CARS - What did everyone think? (SPOILERS INSIDE!)

[MadonnasManOne]

According to estimates posted at BoxOfficeMojo.com, Cars boasts the second largest June opening for a film, behind Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Cars opens with a three day total of $62,800,000. This is Pixar's third highest opening total, behind The Incredibles, which opened with a three day total of $70,467,623, and Finding Nemo, which opened with a three day total of $70,251,710. It is only slightly ahead of Monster's Inc., which opened with a three day total of $62,577,067.

Keep in mind, the three day total for Cars is only an estimate. Actual totals should be posted Monday afternoon.

So, it looks like Cars could be on track to be their third or fourth highest grossing film. While The Incredibles opened with a higher three day total, Finding Nemo is still Pixar's highest grossing film.

Note to Luke: I also want to add that RottenTomatoes.com now has Cars with a 78% Fresh rating, which is higher than the 72% Fresh rating that you listed on the front page. I do realize that it was at 72% Fresh when you posted the story, but, I thought I might draw your attention to the higer rating.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004076-cars/

[PixarFan]

Hmm...I read an article on Jim Hill Media saying that Cars had to make at least $75-$80 million during the opening weekend or it wouldn't be considered a success by Wall Street. But, If the prediction is true, then Cars made $6 million less than Ice Age 2. This still isn't terrible, and it won't be Pixar's lowest grossing film ever, but I can see Disney getting a little heat over their $7.4 billion purchase.

[magicalwands]

Hmm...I read an article on Jim Hill Media saying that Cars had to make at least $75-$80 million during the opening weekend or it wouldn't be considered a success by Wall Street. But, If the prediction is true, then Cars made $6 million less than Ice Age 2. This still isn't terrible, and it won't be Pixar's lowest grossing film ever, but I can see Disney getting a little heat over their $7.4 billion purchase.

But technically they were going to profit off Cars anyways so it wouldn't have made a difference. If they do get angry, then it means they lost confidence in Pixar.

[MichaeLeah]

Getting back toward the subject of the post...I watched Cars last night and I don't think Aaron could be more on target. I am getting tired of Pixar using and reusing the same old formula over and over--primary character has a character flaw--character is displaced--character change--character restored to original location. Haven't we seen this enough? Can Pixar create a story without having a main character lost? I found McQueen's time in the small town somewhat boring. The story really gets bogged down at that point. One last complaint--is it possible to have a CGI film that isn't as filled with comedy; and does it always have to be the same kind of humor?

I do think the conclusion of the film is quite nice. I thought is was very classy the way McQueen helped that other car win the race. That scene earns several points for the film.

[MadonnasManOne]

Hmm...I read an article on Jim Hill Media saying that Cars had to make at least $75-$80 million during the opening weekend or it wouldn't be considered a success by Wall Street. But, If the prediction is true, then Cars made $6 million less than Ice Age 2. This still isn't terrible, and it won't be Pixar's lowest grossing film ever, but I can see Disney getting a little heat over their $7.4 billion purchase.

Most analysts had predicted that Cars would bring in $70 million during it's three day opening (Friday-Sunday). So, it's not too far from that amount. I can imagine Disney/Pixar hoping for a bigger opening, considering the great deal of money being spent on advertising. It's not a bad opening, by any means, just not where it was predicted to be at. Of course, Cars does have an advantage of a summer run, which The Incredibles did not. At any rate, Disney will pull in enough profits from this film. Not only domestic totals, but, international totals, video sales/rentals, merchandising, etc. I'm quite sure this film is going to make a decent amount of money, all things considered. It might not be as much as Disney/Pixar would have liked, but, it will be plenty.

[Pluto Region1]

I'm finally weighing in on this juicy topic. I went to see it on opening day with my husband, a matinee showing here in Glendale, not far from Disney HQ. The theater was about 80% full, mostly parents with kids. This is only the SECOND Disney Pixar movie besides Bug's Life, that I have ever seen in the theaters, and this is mostly because of life-style issues (work/school!) over the last couple years that has forced me to basically ignore most movies in the theaters (and heck, not even getting to rent movies!). Anyway, so it is hard for me to make the types of comparisons that have been made here about how it was compared to seeing the Incredibles. (that's also why I'm just the Disney fan in training around here, just here to learn).

