Dreamworks the Next #1?

Okay this is probably going to get me a lot of heat. I am about to open Pandora's Box of animation discussion, but first hear me out. I am a huge fan of animated films and Dreamworks Animation isn't my first choice to get my fix, but something is changing. I am not a fan of just one studio, instead I am a fan of good story with a good concept. My recent favorites have been from Pixar such as films like Wall-E, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Toy Story series. My other favorites are from Disney mostly. Okay before we start all my opinions, I have conceived for a while and has nothing to do with the recent release of Cars 2, so don't think I am bagging on Pixar or any other studio.

First thing I don't understand is, why is there so much hate for Dreamworks Animation? They are a very good studio and they usually put out quality work, like Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon. Well actually, I can understand because during a certain period of time they did put out low quality work such as Shark Tales and Shrek the Third. However I like to think that they just had a dark age sort of like Disney did after Walt died and during the change of the millennium.Even during their dark times Dreamworks managed to release a good movie like Over the Hedge, which got lost in the low quality films. I'll admit that they get a little formulaic with the success of Shrek. They started making films that imitated the humor, but couldn't match the heart. But I think they are coming out of that dark phase and entering a new more enlightened phase,

Okay before we get to in depth, I want to talk about Pixar, a studio that Dreamworks has lived in the shadow of for a long time. Pixar is an amazing studio that puts out high quality work that has brilliant comedy, lovable characters, and heartfelt stories, however, I think they too are getting formulaic. They are riding the success they had with Toy Story. I'm not talking about rehashing the story of Toy Story or playing off its humor, instead I'm talking about the buddy comedy story aspect. All of Pixar's films aside from A Bug's Life has been about a duo out to do something unimaginable. It's not that they make bad films, but the films get exhausting. After watching a Pixar film I feel like I was on a magical trip, but the experience often feels to familiar, kind of like a Disney princess film. I wish that they would do something different, which looks to be Brave, that would feel fresh and take the studio to new heights.

Overall I think the industry is sort of stuck in one place and animated films aren't going to new heights unless someone takes it to a new level. All animated films have been doing similar things to Pixar, such as making buddy comedies . All mainstream animated films tend to be comedies, they touch upon darker subject, but never become to serious. I don't mind comedies, but I would love to see a more serious animated film, something that goes beyond gags. I know it is a industry mainly for kids, but I want to see at least something more, not asking for sex, violence, or profanity, but something more dark or serious.

The only studio that I think that can go to that next level is probably Dreamworks. You guys are probably thinkin, "Dreamworks...really? The guys that make movies with potty humor and pop culture references...really?" And to answer you guys, yes. Yes I think they can take animation to a more serious and different path. Look at it this way before Shrek came along characters were always appealing, sweat, innocent, and nice. After Shrek, characters are a little more raunchy, a little more aggressive, a little more real, and they truly did make the first unlikely hero. Imagine without Shrek, do you think a old man could be seen as a hero. Another reason is because they have gone to that point before, with movies like Antz and The Prince of Egypt, for gods sake they made a movie about Moses. They may have copied A Bugs Life with Antz, but they made it a mature tale of class-ism and took it to that dark place. Even with recent movie like How to Train Your Dragon they managed to make a serious movie with some funny intelligently placed one liners. Dragons was one of the most serious movies I've seen in a long time. They even managed to put some dark moments into Kung fu Panda 2. They have the ability and the guts to take animation to another level, unlike Pixar and Disney who are to concerned with their image. The biggest factor of this company has been the acquisition of acclaimed director, producer, writer Guillermo del Toro who I think can take the studio to that mature and dark place. He is the equivalent to John Lasseter and can be a game changer for Dreamworks. Plus they have the brilliant mind of Jeffery Katzenberg, say what you want, but he is smart. He took Disney to a point of glory that animation hasn't reached in a while and under his supervision Disney got the first animated film to be nominated for best picture and Dreamworks became the first studio to win the best animated film category.

Dreamworks may have had a dark period, where they were trying to copy and ride the success of Pixar and Disney and even the success of their own franchise, but I think they have found their own identity. They have been making hit original movies since 2008 that have good story, concept, humor, and have found the perfect balance. Last year they released 3 movies all of which were either decent (Shrek 4), great (the under appreciated Megamind), and amazing (How to Train Your Dragon). They have a few more sequels in the works, but everything starting from 2013 will all be original aside from the dragons sequel. I think in the next few years we'll begin to see a shift in the industry and I think Dreamworks is going to be leading the change.

I want to read what you guys think, so comment below.

Cars 2

I went and saw this movie today hoping it would be an excellent film. While this movie isn't as bad as everyone says, it still is a sub-par movie. I'll tell you that you will enjoy this film and it can get exciting, but there is nothing beyond that.

