Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:01 am
Now that I've seen Cars 2, I will update my rankings. After one viewing, I am initially ranking Cars 2 7th, which is very respectable given the competition. It may move up or down a few places after further viewings. but I don't think it will crack my Top 4 or bottom 3.
MY PIXAR RANKINGS
1) Finding Nemo
2) Cars
3) Ratatoille
4) Up
5) Toy Story 2
6) Toy Story
7) Cars 2
8) A Bug's Life
9) Monsters Inc.
10) Toy Story 3
11) The Incredibles
gap
g
a
p
12) WALL-E
I have long been curious as to where the 4 recent Walt Disney Feature Animation DAC's done in CGI would sit in my rankings against these Pixar titans. I figured it out a few weeks ago, and will post the results now that I'm updating my Pizar rankings. The DACs did really well, for the most part:
PIXAR RANKINGS, MIXED WITH CGI DACs
1) Bolt
2) Finding Nemo
3) Cars
4) Tangled
5) Ratatoille
6) Up
7) Toy Story 2
8) Toy Story
9) Meet the Robinsons
10) Cars 2
11) A Bug's Life
12) Monsters Inc.
13) Chicken Little
14) Toy Story 3
15) The Incredibles
gap
g
a
p
16) WALL-E
Lastly, here are just the Pixar films again, with explanations, mostly carried over from an older post but updated to include explanations for those I haven't written one for.
PIXAR RANKINGS, WITH EXPLANATIONS
1) Finding Nemo - This film has always touched me greatly. It also has beautiful settings, lovable characters, humor, an epic quest, a great score, oodles of heart, and an uplifting ending. I'm also a big fan of the theme park attractions it inspired at the Disney Parks. I think ToyStoryFan summed it up best why this tops my list, though - the pure emotion, especially for me the emotion and joy when Nemo and his dad are finally reunited, after all they've been through.
2) Cars - I never understood the relative dislike many have for this film, but to each their own, as they say. Sure, Lightning is unlikable at first, which IMO only underscores the significance and emotional reaction to his growth and devolopment later in the film. Also, I originally subconsiously expected a more predictable ending where, after he learns his lesson, he wins the big race. But the way it ends is IMO even more ingenious and uplifting. I also think the sequence reflecting on the way the interstate system has made the charming rural highways "obsolete" is very poignant and well-done. Ironically, I've never been a big auto-racing fan, but have always had a major soft spot for cute, anthropomorphised objects (such as in Susie, the Little Blue Coupe)
3) Ratatouille - I really loved this from the very first viewing, even though I've never been remotely a "foodie". Again, it is the heart and my emotional involvement in the film that I am responding to. Remy is cute and likable, and I got into the idea of breaking boundaries and preconcieved notions as to who can do what - "Anyone can cook", etc. The whole Anton Ego plot was IMO ingenious, culminating in his reawakening regarding why he loved food enough to become a critic in the first place, playing out in a profound, touching piece of writing that brought to my mind the famous "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial.
4) Up - As many have said, the opening sequence moved me to tears. Yet another Pixar case of a film having so many great strengths, and the strongest being its heart. This could very well be ranked higher in many moods, even first. Then again, there are moods where I may not want to go through all the emotions of the opening sequence and it's subsequent scrapbook flashbacks (I feel everything quite deeply when I watch movies), so this for now averages out to 4 on the list. I loved Dug and Kevin, by the way!
5) Toy Story 2 and
6) Toy Story - I had previously called this one a tie, because in some moods I prefer the first and others the second. But for the most part, "2" seems to have the edge. I find it touches me a little more, and I love the added charm brought by the additional characters such as Jessie, Bullseye, and Wheezy. In some moods, both films could be ranked higher than they are here. In a familiar theme echoed by all the others listed above, both take an ingenious, charming concept, likable characters, humor, adventure, and heart and create timeless, likable, classic, and rewatchable films.
