An “extended look” trailer for Cars 3 came out just this past week, so last night, the Pixar Detectives took to Super News on Facebook Live to talk about it. And of course, the question our minds is pretty obvious: will this movie be any good? Or should we prepare for another Cars 2 situation?
We discussed what we liked and didn’t like about the first two Cars films. We asked: Is Lightning a good protagonist? Do we need more new characters? Why do I hate the way these cars are designed and Kayla likes them? We covered all that and then some.
Be sure to join us live each week, so you can comment along and enter our weekly giveaways. This week, we gave out the Blu-Ray Digital Combo Pack for Inside Out! And as always, we’re open to any and all prize suggestions from you all. Just leave a comment a below or in the video.
We’ll be back next Wednesday at 7 p.m. pacific (our normal time), and let me know if you have any lingering Pixar or Disney questions you want answered and explored in future episodes.
Here are some of our top comments from the livestream:
The only good cars was the first one. Pixar should just move on from cars. – Ashley
You know what would be an interesting conflict? The rise of electric cars threatening to replace Lightning and the other racers. Have the villain be an Elon Musk type figure who wants to turn the main racetrack into a tesla dealership – Steve
I think it will be a suprise shocker that will leave everyone satisfied – Tyler
I don’t think they’re slipping with their designs, I mean The Good Dinosaur was visually gorgeous. Inside Out was insanely beautiful. – Alexia
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Pixar’s next big movie, Coco, has so far been mostly shrouded in mystery…until now. The post below is a transcription of the video above.
Coco is the next original Pixar film that isn’t a sequel, but it’s also the last original Pixar film for a few years in a row as the studio releases Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4.
So obviously, there’s a lot riding on Coco being a superb movie. Because it will have to satisfy our appetites for quite a while, in the same way Inside Out and Good Dinosaur prepared us for Finding Dory and Cars 3.
But until now, we’ve known very little about Coco, a movie about a young Mexican boy who discovers a family secret about his past. The movie was announced in 2012 and was revealed to be centered around the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. And it’s directed by Lee Unkrich, the director of Toy Story 3, co-directed by Adrian Molina, and produced by longtime Pixar veteran Darla K. Anderson. Yes, that Darla.
I should stress that the information I’m about to share is very plot-heavy, so if you don’t want to know too much about Coco, then you may want to click away.
That said, here’s a bunch of new stuff we just found out about Coco, starting with the basic plot. You can also watch the video at the top of the page, or read the transcription below.
Coco stars Miguel, voiced by 12-year-old newcomer Anthony Gonzalez, a young boy with secret musical ambitions in a Mexican village full of vibrant and festive music-lovers. Unfortunately, his family of shoemakers despises and even forbids music in their household and apparently for good reason: they believe they’ve been cursed by music due to an old family story about Miguel’s great-great-grandfather abandoning his wife, Imelda, in order to become a musical performer. As a result, the family outright bans music.
Secretly, Miguel wants to become like his favorite singer, the now deceased Ernesto de la Cruz, voiced by Benjamin Brett. And he accidentally enters the Land of the Dead believing he has some link to the singer’s ghost.
(Like any good Pixar Theorist, you might be thinking the movie is setting this up to be a reveal that De la Cruz is Miguel’s late great-great-grandfather, but this almost seems too obvious, right?)
Anyway, Miguel explores this beautiful underworld and stumbles across the souls of his family, the Riveras, which includes his great-great-grandmother Imelda. He’s joined by a mischievous skeletal spirit named Hector, who is voiced by Gael García Bernal, and they team up to find De la Cruz somewhere in the Land of the Dead. And of course, there’s a time limit, so Miguel has to do all of this and return to the Land of the Living before he supposedly gets trapped their forever.
Like I said, that’s a lot of information, though the movie is less than a year away and we can expect to learn even more in the coming months. And thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we also have some specific insights from the creators of the movie that you can check out here. For example, Unkrich points out that this is an all-Latino cast, which is pretty new for Disney and Pixar, and he also provides some extra info on the voice cast that you might find interesting.
One last thing: Pixar is telling us that Coco has a ton of music in it, but it’s definitely not a musical, at least in the classical sense. Pixar has never been shy about featuring music beats in their movies (think the Toy Story movies, Monsters Inc., Wall-E, etc.) So it’s interesting to hear that Coco will be pushing that line a bit further since it centers around famous singers. I think we can at least expect a fun soundtrack, if nothing else.
Coco will hit theaters on November 22, 2017, and as always, I’ll be hitting the books on how this movie could potentially speak to the greater Pixar shared universe, if at all, as we learn more about it. For now, let’s all wait patiently for that first teaser.
