Banana Scoop

With Cars 2 coming out, I’ve taken another look into Pixar’s past to gawk at their greatness.  Critically, they’re great.  Story-wise, they’re great.  Animation, they’re great.  Always setting the bar.  Watching any new animation is difficult compared to thinking about how much more I’d rather rewatch Toy Story 2 or Monsters Inc.  Today, I’m going to make an attempt at listing and comparing eleven masterpieces by Pixar.   Each films is as good as the last, so just because you’re number 11, doesn’t mean you’re not a good movie.  Hit the Jump to read more.

11. Cars

Cars has critically been the black sheep of the Pixar films.  And rightfully so due to the general lack of innovation and imagination Pixar has shown us in the past.  We still have interesting characters and top notch animation, but with the plot playing out like something we’ve seen over and over again about a stubborn character going through a reality check, but succeeding anyways, Cars has itself at number 11 on the charts.  How much can be said about Cars 2?  Well let’s just say Rotten Tomatoes and critics everywhere has had a field day with it and I’m just as much compelled to say, Cars 2 is a film that doesn’t interest me in anyway and that I’m willing to wait for it to come out on DVD/Blu-Ray.  Which is a sentence that couldn’t have been said for any other Pixar film.

10. A Bug’s Life

Clearly homage to Aesop’s fable regarding the Ant and the Grasshopper, A Bugs Life took things to a microscopic level to a world we don’t often see.  A Bugs Life takes to the life styles of bugs as though they were humans.  A story about an ambitious, lone country ant who goes a little over his head when he recruits circus performing city bugs as fighters to fend off a mob of grasshoppers led by their vicious leader (voiced by Kevin Spacey).  The story is filled with interesting characters but is ranked lower on the scale as a results of it’s fairly predictable (but very well executed) story.  With top notch animation and thrilling action sequences for it’s time, A Bugs Life at number 10 still holds very high caliber in contrast to it’s bug sized heroes.

9. Toy Story 2

Here’s a little trivia for you, this sequel almost went direct to video.  Direct to video was is usually a term that is used for movies that are expected to do bad at theaters everywhere and aren’t worth the risk of distributing.  In no way is Toy Story 2 deserving of distribution only via video.  The story kind of flips itself from the first Toy Story, with Woody having the identity issues compared to Buzz.  And it takes Buzz to tell Woody his value as a toy.  There are multiple memorable scenes like the airport chase and Woody’s restoration that make the movie a visual and audio wonder.  And with more involved supporting characters and likable new ones, a ‘rehash’ of the the first Toy Story is a real treat.

8. Toy Story 3

A decade later, my childhood came to a close.  The return of Toy Story in itself is a wonder.  Not only do sequels usually do poorer or not match up to the original, but a third film is usually merits the sign that a franchise should be closed up for shop.  But Pixar and Toy Story break the barriers once again.  Ten years of advances in animation and these characters are still the lovable toys I knew when I was 10.  And with a plot playing like a thrilling escape movie, deep emotional resonance, and a memorable villain rendered as a plush bear, there is no wonder that Toy Story 3 was such a hit.  My 6, 7, and 8 choices were so close that I constantly had them switch.  I originally had the Incredibles at 8, Toy Story 3 as 6, and Toy Story at 7.  Toy Story 3 got pushed back only because originality is what Pixar is best known for.  And with sequels, no matter, how good they are, can usually never beat the original.  Besides, the unforgettable opening to this movie is quite familiar with the opening sequence to our next film.

7. Toy Story

The animated picture that started it all.  A story about what toys are like when the child is out of the room A story of  how two toys compete for the affection of a child’s love.  A story of finding out the identify of oneself and the role they play in the bigger picture.  A story about how friendship can bud in the presence of a greater evil (Sid).  All these things sum up when the original Toy Story was released in 1998.  Pixar had dabbled in animated shorts, but never has anyone seen a full length animated feature like this.  A film like this is the inspiration for the copious amount of animated full length movies we have today.  This movie truly marks a milestone in film.  With unforgettable scenes like the beginning reconnaissance mission to the escape from Sid’s house to the moving van chase, how  could someone not love this movie?