7) Cars 2 - Although I didn't find it as poignantly touching as the original (which for me, is VERY tall shoes to fill), this is nonetheless a solid sequel and a solid film on it's own terms. This is lots of fun and very funny, and the International settings are beautifully realized and provide a counterpoint that differentiates this film from the original as its own unique work. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time once again in this imaginative world with these beloved characters, and meeting the new ones as well.
8) A Bug's Life - There is absolutely nothing wrong with this film to justify a low ranking as I really like it. The competition on such a list is a battle of titans, though. Perhaps it simply didn't touch me quite as much as the films above it, but like all of the above, it's clever, charming, funny, memorable, and classic. And to echo what Babaloo said, I already had a soft spot for bugs and an aversion to killing them before I saw this; and both the film and subsequent Animal Kingdom attraction reinforced this stronger.
9) Monsters, Inc. - Again, another great film that could easily be ranked higher and in many moods, would be. The relationship between Boo and Sully gives the film it's heart, but the film is also funny and has a very clever concept. Like A Bugs Life, the gap between this film and those at the top of my list is actually closer than a 8th and 9th place ranking would usually indicate.
10) Toy Story 3 - Just an explanation as to why this is ranked so low, and not meant to offend any of it's numerous fans. This didn't resonate for me nearly as much as the first 2, or as much as it seemed to for most people. This mostly has to do with my disapointment with the ending. I didn't care for the depressing, melencholy, cliched ending of Andy giving away his toys, as if to say "You have to "grow up" and move on, and leave your childhood behind". I suspect this resonates most deeply with people who have, in fact, "grown up", moved on, and left their childhoods behind. But as someome who has fought valiantly, and largly succeeded, in holding on to my childhood, keeping my inner child alive, and has KEPT my toys, the ending was a huge disappointment for me. I would have preferred a bolder ending which illustrates that just because the body is older, the spirit can remain young at heart, and still enjoy your toys. Lasseter would know about this, too, as he is an avid toy collector.
Also, as an avid plushie collector, the idea of a cute plush bear being a villain so evil that he is beyond redemption did not sit well with me AT ALL. No cute plushie bear could ever be that evil in my world! The screenwriters had a PERFECT chance to rehabilitate Lotso in the end and make him part of the gang, and they BLEW IT. And the logic was twisted that he felt rejected because his owner replaced him. She replaced him because she couldn't FIND him, and she loved him the most. The other toys that felt better for not being replaced had it backwards - this meant they weren't missed. When I met Lotso at WDW, I gave him a BIG HUG and said "I don't believe you're really evil - the stupid writers just wrote you that way!". He gave me a big hug and nodded in agreement.
If all of this sounds like I disliked the movie, I did actually like much of it, enough to even see it twice in theatres and attend the "Disney On Ice" version. I enjoyed the chance to spend time in the world of these beloved Toys again, and parts were really funny. I just have some quibbles with some aspects and the ending, and in a list as tight and hotly contested as this, that is enough to move it down this low.
11) The Incredibles - There is nothing wrong with this film and is a great example of it's genre. I am simply not "into" the action-superhero-spy genre as much as I am into the more warm-and-fuzzy cuteness found in the genres of the films listed above it, that feature cute anthropomorphised fish, cars, rodents, toys, bugs, and furry monsters. I get into that stuff more than stuff about real people that is more "adult" in theme. But I certainly enjoyed The Incredibles for what it was!
gap
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p
12) WALL-E - I appreciate the aritistic acheivement here, and WALL-E himself sure is cute and endearing. The low ranking here can be explained then solely on the fact that the "post-apocolyptic futurism" genre is VERY far removed from my cup of tea. I found the scenario of a depopulated earth overrun by ruins where the humans had to evacuate and most animal species apparently went extinct simply too depressing to watch this over and over again, like I can the other films (even though it does end on a hopeful note). I prefer the Walt Disney can-do utopian futurism as depicted in films like Meet the Robinsons. If I emotionally detached myself from the film, then, I can appreciate it more. But, being an emotional type of film watcher, whose favorite films are the ones in which I love the emotional journey a film takes me on, this approach still would not improve it's position relative to the other films. I hope these comments did not offend it's numerous fans; they are not an attempt to upset anyone or start a debate and are merely my explanation of why a film so acclaimed would be listed last on my list.