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From Deadpool to Doctor Strange, here’s how I rank the top superhero movies of the year. The post below is a transcription of the video above, minus some extra commentary at the very end.
It’s pretty obvious at this point in 2016 that the “superhero genre” is here to stay. These movies seize a huge share of box office profits every year, and their mainstream takeover isn’t slowing down in the slightest. Going back a decade, we’ve gotten at least four or five “big” superhero movies a year, sometimes six, and this year saw eight alone, with all but two of them being huge moneymakers and making the top 10 grossers of the year.
I say “superhero” movie, by the way, because things get messy when you try to categorize these films by “comic book.” For the same reason it would get a little hairy if you tried to lump all book adaptation movies together, because they stretch across so many genres and sub genres. With a superhero movie, you’re at least addressing a few basic similarities between movies that are derived from DC, Marvel, and other studios. You have a hero (or heroes) with strange abilities who goes on some type of emotional, action-packed journey.
So this year, I want to point out which superhero movies in 2016 were “better” than others, not just from a film critic standpoint, but also from how they contribute or don’t contribute to the ever-expanding superhero movie genre. I have to leave out two movies in particular because I haven’t seen them: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Max Steel. Because I don’t review absolutely everything that comes out, these ended up being on my cutting board of films to review over the summer, and I have no desire to check them out anytime soon.
But the rest of the entries on this list are certainly ones you’ve heard of if you’re a big fan of superhero movies, but in case you haven’t watched them all, I’ll be avoiding any and all spoilers within reason. So let’s begin with the worst of the bunch:
#6 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
The film critic in me can’t stand this movie. It’s an abomination of narrative, pacing, and character development to the point of almost being a parody. But the DC fan in me has plenty of nice things to say in spite of all that, notably from a visual standpoint. The costumes are incredible, the subject matter is at least interesting in theory, and most of the characters are well-cast with the exception of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.
The strange thing, though, is that despite being such a weak movie overall, it contains some of my favorite superhero moments of 2016, including Batman’s warehouse fight, the Trinity’s stand against Doomsday, and Wonder Woman’s theme music. Unfortunately, these bright spots just don’t overshadow enough of the problems to redeem the rest of this frustrating embarrassment of a superhero movie.
#5 Suicide Squad
For me, Suicide Squad was just a slim margin better than Dawn of Justice, mostly because the standards were set just a little lower thanks to this being a movie about lesser-known characters I’ve always wanted to see on the big screen.
It does have some of the same issues as Dawn of Justice, though, particularly when it comes to style over substance with its visuals and plot. But the characters are mostly fun to watch and suggestive of a bigger, better DCEU we haven’t gotten to see enough of yet.
#4 X-Men: Apocalypse
I actually liked this one quite a bit more than most, mainly because I’ve been hoping for a better realization of these characters since the third X-Men movie, and for the most part, Apocalypse is immensely entertaining lore for longtime fans.
It’s nowhere near perfect, of course, but there are enough great moments here to overlook some of the bland story structure and checklist of characters for Fox to cross off their list. This is one of those superhero movies I walked away from wanting more, which is both a criticism and a complement in this case.
#3 Doctor Strange
Familiarity breeds contempt, and so it goes for some who view Doctor Strange as more of the same from Marvel. And they’re not entirely wrong. This is the origin formula Marvel has been polishing since 2008, complete with a flawed protagonist who has to humble himself after gaining extraordinary powers.
And mileage varies for anyone who appreciates some stunning visual effects that go with the whole package, as you might be one of those viewers who can’t get past folding cities reminding them of Inception, or just someone looking for a breezy, colorful Marvel movie with some clever spins on what’s already worked before.
#2 Deadpool
This was the movie that arguably had the bigger impact on comic book fans this year, even ones who never liked the character much before seeing this movie. And that’s because it’s less a superhero or anti-hero movie and more a self-reflection of the genre itself.
That lended for some great movie moments and humor, but at its core, Deadpool is just barely shy of real greatness, as it only manages to tackle a small handful of neat ideas over and over again, using a formula that’s not far removed from much of what we’ve seen before. It won’t be long before the movie will be remembered as a lightning in the bottle experiment that aged a bit quicker than we expected.
#1 Captain America: Civil War
If you had to criticize Civil War for one thing, it might be that it almost has too much going on in its long running time. But if what you’re looking for is a dense spectacle that reshapes a cinematic universe with recognizable characters, then Civil War absolutely had you in mind.
There were so many ways for this movie to completely fail: the villain could have been atrocious, new arrivals Black Panther and Spider-Man could have been mishandled, we could’ve gotten more Iron Man than Captain America, the emotional stakes by the very end could have come off as meaningless, and so on. But while it stumbles at times, Civil War pulls all of this off in an entertaining, often thrilling way.
