who wants to follow his hero Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt) and become a famous musician. Music, however, is banned in his family of shoemakers and they just won't allow him to pursue his dream. But nothing can stop him and, along the way of achieving his dream, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead and, with the help of Héctor (Gael García Bernal), a down-on-his-luck skeleton, he must find his great-great-grandfather to return to the Land of the Living.

A Bug's Life (1998)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Director

John Lasseter

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, Richard King, David Hyde Pierce, Denis Leary, Joe Ranft, Bonnie Hunt, Brad Garrett, Jonathan Harris, Madeline Kahn, Mike McShane, John Ratzenberger

Storyline

Every year, a bunch of grasshoppers come to an anthill and eat what the ants have fathered for them. This time though Flik (Dave Foley), a misfit ant, accidentally drops everything into the river, and when the grasshoppers come they ask for more food. As a result, Flik embarks on a journey to find warrior bugs to battle the grasshoppers and ends up bringing home a circus crew.

Opinion

After the success of "Toy Story", John Lasseter and Pixar decided to go from toys to bugs, and gave us "A Bug's Life", an awful film for some, a fun and amusing animated film for me (both as a kid and as an adult) and many others.

Like the most recent "Happy Feet", the story is about an outcast doing all he can to fit in while still trying to be unique, and although pretty simple, it is quite original and engages from the start. Also it's full of heart, and delivers several messages among which "strength in unity" stands out.

But the story isn't what makes the film enjoyable and fun, that role belongs to the characters. Although they are not the deepest characters in animation - they indeed are very simple -, they still are intriguing, you will probably end up caring for them, and some of them are so adorable you'll probably fall in love with them. I'm not talking about the ants though, those are pretty boring character. The warrior bugs, on the other hand, they are awesome. And the grasshoppers, the villains, are kinda cool too.

What makes the characters even better - other that the good voice work among which stands out Kevin Spacey as Hopper, the grasshoppers' leader, and Hayden Panettiere's Dot, a lovely, little ant - is the animation. It might be a bit dated now, but it's still excellent, and brings to life the characters with such lovely colours, and dazzling movements.

Bottom line, it might be a simple film with no particularly memorable characters, but as a whole, it's a lot of fun.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Genre

Adventure | Animation

Director

Peter Sohn

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, A.J. Buckley, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Marcus Scribner, Ryan Teeple, Jack McGraw, Maleah Padilla, Steve Zahn, Mandy Freund, Steven Clay Hunter, Peter Sohn, Dave Boat, Carrie Paff, John Ratzenberger, Calm Mackenzie

Storyline

After a lot of accidents that changed his life, Arlo (Raymond Ochoa), an Apatosaurus who is afraid of everything, makes an unlikely human friend (Jack Bright).

Opinion

After delivering the spectacular "Inside Out", an animated film that is more likely to please adults than kids, Disney-Pixar released "The Good Dinosaur", probably hoping to make kids happy. Did they reach their goal? I'm not so sure about it.

The most shocking thing about this film is arguably the plot. Although the original concept was able to offer a wide - if not infinite - number of alternatives, the writers eventually went for an undeveloped, almost nonexistent plot that completely lacks originality. So, instead of experiencing an interesting adventure thought the eyes of Arlo, the good dinosaur, we find ourselves watching an already seen story that has no room for twists.

Another field the film lacks originality in is the themes. From the importance of friendship to that of family, to a growth of the main character, the themes "The Good Dinosaur" deals with are pretty much the same of "Inside Out". The only difference is that, perhaps, kids will understand them easily.

But once again, like I've already said a couple of times, the film lacks originality also regarding some scenes - when Arlo and Spot's heads touch is taken straight out of "How to Train Your Dragon".

The voice casting is another flaw. While most of them do a good job, I found Raymond Ochoa's voice utterly annoying, definitely a problem considering he is the voice of Arlo.

All of that being said, there is a thing that will always make a Pixar film stand out, the animation. And I have no complains about that. It easily is the best part of the film with Pixar's usual gorgeous colours, stunning backgrounds rich in detail, and visually appealing character.

The Incredibles (2004)

Genre

Action | Animation

Director

Brad Bird

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, Jason Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Elizabeth Peña, Brad Bird, Eli Fucile, Bud Luckey, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Dominique Louis, Michael Bird, Jean Sincere, Kimberly Adair Clark, Bret Parker, Lou Romano, Wayne Canney

Storyline

Forced to adopt civilian identities, Bob Parr aka Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) and his wife Helen aka Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) live a boring life with their three super-children. Until something happens, and they get back into action.

