A Review of "The Incredibles" 500
First off, this is Slashdot. You know, News for nerds, yadda yadda. So, let's start off with talking about the special effects, or more generally, Pixar showing off all that they have learned and accomplished.
The big hype in the animation sector has been the characters - real human people. Don't be fooled by the hype. Pixar has been doing humans as characters since "Toy Story". With the single exception of "A Bug's Life", human beings have featured as a major character in every Pixar film, and while the effect here is fantastic, it is evolutionary, not revolutionary. No, what stands out in terms of technical acheivement here is the movie's stunning use of light. Sure, "Finding Nemo" accomplished a lot here, but in that film, light was a tool to give depth to the water that surrounded the characters. Here in "The Incredibles" the light is a thing unto itself. Gorgeous shadows, warm red lava, sunlight against clouds, all of these things are breathtaking. The use of sunlight, especially in the jungle sequences, give objects a three dimensionality they have never possessed in a Pixar film before. It's clear that Pixar didn't have the chops prior to this film to do action sequences, because prior to this, the feeling of moving in a three dimensional space just wasn't there.
The movie itself is not just a breakthrough technically, it's a very different movie from previous Pixar productions. This is very intentional. All previous Pixar movies have been dreamed up primarily by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton, Pixar veterans. So the story goes, these guys are looking back at Pixar history and while they see the series of wonderful made films that the rest of us have seen, apparently they also saw something else: an encroaching rut. There was a very real chance that Pixar could have become the next Disney in a very short time, making well produced and financially successful repeats of their earlier successes for years on end. They didn't want that to happen. And that takes fresh blood. Enter Brad Bird. Bird was an art student with Lasster, and had made one feature film five years ago - the sady underseen "Iron Giant". Brad Bird was challenged to make a different kind of movie, with complete creative control - he wrote and directed. This gamble paid off hugely.
This is not a kids movie. Seriously. Previous Pixar films have been consumate kids movies, movies so well made, and so funny that parents could enjoy them. And there are even a few adult gags the kids might not get. "The Incredibles" is a completely different tack. "The Incredibles" is an action movie, first and foremost, one of the best of the current crop of superhero films. Then it is a family film second, and a kids movie third, if at all.
To give you the basics: the world is full of superheros. The biggest are Mr. Incredible, super strong and invulnerable, Elastigirl, a Ms. Fantastic of sorts, and Frozone, a Silver Surfer/Iceman hybrid. Due to events that occur on Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl's wedding day, superheros wind up on the wrong end of - get this for deja vu - lawsuits. Lawsuits by the thousands. The government comes up with a relocation program, hiding the supers and pardoning them from actions performed in spandex, with the agreement that they hero no more.
Mr. Incredible becomes Bob Parr, an overweight insurance adjuster, with three kids. The symbolism is rampant. Once incredible, now he must suppress both his gifts and his insatiable need to help people, getting in trouble with his boss for actually helping their customers. From incredible, to just par. He's huge. He fills up the entirety of his cubical space, he fills up his entire car, he bends doorknobs, and cutting through his son's steak, he cuts through the table. He is too big for the small world that society wants to peg him in.
On the other hand, he's missing the one incredible part of his life - his family. His son Dash is tired of suppressing his lightning speed, and his teenage daughter Violet is tired of moving everytime the government needs to cover up her father's identity. When she can't hide behind her goth hair, she uses her powers to turn invisible. Managing the two of them and their third child, a normal baby named Jack Jack, Elastigirl is getting tired of being the only real parent.
Their marriage is strained, their kids are young and angry, his job is about to fall apart, and her patience is thin. It's a domestic situation primed to explode, and for the many of us out their who have seen couples divorce, we know exactly where it's going.
Except something happens.
And thereby hangs a tale. As you can see, this isn't some allegory about our lives from the point of view of a bug or a toy or a monster. It IS our lives. But with superpowers. Much like the also fabulous "Shaun of the Dead" the real story is a human one, but framed within spectacular events. The visuals are awesome, the special effects are fabulous, and the dialog not only funny but at times witty. I can bet that 90% of Slashdotters will see themselves on screen, most likely identifying with the daughter Violet or the villain Syndrome.
The performances are of course amazing. Pixar continues its talent of finding distinctive and expressive voices in the world of more traditional acting. Jason Lee as syndrome hints at his performance in "Dogma" and Craig T. Nelson shows us he can be so much more than just the coach from Coach. Holly Hunter shows her never ending flexibility (no pun intended), and newcomer Sarah Vowell as Violet (from National Public Radio's "This American Life") is quite delightful. And the only complaint about Samuell L. Jackson is that there isn't enough of him.