The first time I saw Incredibles was late last fall and I watched it on this crummy 13-inch TV in our bedroom, so obviously it was a pretty poor way to view the film. I thought Incredibles was a good film, but it is really not fair to compare that experience to seeing CARS (or Bug's Life for that matter) in a theater. A lot of you made some really interesting observations, things I didn't catch and jokes I didn't see etc. I didn't know that in the Midwest people actually scare cows and make them fall down (that sounds kinda cruel to me) - my husband told me this tonight. Now I knew the tractors were supposed to be cows and the scenes were pretty funny all the same, without knowing that this was something that actually goes on with REAL cows in the Midwest. I was probably not unlike 98% of the kids in the audience watching the film with me, who are growing up here in California and never even seen a cow in real life.

The film was just going way too fast and I've decided I am going to see it again, most likely during the week. I did notice it was more "music-driven," as Jake Lipson pointed out, than other Pixar films (the few I've seen) but I actually liked the soundtrack a lot.

Because I haven't even seen Toy Story, and several other Pixar movies, I don't know about the buddy formula so well spelled out by Tascar.... is it possible to make a different formula for kids movies? I don't know. My husband doesn't seem to think that Disney can stray away from that formula. I think that would be an interesting topic all on its own.

As for what I thought, I was just blown away. Was that beginning tracking scene at the race the most exhilarating and most exciting sequence you've ever scene in animataion, in history? I could not believe my eyes. It was SO 3-D! How do they do it?! As Aaron pointed out in his review, there are times where the animation actually looks like it is just real scenes shot on film (like the drive that Sally and McQueen take through the forest). I did cry through several of the scenes, the town dying was one of them. Being somewhat familiar with the route 66 legend and how towns sprung up around it, I really liked how they tied the movie into a true issue like this. It was very sad watching how the town died and I cried at the end when the King was trashed and McQueen came out and pushed him passed the finish. Very sad!

The kids did not seem bored by the film, I didn't see any fidgeting in my nearby area; one kid threw up at the front near the screen, and there was an attendant that had to go back and forth to clean it up (gross!). I could not believe how these parents would just load their kid up with crap from the concessions stand. The kid in front of me at the concessions counter couldn't be more than 7 or 8 and his dad let him have a 44-oz coke???? Then the woman in front of us was really mad when she had to get up during the film and take her kid to the bathroom (well serves her right for giving the kid a giant coke! Why don't parents think?)

Many people left as soon as credits began rolling and thus missed the great "after-movie" inside Pixar jokes, as the credits ran. I really enjoyed the very end with the two lost cars.

Did anyone wonder here how cars are "reproduced"? There are no baby or kid cars in the movie (I guess Cars are "born" in the factories as they are in real life?); just adult cars, it is sort of weird to try and think about it that way, but its a kids film and I guess we are not supposed to go that deep into it.

I also couldnt resist getting in on the merchandise frenzy this weekend. Was at Target on Saturday and Cars merch being handled and flying off the shelves; many things sold out. Picked up the Cars Boombox for my nephew who has a birthday next month. While shopping in the store I see these two people hovering over my shopping cart, I return and they tell me, "We were just admiring your Cars merchandise." turns out the man was planning to take his kids to El Capitan to see it on Sunday.

[Mermaid Kelly]

I saw Cars on Friday, and I really liked it. I absolutely loved the tractor tipping scene, and I am so glad I didn't know about it before I saw the movie. I was so glad to hear the Brad Paisley song during the credits lol... He's one of my favorite country singers UNlike the other country artist in the movie...Rascal Flatts But anyway, I thought the "fixing the road" got a little tiresome and I was getting anxious for something else to happen, but other than that, I thought it was really good. And of course, the Pixar spoofs at the end were great!


Does anyone else wish the cars actually kissed at the end?

[memnv]

I jusr remembered our theater gave us a Cars trading card game with ticket purchases for all the kids. It was sponsered by Target . Did anyone elses theaters do this

[dvdjunkie]

We went to a theater that has a full service restaurant in each of the five theaters, and we noticed on the menu there was a special "Cars" meal for kids. They got a kid's hamburger, fries, drink, and ice cream dessert and a die-cast Lightning McQueen car, all for $4.50. I may take my grandson back to see the movie again just to get him that deal.

