Disney Pixar Ultimate Movie Collection (Toy Story / Toy Story 2 / Finding Nemo / The Incredibles / A Bug's Life / Monsters, Inc. / Cars / Ratatouille) Review
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Since I have (or will) review each of these movies separately, I thought the best way to review this box set is by ranking the films by the number of times my children have watched the films (2 boys, now aged 2 and 4.5, I've had the set for one year). I've also given a rating out of 5 stars based on my own opinion.
1. Cars (4 stars) - BY FAR the most popular with my boys. Hotshot racecar Lightning McQueen gets lost while being transported across country, and ends up in desert-rural Radiator Springs where life is considerably slower than he's used to. The opening race scene is amazingly good. At 2 hours, perhaps a little long for one sitting.
2. Toy Story 2 (5 stars) - Woody the Cowboy is kidnapped by a collector who intends to sell him to a toy museum in Japan, and it's up to Buzz and others to rescue him. Features a memorable visit to a Toys R Us-like store complete with a Barbie tour guide and a complete wall-full of Buzz Lightyears.
3. Ratatouille (4 stars) - a surprisingly engaging story about a rat who can cook. He helps a young sous-chef make something of himself. The "climax" with the food critic (and the eponymous dish of food) are surprisingly moving. Oddly, the quality of the computer animation makes the rats creepier than, say, the mice/rats in Disney's Great Mouse Detective or The Rescuers.
4. The Incredibles (5 stars) - Forced into retirement amid lawsuits and public relation disasters, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl are try to raise kids (also with super powers) like a normal family. Craving adventure like the old days, Mr. Incredible gets drawn into a sinister plot and it's up to the rest of the family to rescue him. Great fun all the way through.
5. Finding Nemo (3 stars) - visually spectacular story of a father Clown Fish's attempt to find and rescue his son, captured by a diver and put into a dentist's aquarium. Unfortunately, it often feels like a string of action set pieces which makes it less enjoyable for an adult on repeated viewings.
6. Toy Story (5 stars) - the film that started it all: Sheriff Woody is replaced as Andy's favourite toy by upstart (and delusional) Buzz Lightyear. But when they get lost they must work together to find their way back to Andy's house. Great fun and stands up very well on repeated viewings.
All 6 of the above have, at some point, been my elder son's favourite. The final two are rarely (if ever) requested by either of my boys.
7. A Bug's Life (3 stars) - somewhat contrived second effort from Pixar, probably the least re-watchable film in this set. Cars and toys lend themselves especially well to computer animation. These bugs look blocky and generic, and the story is predictable animated adventure fare (and therefore a little dull).
8. Monster's Inc. (? stars) - I have never seen this film all the way through, because my boys simply do not watch it! Perhaps that tells you everything you need to know about the film.
It's too bad this box set is no longer available - it was -ish when I bought it, and I've certainly got my money's worth. All these films (except Bug's Life, and possibly Monster's Inc) are very rewatchable and can be enjoyed over and over, which is good because we all know how kids like to rewatch the same things over and over..... 6 of the 8 films are the 2-disc special editions (Cars and Ratatouille are not), so there's also lots of extras for the adult animation fan to enjoy after the kids have gone to bed.
Disney-Pixar Ultimate Movie Collection includes eight of Pixar's full length films on DVD:
Toy Story (10th Anniversary Edition)Experience a hilarious fantasy about the lives toys lead when they're left alone. Woody (Tom Hanks), an old-fashioned cowboy doll, is Andy's favorite. But when Andy gets Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) for his birthday, the flashy new space hero takes Andy's room by storm! Their rivalry leaves them lost with a toy's worst nightmare -- Sid, the toy-torturing boy next door. Woody and Buzz must work together to escape, realizing along the way that they've got a friend ... in each other! Now, in a magnificent special edition,
Toy Story shines even brighter. With an all-new enhanced picture and a spectacular home theater mix as well as exclusive bonus features, including deleted scenes and a retrospective special with director John Lasseter, this modern classic is one you'll enjoy to infinity and beyond.
A Bug's Life (Collector's Edition)Journey inside the world of bugs in this epic of miniature proportions. Crawling with imaginative characters, hilarious laughs, and colorful animation, Walt Disney Pictures Presentation of A Pixar Animation Studios Film,
A Bug's Life, will "delight everyone -- young, old, or six-legged." (People Magazine) In this 2-disc set you'll step behind the scenes for a look at the innovation and teamwork that resulted in this ingenious film. Loaded with bonus features — including animation not seen in theaters, abandoned sequences, and multiple surprises —
A Bug's Life Collector's Edition offers something for everyone from families to film lovers!