MY PIXAR RANKINGS
1) Finding Nemo
2) Cars
3) Ratatoille
4) Up
5) Toy Story 2
6) Toy Story
7) Cars 2
8) A Bug's Life
9) Monsters Inc.
10) Toy Story 3
11) The Incredibles
gap
g
a
p
12) WALL-E
I have long been curious as to where the 4 recent Walt Disney Feature Animation DAC's done in CGI would sit in my rankings against these Pixar titans. I figured it out a few weeks ago, and will post the results now that I'm updating my Pizar rankings. The DACs did really well, for the most part:
PIXAR RANKINGS, MIXED WITH CGI DACs
1) Bolt
2) Finding Nemo
3) Cars
4) Tangled
5) Ratatoille
6) Up
7) Toy Story 2
8) Toy Story
9) Meet the Robinsons
10) Cars 2
11) A Bug's Life
12) Monsters Inc.
13) Chicken Little
14) Toy Story 3
15) The Incredibles
gap
g
a
p
16) WALL-E
Lastly, here are just the Pixar films again, with explanations, mostly carried over from an older post but updated to include explanations for those I haven't written one for.
PIXAR RANKINGS, WITH EXPLANATIONS
1) Finding Nemo - This film has always touched me greatly. It also has beautiful settings, lovable characters, humor, an epic quest, a great score, oodles of heart, and an uplifting ending. I'm also a big fan of the theme park attractions it inspired at the Disney Parks. I think ToyStoryFan summed it up best why this tops my list, though - the pure emotion, especially for me the emotion and joy when Nemo and his dad are finally reunited, after all they've been through.
2) Cars - I never understood the relative dislike many have for this film, but to each their own, as they say. Sure, Lightning is unlikable at first, which IMO only underscores the significance and emotional reaction to his growth and devolopment later in the film. Also, I originally subconsiously expected a more predictable ending where, after he learns his lesson, he wins the big race. But the way it ends is IMO even more ingenious and uplifting. I also think the sequence reflecting on the way the interstate system has made the charming rural highways "obsolete" is very poignant and well-done. Ironically, I've never been a big auto-racing fan, but have always had a major soft spot for cute, anthropomorphised objects (such as in Susie, the Little Blue Coupe)
3) Ratatouille - I really loved this from the very first viewing, even though I've never been remotely a "foodie". Again, it is the heart and my emotional involvement in the film that I am responding to. Remy is cute and likable, and I got into the idea of breaking boundaries and preconcieved notions as to who can do what - "Anyone can cook", etc. The whole Anton Ego plot was IMO ingenious, culminating in his reawakening regarding why he loved food enough to become a critic in the first place, playing out in a profound, touching piece of writing that brought to my mind the famous "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial.
4) Up - As many have said, the opening sequence moved me to tears. Yet another Pixar case of a film having so many great strengths, and the strongest being its heart. This could very well be ranked higher in many moods, even first. Then again, there are moods where I may not want to go through all the emotions of the opening sequence and it's subsequent scrapbook flashbacks (I feel everything quite deeply when I watch movies), so this for now averages out to 4 on the list. I loved Dug and Kevin, by the way!
5) Toy Story 2 and
6) Toy Story - I had previously called this one a tie, because in some moods I prefer the first and others the second. But for the most part, "2" seems to have the edge. I find it touches me a little more, and I love the added charm brought by the additional characters such as Jessie, Bullseye, and Wheezy. In some moods, both films could be ranked higher than they are here. In a familiar theme echoed by all the others listed above, both take an ingenious, charming concept, likable characters, humor, adventure, and heart and create timeless, likable, classic, and rewatchable films.
7) Cars 2 - Although I didn't find it as poignantly touching as the original (which for me, is VERY tall shoes to fill), this is nonetheless a solid sequel and a solid film on it's own terms. This is lots of fun and very funny, and the International settings are beautifully realized and provide a counterpoint that differentiates this film from the original as its own unique work. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time once again in this imaginative world with these beloved characters, and meeting the new ones as well.