One of the other theater chains (Dickinson Theaters) offered a trading card game that was provided by Target. I wouldn't go to a Dickinson Theater if it was the only theater in town. They are really crummy theaters.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I might go and see Cars tomorrow. I really want to see it. I feel left out because I can't join any boards about how you thought about the movie, except when I'm posting about when I might see the movie

[kbehm29]

We saw it with all five kids on Saturday afternoon. The theater was packed - I'd say 90% full.

I loved it. The animation was outstanding, I've never seen anything like it - that first scene on the racetrack was jaw-dropping. I also liked the story - it took Doc Hollywood and the whole Pixar displacement thing, and added the unique story of Route 66 to it - added an actual REAL LIFE EVENT into a Pixar movie for once.

I would rate this movie as my favorite Pixar movie to date. There were jokes that weren't ruined by the trailers. The ending credits were hysterical. I will be seeing this a second time in theaters, before Superman comes out - and also will be buying this on DVD the second it's released.

I couldn't be more impressed.

[Pasta67]

Does anyone else wish the cars actually kissed at the end?

Well, I'm afraid that would've gotten more of a laughing reaction than a touching reaction from audiences.

Glad to see most of you are enjoying it! I'm going to see it in a few days.

[akhenaten]

i find the supporting characters unappealing and WEAK. doc was the best character.i rank this number 6 among all pixars. the kids in my theater were uneasy.

[Fidget1234]

Finally saw CARS last night at a 8:45PM showing & it had people in the theater (yes i went to the good theater that has surround sound & reclining seats. it's totally worth the 40 minute drive. PLus this place has a toppings bar & NACHOS! haha)

Anyways- i loved the variety of new fun characters.
My car was in it! Sarge the Jeep Wrangler- my husband liked him & Filmore & their funny arguing. "IT'S HENDRIX MAN!"

My favs were: Flo, Lizzie, Ramone, and the 4 troublesome neon-lit cars.

Oh yeah- my dear hubby was VERY hesitant on seeing it. He wasnt too impressed w/ Incredibles & neither of us are race/racecar and or classic car fans & he was expecting it to be pretty bad.
He said the opening scene w/ the race wasnt very good- but once Mack came into the picture- it got good.

Dozens of new fun characters, and the sound/animation has def improved over the years since we first saw Toy Story.

Great cast and even though the overall storyline was very predictible- the small jokes made it even better- like the SUVS who have never been off-road, or the tractor (cow) tipping- that was great and of course RedNeck Hill was ALL trailers- that was too funny.

Did Frank the Harvester remind anyone else of Hopper in A Bugs Life?

Also- from what we could tell- the drive-in scenes w/ other pixar films were all the original voices- right? I'm positive it was Tim Allen, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Dave Foley- the ONLY one i wasnt sure about was Tom Hanks- anyone know for sure if it was really him??

Didn't get to see the outcome of the mini vans who didnt ask for directions- musta been too busy laughing? Unless it was at the very END of the credits.

The new Pixar/Disney film already looks promising- cant wait for that!

Anyways- of all the Pixar/Disney films
my ranking:

1. Toy Story 2
2. Toy Story
3. Cars
4. Monsters INC
5. A Bugs Life
6. Finding Nemo
7. The Incredibles


thanks to all who gave their reviews beforehand- that def helped me persuade my hesitant hubby to see it- who was glad he saw it too!

[memnv]

yes those were the origional voices in the movie shorts. Did you stay for the scene after the Credits?


Junkie those sound like the cards we got

[Fidget1234]

yes those were the origional voices in the movie shorts. Did you stay for the scene after the Credits?

No, we left in the middle of the credits....i knew we shoulda stayed til the very very end...
i musta missed something wicked good, huh?

[MickeyMousePal]

The credits show some funny things like when they showed most of the Toy Story characters as cars...then Woody says "You are a Toy Car"...LOL
They also made fun of A Bugs Life and Monsters, Inc. as cars...