One sad difference between "The Incredibles" and Pixar's previous offerings is that it has a few minor niggles. Regardless of how you feel about Pixar's previous work, it was all carefully and consummately made. The movie's mixture of family interactions and superheros almost always works, but is slightly shakey with its villain Syndrome. He's got great lines, a good backstory, and a perfectly over the top performance from Jason Lee, but something just doesn't quite work, and that's the first time I've ever said that about a Pixar flick. But in the end it doesn't matter. So much works here, that the little stuff gets washed away.
Don't get there late (Score:5, Informative)
"I AM NOT A TRACER!"
Re:Don't get there late (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Don't get there late (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Cars (was: Don't get there late) (Score:3, Informative)
Indeed, MacNN on Friday (apparently crediting USA Today for the info) gave a very brief synopsis that indicates that Cars will not really revolve around racing (though it seems pretty obvious there will
Re:Don't get there late (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Don't get there late (Score:5, Informative)
Sith Trailer: the "code" on the film reels is "Sand Dog" or "Sand Dogs".
If you ask the theatre which screens & shows have the trailer and they aren't certain, ask them to check the code name on the reels - they're supposed to be labelled clearly although not all of the threatre personnel know this is the distinction and have been confused regarding what the code means and have ignored it.
And if that fails.... (Score:3, Funny)
And if they refuse to go check the reels for code name to find out which theater is showing the new Star Wars trailer: well, then you are just a huge friggin dork for asking them to chec
Re:Don't get there late (Score:3, Informative)
If you know for a fact that you don't have the trailer, or just don't care about it, you might actually want to arrive late, to miss the annoyingly twee "Boundin'" short that precedes the movie.
Re:Don't get there late (Score:2)
Re:Don't get there late (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Don't get there late (Score:4, Informative)
Oh, and technically, it wasnt John Barry's version of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, it was the Propellerheads' mix [apple.com], which combines the title theme from OHMSS with a musical bridge from You Only Live Twice. From the album Decksanddrumsandrockandroll [apple.com], which also contains "Spybreak" from The Matrix and the Shirley Bassey collab "History Repeating" (which is another track any Bond music fan should appreciate).
Re:Don't get there late (Score:3, Informative)
Great movie (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Great movie (Score:3, Funny)
Decided to take the 22-year old SO out this time? Guess you need a change from the 27-year old SO and the 19-year old SO from time to time.
Re:Great movie (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Great movie (Score:4, Interesting)
Ebert & Roeper both stated it was not a movie for kids. Hopefully, the next time I see it the parents will learn to keep their kids occupied (not ooh, ahh, laughter, but chatter, chatter, chatter) or adjourn them outside of the screening room when it's far enough into the movie it would be time for a commercial were it to be on television.
Re:Great movie (Score:3, Informative)
my nephews loved it.
The Incredibles NOT appropriate for young children (Score:3)
Man... (Score:4, Funny)
I would commit ritual suicide if that happened...he really is incredible
Re:Man... (Score:5, Interesting)
Good quote. I competely missed it. Mr. Incredible actually becomes Bob Parr, an overweight insurance adjuster, with three kids. Not two. The reviewer completely forgot about Jack Jack.
Grammar Nazism aside, this was a completely thorough and delightful read. This should stand up as a model on how to write a review.
I also missed the reviewers name. Erik Harrison. This is insanely creepy because my name is Eric Harrison. I wonder what his middle name is.
Re:Man... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Man... (Score:5, Funny)
I tried to commit suicide once by taking over 1,000 aspirin. But after I took 2, I felt better!
Re:Man... (Score:3, Funny)
Computer animation at its best (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Computer animation at its best (Score:3, Insightful)
I haven't seen The Incredibles yet, but I know what you mean. I saw a trailer for The Arctic Express the other day, and I really disliked the animation style it uses -- it's trying too hard, IMHO, to be realistic. The end result just looks creepy (especially the Tom Hanks lookalike train conductor ).
Saw it last night too... (Score:4, Interesting)
It's nice to see that Pixar is sticking to it's guns on having a great story/script BEFORE they start making a movie out of it. Too bad Eisner & Co. didn't get that clue and I think Pixar will be all the better for it now that they've told Disney to get lost.
As Steve Jobs would say, the movie is "insanely great"!