Lets start of with the good things. The action sequences are well done and there are a lot of them. And the visuals are top notch. It really does feel like you're watching a big summer spy blockbuster. There were more explosions in "Cars 2" than there are in Micheal Bay films. Another good aspect of the film was the first race sequence. It felt very authentic and exhilarating as if I was there on the race track cheering on Lightning McQueen to win the race. The beginning was also done very well which parodied a James Bond flick, making the film feel like it would be a very  exciting and well crafted. Finn McMissile, Holly Shiftwell, and Francesco Bernoulli are all very good characters. They are fun, witty, and steal the spot light at time from the lead Mater.

Yes Mater is the lead in this film, which is one of the negatives of this film. In the first he felt like a powerful sidekick, but in this film he feels like a lost puppy mixed with Jar Jar Binks. He is way to over the top at times and is as confused throughout the movie as the audience. He does have some touchy moments, but nothing compared to the Mater that helped out good old Lightning from the first "Cars." Ah, Lightning McQueen, the character that started the series is very underused in this movie and sort of reverts back to his big shot self in "Cars 2." However, he quickly changes. Now where the movie really lacks is in the story, which is ironic because Pixar has always said that story is king. The story is very thin and everything just sort of happens. It's way to situational. Somethings happen out of sheer coincidence, such as the scene towards the end with Mater and McQueen or the scene involving the race in Italy. The ending is very cliched and to an extent predictable.

Overall "Cars 2" is a very entertaining and enjoyable film, but that's all that it is. The story is very thin and the film feels like "a Ferrari without a engine." Pretty and beautiful, you can have a good time with it, but overall it's useless and you can't fathom why you have it if you can't interact with it. This is Pixar's first sub-par film and not just by their standards, but as a movie.

I give "Cars 2" a 2.5/5, a entertaining movie that is nothing beyond that.

Cars

With the release of "Cars 2" only a couple days away I decided to watch "Cars" yesterday and with it give all of you my thoughts. Okay let's start with the basics, many people have labeled "Cars" as Pixar's weakest movie and I totally agree with these people. "Cars" in my opinion is the weakest movie Pixar has to offer, but by no means is it a terrible film. By movie standards it is an excellent film with amazing visuals, good music, and a pretty likable cast.

This film starts of telling the audience exactly what the character of Lightning McQueen is about, voiced by Owen Wilson,. Nothing matters to except winning, being the best, and getting to the top as soon as possible. McQueen himself starts off as a wannabe and kind of unlikable because he's arrogant, flashy, and ungrateful. However it changes when meets the people of Radiator Springs, especially Mater. I'm not gonna narrate the story because I think most of you have seen this movie and or at least know what it's about. Okay the second main character is Mater, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, a sweat lovable side character. To bad Mater shift from likable to annoying pretty frequently throughout the movie. When he is supporting McQueen he is very sweat and a strong supporting character, but when he is up to his misfits he comes of annoying with some lame line=s and a few fart jokes. Some of his comedy is timed well, but others are forced. Doc Hudson, voiced by the late great Paul Newman, is a very strong supporting character, but some of the things he does doesn't make sense. In the beginning we can see he hates race cars immediately when he finds out about McQueen. Later in the movie we notice that he likes McQueen and loves his spirit.. Doc ultimately is the reason McQueen changes. Doc is always in a love hate relation with McQueen, one moment he loves the guy the next he snaps in an endless cycle through the very end. Sally, voiced by Bonnie Hall, is the love interest  and a very strong car. She like McQueen was always in the fast lane, but never felt fully complete until she ended up in Radiator Spring. Sally is very passionate about the town and is the McQueen is fixing it up. She like Doc sparks a small change in McQueen. The cast is pretty strong and some of the other side characters like Luigi are fun without being annoying.

The over all plot and message are pretty simple are not as complex as other Pixar endeavors like "Wall-E" or "Up." The movie with it's flashy colors and kiddie humor comes of as a bit of a kids movie. That's probably why "Cars" is more popular with the smaller kids. This movie on occasion feels more like a kids movie more than a family movie or movie for everyone, something Pixar aims to make. For example the whole tractor tipping scene was geared towards children with a bunch of fart jokes. I understand that it is trying to say have a good time and all, but they could have done it in a more classy way. At time this move becomes sort of predictable like the end and it simplifies somethings that they are saying. The movie is also all over the place at times, because it tries to show the audience what the world is like. It makes the world more magical, but the story suffers a bit. If they kept it organized and shaved a few minutes of it could have been a more balanced film. The extra time didn't add anything to the plot.

Overall this movie is great, but a tad childish/kiddie. The story is over the place at time, but structured to a good happy ending. The characters a likable, side ones more than the more major ones. But Pixar did a great job creating a believable world. Not Pixar's greatest pic, but a fine film. I look forward to the new one and hopefully it is a fantastic film.

I give "Cars" a 3/5, a solid score for a solid film.