4. Toy Story: It was the first full computer generated feature film, which at the time seemed like the only thing to see it for because all of us wanted to be a part of what the future of film was. And in the realm of film history, Toy Story will always be on the same plane as Snow White And The Seven Dwarves. But it was much more. Woody helps to save Buzz from the cluthes of an evil neighbor while also teaching Buzz that there is much more to being a toy.
5. Finding Nemo: I might be one of the few people to have not loved this movie. I liked it, but I couldn’t find myself worried about Nemo whom so many others have been. Maybe I couldn’t appreciate the father/son relationship or the friendship between Dory and Nemo’s father. Who knows. Still enjoyable.
Honorable mention:
1. A Bug’s Life. Although it is unfair to make A Bug’s Life an honorable mention when Pixar has only made 6 full feature films. I could have easily made it a Top 6 list, but that wouldn’t be fair to the other lists. This isn’t a bad thing. It’s a good film, but it’s just not good enough to crack the top 5.
2. Cars. The next Pixar movie, which was slated to premiere this year was moved to 2006. Too bad. It doesn’t sound the most interesting, and seems to be a little late on that Nascar craze a few years ago. But I was wrong about Finding Nemo. My prediction is Cars will be my fifth favorite Pixar movie. Sorry Finding Nemo.
Article comments
1 - Lono
Have you heard that Disney owns the Toy Story franchise? They own it from when them and Pixar were friends. Anyhow, you may know they broke up last year because it is apparently Disney's goal to antagonize every human and business on the planet.
Anyhow, what is of grave concern to me is that Disney announced they intend to go forward on Toy Story 3 without Pixar. Someone please shoot Michael Eisner, or shoot me if they ever do this movie without Pixar.
Oh, re-reading your piece reminds me of another Disney management gem. There was a bitter falling out (big surprise) with the Weinstein brothers. So, Disney kept the name 'Miramax', but the Weinsteins both left to form their own company.
So, having squeezed all of the talent out of their industry... look for Dreamworks to take over everything in five years. They still seem to have a commitment to vision and art.
2 - Bill Wallo
I agree on the top three, although I'd put The Incredibles in the second slot. Toy Story 2 was almost a perfect blend; an amazing animated achievement. Finding Nemo didn't resonate with me (although it was well done), and I must admit to feeling somewhat unexcited about Cars.
As for Lono's notion that Dreamworks will be "taking over" in a couple of years, there was an article in (I believe) last month's Wired where Jeffery Katzenberg - the Disney guru gone renegade - basically conceded that Dreamworks can't compete with Pixar on quality of animated films and they're just going to pump out films (such as the really lame Madagascar) as fast as they can. Doesn't sound exactly like a commitment to "vision and art" to me.
3 - Nancy
My ranking would be Monsters, TS2, TS1; Nemo was a tour de force of effects, but aside from the amusingly laid-back turtles & the pelican, I didn't connect w/any of them, either. The other movies I just didn't care for. Cars looks ghastly. Hope I'm wrong.
4 - Tan The Man
I actually read the plot for Toy Story 3, and it doesn't seem that bad - There is a recall for the Buzz Lightyear dolls and Buzz is shipped to Japan to be destroyed and it's up to Woody and the gang to save Buzz. But Disney making it gives me a little hesitation.
Seriously, Dreamworks CANNOT compete with Pixar. In volume, yes - but that's because Pixar is about quality, not quantity. There used to be some pictures online of the actual Pixar studios in Emeryville, CA. All I can say is that it's as magical as the films.