Opinion

I don't know why but I kept avoiding this film over the years. It's not like I thought it was bad, I just didn't seem to be attracted by it. Given the poor outcome of several superhero flick this year, I anyway decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did because "The Incredibles" is a charming, fun and truly incredible animated superhero film.

There is nothing special about the plot, it is pretty much a simple, quite typical superhero story where the villain is just a poor misunderstood and mistreated boy grown into a man that is seeking for revenge. Also, the whole idea of outlawing superheroes isn't new either, but what really makes the difference is the way the story is told. With a quite melancholic atmosphere, the film makes you sense the nostalgia of the protagonist for his glorious days behind the mask almost to perfection and makes you empathize with him.

But don't worry though, this is not a sad film. It is actually funny. Not constantly laughing out loud funny, but still very funny. There are some fun characters - actually, most of them are. And the jokes are awesome if you are a comic book fan. And it kind of makes fun of superheroes as well, from the pointless capes to the villains' monologues.

Luckily for the comic book fan, the references don't end with the jokes. Each member of the family indeed reminds of a notorious superhero, from DC to Marvel. Mr. Fantastic is Superman and the son is the Flash, while Elastigirl is Mr. Fantastic and the daughter is the Invisible Woman. And all the other characters, but the villain, are likable as well. Especially Samuel L. Jackson's Frozone. Actually, he was the coolest thing on the film.

And at last the animation. It is Pixar's so of course it's great. It has been 12 years since the film was released, and it still impressive. Or should I say incredible?

Finding Dory (2016)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Directors

Andrew Stanton | Angus MacLane

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Ed O'Neil, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Bob Peterson, Andrew Stanton, Bill Hader, Kate McKinnon, Sigourney Weaver, Alexander Gould, John Ratzenberger, Robin Xan Bullock, Sloane Murray, Lucia Geddes

Storyline

Not long after finding Nemo (Hayden Rolence), Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) begins to remember bits and pieces of her past as she embarks on an adventure with her two friends to find her parents.

Opinion

Last night I've finally been able to watch arguably the most anticipated animated film of the year - and probably in years too -, and I'm happy to say that Andrew Stanton did it again. Even though many say it was a disappointment and nothing like "Finding Nemo", for me "Finding Dory" was a funny, beautiful and touching tale that celebrates being different.

Maybe the reason why so many were disappointed is because of the plot. If you have seen "Finding Nemo" it will be quite familiar to you, as a matter of fact the two films basically share the same plot. Only this time is Dory, the adorable blue tang fish suffering from short-memory loss, that tries to reunite with her loves ones.

However, while it's nothing new, the story is still excellent, engaging, funny, inspiring and very, very meaningful. In fact, the (back)story of Dory not only is touching and will probably have you (almost) in tears, but it delivers a great message to kids by showing that people with disabilities, of the mental kind in this case, can do as much as normal people and that their qualities should also be admired - as pointed out by Nemo in the film.

The film also features tons of funny moments for all ages and funny characters, like Gerald the sea lion. He is quite dumb but also so funny and lovable. But in a film about disabilities, it's not great to have an autistic character being bullied.

Anyway, among the characters, we have Dory, of course, which I enjoyed even more because I feel like Ellen DeGeneres did an even better job, not only giving the voice to the fish but by adding some extra personality; there's Marlin and Nemo, and a wonderful new entry, Hank, a grumpy octopus that will eventually establish a friendship with Dory. And the character development is simply impressive.

At last but not least the animation. I'll never get sick of saying how gorgeous Pixar's animation is. Every detail of the underwater world is spot on, the characters all look stunning, and the scenery is simply breathtaking.

Ultimately it is not as good as last year "Inside Out", but it's still worth the time and money.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Directors

Andrew Stanton | Lee Unkrich

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Andrew Stanton, Barry Humphries, Geoffrey Rush, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Joe Ranft

Storyline

When his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) is taken from him by a diver, clownfish Marlin (Albert Brooks) sets off on a journey to rescue him along with Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a blue tang fish with short term memory loss.

Opinion

I loved this film when I was a kid. It was the first dvd I bought - well, my parents bought it for me - and I even had a computer video game. Okay, I didn't love it, I was obsessed with it. So I took the release of "Finding Dory" as a chance to rewatch this, and even thought it felt really weird I have to say I've still enjoyed it.