6. The Incredibles

Toys, Bugs, Monsters, and Fish.  These are the things Pixar has played with and made great stories out of.  The Incredibles was a huge step forward for one big reason: humans.  The first Pixar movie that focused on humans, Pixar managed to create a unique model for humans that is a both a testament to their animators as well as their creative team.  The story of a retired superhero who lives hiding out in the real world in itself is an so-so idea for a basic plot.  It’s his colorful family, the face past plot, and thrilling action sequences that make this Pixar movie another hit.  By making fun of the suburban life, Pixar has made one of it’s most identifiable films with it’s audience.  The Incredibles shows that even superpowered families have issues with their spouses, trouble with kids, conversations about school at dinner, and hilarious family car rides.  Humor, action, sincerity all contribute to why The Incredibles have managed to beat out some of the other Pixar movies so far.

5. Monsters Inc.

The tip of the top five is Monsters Inc.  Billy Crystal missed out on being Woody and jumped at the chance at playing Mike Wazowski.  John Goodman and him make a good duo that use ‘scare’ to power their Monster City.  When these two get their hands on a ‘toxic’ yet affectionate child, Boo, the change of heart within each of these monsters is heartwarming to the audience as well.  A combination of the interesting conspiracy contributing to the story and the Monster World itself, this is one of Pixar’s most creative endeavors.  One of the most unforgettable sequences for me was the revealing of the door storage area.  This sequence is one of the most memorable chase scenes I’ve ever seen.  Cleverly written and animated, it simply tops as one of my favorite scenes in cinema.  With one of the more creative premises of Pixar movies and a heartfelt story, Monsters Inc soars at number five on my list.

4. Ratatouille

Pixar’s stories are always the best.  Just saying what the story is about always makes me smile.  Take Ratatouille for one.  ‘This is the story of a rat in France who wants to be a chef’.  Everyone said Pixar has lost it’s marbles.  One reason because this was during the era of when America particularly didn’t like France during the whole ‘Freedom Fries’ fiasco.  But audiences still flocked to see the Pixar film.  And for good reason too.  Filled with everything French: food, setting, music, Ratatouille is a delight I would watch over and over again.

3. Up

Very few movies have made me ride an emotional roller coaster within it’s first ten minutes.  Those first ten minutes hold so much weight in why this is my number 3.  In addition to that, the story that follows is another creative product of the Pixar team.  The story of an old man who turns his back on society by flying his house with balloons, only to have it’s youth be found on his doorstep is a story of irony in itself.  When he ends up fighting for an extinct bird with a talking dog at his side, it’s a real testament to Pixar’s writing team of how they made it an nominee to Best Picture.

2. Finding Nemo

The ocean is a huge place.  A huge place with room to do whatever you want.  And Pixar utilized all of it.  The tagline, ”There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean, they’re looking for one” speaks for itself.  This follows the story of one very conservative clown fish looking for his abducted son.  Along the way he confronts all his fears and meets all sorts of interesting and likable characters.  With the ocean being as beautiful as it is, this allowed the creative team to use fish from all parts from jelly fish to sharks to turtles.  And while the ocean may be just ‘blue’, settings like abandoned ships, trenches, whale mouth, and ship yards are beautifully rendered, proving that the ocean may not just all be ‘blue’.  The degree of animation is one of the main reasons Finding Nemo is ranked so high.  And with likable characters like Marlon and Dory, how could you dislike this one?

1. WALL-E

My number 1 favorite Pixar movie: Wall-E.  When Pixar pitched the idea of a trash cleaning robot to the public, everyone was hesitant.  But sure as ever, Pixar delivers.  The story of a trash-cleaning robot, who after dozens of years, has developed a glitch: a personality.  With majority of the first part of the movie being silent, there is so much revealed to us about the state of Earth and the character Wall-E.  His curiosity is disarmingly adorable and makes him extremely likable.  When he is projected into space in the pursuit of love,  Wall-E’s affectionate personality spreads in a futuristic and modern setting.  The plot thickens when he holds the key to Earth’s survival and it’s a heavy scene when Wall-E sacrifices himself in the name of love and ‘directive’.  I will always forever more enjoy Wall-E for the rest of my life.