Monsters Inc. on Video an' DVD!!!!

[CraigD]

Originally posted by frogboy4
Kids loved Nightmare Before Christmas and it had some rather morbid bits. Monsters just seems too candy-coated for my taste.

Hey Jamie,

To be honest, I've watched The Nightmare Before Christmas with quite a few kids, and most of them don't dig it all. Not that they find it too dark or anything. Just that they get bored. Me on the otherhand - I love it.

I remember 'discussing' with you the virtues of Monsters Inc. on the old cinemaniacs forum on delphi, so I won't get into that again now . Just that I you have to remember that Monsters Inc. is a film aimed at kids, and one that manages to be charmingly cute for us supposed grownups as well. It's not the kind of film that wants to be edgy. Besides Steve Buscemi as the villain is enough to satisfy my darker side. Where as Shrek, as enjoyable as it was, is kind of tacky at times, and strives a little too hard to be hip. I think Monsters Inc. will date a lot better.

Just my take.


Craig

 

[frogboy4]

I just don't see why Pixar films have to be aimed at kids. It's like they are traveling backwards with the times. That's why I am glad there seems to be competition from every angle. I don't believe that Shrek was really tacky - just not your type of humor. The titles were off-putting and - yes it went from gag to gag, but it really popped and kept me more interested.

Maybe Pixar will beef up their projects and widen the target audience after seeing a film of lesser quality animation win an Oscar that otherwise should have gone to the company that revolutionized computer animation. I hope so. I like their choice of Albert Brooks and Ellen for voices in Nemo. The teaser wasn't that great, but it's impossible to tell from a scene that isn't likely in the film. "Will a bigger fish just eat me now?" LOL! Cracks me up!

 

[SuprGro78]

I just got the monster inc dvd and it came with a free cd rom game of monster pinball or something. Haven't played it yet, but free stuff is always good. I loved monsters inc and I still haven't been able to get through Shrek. The actors, the animation, the plot I just don't like any of it.


I could be thinking of the wrong cartoon, but I thought I saw invader zim merchandise somewhere like hot topic.

 

[CraigD]

Jamie,

I love the kind of humour that was filtered throughout Shrek. I just didn't always find it appropriate in a film aimed at kids, which Shrek was.

And kids is who Monsters Inc was aimed at. And they got it right. It was cute and funny.

As for the academy - they're always getting things wrong. A Beautiful Mind over Lord of the Rings? Don't think so.


Craig

 

[frogboy4]

I don't think Shrek was aimed at kids at all. Maybe you received a different marketing campaign than what I saw in Houston and San Francisco.

Must everything animated or containing a puppet be considered children's fare? Pandering to kids does not impress me in the least and that is what gives Shrek the edge in my eyes. They are both great films, but Shrek spoke to me more. I wish Pixar hadn't pulled so many punches. it could have easily edged out Shrek and I have the feeling someone over there is still kicking himself. I think Nemo will likely represent a wider audience. It would be wise to do so.

Yeah, the Academy bites (Dances With Wolves etc), but in this case - it shows the reason why more people enjoyed Shrek. That and the Box Office. No, it is certainly not the mark of a good film (Dark City was great film that died at the Box Office), but they are the mark of what seems to communicate to the public.

Many people did enjoy Monsters more. No one I have personally met - but 'round here on the forum. Then again - some folks around here list MFS as their fave film. Okay, that wasn't fair. Apples and Day-Glow Monster's Inc oranges!

 

[CraigD]

Not all animated films are aimed at kids - Waking Life is an example.

But Shrek definately was a kids movie. Sure it had appeal for adults as well (as all good kids movies should).

But it was first and foremost a kids movie. No doubt about it.


Craig

 

[BigSPEEGS]

Originally posted by CraigD

And kids is who Monsters Inc was aimed at. And they got it right. It was cute and funny.

Actually, you'd be surprised. Almost every little kid I know got the crap scared out of them watching Monsters, Inc.

Originally posted by CraigD
As for the academy - they're always getting things wrong. A Beautiful Mind over Lord of the Rings? Don't think so.

And Memento, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Waking Life, Mulholland Drive, Ghost World, Princess and the Warrior getting none/close to no nominations? ***?



-SPEEGS

 

[frogboy4]

It was so not a kid's film in my eyes.

It is PG (Parental Guidance) not G (General Audiences) here in "the States." Monsters just didn't want to take the extra leap and gain a PG rating. They may have thought it would hurt ticket sales, but it sure didn't with Shrek. They made around the same amount - Shrek slightly more if I remember correctly.

My question about animated films being for children was rhetorical. Most people deem them kids fare and are shocked when an animated film rises to a different level.

They are both great movies, but Monsters could have really been better. I had the same issues with Bug's Life and the Toy Story films. I liked Antz and Shrek better. This proposes a question - can a film be both edgy and kid-friendly? Hmmmm....The Muppet Movie anyone? Kind of edgy for its time.

 

[CraigD]

Originally posted by BigSPEEGS
Actually, you'd be surprised. Almost every little kid I know got the crap scared out of them watching Monsters, Inc.



It seems kids get the crap scared out of them in a lot of good kids films. Snow White, Bambi, etc.


Craig

 

[beaker]

>>>This proposes a question - can a film be both edgy and kid-friendly? Hmmmm....The Muppet Movie anyone? Kind of edgy for its time.<<<

In 1999 Disney released a G rated film that I believe was one of the best films of the year, called The Stright Story. Directed by astonishingly twisted David Lynch, it was overlooked just like 1999's other 'hushed Disney release' Princess Mononoke(I wonder if most Disney completists even know about those two films) So a G film can be quite edgy, as can a kid's G film.

A lot of what you are talking about is PG rated. NBxmas, Shrek, Ice Age, Antz, etc was all PG. These days PG-13 is also sometimes a kid's film demographic.

But to say Monsters Inc coddles to kids...it is a pure example of sheer imagination and adventure not seen in a cgi film for quite some time. I really think Pixar outdid themselves with that one.

Hey, I dislike pandering to kids in films as much as any movie fan...everyone knows you can appeal to both levels. I thrive in real life on both levels...on a kid like love of things and on an intellectual level. I think we all do to even be on here.
To that end I think Monsters Inc was extremely affective.
I truly think Monsters Inc is the best film of the last year, thee best Pixar ever, and one of the top 5 Disney releases ever.