So basically "Finding Nemo" is a nice and enjoyable family film that will amuse adults and kids alike. It's Disney Pixar after all.

The story, which is very simple yet interesting, is somewhat similar to the one to "Toy Story" - two characters are thrown together and they are forced to a journey - but at the same time it is different because instead of dealing with negative feelings such as anger and jealousy, the film deals with parenthood and delivers a message to all the parents watching the film with their kids: it'll come the day you have to stop being overprotective and you will have to find the courage to let your kid(s) go.

But don't worry, it's not all about the message. In fact the kids will enjoy this film mainly because of its nice, funny and vibrant characters, all having that typical Disney charm. My favourite one though, - and I bet everyone's else since they've made a film about her - it's the atypical one, Dory, the blue tang fish with memory loss. She is probably the funniest Disney character ever written and she's superbly voiced by a wonderful Ellen DeGeneres. However, in my opinion, there are too many minor characters. I think the writers should have focused more on some and gave them a bigger role in the film. Like the sharks, it would have been interesting to see them a little bit more.

And now let's go back to the good stuff, the animation. At this point I'm not even sure I need to say this because dah, it's Pixar, but I'll say it anyway. The animation is stunning. From characters to scenery, everything is astonishingly beautiful.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Director

Lee Unkrich

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, John Morris, Don Rickles, Blake Clark, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Michael Keaton, Jodi Benson, Emily Hahn, Jeff Pidgeon, Timothy Dalton, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Garlin Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg

Storyline

Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the other toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.

Opinion

It rarely happens that the third film of a trilogy manages to not be a failure and to live up to the previous installments, especially if those films are spectacular. But this is Disney-Pixar and they barely know how to let people down, and "Toy Story 3" is a magnificent proof of that.

Structed like in the previous films, the storyline still is about the fear of being discarded and unwanted, and the obsession of being forgotten, but it doesn't get boring, not even for a second.

The screenwriters delights us with an emotional plot that will make cry even the most hard-hearted, and the characters have never been like this before; they are more courageous, sweet and the human characters are more involved into the story.

And that leads to the themes addressed by the film. Because of that, the film has the opportunity to portray the transition to adult life, necessitated with the departure for college and eventually to decide what to do with all those things, toys, that have been a huge part of a person's life.

But they didn't forget to keep it fun. Cast aside all the messages the film conveys, the film is a wonderful, entertaining ride whose interesting plot and cute, cuddly villain will make you keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Basically needless to say is how fantastic the animation is, but I'll still spend some words on it anyway. Whether 3D at the movie theater or 2D at home, the animation is better than ever, and the moves of the characters more than anything else are simply perfect.

Can't wait for "Toy Story 4". 

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Directors

John Lasseter | Ash Brannon | Lee Unkrich

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Estelle Harris, Wayne Knight, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey, Jodi Benson, Jonathan Harris, Joe Ranft, Jeff Pidgeon, Andrew Stanton

Storyline

While Andy (John Morris) is away at summer camp, Woody (Tom Hanks) is accidentally placed in a yard sale and eventually toynapped by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), a greedy collector. It's up to Buzz (Tim Allen) and his friends to save Woody.

Opinion

Four years after "Toy Story" and one year after "A Bug's Life", the only other Disney-Pixar production in between, John Lasseter brought to us "Toy Story 2", this funny, exciting, spectacular sequel that has nothing to envy to its predecessor.

Keeping similar themes to "Toy Story", the film delivers a strong plot, and even though it is similar to the original and has been done in other films before it, it still flows incredibly well. It doesn't have a lot of laughing out loud moments, but it definitely has many good lines and so many references that I absolutely loved - including the original film and "The Empire Strikes Back".

Once again what makes the film so interesting are the characters. There are all the charming, likable characters from the first film - including those cute, little green martians - and some wonderful new characters that includes Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl, Woody's faithful steed, Bullseye, the Barbies, and Mrs. Potato. And once again the voice cast does a wonderful job. 

The film is also interesting because of the fascinating conflict it creates for the main character, Woody. He is forced to make a difficult decision: either he goes back to Andy with Buzz and the other toys, even though he knows that one day Andy will be a grown up and won't play with toys anymore, or he goes with the new toys in a museum where they'll be admired by children all over the world.

This is not the only theme that is going to satisfy grown-ups though. The film also addresses the theme of loneliness and abandonment and how they affect people - well, toys in this case. 

