CARS

I know it's kinda late. About 3 months late, but I feel I still must tell you what I think about this movie. Ok, sure it was no Toy Story, but what film is? Beyond what everyone thought prior to it's release, Cars did indeed deliver. I loved everything about this film. It reminded why I love PIXAR, they tell great stories with great characters. Now I know Lightning McQueen and Mater are not quite at the ranks of Woody and Buzz or Mike and Sulley, but they are great characters. I did care about them and the rest of the cast.

The basic story is nothing fresh, a cocky kid gets a life lesson by some unlikely sources, seen it a thoudsand times before, but Cars has a unique way of doing it. John Lasseter, Who is a GOD in my books, takes a modern day racing car and puts him with old rusty retro cars. It's from these old cars that the hot shot racing car (lightning Mcqueen) learns that life isnt just about being the best and winning trophies, it's about the people who touch your life that makes it worth living. Thats what I got out of Cars. It touched me personally because lately I too have been showing some Mcqueen-like tendancies. My dreams of becoming an animator have ingulfed me so that I began to ignore the people closest in my life, and kinda shoved them aside. I didn't think I would get that from a film about talking Cars, but that's when I remembered I was watching a Pixar film and I thought "would I expect any less?" They're films have touched my life so much, and Cars was no exception.

The animation really wowed me in this film. I am wowed by all they're films but this one really took the cake. All the characters moved as if they were alive, and they're cars. The way those animators were able to move the wheels on the cars as if they were arms and legs totally blew me away. Mater, for example was my favorite, not only was he hilarious, but he moved and talked so well. Every movement was delivered so well, the exagerated mouth moves, and the way he would hop around like a dog around the other characters was just brilliant. Lightning Mcqueen was also really well animated. There is a scene where Doc Hudson is telling him about his life story and Mcqueen's facial movements were just spot on. His eyes shifted side to side so effortlessly as if he was really listening to what the other character is saying. To a guy that's read 'The Illusion of Life' cover to cover twice, Mcqueen achieved a level of believable animation that hasn't been scene in a long time. The nine old men would be very proud.

The voice casting was also great. Im always impressed at Pixar's roster of cast members. Unlike many studios today, Pixar only hires a voice if it works for the character, not if the actor is famous. They could have easily gotten johnny Depp to play Mcqueen, Julia Roberts to play Sally and Jack Black to play Mater, but they didn't cause the voices would have not matched the characters or the story. I think thats a valuable lesson for any studio. Find an actor that suits the role, not one that you can just advertise on your posters.

All in all Cars was a great film from the folks at Pixar, and a fine addition to their library. I mean it's not a Toy Story or a Nemo, but they know that. I think Pixar just wants to tell stories that they want to tell, it's up to the audience to deside its fate, and Cars has done really well at the box office, $238 million ain't bad folks.

Here's one person who can't wait until it's released on DVD on Nov 7.