And close to everything we love most in the Marvel Cinematic Universe had a time to shine, paid off after years of buildup and patience. Similar to how a comic book event can impact longtime readers, this was worthy of its title and then some.
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Moana is a triumphant return to form for Disney that improves upon just about everything the studio has set up through both its recent surge of Pixar-esque entertainment, as well as the musical favorites of recent years. It’s a highlight that owes much of its existence to the success of Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Frozen, though perhaps even more directly to the 90s classics younger critics like myself grew up with. Make no mistake, though, Moana is its own quirky, beautiful masterwork.
You can watch the full review above or read a transcription published here.
Grade: A+
Extra Credits:
The movie stars Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui. It was directed and co-written by Ron Clements, co-directed by Don Hall, John Musker, and Chris Williams, and the screenplay is by Jared Bush.
Ron Clements and John Musker sound familiar? They made The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Hercules, among some other hand-drawn Disney films. This is their first feature-length computer-animated movie.
Original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i, and Mark Mancina.
If Moana wins an Oscar for its music, then Miranda will be the third person ever to achieve a PEGOT (Pulitzer, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
Moana is the first Disney princess not based on an existing fairy tale or legend, unless you count Merida from Brave as a Disney princess.
I didn’t cover this in the review, but Cravalho (who voices Moana) is an incredible talent for such a young age. At 14, she’s the youngest Disney Princess voice ever.
“Moana” means “ocean or sea” in Polynesian culture, and it’s a common word for “blue.”
Alan Tudyk voices the animal sidekick in this film, which is notable because this is the fifth consecutive animated Disney movie he’s worked in, starting with Wreck-It Ralph.
Easter eggs: The only one I managed to catch is Maui transforming into Sven, from Frozen. Also, Moanais referenced in Zootopia as a DVD called “Meona.”
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Our most recent episode of The Pixar Detectives was honestly a somber one, as we recorded just a day after the election. We used this timing as an opportunity to open up about our Pixar stories, specifically having to do with what the movies have done for our lives over the years in meaningful ways.
I’m fully aware, of course, that some might find this a bit frivolous. But I really believe that cinema (and stories at large) have a real impact on us. They inform and shape us in a lot of ways, especially early in life, and Pixar’s hand in our own upbringings is quite relevant for that reason, even though some of you may not have grown up with these movies in the same way.
That said, I hope you enjoy this episode we recorded live on Super News, and be sure to tune in to our next live episode tonight, which is all about Moana. We’ll be recording live from our exclusive screening of the film and will also be answering all of your spoiler-free questions after we’ve seen it. Looking forward to seeing you all tonight!
Be sure to like Super News on Facebook, so you can get notified when we go on the air (it will probably just after 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time). And if you watch live, you’ll be able to comment with us along the way and take part in our weekly giveaway (last week, we gave away a copy of Finding Dory on Blu-Ray).
Last week on The Pixar Detectives, I filmed Kayla Savage’s journey of Strange art, as she explained the unusual tactics that go into drawing Pixar characters, using Doctor Strange as a model. Turns out, there’s a method to Pixar’s madness.
The finished product is definitely pretty cool, and as always, I highly recommend you watch the show live whenever you can, since we do weekly giveaways and shoutouts. New episodes come every Wednesday at 7pm (Pacific) on Super News’ Facebook page.
Do you have an awesome episode idea for our live show? Or maybe a suggestion for giveaways we can dole out to you all? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to share with your friends if you like the show. This coming week is our 13th episode (which is crazy), and I’m itching to see what happens next.
In case you missed one of our other recent episodes, here’s our Halloween special, where we dressed as Riley and Riley’s Imaginary Boyfriend From Canada (can you guess who I was?) And before that, we had an Election Special, where we debated which Pixar character would be the best president.
Thanks for watching, and I hope we get to see you tonight!
Doctor Strange arrives in theaters this week, but how does it measure up to the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
You can also read a transcription of this video here.
Hope you guys enjoyed my first video for Jon In Theory, a new channel I’ve been working on (hence my radio silence these past two weeks) in order to give you a wider depth of content (and because many of you have been clamoring for me to do videos since 2012). If you still prefer to read on this site, I’ll be providing transcriptions along with each video, as well.
Jon In Theory is a weekly video blog dedicated to thinking deeply when it comes to entertainment culture. I plan on addressing a lot of topics that range from fan theories to persuasive arguments about film and television. These include ideas I’ve written about in the past, like the Pixar Theory and Inception theories. But I also want to try new things as well, like video essays.
So let me know your thoughts on this first episode, which is a quick quasi-review of Doctor Strange as it relates to the larger MCU. And I’m still doing my live Pixar show on Wednesdays (why am I so busy?), which you can check out on Super News.
Enjoy!
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