Re:Saw it last night too... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Saw it last night too... (Score:2, Insightful)
Disney has a very poor bargaining position, regardless of the posturing that Eisner has been attempting. The corporate culture is now concerned with profit first and story-telling last, unlike when Walt Sr ran the place.
IOW, Disney is now fat-n-lazy since they've "made it big" and have huge cash flow from past accomplishments. Middle management becomes way more concerned with defending turf rather then trying to achieve the corporat
Re:Saw it last night too... (Score:4, Interesting)
Disney: "Renew the contract or we'll crucify your characters by releasing a dozen straight-to-video crapfests!"
If I were a Pixar executive, I would call Disney's bluff. Disney is going to milk Pixar's previous creations for all they're worth, and then some, regardless of whether Pixar decides to play ball with Disney.
If the continued creative genius exhibited The Incredibles is any guide, Pixar continues to look forward rather than backward. I'm not worried about Disney's inevitable retaliation; Pixar will continue to innovate with or without Disney's cooperation.
Re:Saw it last night too... (Score:5, Insightful)
And this is why Disney probably won't be able to make a deal with Pixar. Disney has never dealt with a company that can consistantly come up with new and interesting characters. The Disney way is to re-hash successful characters. The Pixar way is to create new. Disney can not understand this way of business.
While Disney could re-hash direct to video Toy Story movies, Pixar will continue to turn out interesting new characters and stories, and make a killing at the box office and through home sales. Pixar operates more under the original 17 year copyright law, while Disney operates under the current copyright law.
Nice Job Mr. harrison (Score:2)
Re:Nice Job Mr. harrison (Score:2)
Now I'm kinda disappointed . .
ps - Thanks for the compliment.
Re:Nice Job Mr. harrison (Score:2, Interesting)
Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)
Wet hair rendered (Score:5, Informative)
With every movie, computer graphics takes another step. Antz had water, Lion King had computer-generated herds... Although we're really close, we'll get to a point where the animation no longer constrains the story.
Re:Wet hair rendered (Score:5, Insightful)
Well, if we look at some recent Star Wars and Matrix film achievements, I'd say current animation far exceeds constraints of the story. Or rather, it's not the animation capabilities holding back the story. No amount of CG would have made Star Wars good, or The Matrix better. Titanic might be a good example of CG gone right.
Re:Wet hair rendered (Score:3, Interesting)
Toy Story lacked some stuff, but the story worked around it - people, hair, and water were all mi
Re:Wet hair rendered (Score:3, Insightful)
Water is actually very easy to model because of what we know about fluid dynamics. Easier than almost anything else, actually. Fire is also pretty easy for precisely the same reason.
Clouds are also easy because they're governed by a particular fractal - the plasma fractal.
The only problem, I think, is that everything else looks so cartoonish by comparison to the realistic water, fire, and clouds.
Re:Wet hair rendered (Score:3, Insightful)
My biggest disappointment (Score:3, Informative)
Other than that, a pretty good movie, though perhaps not in the same league as Toy Story and A Bug's Life.
Re:My biggest disappointment (Score:2)
Re:My biggest disappointment (Score:5, Informative)
It seems to be Pixar's practice to render a short mini-film that has little to do with the movie itself for a teaser trailer as a way of introducing the character and piquing interest. (If you'll recall, the "Outer Magnolia" bit with Mike and Sulley emerging into the wrong bedroom was nowhere in the Monsters Inc. movie either.)
Note that this sequence is totally out of continuity with the movie itself--in the scrapbook wall that the teaser starts by panning over, Incredible is shown in his red costume, which he only gets about halfway through this movie, and not the blue "hobo suit" that he actually wore in bygone days. And, since the new costume is custom-fitted to his paunch, there shouldn't be any problem with the belt. (There's also no Incrediphone, alas, but that's just a detail.)
Re:My biggest disappointment (Score:3, Interesting)
His suit was NOT custom fitted to his paunch. By the time he asked Edna for a new suit (I got a real kick out of that lady!), he had already been lifting train cars to get rid of it. The scene where he measured his waist was the one that immediately preceded his visit to Edna.
Probably the Peak (Score:5, Interesting)
Ironically, Disney's solo "Chicken Little" looks to be pretty good (previewed at The Incredibles also).
Re:Probably the Peak (Score:5, Informative)
That may be so but most of these lead-ins were not made to be precede Pixar films. Most of them are short films on their own that Pixar has made in the past. Boundin' was made last year and was an Oscar nominated animated short film. [scifidimensions.com] I'm not sure what criteria is used to pick these shorts but I think that they are probably Pixar's way of recognizing their employees and their work.
