Ashir's Pixar-athar
A list of Pixar movies, eventually ordered from best to worst!
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- DirectorJohn LasseterAsh BrannonLee UnkrichStarsTom HanksTim AllenJoan CusackWhen Woody is stolen by a toy collector, Buzz and his friends set out on a rescue mission to save Woody before he becomes a museum toy property with his roundup gang Jessie, Prospector, and Bullseye.Toy Story 2 is a great sequel and probably the only wholly successful sequel in the Pixar line-up. It takes the ideas established in the first movie and builds on them, even reversing the plot in the first for some nice cinematic parallels (Buzz only knew his canon, but didn't know he was a toy, while in this one Woody only knew his history as a toy, completely forgetting his canon). Plus the animation was a lot more lively in this than the first, showing the advances in Pixar's animation technology.
- DirectorJohn LasseterStarsTom HanksTim AllenDon RicklesA cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman action figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's bedroom.Everyone has 'their movie' growing up. For me, Toy Story was my movie. I would watch this movie over and over, and rewatching it for this list I completely understand why. Every frame is packed with charm and stellar writing. Plus, it holds up rather well considering it was released in 1995. The studio made a very good choice in having the main characters be plastic toys and showing the humans as little as possible.
- DirectorPete DocterBob PetersonStarsEdward AsnerJordan NagaiJohn Ratzenberger78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.Up is a fantastic example of the rule that premise isnt the deciding factor of a movie's quality, its execution. On paper, the idea of an old man flying his house to South America may not hold up, but when mixed with a tear-jerking sentimentality and a genuine sense of wonder from the orchestral score, this movie makes for a fantastic adventure movie.
- DirectorAndrew StantonLee UnkrichStarsAlbert BrooksEllen DeGeneresAlexander GouldAfter his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.Just to get it out of the way, Dory is an obnoxious character that doesn't really do anything for me. That is really my only complaint in regards to this movie. The story is charged with emotion while still being light-hearted, the underwater visuals are absolutely stunning and the soundtrack is a masterpiece.
- DirectorBrad BirdJan PinkavaStarsBrad GarrettLou RomanoPatton OswaltA rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous Paris restaurant.This movie resonates with me in a way that makes me appreciate it more than others might. I know Ratatouille is far from the fan favourite of Pixar movies but its genuinely sweet and inspiring message of "great artists can come from any origin" really puts a smile on my face. Plus the romantic setting of Paris and the lovable character of Linguini really seals this movie.
- DirectorPete DocterKemp PowersStarsJamie FoxxTina FeyGraham NortonJoe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.It's been a good while since a Pixar movie's touched me in the way Soul has. The story is profound and existential, exploring the "purpose" of life and the intersection of said "purpose" and the things the protagonist draws meaning from. Plus the visuals are abstract and gorgeous with plenty of laughs mixed in. I'm very, very glad to see Pixar seemingly returning to it's golden era without the reliance of sequels.
- DirectorAndrew StantonStarsBen BurttElissa KnightJeff GarlinIn the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.This movie excels at a few things, between great visuals and a funny commentary on our reliance on technology and large corporations. Where it really becomes something special is how its minimal dialogue so beautifully tells the story of two robots falling in love. Despite how inhuman the leads are, the Pixar magic makes their emotional journey just as believable as any human romance.
- DirectorDan ScanlonStarsTom HollandChris PrattJulia Louis-DreyfusIn a magical world full of technological advances, elven brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot set out on an adventure to resurrect their late father for a day.Onward is a fantastic love letter to the fantasy genre while also being a movie about brotherly love, something not really touched on by a previous Pixar movie, at the very least in how they did it here. I really appreciated how the main character realized that a fatherly figure doesn't need to come from a literal father. Plus this movie really hit my soft side with how much they had fun with the genre. Plus the B plot revolving the mother and the manticore was fantastic. Big fan of this one!
- DirectorLee UnkrichAdrian MolinaStarsAnthony GonzalezGael García BernalBenjamin BrattAspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.This movie caught me by surprise! After a long spell of average movies put out by Pixar, Coco breathes new life into the studio. This is the first movie since the Pixar Golden Age that really feels full of passion and imagination. The colours were absolutely gorgeous and the story, while predictable, was still very heartfelt.
- DirectorLee UnkrichStarsTom HanksTim AllenJoan CusackThe toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.Toy Story 3 isn't a perfect movie. Especially compared to the lofty standards of Golden Age Pixar. As far as story goes, it's basically the same beats as Toy Story 2, just redressed. That said, what Toy Story 3 is, is a perfect conclusion for the Toy Story franchise. The trademark Pixar sentimentality is overflowing in the movie's ending, almost as if the movie itself knows that it marks not only the end (until Toy Story 4 of course) of Pixar's flagship series, but the end of the Golden Age itself. And honestly, Toy Story 3 is far from a bad movie to end on.
