Inside Out - The New Pixar Classic?

pixarpost.com

This was the opening weekend for Pixar's newest film, Inside Out, and you know that I was in that theater. I couldn't wait to see it - from the early reviews it looked like another hit for the studio that brought us Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and a myriad of other new classics.

I always have high expectations when I see a Pixar film. In my opinion, they are the kings and queens of Hollywood - a studio where story is paramount. Where it's not just about cheap, two second jokes that become insufferable after the 2nd time you hear them (I can only take so many fart jokes.). It's not about pandering to kids (or adults!) or cranking out another movie because it's been a few years and its time. Storytelling is the steam that drives the Pixar locomotive; it's the "something special" that sets them heads and shoulders above the rest.

So what did I think of Inside Out?

You did it again, Pixar. You did it again.

If you're not familiar with the story line, Inside Out takes us inside the head of an 11 year old girl named Riley, as she navigates young adulthood and moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. We get to see her five emotions - Anger, Fear, Disgust, Sadness and Joy. I would call Joy the second protagonist of the film; she in a sense narrates the story, and her mission is to make sure Riley's life is happy and always filled with joyful moments. But as we learn, Joy isn't the only emotion that Riley feels or should feel. Without giving away the story line, you learn how every emotion is important to Riley.

I cannot say enough good things about this film. I'd read so many glowing reviews in the weeks and months before seeing it, I was honestly a bit nervous. What if it doesn't measure up to my already sky-high expectations for a Pixar film? As it turns out, I had nothing to fear (see what I did there?).

I REALLY want to talk specifics of the film that I have been thinking about over and over again in the last 48 or so hours, but I don't want to spoil any of it for you. What I do want to touch on is the idea of core memories. At the beginning of the film, we learn that every day, every moment, an emotion is experienced. All those emotions are stored in Long Term Memory, but there are 5-6 very special memories. Those are called Core Memories. The memories and moments that happen when you're very young, and shape and color every experience in your life. Your relationship with your family, what makes you laugh, what makes you upset, etc. In the last few days I've really reflected on that concept, and what are my Core Memories. What are yours?

People have asked me if Inside Out is a "kids movie". I struggle with that answer, because while I think kids will really enjoy it, it's not your "typical" animated movie. The best way I can describe it is to think of the movie Up, which Pete Doctor also directed in addition to Inside Out. Both are similar in that they're cerebral films - they get you to think and ask questions but in a beautiful way that's still very entertaining. I had the same reaction to Inside Out as I first did when I saw Up. Do you recall that flashback scene (with ZERO dialogue, by the way) with Carl and Ellie, where Carl is remembering their first meeting as children, their marriage, and her passing? I remember watching that scene and thinking (between my ugly-cry tears), holy crap. I'd never seen anything like it from an animated film.

Pixar has changed the game of animation. No longer it a medium that's just for kids, or even geared towards kids. I saw just as many childless adults in Inside Out as I did families.  I had a very similar experience when I first saw Toy Story 3. At the very end of the film, I was trying to deftly wipe away the crocodile tears going down my cheeks and turned to see that each of the 6 other adult women that I was with were all crying too. (Pixar and Kleenex really should partner up - that seems like a missed opportunity.)

The following quote from Nick Schager of the Daily Beast (from his article here) best sums up why I loved Inside Out. Nick writes, "For the past twenty years, Pixar has reigned supreme in the animated realm, in large part because its movies aren't simply witty, or beautifully crafted, or light years more clever than their competition - they also, at their finest, tap into profound questions about what it means to be a child, and what it means to begin becoming an adult. Pixar is a studio interested in creating stores about the most essential, and universal, of human experiences. And in that respect, Inside Out may be its crowning achievement to date."

Couldn't have said it any better, Nick.

Have you seen Inside Out? What are your thoughts?

Have a magical day!

New Trailer for Cinderella Released - And it's GOOD!

Today was a big day, folks. The newest trailer for the live-action Cinderella was released and....it's going to be GOOD.  March 13th is the release date - and you can believe I'll be there opening night, popcorn in hand!