At last the animation. You will immediately notice the step forward digital animation has made since the first film only four years earlier. And there is a greater attention to detail, if that's even possible - the reflection of Buzz's eyes on his visor, Andy's new dog, and especially things like dust and shadows.

Toy Story (1995)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Director

John Lasseter

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey, Sarah Freeman, Jack Angel, Greg Berg, Debi Derryberry, Jeff Pidgeon, Joe Ranft

Storyline

Cowboy doll Woody (Tom Hanks) has it all. He is the leader in Andy's toy room, Bo Peep (Annie Potts) has the hots for him and he is Andy's favourite toy. But Andy's (John Morris) birthday arrives, along with a brand new toy, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a space cadet who thinks he is a space ranger who instantly becomes Andy's new favourite toy, and Woody becomes profoundly jealous. 

Opinion

1995. Pixar Animated Studios creates the first full-length computer-animated picture ever that starts a series of never ending success: "Toy Story", one of the greatest animated films ever made.

The thing that still impress me the most after 21 years is the plot to the film. Absolutely brilliant. The story of a toy that feels pushed aside and becomes jealous and envious when "his" kid receives a new toy that instantly becomes the favourite. 

I know, it may sound like it doesn't have anything special other than toys being alive, but it has been an incredible milestone for Disney as they portrayed for the first time feelings such as envy, jealousy, anger in a film that targets kids. It also teaches when it's time to kind of back off, and accept changes.

In addition to a simple yet effective plot that has both drama and excitement, the script also features outstanding characters and amazing character development. The conflict between Woody and Buzz is taken to a very deep level, and if it wasn't for the animation you'd totally forget what you're watching is a kids film.

Casting the right people to match voices to characters personalities is also extremely important in animated films. And what can I say, they couldn't have cast better actors. Tom Hanks is perfect as Woody, and delivers the character's sarcasm wonderfully. Tim Allen also is nothing short than perfect as Buzz, and gives the best performance in the film. Equally great is the rest of the cast, all believable and entertaining, they make you love each character.

And last but not least, the animation. Have you really thought I wasn't going to mention it? It's needless to say, I know, but it's simply spectacular. Pixar's incredible attention to detail was impressive the first time as well, and watching the film today and seeing how the characters move - from eyes to body movements -, well, it makes you forget how old the film is. 

What else can I tell ya? Life in plastic is fantastic!

Monsters University (2013)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Director

Dan Scanlon

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Peter Sohn, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Charlie Day, Alfred Molina, Tyler Labine, Nathan Fillion, Aubrey Plaza, Bobby Moynihan, Julia Sweeney, Bonnie Hunt, John Krasinski, Bill Hader, Beth Behrs, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Noah Johnston

Storyline

Since he was a kid, Mike (Billy Crystal) wanted to becomes a scary monster and planed to go to the Monsters University. Unfortunately when his dream is about to come true, he meets the lazy student James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) that threatens to mess off with his plans. 

Opinion

I really did not know what to expect from the prequel to a great film like "Monsters, Inc.", considering the film was made more than 10 years after the original. And knowing that usually prequels and sequels are kind of weak didn't help. But I guess Disney Pixar did what they do best, they made another good film.

So not only "Monsters University" marks Pixar's first prequel, but it gives us back the pleasure of the companionship of Mike and Sulley with a pleasant story of friendship.

If the original was a portrait of an odd couple, this one shows us the origin of the friendship between Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan in their freshman year at Monsters University. The plot pays many homages to the classic college comedies, and is based on the American college life, and despite the lack of any identification with my country, the film is funny and entertaining, and doesn't hold out on laughs.

It was interesting to see how all the main characters of the original had met, and what their relationships were like in the earlier days, but it was also great to meet some new characters, and despite the film lacks of Boo, there's a memorable and intimidating Dean Hardscrabble - voiced by Helen Mirren - that is remarkable. 

And, as usual, Pixar the animation is amazing. Yeah, I know, it's a cliché to say that but once again they crafted unique, appealing, vibrant, colourful, wonderfully detailed characters.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Fantasy

Director

Pete Docter

Country

USA

Voice Cast

John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, Dan Gerson, Steve Susskind, Bonnie Hunt, Jeff Pidgeon, Samuel Lord Black, Phil Proctor, Joe Ranft

Storyline

Sulley (John Goodman) and his best friend Mike (Billy Crystal) work together at Monsters, Incorporated, a company that delivers energy to Monstropolis by scaring children. But just when everything looks perfect, something happens and a human child gets into their world and threatens to destroy the whole Monstropolis.

