Discussion CGI Classics

[TheValentineBros]

I'm not gonna lie, Chicken Little, as I quote from Ghost of True Capitalist Radio, sucks the chrome of the '57 Chevy bumper. I really thought it was pretty bad. Not only because of its butchered plot to the original story, but because everyone acts like a total asshole, making the film extremely depressing to watch. And the jokes make absolute no sense; take for example, the scene where the animals watch Raiders of the Lost Ark, where in that movie, it had humans. Was that suppose to be funny? No!

Meet the Robinsons, was not as bad, in fact, it was better. But it's like saying, "Having a train go non-stop is better than a train getting wrecked." There are moments where I did chuckle and/or smile, but it was nevertheless, forgettable.

[Disney's Divinity]

1. Wreck-It Ralph
2. Dinosaur
3. Meet the Robinsons
4. Bolt
5. Tangled
6. Chicken Little

I moderately like the first 4, can’t stand the last two (although they have one or two good elements for me, such as the Rapunzel character and Donna Murphy’s vocal in Tangled). I don’t absolutely love any of these films, tbh. WIR was the most creative (as far as the world it builds) and inoffensive, but it didn’t impact me too much emotionally. Dinosaur is forgettable and borrows a lot from The Land Before Time, but it works for me for the most part. MTR is the only one of these that hit me emotionally, but it’s a mess in most other ways. I believe the only characters to come from these films that I found interesting were: Vanellope, the Bowler Hat Guy, and Rapunzel.

[Escapay]

1. Meet the Robinsons
2. Chicken Little
3. Tangled
4. Wreck-It Ralph
5. Bolt
6. Dinosaur

Albert

[Flanger-Hanger]

1. Tangled
2. Wreck-It-Ralph
3. Bolt
4. Dinosaur (It's probably been a decade plus since I last watched it. Still have the Collector's Edition DVD, though.)
5. Meet the Robinsons
6. Chicken Little

[Widdi]

Ranks:

1. Meet the Robinsons.

I have never understood why this movie gets pooped on as much as it does. It's insanely funny, very well paced, EXTREMELY touching. Besides a couple plot holes (that, let's face it, every DAC has) I have nothing negative to say about it. It easily ranks among my top 15 Disney films.

2. Tangled.

Love the story, hate the character designs. I really feel as if it would have been a much better movie had it remained in that living painting style.

3. Bolt.

A middle of the road buddy/action movie. Still better than most animated films put out by other studios, but not a real favourite of mine.

4. Wreck-It Ralph.

Honestly, I just didn't like it that much. I dunno why I just find it really hard to get into and usually fall asleep before the end of the 1st act.

5. Chicken Little.

Just a mess of a movie. No redeeming qualities at all.



I have never seen Dinosaur in its entirety. Don't consider it a DAC either.

[thedisneyspirit]

Wreck It Ralph was the only good film of the bunch. And that mostly has to due with the theme of videogames, a subject rarely touched by Disney Animation. And I guess it was interesting the idea of Disney playing with the "villain redeemed" trope, but it was ruined the moment King Candy revealed himself.

I hated Tangled: the songs were bland, the characters unlikeable, and the story was filled with so many Disney cliches and formulas that it seemed all of the 90s films meshed into one. It seemed more like a Disney parody/wannabe film ala Swan Princess than an actual Disney film.

(not a fan)

Bolt and Meet the Robinsons are ultimately forgettable. In one, nothing happens. In the other, everything happens and it's packed with so many details and characters that it turns into a mess. I just felt bored rewatching them again.

Chicken Little was just an odd film. The jokes were really unfunny and the characters were too mean-spirited with no redeeming qualities outside of being...awkward I guess.

I only remember Dinosaur by how dull it was. Only walking amidst a desert, quirky remarks now and then between the characters...Not much else really.

[russds]

Ha, the activity in this thread versus the classics thread you posted, should go in the "Hand-Drawn Animation Dead at Disney?".

It does seem the two most recent CGI movies are on another level of quality than the others.

Tangled - awesome, loved the nostalgia, the story, animation and everything. I love a movie that locks onto it's genre and doesn't look back. Tangled was a full glass of Disney.

WiR - Enjoyed it. Actually liking it more and more with repeat viewings. The story, and reveal at the end, i've always loved, but with repeat viewings i'm getting more of the funny dialog, and subtle animation.

Bolt - just seems like the bridge between "trying Disney", and Lasster Disney. Good movie, well made, a little rough around some edges but pretty good.

MtR - Agree with the others, just too many characters. The story was good. I think the best part was the way they tied Walt Disney's quote into it.

Chicken Little - I actually liked it. Fun, simple movie. Definatley not my favorite by any means, but I thought it was good clean fun, and had a good message.

As for the other thread:
Pinocchio - I like it a lot, personally it's my favorite of the classics, and in my opinion is one of the greatest movies, in terms of plot, pace, characters, animation, and story. For the time, I think it was ground breaking. Little things like the way the shadow was shown of Lampwicks turning into a donkey, I'll always remember as genius use of cinema and animation.

[DC Fan]

Well, tomorrow most probably I´ll end up getting Brother Bear since it´s the last animated Classic missing from my collection.