- DirectorPete DocterDavid SilvermanLee UnkrichStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanMary GibbsIn order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.The theme and the character designs are the absolute highlight of Monsters, Inc. The plot is creative and cute, full of that trademark Pixar heart-string tugging. Really fun from start to finish.
- DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.This movie tells a really sweet and important story about the necessity of nuance with emotions. I enjoyed this movie, though the journey of Joy and Sadness didn't quite land with me. I just wish they were a bit more visually interesting with the environments inside the mind.
- DirectorJosh CooleyStarsTom HanksTim AllenAnnie PottsWhen a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.Toy Story 4 is an interesting continuation of the journey of Woody accepting the inevitability of his kids growing up. While on its own the plot is fun and hits the emotional beats expected in the franchise, it doesn't quite hold up when compared to the others. While it isn't unrealistic that Woody would find a new purpose in life with his old role finished, it does bring into question the whole plot of 2 and 3 which were both about Woody accepting that kids growing up and him having to move on is an inevitability. Not a bad movie, but if this took the place of 3 instead of taking place after it, it would stand up a lot better.
- DirectorMark AndrewsBrenda ChapmanSteve PurcellStarsKelly MacdonaldBilly ConnollyEmma ThompsonDetermined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.Brave is Pixar's take on the classic Disney princess movie formula, with a twist. Instead of falling in love with a husband, the heroine of this movie instead mends her relationship with her mother. Though the fairytale nature of this movie makes it a bit of a black sheep in the Pixar library, I think it holds up pretty well.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonSamuel L. JacksonHolly HunterWhile trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.The Incredibles is a super fun movie with a great aesthetic and soundtrack. Unfortunately, unlike the others before it, something about the style of art made it seem real dated, much more than even Toy Story. All in all, a good movie with a fun plot.
- DirectorJohn LasseterAndrew StantonStarsKevin SpaceyDave FoleyJulia Louis-DreyfusA misfit ant, looking for "warriors" to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.Bug's Life was the second Pixar VHS I grew up with, but unlike Toy Story, I don't think it held up quite as much. It had really nice character designs and the score was fantastic, the first example of the studio really solidifying the 'Pixar sound'. The story and characters were, for the most part, forgettable.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah VowellThe Incredibles family takes on a new mission which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.All the style from the original is back and it remains the best part of the movie. Where this one falters is in the extreme flanderization of the characters to the point of being unlikable at times. Plus the antagonists plan and justification doesn't make much sense. Not bad by any means, but it doesn't live up to the original, something almost every Pixar sequel suffers from.
- DirectorDan ScanlonStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanSteve BuscemiA look at the relationship between Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sully" Sullivan during their days at Monsters University, when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.Everything that made the first Monsters movie great is incredibly watered down in this one, if present at all. The monster design is, for the most part, underwhelming and the world feels much less creative. Even the score, one of the best parts of the first movie, is absent here, instead replaced with a "meh" arrangement with a university football aesthetic. The plot is pretty bogstandard college movie.
- DirectorBrian FeeStarsOwen WilsonCristela AlonzoChris CooperLightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.This movie is, in my opinion, the best movie in the Cars franchise. It's a natural continuation of Lightning McQueen's arc and isn't a strange spy movie. Plus it feels like this had more heart than the first, though I do have a soft spot for 'passing the torch' stories.
- DirectorJohn LasseterJoe RanftStarsOwen WilsonBonnie HuntPaul NewmanOn the way to the biggest race of his life, a hotshot rookie race car gets stranded in a rundown town and learns that winning isn't everything in life.Cars is a really odd black sheep for early Pixar. The writing isn't great by Pixar standards and it seems really geared towards kids rather than families like the past entries. I'll give it one thing though - the backgrounds look really pretty.
- DirectorAndrew StantonAngus MacLaneStarsEllen DeGeneresAlbert BrooksEd O'NeillFriendly but forgetful blue tang Dory begins a search for her long-lost parents and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.Finding Dory is pretty unremarkable. It lacks the appreciation for slow moments the first had, and largely retraces character beats in Marlin and Dory's relationship. Even the score felt less awe inspiring than in the first.
- DirectorPeter SohnStarsJeffrey WrightFrances McDormandMaleah Nipay-PadillaIn a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side, an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.The Good Dinosaur is a gorgeous movie. That's about the only thing I can say in its favour. It was pretty unfocused and overall pretty boring in my opinion.
- DirectorJohn LasseterBradford LewisStarsOwen WilsonLarry the Cable GuyMichael CaineStar race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.Wowie. The turn of phrase about giants falling shines true even here. Cars was a sport movie about an hot shot rookie turned professional. It tracks that the sequel should follow McQueen as he passes the torch to a new generation. Instead, we get a jarring spy movie with the least likable side character Pixar has ever written. Its clear the studio wanted to me an action packed spy movie, but using a sport franchise to do so makes no sense and looks absolutely ridiculous with cars. It's awful shame.