Opinion

My brother used to love this film when we were kids, he watched it over and over again. But for some mysterious reasons, I thought monsters weren't my thing, and I've never watched it. Not until yesterday, when I've found myself going completely crazy about a 15-year-old kids movie. Yes, it really is that awesome.

Back in 2001, year of DreamWorks Animation amazing "Shrek", the creators of "Toy Story" brought "Monsters, Inc." to life, a superbly animated film, featuring humour, action and a lot of fun for the whole family.

The story, how beautiful and inventive it is! Brainchild of Pete Docter, the creative mind behind many other wonderful films - and masterpieces - from Disney Pixar, the story is pretty simple and that's what makes it easy to follow if you are a kid, and fun to watch if you are a human being. 

The plot is based on the oldest of childhood fears: monsters in the closet. Only in this case the monsters works for a company, and scaring children is not only their job but it is essential for their city. Also these monsters that spend their days scaring children are terrified by children themselves. And isn't it just brilliant the idea of separating the monsters world from the real world with doors?

The characters are wonderfully animated and very detailed, and each monster is capable of transmitting its own nature through its physical appearance. However, no matter how simple its physical structed it, Mike, a green ball with stick legs and one huge eye, is the soul of the film, and his comedy is seen throughout the film. Sulley, a colourful and fluffy blue and purple monster, instead is perfect to deliver the message of the film. The Billy Crystal-John Goodman pair works perfectly, and the film also includes an evil lizard with the ability to change appearance to its surroundings, just like a chameleon, wonderfully voiced by Steve Buscemi. And a lonely but friendly Abominable Snowman also makes an appearance. What else could you possibly ask for?

Up (2009)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Director

Pete Docter

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Elizabeth Docter, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft, John Ratzenberger, David Kaye, Danny Mann, Elie Docter

Storyline

A young Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) and a young adventure-spirited girl named Ellie (Elie Docter) both dream of going to a lost land in South America. 70 years later, Ellie has died, and Carl remembers the promise he made to her. Then, when he inadvertently hits a construction worker, he is forced to go to a retirement home. But before they can take him, he and his house fly away. However, he has a stowaway aboard: an 8-year-old boy named Russell (Jordan Nagai), who's trying to get an Assisting the Elderly badge. Together, they embark on an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain (Christopher Plummer) and a rare bird named Kevin.

Opinion

After taking the risk to make an almost mute film with the 2008 masterpiece WALL·E, winning team Disney-Pixar dares again, making of an old man the main character of their new film. And the result is extraordinary.

Deep, moving, comical, and witty, Up is an explosions of colors, joy, and good feelings that deals with two themes almost taboo in animated films: old age and death.

If on one hand it's plenty of funny characters and comic scenes, with taking dogs, giant birds, chases - that kids will love -, on the other hand, as mentioned before, the film deals with delicate issues related to daily life. First, the moving reflection on old age and the value of memories, then the difficulty to accept the death of someone you love and to let them go, and finally the loneliness that comes from that, but also from being different.

Although is no easy thing to introduce such important, and delicate topics into a story that is supposed to target a very young audience, the result is remarkable.

Then there is Ellie's old album of adventures. She had left lots of blank pages to fill them with pictures of a future project, the house on top of the Paradise Falls. But when Mr. Fredricksen is finally there, we, along with him, realise that the most important adventure in life is not the trip we dreamed for our entire life, but love.

In terms of visuals the film is stratospheric. The attention to details - everywhere but in particular in landscapes - is maniacal, and so well done they seem essential.

The soundtrack, awarded with an Oscar, is also spectacular, and accompanies us in the different scenes of the film, wonderfully alternating melancholic motifs to cheerful ones.

If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece.

Quotes

Russell: That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most.

Inside Out (2015)

Genre

Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Directors

Pete Docter | Ronaldo Del Carmen

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Richard King, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Paula Poundstone, Bobby Moynihan, Paula Pell, Dave Goelz, Frank Oz, Josh Cooley, Flea, John Ratzenberger, Carlos Alazraqui, Lori Alan, Rashida Jones

Storyline

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions - Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

Opinion

After waiting for the entire summer for this film to be released in Italy - and having my expectations constantly increasing as I was reading both critics and audience's reviews - yesterday I finally got to watch this. And let me tell you, at Pixar's they do know how to do their job.