Re:Probably the Peak (Score:3)
Yeah, Cars looks iffy, but I'm guessing they're either aiming at the young kid market, the Nascar fan market or both. Or maybe it will be great for everyone. Hey, the Chevron commercials were cute.
Liked the opening short, but the owl bugged me. They're nocturnal tree dwellers. Conversely I had no issues with the jackalope. Go figure.
Re:Probably the Peak (Score:3, Informative)
Burrowing Owls [owlpages.com]
Re:Probably the Peak (Score:4, Funny)
I was completely convinced it was for those who took a few bong hits in the parking lot.
Randism? In a world where everyone is super... (Score:5, Interesting)
This movie encouraged exceptionalism in a way that was striking for a kid's movie. It actively lobbied against the idea of everybody being unique in their own way, it argued in favor of there being Nietzchi-esque supermen among us who should be lifted up above the masses for the betterment of society.
Whether or not you like the message, it was kind of fun to see what I was expecting to be a kid's film making an arguement about philosophy. Fun stuff. Good movie.
Pixar + Nietzsche = The Incredibles (Score:4, Interesting)
Which point is an interesting philosphical problem in itself: the ethical question of what do you do with the gifted in the first place?
Reminds me of An Evening With Kevin Smith (Score:4, Interesting)
Kevin Smith pointed out that the Jason Lee character said that because his character is so WRONG about everything. Kevin Smith was making a point that such a line of reasoning is WRONG.
"Syndrome" said that because the idea is WRONG. If were were coming out of Mr Incredible's mouth then it might possibly be construed that Pixar was trying to convince people that were the way things are.
What made you think that the villian in the movie was the one to pay attention to for some kind of moral lesson? Pixar had Syndrome say those lines because he's the bad guy and HE'S WRONG. Dash says it because he's young and ignorant. And he later finds out he was WRONG. His entire family has special abilities that make them unique.
All the Incredibles are unique in their own special way. The heros are like that because that is the CORRECT moral lesson Pixar was putting out there.
Seriously. I can't think of any movie where every character good and bad speaks only moral truths that the audience is supposed to take as correct. This like every other movie ever made has characters which have incorrect world views which are then demonstrated to be wrong by events of the film.
Re:Randism? In a world where everyone is super... (Score:4, Funny)
Ayn Rand is in the movie. Accent, silly cigarette holder, polemics, and all.
Re:Randism? In a world where everyone is super... (Score:3, Insightful)
What bothered me was the implication that being exceptional is effortless. The super-powered people in the movie are all born "super." In reality, if you want to be a concert violinist, sure, having the optimal genome for a violinist is great, but you're also going to need to practice a heck of a lot. I don't want to make a spoiler, but the scene with the baby near
Re:Randism? In a world where everyone is super... (Score:3, Funny)
1. Make a list of everyone that is clearly special, and everyone else who isn't special.
2. The first person on the "not special" list is clearly special by being the "First Non-Special". He'll get interviews, appearances, etc as the "First Normal". This makes him special. Move him to the special list.
3. Repeat step two until the normal list is empty.
Alan Moore "Watchmen" (Score:5, Interesting)
I had the opportunity to ask Brad Bird directly about this similarity on "The Incredibles" junkt in Santa Monica. He said he has never read "Watchmen". I believe him, but... it's just too close.
Re:Alan Moore "Watchmen" (Score:5, Interesting)
The juxtaposition of racism to superhero-ism isn't that hard to conceive...for anyone. Moore's take on it in Watchmen is as good as the rest, but it's not overly unique in any way.
Re:Alan Moore "Watchmen" (Score:5, Interesting)
For example since I've grown up diving boards are no longer at public pools and playgrounds went from towering slides of metal to rubberized containment rooms. (Due to litigation leading to skyrocketing liability insurance premiums.) In a way the loss of diving boards and tall slides and flying jennies has taken away some feeling of power/exhiliration that hasn't been replaced. Superheroes grounded by legislation seems a logical extension of the concept to me.
As a kid, when you're different from others you are pressured to conform often to the point of supressing who you think you are. (Actually we get this as adults, too.) The relocation program is a logical implementation of this and humurous when likened to the WPR program.
Re:Alan Moore "Watchmen" (Score:3, Insightful)
Would I deny my kids the right to take the same fun risks? Nope. But the safety nazis and their lawyers have already spoken.
