Hey folks, Harry here... Quint is about to lay it all out for ya, and my review is coming very soon... I've only got one more to write before that! Here ya go...
Ahoy there, squirts. 'Tis I, the big, furry, cuddly (and don't forget crusty) ol' seaman, Quint, here to give you folks my opinion of Pixar's newest work of wonder, Monsters, Inc. I saw the film at a press screening, which made me a bit nervous. To anyone who has ever been to a press screening in their life, they know what I'm talking about. The theater is usually only a row or two full and those that attend the screening usually follow the standard journalistic code of not letting the film effect them, not showing any emotion whatsoever, which more often than not includes laughter.
Monsters, Inc. is the kind of movie I wanted to see with a room full of kids. Sure, there were bound to be those little rat-bastard children that sit behind you with their daddy or mommy and ask their parent in a very loud voice, "Why did he do that daddy? Who is that daddy? What is that daddy?" and even worse, the idiotic adult (who should know better) who shouts back to the child every answer to every question. At a screening with kids there's always the risk of those who don't know to keep quiet, those who relentlessly kick the back of your chair over and over and over again, those that spend 20 minutes opening the noisiest bag of candy known to man, but then again... you get that more often than not with adults as well. At least a room full of kids wouldn't place themselves above the movie, feel they're better than the film. I identify more with the point of view of children than of critics at a film like this. Children go into movies to have fun, to be entertained and they see only the good. Critics go in to tear the film apart, to find all the flaws and dwell on them, even to the point of missing the film as a whole.
At any rate, I got the press screening way too damned early in the morning and was exposed to the latest in the great run of kids films that was started earlier in the year with Rodriguez's Spy Kids, continued with Shrek and maybe even Cats and Dogs. I love, love, love Pixar. With each new film they put out, they raise the bar in both animation and interesting stories. Toy Story. Great film, entertaining for both kids and adults. Established a new animation style and technique and as a result gave the viewer a feeling of discovery. It had a magic. A Bug's Life. Damn fun film that took the animation established in Toy Story and improved upon it. The story might not have been up to par with Toy Story, but it was far from being a piece of shit. Toy Story 2. An amazing movie that took everything that the original did right and ran with it while also smoothing out and adding depth to the animation. Now Monsters, Inc. takes the next step.
Pixar's animation is unique thing in and of itself. I don't think of their films as cartoons, though I know damn right that's what they are when you get down to it. Actually, I met John Goodman in New York over the summer after I saw him in The Seagull. I asked him what he had coming up and he considered for a second then said, "There's that cartoon I did with Billy Crystal." I thought, "Wow... I've never heard of this... big scoop for me!" I then said, "And you also did Monsters, Inc, too, right?" I realized too late that I fucked up. He just kinda laughed and told me that was the one. I just don't think "Cartoon" when I think of Pixar. (Seaman sidenote: Goodman was a very funny and approachable guy... I mean, he had fun with myself, Captain Fantasy and Auntie Meat, though we were all geeking out bigtime, us all being Big Lebowski lovers. I just might be getting you folks an interview with the man himself, although it's all in his hands. After handing him my card, I asked for some number to contact to set the interview up and he said, "Well, here it is, but don't worry. I'll give you a call. I'm not a dick. I don't think anybody cares about what I have to say, but I'll call you. I'm not a dick." That was in August... DICK! hehehe. Never fear, folks, this old salt is on the mutha. We'll see if I can't wrangle some time out of the man)
Anyway, back to Pixar... What Pixar is best at, and keep proving that they are with each successive film, is subtlety. Subtlety in both animation and laughs. They are great at giving great realism to their characters. That's what separates their work like Monsters, Inc from crap 3D animation like Jimmy Neutron. Their work on Monsters, Inc is mind-blowing. The fur on John Goodman's character, Sulley, was amazingly real. There was never a point where I said, "Well, that looks like... well, Jimmy Neutron..." While watching the film, you'll think you could just reach out and pet Sulley and you're sure that it's nice and soft.
Pixar also again proves their talents for making the jokes, gags and funnies in the film accessible to all age groups. I can't think of one joke that I cringed at. Some jokes are less effective than others, but none fell flat on their faces. This is thanks to two things. One, the great writing team. They came up with some great jokes that'll fly over most kid's heads, but will be caught by their more mature accompaniment. Keep an eye out for the great Abominable Snowman snow cone joke. Then there are jokes that are aimed right at kids, but aren't dumbed down for them, thus can be enjoyed by everyone. The other reason these jokes work comes down to the great voice cast, specifically John Goodman and Billy Crystal. They have a great chemistry and just bounce of each other like you wouldn't believe. Of course they're backed up by such great talent (with great voices) like Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Tilly and James Coburn.
I think it's a great testament to the film that I was able to fall in love with it at this screening, in a room filled with (mostly) silent journalists, without the laughter of a roomful of kids or other likeminded adults. Every once in a while I'd hear Harry laugh from the other side of the theater (most notably at the mention of a big restaurant, Harryhausen's), get a giggle out of Auntie Meat or Patch or even a chuckle from (gasp! shock!) Massawyrm, but I can remember hearing only one other person laughing and I think it was The Daily Texan's film guy. But I still belched out some deep guttural laughs, the rest of the journalists be damned.
How does Monsters, Inc compare to Pixar's last few flicks? I think it was just as entertaining as Toy Story 2, but TS2 had a bit more deeper sentiment than Monsters, Inc. So I'd say Toy Story 2 was a better film, but as movies they're equals if you know what I mean. How does it compare to this year's other monster CG animated flick? I dug Shrek quite a lot. Actually, I liked it a lot more than most I know, but Monsters, Inc has got it beat in my book.
I imagine you'd know what this film is about and if you don't... crawl out from under your rock and catch up on your trailers! I cannot recommend this film enough. I can't imagine not liking this film. Only those with a dry, shriveled black heart could hate this film. In all seriousness, this is the kind of movie that parents have complained aren't around and kids have been screaming for. At the very, very, very least, giving the film as little credit as you possibly can, it's a great way to hold you and your youngsters over 'til Harry Potter next month.
I gotta shove off now, squirties. Jack Black and KG ("That's me!") are performing in a few hours and I got tickets to see them. How could I pass up the best band in the world? Keep yer eyes on the horizon, mates, fer this old salt has some barnacle crusted goodies to share with you in the very near future. Interviews, film reviews and script reviews aplenty! 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
