Rating: 
Summary: "For the Birds" worth the price of feature (Monsters, Inc)
Review: The five stars listed here are for the short "For the Birds" shown before the movie. It was absolutely adorable and had a great message. More laughter was generated from this than was heard during the feature movie. I paid to see a feature length movie and enjoyed the short much more - what's wrong with this picture?
Rating:
Summary: You've got to see this GREAT movie...
Review: I took my wife and son to see Monsters, Inc. this weekend. This was the first time my son had been to a theater and the first time since Air Force One was in the theaters that my wife and I visited the big screen together. In short, we don't go to the movie theater together much, but I watch hundreds of new release DVD's each year (and occasionally go the theater). However, I hoped Monsters, Inc. would be good and my son is already a big fan of Sulley and Mike, so I decided to it would be a fun family outing. I went into this movie with high expectations after owning and watching Toy Story I & II and A Bug's Life over 30 times each with my son, and I was not disappointed. I thought this movie was an excellent, fun for the whole family movie (unlike Shrek which is somewhat slanted towards adults). The graphics were excellent (although not as impressive as Final Fantasy) and the cast did an excellent job of creating another entertaining and very funny movie. This surprised me since I'm no fan of John Goodman (who can forget the Flintstones <g>) and I wasn't impressed with Billy Crystal's character (Mike) from the trailers. Fortunately the trailers don't spoil the movie and all of the good stuff is waiting for you in the movie. If you haven't seen it, make time to do it on the big screen as it's really a hoot. Two big thumbs up, WAY UP! For those who want to compare it to Toy Story and A Bug's Life, don't. Why? Because you don't compare Braveheart with Forrest Gump just because they are both Paramount movies, right? Well the same concept applies here. Yes it's a Disney and Pixar movie, but the story has nothing to do with its predecessors. They are all equally excellent movies in my opinion with a completely different story line. If you want to compare it from a computer graphics standpoint then I'd rate it higher than Shrek due to the excellent work done with Sulley's 3 million plus individually rendered hairs, but I still think Final Fantasy is the king for the most complex CG movie ever done (even if it isn't as strong as some of the competition on its content). Now I'll have to give Disney even more of my money for the DVD and Monsters, Inc. merchandise my son wants now! <g>
Rating:
Summary: Magic, shmajic...Pixar makes something better!!!
Review: Rarely do films entirely captivate an audience and drag it away in submissive fascination, but Monsters Inc. did just that. Not only did it massage my heart back into the days when I was young but it did it to everyone sitting with me and around me - young and old alike. It is a film that is pure genius. More than that it is an example of exceptional filmmaking, storytelling, and imagination. We could all take notes from a team as dedicated to their craft as Pixar has shown themselves to be time and time again. Go see this movie, but leave your notions at the door - lest they cloud your ability to be swept away by this innocent little tale of Monsters and Men... [ARB]
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but not what the hype builds it up to be
Review: the marketing for this movie was awesome. i mean, the premise for the movie was great marketing. monsters under your bed, a one eyed character and big loveable character in the main roles. billy crystal and john goodman as the leads. the movie is a joy to watch, but dont expect to walk into a laugh riot. the humor is lacking. when i go to see a pixar film, im expecting to have a great time at the theaters. monster inc was nice to view and an all around good movie, but the FUN aspect of it was missing.
Rating:
Summary: You can feel it!
Review: When you pay for something you want to make sure it is worth the money. Going out for a movie is no different. When you leave from the theater you want to feel you got your moneys worth. Not many movies can give you the feeling of "I would stand in the line again just to see it twice." No movie has made me feel this way in a long time. Monsters Inc. did just this. My friends and I discussed how this will be a must buy once it reaches DVD. My congratulations go out to the graphics artists and the people behind the dream of M.I. It gave a lot of people something to take home.
Rating: 
Summary: A funny yet touching movie
Review: I was surprised with this movie. I mean all the commercials really pushed Billy Crystal and John Goodman as the stars and when an animated film does that it usually means the plot will stink. This film on the other hand stands on it's own. A wonderfully funny picture with a moral, the plot takes you through different emotions while keeping you interested. This isn't just a childs flick, it's for all the family. While sitting in the theater you would hear children laughing at one part and then the parents laughing at another. Probably the only issue I had, and the reason I did not rate this a 5, is that the beginning took to darn long to introduce the characters and premise of the movie. About 15 minutes into it I was wondering if I was going to be able to stay awake. However it started get interesting, and then the plot took off. My favorite series of scenes is the chase through all the closet doors. Very good stuff. One other thing: The short film that ran before this was excellant. Very immaginative and very funny. Almost worth the price of admission by itself. I sincerely hope it will be included on the DVD when it's released.