In fact, I bet that ~30ft slide isn't there anymore. I'll have to go back one day to find out.
--
I almost cried (Score:5, Interesting)
Saw it last night... (Score:5, Interesting)
The effects are there to help the story along, not to shine by themselves. At lots of times I completely forgot that it was CGI; it's not animation, not live acting, but something in which you can get utterly absorbed. A must-see for any self respecting film geek, Pixar fan, CGI fan, or all of the above.
Lighting... Finally!!!! (Score:5, Interesting)
Ever since the early days, one thing that has annoyed me about Pixar is their strange love of over-saturated light. From their early TV commercials on they've had it. The one part of Toy Story I didn't like was that lighting (most often in sunset scenes, etc.), especially since I had just figured out that general problem in some 3D work I had been doing myself at that time and was very attuned to the look.
However... as the review pointed out, in this picture the lighting is just beautiful. The choices are great, and the look enhances without intruding. Basically it's moved up to being a strong supporting character
I don't care about the movie (Score:2)
Favorite line and biggest issue (Score:2)
My biggest issue with the movie was the modeling of the character's ears. It sounds small, but considering how well modeled the rest of the characters' facial features are, the lego-looking ears are really distracting.
And of course, my favorite thing about the movie was the RotS trailer...
Re:Favorite line and biggest issue (Score:2)
Re:Favorite line and biggest issue (Score:2)
The jazz soundtrack was a great idea (to complement the quasi-1960s style cars, architecture, James Bond-esque villain, and other period references) but I thought it could have been a stronger presence in the movie.
The story itself was compelling enough that I almost wanted to see live action characters. While both Violet and (bad guy's girlfriend?
Better than Shrek 2 (Score:3, Informative)
The Incredibles has less of the movie spoof scenes, but makes up for it with a more compelling story.
The pop culture references are mainly about 50s/60s era super-heroes, but you won't miss it once the story gets going.
The Incredibles are simply incredible (Score:5, Interesting)
One of my favorite parts of the movie (spoiler alert) is when Elastigirl is talking to her children while hiding from the bad guys in a cave and warning them:
"You know those Saturday morning cartoons you used to watch? Well the bad guys here are not like that. They will not exercize restraint just because you're children. They will kill you if they can."
Again, while I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, I have a sinking fear that Disney is going turn this into another franchise that they will milk for all its worth. Until it has none of the spark which makes this movie so enjoyable.
I loved it (Score:3, Insightful)
I think there is something silly about the critics (and wanna be critics) finding funny faults with something that isn't "so believable" about movies like this.
You can suspend disbelief about the super strength, the elasticity, the super speed, and invisibilty of cartoon characters but you have a hard time with they straw-man villain of the story?
Hello?
It's called "EN-TER-TAIN-MENT" --say it with me.
Save that kind of criticism for Start Wars: Revenge of the Sith
This movie is fantastic. (Score:5, Insightful)
I think it's the message.
In public schools, kids who are incredibly intelligent and wish to progress forward in learning are discouraged to do so because it would be "unfair" and what have you. Because of that, they are sent down to the same classes as those who are, to put the bluntly, stupid(or just not as gifted).
It's the same thing in this movie, the unique(or "super") are sent down to live with those who they were once helping because they don't want it anymore.
Now MAYBE I'm just reading too much into something that isn't there, but it sounds like it is a metaphor for an ignorant populace that no longer wants to be helped by ones who can, which could be a metaphor for those who are creative and intelligent. Essentially, scientists and engineers(and the combinations of the two).
They all celebrate mediocrity and everyone being the same. It's a rather socialist point of view, and the Incredibles finally pull themselves out of their stuper and go back to helping mankind.
That's my view on it. Which is why I'm going to go see it again.
And again.
Many, many times over.
Re:This movie is fantastic. (Score:3, Interesting)
You might be able to make a sort of semi-argument when it comes to the four years spent in high school -- although that girl with the purple hair that couldn't pass math but could draw incredibly well and spent most of her junior year on acid might disagree with you -- but let's look at life later on, shall we?
I mean come on, essentially no one values art, literature, or anything like that. At least someone with a CS or Engineering degree can get a job. Don't come back wi
Did anyone catch the phone number? (Score:2, Interesting)
I was the only one that laughed at this... (Score:2)
Evil Minion: Let's take a shot evertime we see people run.
Adult humor in a Pixar film, now that's comedy.