Take a look at the trailer (below) and let me know what you think! (Casting Cate Blanchett as the Stepmother was GENIUS, by the way. I smell another Oscar nomination!)




Have a magical day!

Movie Review - Big Hero 6

courtesy of Disney.com

This past weekend, I went to see Big Hero 6, Disney's newest animated feature. It's been #1 at the box office the last few weeks, and I was excited to see it for myself.

Taking place in the fictional town of San Fransokyo (a clever combination of San Francisco and Tokyo), the movie follows Hiro, a 14 year old genius who loves robotics. Hiro spends his time competing in robot fights, which are illegal. His brother Tadashi, a college student studying robotics, shows Hiro his lab in an attempt to sway Hiro from the robot fights - and it works. Hiro meets Tadahi's friends in the lab (GoGo, Wasabi, Honey Lemon and Fred) as well as their professor, Dr. Callaghan.  Hiro also meets Baymax, the personal healthcare robot that Tadashi has created.

Hiro is encouraged by Tadashi to enter into the University's robotics contest, where the winner receives admittance into the school. He impresses Dr. Callaghan and does get into the program, but then a fire at the conference takes the lives of both Dr. Callaghan and Hiro's brother, Tadashi.

In his grief, Hiro connects with Tadashi's friends and also Baymax, the personal healthcare consultant that Tadashi created. When the group encounters a villain who's stolen Hiro's prize-winning robotics design, they band together to bring him to justice.

I REALLY enjoyed this movie. The animation is (of course) incredible, the characters engaging and exciting, and the plot is fast-paced.  It was really clever seeing how they combined the look and feel of both San Francisco and Tokyo to create the fictional city; in the beginning scene, pay attention to how they recreated the famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Baymax steals the show; he was my favorite character, for sure! They've once again created a character that on the surface would seem pretty one-dimensional (a robot) but instead becomes this multi-faceted, interesting, exciting character that you really root for.

If you have little ones (or not so little ones!) in your family who love science and geek-out over new technologies, they will LOVE this movie! I really liked that Disney took the concept of the super hero movie, and put a twist on it by including the science aspect. Yes, there are super heros and they have super powers - but the powers come from the science they're studying. These might not be technologies that we have NOW, but you can imagine these are things that are currently being studied and tested in labs and universities across the world.

I haven't heard any rumors about sequels, but the end of the movie DOES set up the possibility of other Big Hero 6 movies. As long as the story lines are and dialogue are as good as this movie, I'd for sure go and see another Big Hero 6 movie.

The movie is rated PG. I would feel comfortable taking children as young as 3 or 4, but there is a bit of violence (and an off-screen death). If you have little ones who are sensitive to those things, you might want to wait until they're a bit older.

This for for sure be a part of my Disney movie collection when it's released on DVD.  I rate it an A+!

Thanks for reading, and have a magical day!

BIG Disney movie news!! BIG!!

Photo courtesy of movies.disney.com

You know how a few weeks ago, we talked about what classic Disney animation movies we'd like to see being made into live-action films?

Yesterday, Variety (a trade Hollywood magazine) is reporting that....drumroll please.....Beauty and the Beast is being made into a live-action film!  YAY!!!

No word yet on cast; as Cinderella is coming out in 2015, I would venture a guess that this will be in theaters in 2016, as they haven't yet started filming.  I will keep you posted on any details as I find them out.

Who would YOU like to see in this movie?  Who do you think would make the perfect Belle, Gaston, the Beast, etc?  Leave your comments here and/or on the Most Delightful Place Facebook page (link is above).  I'd love to hear your thoughts about casting!  I'll share them on a future post.

Have a magical day!

I Can't Wait!! Maleficent - coming to theaters THIS FRIDAY!

It's almost here, everyone.

Malificent come out on Friday!!

I will be headed to the theatre on Friday night, and can't wait to share my thoughts with you on Saturday morning.

In the meantime, here's a clip.



Have a magical day!