Rating:
Summary: Cant wait to buy the video
Review: In the Virgin Islands I dont think I have been in a movie theater with more than 10 people in it before...but it was packed this weekend when I took my 8 and 3 year old and we all loved it. Clever enough for adults to enjoy, cute for the kids and fun visual effects. A true general audience movie. Keep them coming!
Rating:
Summary: computer animation with sensitivity !
Review: This is the first "family movie" that the whole family has enjoyed in a long time. The characters are well-spoken, sympathetic (the main characters anyway),and cute; I was entertained throughout the film. I am usually looking at my watch and ready to scream by the end of a family movie (ex. Cats & Dogs and even Shrek) but I loved this one.
There are some "scary" scenes in the film but my five- and six-year-olds were not afraid or alarmed. A very well-done film by Disney.
Rating:
Summary: New technology, classic buddy movie
Review: You and your kids will laugh a LOT; and there are no insipid plays for your heartstrings, no strained falling-in-love subplot, but some genuine affection. For adults, there are some striking coincidences. In Monstropolis, there is an energy crisis because their fuel resource - children's screams - are running out as children become more jaded. There is a threat of rolling blackouts unless more energy can be exploited, and a deadly solution to this problem is unveiled by the baddies. Sully, however, is inspired to find a way to generate power without inducing suffering. A more chilling coincidence is a running gag about the threat of contamination, and thugs in space-suits sterilizing the workplace. Yikes. The film, and a short which precedes it ("For the Birds"), are masterful not only for animation but for the elegance and precision of their comic timing. Animation wonks, meanwhile, will marvel at details such as the different kinds of fur on these creatures and how realistically they can blow in a breeze. These details, easily taken for granted, are laborious achievements for the animators. Indispensable are the human actors supplying these voices, who include John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, Muppet-veteran Frank Oz, and James Coburn! For its lack of treacle, this was more satisfying than SHREK, but the friendship between our two monsters and the young girl, "Boo," who sneaks into the monsters' world, is genuinely warm. The technology is cutting edge, but it's the same old "buddy movie" and it works.
Rating:
Summary: Pixar = Genius!
Review: Monsters, Inc. Is the 4th release from Pixar. In Monstropolis, monsters make their living by scaring humans... But the monsters live under the constant fear that the slightest touch of a human being could mean the end of their civilization. Sully, Monstropolis' best scarer, is in competition with Randall to harvest the most screams from frightened human children. These screams are the energy source that powers Monstropolis' way of life. Sully's life is tossed into chaos when he comes into contact with a human child. Pixar finally got Billy Crystal to do voice work. Good thing, too, as he's brilliant as Sully's co-worker, Mike. John Goodman is excellent beyond words as the hero, Sully. Steve Buscemi is perfectly cast as their conniving chameleonic rival Randall, and Mary Gibbs is unrelentingly adorable as the marauding human child, Boo. All the actors make wonderful performances, and the animation is to die for. The animators themselves should get an acting credit for the amount of life and personality they've added to these characters. The art design should not go unmentioned. Brilliant stylization of reality-inspired sets as well as awe-inspiring visualizations of fantasy locations make mince-meat of anyone daring to challenge Pixar's talent pool. The character design is so obviously well done that I won't even bother to bore you by pointing it out. (Especially Boo! If I ever have kids, I want one just like Boo! Adorable!) However, as with all Pixar films, what makes this movie spread from the "technically genius" category into the "Brilliant storytelling" category isn't just the technical aspects of the animation. It's the films' emotional impact. They tell a beutiful story, and they tell it in a style that makes us wish this movie was 2 hours longer. Not just excellent animation, but excellent filmmaking. Pure genius. (Did you hear that, Final Fantasy?) I won't just count the days 'til this DVD release, I'll also count the day's 'til Pixar's next movie. I can't wait! In summation,
More Pixar excellence. See it in the theatre, buy it when it's out on DVD or vhs. You're cheating yourself if you don't see it.
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