posted 06-09-2006 09:57 AM                       

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See Now!

Cars is an excellent movie that continues the fine Pixar tradition of making Disney look really good! While I can't say that it is as good as Toy Story or Finding Nemo, it is very close, and certainly much better than many other movies in the same genre.

Much like Toy Story gave life to classic toys, Cars brings life to all kinds of cars, from race cars to a lovable tow truck and a "hippie" VW bus, among others.

The nice thing about this movie is that it hits quite a few targets that will resonate with audiences young and old. Starting out with an adrenaline-filled NASCAR-style race, the sound systems of theaters around the country will be put to the test. It firmly establishes the lead character of Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and is a lot of fun. The animation is top-notch, as always.

So you've got talking cars, check. NASCAR, check. Likable characters, check.

On the way to the next big race, Lightning finds himself without his transport truck and stuck in the middle of the desert. Landing in the sleepy town of Radiator Springs, a once-bustling town on Route 66 that was bypassed by the new freeway, Lightning is forced to slow things down and pay attention to things other than his own fame and fortune. A majority of the movie is spent in Radiator Springs, and for good reason, it's the most interesting setting.

The cars that he meets that are still living in Radiator Springs include Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman), a 1951 Hudson Hornet who appears to be pretty sedate and uninteresting to a fast race car like Lightning McQueen, but whose past experiences make him credible and someone definitely worth listening to. As with many of the Pixar movies, there is a large cast of colorful characters that are very entertaining in their own right.

The nostalgia factor of Route 66 and a town which peaked long ago, along with some very recognizable cars and a landscape that will take several viewings to completely appreciate, makes for another checkmark on the list of things that Cars gets right.

If there is any criticism that I have, it is that the movie drags for a few minutes near the halfway point. That was the only part of the movie where I felt like they needed to get moving and pick up the pace a little. Whether this would be noticeable to most is up for debate, but it's the only negative I can find with the movie.

Any review that I could write would not do this movie justice. It's exactly the kind of movie that theaters need right now, because the best way to fully appreciate it is on a big screen. A good sound system, while not absolutely necessary, certainly bumps the enjoyment factor up a notch in the racing scenes. Even more subtle sound cues are present, as is usually the case with Pixar movies. Be sure to stay through the credits, as there are some clips that are funny and worth watching.

I'm looking forward to seeing it again on opening weekend because it is definitely worth seeing multiple times. Highly recommend for all ages!

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posted 06-09-2006 10:21 AM                    

quote: Monte L Fullmer

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hey, had a hard time looking for cuemarks and splices..they weren't there..my first digital feature that I witnessed..

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OT: Monte, the digital presentations have never had cue marks or splices. I don't miss them at all for these types of shows. For us projectionists, it doesn't act as a clock to let you know how long you have been watching. Nice!

posted 06-09-2006 12:21 PM                       

quote: James Nash

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the digital prints consistantly gross much more than the 35's.

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