Cars 2 in 2011 and series of Cars shorts

[Kyle]

Why do people keep saying critics expect tear jerkers every time? was Toy Story a tear jerker? A Bugs Life? the incredibles? Ratatouille?

[Flanger-Hanger]

The spy movie angle was a good idea, giving Mater so much screen time was not. I agree with Milo's 2.5/4 rating and on that being extra nice.

[pap64]

Why do people keep saying critics expect tear jerkers every time? was Toy Story a tear jerker? A Bugs Life? the incredibles? Ratatouille?

I think sometime after Ratatouille, Pixar released the "depressio three", which are Wall-E, Up and Toy Story 3. All three were extremely successful with critics, some even calling them the best movie of their respective years. So because of that, Pixar pretty much set some standards that some people expect to be met.

One Cars 2 review pretty much said that Pixar should stick to tear jerkers and just that. I disagree with that notion. Not defending Cars 2 since I haven't seen it yet, but that seems to be the case here.

I think what really hurts Cars 2 is that it is obviously a movie made to sell merchandise. Granted, nearly all of Pixar's films sold merchandise (they even gloated about it in some features), but Cars 2 just reeks of corporate synergy, and that is really bothering people and most likely hurt the quality of the movie.

[pap64]

Also, I just realized something... The first Cars movie was released in 2006. That same year we also got Happy Feet, which ended up being the critical darling and thus won the awards. Five years later, both movies get a sequel. Funny how things work out.

[RIPJoeRanft]

What I am reading here is that those who didn't like the first "Cars" movie are slamming the second one. That is not fair, because there are those of us, including me, who think that the 'Cars' movies are really a lot of fun. They aren't meant to be Academy-Award films, they are meant to be movies that the whole family will enjoy.

We are going as a whole family tomorrow to see "Cars 2", which my son-in-law and I have already seen at our World Class IMAX Theater here in Wichita.

Save your money on the 3-D if you are looking for things flying out of the screen at you, because that doesn't happen. This is a 3-D immersive-style movie and it works in its own magical way.

If you didn't like the first "Cars", chances are you may not find "Cars 2" to your liking, so make sure you clarify whether or not you liked the first one before you give your personal review of the new movie.

"Cars" is in my Top Three of Disney/Pixar movies, and, as I said before, "Cars 2" will probably join it when it comes to Blu-ray later this year.

I love the first Cars film (underrated in my book), but this is not nearly as good. The first had a message, it had a point, it had a heart. It was a coming-of-age tale of a racecar who learns what's really important in life. Cars 2 doesn't have a coherent/interesting enough story, or a point really.

Also a bit letdown Brad Paisley's "Nobody's Fool" wasn't in the film. Would have been perfect after the Lightning/Mater argument. I also feel like Holly and Mater had no chemistry...I think if she would have rejected him after she found out that he wasn't actually undercover, and then a sad montage with "Nobody's Fool" played, it would have been really effective in adding some semblance of emotional impact in this.

[KACENAID]

I must say, I enjoyed Cars 2 overall. Is it amongst Pixar's best? No, but I wasn't going in expecting it to be. I think I enjoyed it for what it was rather than for what it wasn't. I must say, I have to give Pixar credit for changing gears and making it a spy movie. It definitely beats having to see a pale carbon copy of the first film, something sequels can fall victim to. Overall, not worthy of all the bad reviews it's getting, I'm glad I ignored them

[Mickeyfan1990]

Got back from the theater and well...it was pretty OK. Not the best film but most certainly not bad. Trust me, you'll enjoy it. I give the film a B+.

[milojthatch]

Why do people keep saying critics expect tear jerkers every time? was Toy Story a tear jerker? A Bugs Life? the incredibles? Ratatouille?

Agreed.

The spy movie angle was a good idea, giving Mater so much screen time was not. I agree with Milo's 2.5/4 rating and on that being extra nice.

Thank you! Exactly!

Also, I just realized something... The first Cars movie was released in 2006. That same year we also got Happy Feet, which ended up being the critical darling and thus won the awards. Five years later, both movies get a sequel. Funny how things work out.

That is really creepy. But there is an animated film I actually hated, "Happy Feet." I like "Cars 2" WAY more then "Happy Feet!

I love the first Cars film (underrated in my book), but this is not nearly as good. The first had a message, it had a point, it had a heart. It was a coming-of-age tale of a racecar who learns what's really important in life. Cars 2 doesn't have a coherent/interesting enough story, or a point really.

Also a bit letdown Brad Paisley's "Nobody's Fool" wasn't in the film. Would have been perfect after the Lightning/Mater argument. I also feel like Holly and Mater had no chemistry...I think if she would have rejected him after she found out that he wasn't actually undercover, and then a sad montage with "Nobody's Fool" played, it would have been really effective in adding some semblance of emotional impact in this.

I can totally agree with this. Adding "No Body's Fool" to the main film itself and not just at the end credits could have added some much needed depth. I think, it is possible to add some heart to a Mater story. In fact this one had chances, but then sadly blew them. Very sad indeed.

[disneyprincess11]

Cars 2. Rotten Tomatoes. 33%. OUCH!

At least, Brave will save Pixar next year...

[milojthatch]

At least, Brave will save Pixar next year...

Let's hope!

[ajmrowland]

He also didn't like Chicken Little.