[indianajdp]

Took my 5 1/2 year-old to see it Sunday and we both loved it. It's funny, I was thinking to myself how cheapo the other CGI trailers looked and then I began to think...wait a minute, this might be what brings back traditional animation. If everyone is doing it and cheapening the product, it might be a great time for Disney to take a chance and go "back to its roots".

Anyway, I digress. Cars was fantastic for all of the reasons Pixar films have always been way above anyone else. It didn't just rely on glitzy CGI to carry the film, the story was engaging and had a lot of depth and substance to it. I was skeptical that I would care much about a car, but I'll be damn if I didn't!

Not sure where I would rank this one amongst all the other Pixar films, but it was definitely first-rate in our opinion.

[magicalwands]

Took my 5 1/2 year-old to see it Sunday and we both loved it. It's funny, I was thinking to myself how cheapo the other CGI trailers looked and then I began to think...wait a minute, this might be what brings back traditional animation. If everyone is doing it and cheapening the product, it might be a great time for Disney to take a chance and go "back to its roots".

And if the traditional films are enjoyable on the same level of Aladdin, Beauty & the Best, Mulan, and Pocahontas, I don't see a single reason why parents (who grew up with films like this) won't go see it. Everyone is still a 'Disney' child at heart.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Hmmm, reviews here are too positive. Time to put the negativity in.

Well, I finally saw "Cars" today, and I liked it. Much more than I expected to that's for sure, but it didn't have a "classic" feel to it like the Toy Story films or Monster's Inc.

Though, it's still kinda proves Pixar isn't really original. I mean, the whole story was about a "big city guy who gets stuck in a small town". Mix that with the "Dreamworks formula"(fart jokes and pop culture references, mainly for NASCAR fans) and the "Pixar formula"(take two buddies who become best friends, and one of the buddies trying to fulfil a quest) and walla, you got a movie called "Cars". Then there's the stuff like how Randy Newman does the score which at times sounds very similar to the one on Monster's Inc. Didn't people diss Brother Bear all because it used Phil Collins again? Let's not forget how predictable the story was.

Then, I think if you don't like cars in general that much, then you won't enjoy it too much. Thankfully, I enjoy cars enough, so I enjoyed the film, but my Mom said she was bored completely with the first half, but she really enjoyed it the second half. That alone can lead to problems, including repeat viewings with the female audiences, so that alone will make it NOT pass the $250 dollar mark.

Then of course, I mentioned the Dreamworks formula which lead to that "Tractor Tippin'" scene(:roll:) which was an excuse for fart jokes. And pop-culture references which some are funny(Jay Limo?) but proves my first point that it'll age much quicker than Toy Story or Monster's Inc. The story also dragged in places which is what I feared off. Not as much, thankfully, but still...

Shoot, I made so many comments on the negatives, it sounds like I hated, well I didn't. I actually really liked it. The characters were all colorful and loveable, which was a nice surprise. While Randy Newman's <strike>Monster's Inc.</strike> score was uninspiring, the country songs were really good and fit perfectly in the scenes. The voice-actors were also great and made the characters not only come to life, but made them more loveable. The heart was in the right place and made me really care about these pieces of metal, which was a huge surprise. Oh and the end credits are awesome. It actually ranks as my favorite thing to come at the end of any Pixar film. Yup, it's even better than the bloopers. It's friggen hilarious.

As far as Pixar's efforts go, Cars definetely ranks higher than the craptacularness of Finding Nemo on every level imaginable, the "mehness" of "A Bug's Life", and "The Incredibles"(unlike the other two though, this one I really liked, however the bigger fan of comic-books I grow into, the more I realized how 0% original it really was(well it gets credit for being one of the few CG films that isn't primarily a comedy)). But still, I didn't enjoy it near as much as the Toy Story films or Monster's Inc.(As for my favorite Pixar film, it interchanges with the Toy Story films) But overall, a really cool and awesome effort from Pixar, and is my fourth favorite of the bunch. I give it 8/10.

P.S. I actually enjoyed One Man Band for some reason. For the Birds and Knick Knack were much better though, but I like the musical style and Disney-short likeness of this film.