Toy Story 2A Golden Globe Award winner for Best Picture,
Toy Story 2 has become a favorite all across the world, garnering praise from fans and critics everywhere. It's "an instant classic," raves New York Magazine. Now, in a 2-disc collector's edition with a sparkling theater mix, this groundbreaking animated adventure is even better! While Andy is away at summer camp, Woody is toynapped by Al, a greedy collector who needs Andy's favorite toy to complete his Roundup Gang collection. Together with Jessie, Bullseye, and the Prospector, Woody is on his way to a museum where he'll spend the rest of his life behind glass. It's up to Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, and Slinky Dog to rescue their friend and remind him what being a toy is all about. Bursting with exclusive bonus features, including deleted scenes, outtakes, a new game, and much more, this hilarious comedy classic raises the bar on family entertainment to infinity and beyond.
Monsters, Inc. From the Academy Award(R)-winning creators of
Toy Story comes the computer-animated film that captured the hearts of fans and critics everywhere.
Monsters, Inc., is "visually dazzling, action-packed, and hilarious" (Boston Herald), featuring groundbreaking animation, imaginative storytelling, and unforgettable voice talent. John Goodman stars as the lovable James P. Sullivan (Sulley) and Billy Crystal as his wisecracking best friend, Mike Wazowski. Top scarer Sulley and his enthusiastic Scare Assistant Mike work at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. The main power source of the monster world is the collected screams of human children. Monsters believe children are dangerous and toxic, however, and they are scared silly when a little girl wanders into their world. Sulley and Mike do their best to return the girl home, but they face monstrous intrigue and some hilarious misadventures along the way.
Monsters, Inc., is "supremely clever -- fun for kids and adults alike" (CBS-TV). Treat yourself to the most entertaining movie of the year with all-new exclusive bonus features and animation for monster laughs and monster fun.
Finding NemoFrom
The New Yorker The latest flood of wizardry from Pixar, whose productions, from
Toy Story onward, have lent an indispensable vigor and wit to the sagging art of mainstream animation. Whether the new movie, directed by Andrew Stanton, will add much to that resuscitation is another matter. Albert Brooks provides the voice of Marlin, a non-amusing clown fish who sees his young son, Nemo, borne off in a diver's net. Not to be daunted, and plainly unfazed by the threat of both sharks and sentimentality, Marlin sets off to rescue his only child. You'll never guess how it ends. The technical skill on show is beyond question, but, as yet another computer-generated seascape ripples past, you may be tempted to ask whether that skill is driving the story; Marlin just drifts from one semi-heroic feat to the next, and the characters seldom get their hooks, or their jaws, into you with the pointed, snippy comedy that we have come to associate with Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Also, not to be impolite or anything, but how expressive is a fish, until it hits a grill? With the voices of Geoffrey Rush, Barry Humphries, Willem Dafoe, Allison Janney, and-the funniest of the shoal-Ellen DeGeneres. -A
nthony Lane Copyright © 2006
The New YorkerThe Incredibles After creating the last great traditionally animated film of the 20th century,
The Iron Giant, filmmaker Brad Bird joined top-drawer studio Pixar to create this exciting, completely entertaining computer-animated film. Bird gives us a family of "supers," a brood of five with special powers desperately trying to fit in with the 9-to-5 suburban lifestyle. Of course, in a more innocent world, Bob and Helen Parr were superheroes, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. But blasted lawsuits and public disapproval forced them and other supers to go incognito, making it even tougher for their school-age kids, the shy Violet and the aptly named Dash. When a stranger named Mirage (voiced by Elizabeth Pena) secretly recruits Bob for a potential mission, the old glory days spin in his head, even if his body is a bit too plump for his old super suit.
Nominated for four Oscars,
The Incredibles won for Best Animated Film and, in an unprecedented win for non-live-action films, Sound Editing.
Cars
From the acclaimed creators of
Toy Story,
The Incredibles, and
Finding Nemo comes a high-octane adventure comedy that shows life is about the journey, not the finish line. Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane until he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66, he meets Sally, Mater, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and a variety of quirky characters who help him discover that there's more to life than trophies and fame. Revved up with a sensational soundtrack, featuring Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, James Taylor, and others, plus exciting bonus features, including the exclusive short movie "Mater And The Ghostlight,"
Cars is full of freewheeling fun for everyone.
RatatouilleFrom the creators of
Cars and
The Incredibles comes a break-through comedy with something for everyone. With delightful new characters, experience Paris from an all-new perspective. It's "terrific movie making" raves
Leonard Maltin of
Entertainment Tonight. In one of Paris' finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling, Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down.
Ratatouille is a treat you'll want to enjoy again and again.
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Disney Pixar Ultimate movie collection - Lisa Rodoni - Oregon
I am really happy with my collection,the only problem I had is that when I received it one of the cases was broken but the DVD was fine. My grandchildren love the movies.
grandma from Oregon
Jul 16, 2010 13:20:13