8) A Bug's Life - There is absolutely nothing wrong with this film to justify a low ranking as I really like it. The competition on such a list is a battle of titans, though. Perhaps it simply didn't touch me quite as much as the films above it, but like all of the above, it's clever, charming, funny, memorable, and classic. And to echo what Babaloo said, I already had a soft spot for bugs and an aversion to killing them before I saw this; and both the film and subsequent Animal Kingdom attraction reinforced this stronger.
9) Monsters, Inc. - Again, another great film that could easily be ranked higher and in many moods, would be. The relationship between Boo and Sully gives the film it's heart, but the film is also funny and has a very clever concept. Like A Bugs Life, the gap between this film and those at the top of my list is actually closer than a 8th and 9th place ranking would usually indicate.
10) Toy Story 3 - Just an explanation as to why this is ranked so low, and not meant to offend any of it's numerous fans. This didn't resonate for me nearly as much as the first 2, or as much as it seemed to for most people. This mostly has to do with my disapointment with the ending. I didn't care for the depressing, melencholy, cliched ending of Andy giving away his toys, as if to say "You have to "grow up" and move on, and leave your childhood behind". I suspect this resonates most deeply with people who have, in fact, "grown up", moved on, and left their childhoods behind. But as someome who has fought valiantly, and largly succeeded, in holding on to my childhood, keeping my inner child alive, and has KEPT my toys, the ending was a huge disappointment for me. I would have preferred a bolder ending which illustrates that just because the body is older, the spirit can remain young at heart, and still enjoy your toys. Lasseter would know about this, too, as he is an avid toy collector.
Also, as an avid plushie collector, the idea of a cute plush bear being a villain so evil that he is beyond redemption did not sit well with me AT ALL. No cute plushie bear could ever be that evil in my world! The screenwriters had a PERFECT chance to rehabilitate Lotso in the end and make him part of the gang, and they BLEW IT. And the logic was twisted that he felt rejected because his owner replaced him. She replaced him because she couldn't FIND him, and she loved him the most. The other toys that felt better for not being replaced had it backwards - this meant they weren't missed. When I met Lotso at WDW, I gave him a BIG HUG and said "I don't believe you're really evil - the stupid writers just wrote you that way!". He gave me a big hug and nodded in agreement.
If all of this sounds like I disliked the movie, I did actually like much of it, enough to even see it twice in theatres and attend the "Disney On Ice" version. I enjoyed the chance to spend time in the world of these beloved Toys again, and parts were really funny. I just have some quibbles with some aspects and the ending, and in a list as tight and hotly contested as this, that is enough to move it down this low.
11) The Incredibles - There is nothing wrong with this film and is a great example of it's genre. I am simply not "into" the action-superhero-spy genre as much as I am into the more warm-and-fuzzy cuteness found in the genres of the films listed above it, that feature cute anthropomorphised fish, cars, rodents, toys, bugs, and furry monsters. I get into that stuff more than stuff about real people that is more "adult" in theme. But I certainly enjoyed The Incredibles for what it was!
gap
g
a
p
12) WALL-E - I appreciate the aritistic acheivement here, and WALL-E himself sure is cute and endearing. The low ranking here can be explained then solely on the fact that the "post-apocolyptic futurism" genre is VERY far removed from my cup of tea. I found the scenario of a depopulated earth overrun by ruins where the humans had to evacuate and most animal species apparently went extinct simply too depressing to watch this over and over again, like I can the other films (even though it does end on a hopeful note). I prefer the Walt Disney can-do utopian futurism as depicted in films like Meet the Robinsons. If I emotionally detached myself from the film, then, I can appreciate it more. But, being an emotional type of film watcher, whose favorite films are the ones in which I love the emotional journey a film takes me on, this approach still would not improve it's position relative to the other films. I hope these comments did not offend it's numerous fans; they are not an attempt to upset anyone or start a debate and are merely my explanation of why a film so acclaimed would be listed last on my list.