Wonderfully animated, colorful, funny and moving, Inside Out is another cinematic gem that will make you experience a full range of emotions. Also it suits everybody, delivering fun for kids, and food for thought for adults, although it feels more mature, and adult inclined than ever.

The writing is just brilliant. The film has two storytelling, joined by the fact of being focused on the same character, Riley, but set in two completely different worlds. One in real life, the other one inside the human mind. 

As previously mentioned, the kids will be fascinated by the animations, colours, and gags, while the adults will get the most complex meaning of the film. In short words, the film brilliantly shows the way things change growing up, but this time digging deeper is vital.

The film focuses both on memories and emotions. It shows that some memories will remain indelible and will define our personality, and some others are meant to be forgotten. Along with memories come emotions. These two go hand in hand. Growing up, we realize that those pure memories made up by one single emotion, whether is joy, sadness, disgust, anger, or fear, are set to become a mixture. And this is how we realize that also "negative" emotions such as sadness can be a great resource to us, allowing personal development and growth.

Needless to say is that the animations are spectacular. Everything is accurate in every detail. Actually nothing less could have been expected from Pixar. The soundtrack is also beautiful. Among the many gags, the cat's one is the most hilarious. Also Lava, the animated short movie that precedes the screening of Inside Out, is up to this film. 

"Crying helps me slow down and obsess over the weight of life's problems." - Sadness

WALL·E (2008)

Genre

Animation | Adventure

Director

Andrew Stanton

Country

USA

Cast

Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, MacInTalk, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver

Storyline

In a distant future where mankind has abandoned Earth because there is too much trash on it, garbage collecting robot WALL·E (Ben Burtt) has been left to clean up the mess. After hundreds of lonely years, he discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a search robot named EVE (Elissa Knight). EVE comes to realize that WALL·E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans, who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home.

Opinion

Flawless. This is the first word that comes to my mind when I think of this animated film. Pixar has always made great animation films, but this outdoes all of their own films, and most other films.

Sweet, touching and full of love, yet thoughtful, WALL·E is a cinematic gem that suits everybody: while the kids will enjoy the cute, and funny characters and gags, the adults will have something to think about due the film's bitter social commentary about environmentalism, obesity, and commercialism.

Everything about this film is just perfect. The story, clearly an homage to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", is brilliant. The animation is absolutely stunning; the robots, the Earth, the humans, they all feel real. It's impossible to be let down by Pixar in this regard. The humour is also great. The characters are interesting, and involving.

WALL·E is such a lovable character, you will immediately fall for him. He is not strong, particularly beautiful, nor has super powers, but the devotion he puts into his work, and the perseverance he pursues its goals with will make your heart melt. He teaches us what human means. For us, human has become nothing but a biological classification. But it's not just about breathing and living, but also about never giving up, trying to save the world that we did put in danger, loving others unconditionally. This robot may not talk, but man if he speaks.

Among the themes, in my opinion, the one that pops out is commercialism. Everybody talks about obesity and environmentalism, but I feel like commercialism has been left behind. As shown by the first shots, the whole world is a superstore. Humans, assisted day and night by robots, follow the trends displayed in the screens they spend the whole day looking at. And they are not even aware of what surrounds them. One wonders who are the real robots.

To conclude, I can't help but thank Pixar for this piece of art. 

Quotes

Captain: Wait, that doesn't look like Earth. Where's the blue sky? Where's the-the grass?

Brave (2012)

Genre

Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Directors

Mark Andrews | Brenda Chapman

Country

United States

Cast

Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Steve Purcell, Patrick Doyle, John Ratzenberger, Peigi Barker, Sally Kinghorn, Steven Cree, Callum O'Neil

Plot

Set in the Scottish Highlands, the film tells the story of a princess named Merida (Kelly Macdonald, Peigi Barker). She defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. After consulting a witch for help, Merida accidentally transforms her mother (Emma Thompson) into a bear and is forced to undo the spell herself before it is too late.

Opinion

If you are looking for a good animated film, go for a Pixar one, they won't disappoint you. Brave is visually stunning: Merida's curly hair almost looks real and fits perfectly to her rebellious personality; the colors are amazing, and the red hair always pops out; the landscapes are highly detailed.

The story, which is good although ends in trivial way, looks even more magical with the music by Patrick Doyle.

Quotes

Princess Merida: Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together like a cloth, so that one's destiny intertwines with many others. It's the one thing we search for, or fight to change. Some never find it. But there are some who are led.

Rating

7.5/10