If I do, chances are I´m going for a 3X2 offer. As such, I´ll have to get 2 more and it just so happens I don´t yet have Dinosaur, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and Bolt.

I want them because I want a complete collection so that´s the reason why.

Don´t know which ones will be the other 2. Although I may have an idea. When I get them and watch them again I´ll come back with my thoughts on them.

Widdi

You may not want to consider Dinosaur a Classic but at least is made by Disney. In Europe, Wild is still considered a Classic.

[DC Fan]

So, I got Brother Bear, Bolt and Meet the Robinsons on BR.

Just watched Robinsons.

Didn´t find it as horrible as I did. Still, I don´t get why this movie was made. It is just not good enough.

I don´t know if the book is better or it is just as bland. But I just don´t think it was worthy of translating into film much less a Disney Classic.

...as live action it could pass. But to belong to the Animated Classics is just not right.

Don´t get the the Robinsons at all. Especially the grandfather. The middle act with all the family is the worst part. It just didn´t make sense. Plus, it can´t make you feel emotional because of all the craziness. I´m sorry but it just doesn´t cut it.

To it´s favor I´ll give credit that at least Disney tried to do something much better that Chicken Little.

But the movie itself is just not good enough. I really don´t get how this movie was green lit.

...still, Chicken Little and Home on the Range got made so...

[Disneykid]

1. Tangled
2. Meet the Robinsons
3. Wreck-It Ralph
5. Bolt
6. Chicken Little
7. Dinosaur

I love the first three, think the next two are decent, and think the last one is the weakest feature in the Disney canon. Tangled brilliantly adapts a so-so Grimm fairy tale into something both familiar and fresh and is in my top 10 Disney film list. Meet the Robinsons may be structurally uneven, but it's hilarious, unique, and (most of all) touching. Wreck-It Ralph is perhaps the most creative of the lot with vivid characters and a thoughtful storyline. Bolt is safe, cozy comfort food that makes you feel good even if it's not very filling. Chicken Little isn't one of the better Disney films, but it's more fun than people give it credit for. Dinosaur has a beautiful opening sequence and then becomes the most boring and uncharismatic feature WDAS has come out with.

[DisneyJedi]

Hmm....

Well, I do love Bolt, Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph. Meet the Robinsons is cute, Chicken Little was decent, I don't remember much about Dinosaur since I haven't watched it in ages.

[David S.]

These are my subjective personal rankings and not an attempt to speak universally. My explanations for my choices may contain spoilers:

1) Bolt - not only my favorite CGI DAC but quite possibly my favorite CGI film by ANYONE! I absolutely ADORE this movie. As a big time "animal lover", a great "dog and their human" bond wins me over every time, and I also loved the story of Mittens, when you learn she was declawed and then abandoned and her "tough" persona is her way of surviving. Rhino provides some fun comedy that grows on me more each time I see the movie. I also like the way the movie shows the shallow vapidness of the Hollywoodian culture, as exemplified by how Bolt is lied to and emotionally manipulated to boost ratings, and the phony (but funny) "Put a pin in it" agent.

This film has a lot of heart and warmth, building stronger and stronger as it progresses. Not only does the bond between Penny and Bolt grow stronger, but also the bond between Bolt, Mittens, and Rhino. And I love the ending where Bolt and Penny are reunited in the fire, and he is willing to stay with her rather then save himself. And then the ending theme (explored further in the credits) is about walking away from the "success" of Hollywood, slowing down, and just letting Penny enjoy her childhood with Bolt and her two new pets. Like the ending of Pixar's Cars, this goes nicely against the grain of our "success and fame are everything" culture.

Bolt is, in my eyes, a sweet, moving, tight, near-flawless movie that completely worked on every level for me.

2) Tangled - Really enjoyable and moving. Perhaps not Menken's best overall set of songs but I enjoyed them nonetheless, and enjoyed having a classic Disney fairytale musical back in theatres (even if the marketing tried their best to downplay this). I loved the animal sidekicks and found the ending really poignant with the selflessness of Flynn and Repunzel's reunion with her parents. Visually, this is perhaps the most beautiful looking CGI film I've seen.

3) Meet the Robinsons - Very original, inventive, and underrated. I did not see the end coming with regards to the identity of the villain and the identity of Mr. Robinson. And, as others have said, I found this film very touching. Nice humor too. (I wish the "big head/little arms" payoff of the dinosaur joke had not been in the trailer so it would have made a bigger impact in the film itself).

The previous 3 stand out as my clear faves of the six, then:

4) Wreck It Ralph - Very unique, original concept. As an early 80's kid, I loved all the classic video game references. Nice feel-good, touching ending. I could have done without the crude humor.

5) Chicken Little - I don't dislike it as much as others do, I just find it among the weaker DACs for my taste.

6) Dinosaur - Haven't seen it in a few years so it's not as fresh in my mind as the others. Again, not a bad movie; it just has stiff competition with the others.

PS. If the 2 recent hand-drawn films could be included (as in if the poll was recent DACs regardless of whether they were hand drawn or CGI), Winnie the Pooh would top my list and The Princess and the Frog would fit nicely into 3rd place out of the 8, behind only Pooh and Bolt.