Then again who did?

Cant really say that I liked it, but I dont think it really deserves that much hate.

[Polizzi]

I saw Disney and Pixar's, "Cars 2," at the IMAX at AMC Theatres, and I give it an A+. By the way, the way I see the movie in IMAX, to me it looks kind of similar to Real D 3D. I don't see any resemblance, they both look the same. Forgive me, it's the way I see. They say that the IMAX was supposed to show better quality than Real D 3D. But the way I see it, it's just the same. But I believe that the IMAX does show better quality than Real D 3D, maybe. Anyways, I give that movie an A+. John Lasseter, you've done it again.

[janesjubilee]

I must say, I enjoyed Cars 2 overall. Is it amongst Pixar's best? No, but I wasn't going in expecting it to be. I think I enjoyed it for what it was rather than for what it wasn't. I must say, I have to give Pixar credit for changing gears and making it a spy movie. It definitely beats having to see a pale carbon copy of the first film, something sequels can fall victim to. Overall, not worthy of all the bad reviews it's getting, I'm glad I ignored them

I agree with everything here. It's not a horrible film, it's really not. It's just not as great as some of the films before.
It was just a fun film. I don't think I've laughed so much during a movie.

[Kyle]

I saw Disney and Pixar's, "Cars 2," at the IMAX at AMC Theatres, and I give it an A+. By the way, the way I see the movie in IMAX, to me it looks kind of similar to Real D 3D. I don't see any resemblance, they both look the same. Forgive me, it's the way I see. They say that the IMAX was supposed to show better quality than Real D 3D. But the way I see it, it's just the same. But I believe that the IMAX does show better quality than Real D 3D, maybe. Anyways, I give that movie an A+. John Lasseter, you've done it again.

Are you sure you went to a real IMAX? Google liemax if you dont know what I'm talking about but there are a lot of IMAX theaters that arent real ones, they just have the IMAX branding.

[ajmrowland]

Yeah, sometimes the so-called "IMAX" screen is barely bigger than a regular screen.

Thankfully, that's not the case with the nearest IMAX theater to me which is 2 1/2 hours away.

[Polizzi]

I went to see, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," on the Mega Screen (Large Screen Format) at Wehrenberg Theatres in Disney Digital 3D. There is no IMAX there, just Real D 3D. And I got to tell you, it's amazing. Seeing it in 3D on a regular screen is one thing, but seeing it on the Mega Screen is really cool.

[Sotiris]

Box Office Report: 'Cars 2' Scores Another Victory for Pixar and Disney
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/b ... s-2-205544

[SillySymphony]

Went and saw it today. Cars 2 by no means surpasses last year's Toy Story 3, but it was a fun ride just like Cars and the Cars Toons. The visuals were superb. The story was weak, but passable. (I never cared for the "dumb spy" storyline.) I couldn't accurately judge the voice work; so many characters, so little time. And I'm still so confused to how the Cars universe works, which bugs me more than silly old Mater.

With Cars 2, John Lassester has succeeded in creating the film version of one of his hallowed Hawaiian shirts:
It’s loudly colored, haphazardly designed, fits right into the Wal-Mart aesthetic, and will NEVER be a part of my collection.
Congrat$!

From a commenter at http://www.cartoonbrew.com/pixar/cars-2-talkback.html

The Lion King 3D preview gave me chills. If you didn't know the preview was of the entire "Circle of Life" opening. I didn't want it to end.

The Brave trailer was a pleasant surprise. (Surprise because I thought they weren't going to show it.) I didn't know what I was watching, it was so different for Pixar. It was such a refreshing, serious trailer.

Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation was an utter blast from the start until the end. Can't say more without gushing. You must see this for yourself.

[CampbellzSoup]

AWFUL movie - Mater killed it.

[disneyboy20022]

Went and saw it today. Cars 2 by no means surpasses last year's Toy Story 3, but it was a fun ride just like Cars and the Cars Toons. The visuals were superb. The story was weak, but passable. (I never cared for the "dumb spy" storyline.) I couldn't accurately judge the voice work; so many characters, so little time. And I'm still so confused to how the Cars universe works, which bugs me more than silly old Mater.

With Cars 2, John Lassester has succeeded in creating the film version of one of his hallowed Hawaiian shirts:
It’s loudly colored, haphazardly designed, fits right into the Wal-Mart aesthetic, and will NEVER be a part of my collection.
Congrat$!

From a commenter at http://www.cartoonbrew.com/pixar/cars-2-talkback.html

The Lion King 3D preview gave me chills. If you didn't know the preview was of the entire "Circle of Life" opening. I didn't want it to end.

The Brave trailer was a pleasant surprise. (Surprise because I thought they weren't going to show it.) I didn't know what I was watching, it was so different for Pixar. It was such a refreshing, serious trailer.

Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation was an utter blast from the start until the end. Can't say more without gushing. You must see this for yourself.

A Lion King 3D preview....sounds good...now I can prepare for it instead of seeing it off guard and squealing and say yes yes yes yes like a little girl who just got her first barbie or sounding like creep in a movie like Knocked up

I'm Stoked for the Lion King trailer....I used 2 free tickets I got through DMR when I bought Incredibles on Blu ray..so I only had to pay $2 for me and my dad to see it in 3D....today at 3:00 pm is when I'll be seeing it....