"Wait 'til I get going! ... Where was I?" (Score:4, Informative)
My own review... (Score:2)
The problem with the villain in this flick ... (Score:2)
It's a bit violent for little kids (Score:2)
Especially when the invisble girl is being hunted by a guy with a machine gun...
An Origin Tale done right. (Score:3, Insightful)
I really want to see Pixar do more stories of The Incredibles. But please, not so many that they become mediocre.
Shot for Shot Spoof of Rocket Bike Sequence (Score:3, Insightful)
Please (Score:4, Funny)
Lip synching? (Score:4, Interesting)
Either way though, its just a little nitpicking. Overall the movie was fabulous. I enjoyed it a lot!
A review of the review (Score:5, Insightful)
"It's clear that Pixar didn't have the chops prior to this film to do action sequences, because prior to this, the feeling of moving in a three dimensional space just wasn't there."
I don't see how you can make that argument. Video games, which have long been focused solely on action, and are far behind the quality seen in this film, have been doing action quite successfully for a long time now. If anything, action is MORE suited to poorer quality graphics, because everything whizzes by so fast you don't have time to notice any details. For the stylized cartoonish animation that Pixar does, the technological enhancements really aren't that noticeable anymore. I think Pixar is reaching a point of diminishing returns here... which isn't bad, it's just to say that things are just about as good as they are going to get doing this sort of cartoon animation.
"Previous Pixar films have been consummate kids movies, movies so well made, and so funny that parents could enjoy them. And there are even a few adult gags the kids might not get. "The Incredibles" is a completely different tack. "The Incredibles" is an action movie, first and foremost, one of the best of the current crop of superhero films. Then it is a family film second, and a kids movie third, if at all."
I mostly agree with this. While I think that this movie would be very entertaining to children, they weren't it's focus. The movie was told from the perspective of the parents, with the children being the supporting characters. A lot of the issues that the parents deal with will fly over the heads of the children, which is ironic in a sense, as you see the same thing happening to the child characters in the movie. Still, it should be made clear that this movie doesn't really go any further than that, and most likely couldn't and remain a kid's movie. Non of the adult characters are really faced with any complex situations or moral dilemmas. There's a firm line between good and evil. Things go down a rather predictable path. Things are spelled out mostly and little left to our intuition. So don't go to the movie expecting anything like that. The ADD kids will have their attention kept by the action, and the ADD adults will have their attention kept by their identification with the adult characters and jokes (ya and the action too =P).
The movie's mixture of family interactions and superheros almost always works, but is slightly shakey with its villain Syndrome. He's got great lines, a good backstory, and a perfectly over the top performance from Jason Lee, but something just doesn't quite work, and that's the first time I've ever said that about a Pixar flick. But in the end it doesn't matter. So much works here, that the little stuff gets washed away.
OK to discuss this I'm going to have to throw out a few spoilers here, so you should probably stop reading here. I think his character worked quite well... for a kids movie. He was a two dimensional villain, [SPOILER] which was somewhat disappointing given that they had taken the time to make him be a childhood fan of Mr. Incredible. It almost looked like they were leading up to a sympathetic villain, but then decided they wanted a very firm line between good and evil in this movie. If perhaps they had made Mr. Incredible more at fault for Syndrome's turn to evil, and have Syndrome struggle a bit more instead of being totally evil, he could have been made into a more interesting character. It would also have been nice to show a change in Mr. Incredible, from a young man who didn't really like children or understand them, to a father. They could have made Syndrome's attack on the city not be a totally evil move, but rather have his intention to be to put on a show and be a hero (with the attitude of collateral damage being just "breaking a few eggs"), and the machine goes out of control. Take out his serial killing of heroes, and he might be able to be a villain you could have s
Re:A review of the review (Score:5, Insightful)
**SPOILERS**
Did you watch the movie? That's exactly what did happen. Syndrome wasn't trying to kill random innocents or take over the world, he was trying to make a name for himself as a hero. Once he was a hero, he wanted to use his technology to eliminate the edge heroes had over the common man.
I thought he was a rather sympathetic character. The wanton killing of earlier heroes in developing his machines was a bit much, but everything he did was a backlash against Mr. Incredible's original rejection of him.
Syndrome's character was defined by his anger over the treatment of the common man (particularly himself) by heroes. He took things way too far, but his goals do make a modicum of sense.
Watch the Eyes -- very, very cool!! (Score:3, Interesting)
GEEK ALERT
So, the thing that really stands out for me is the slight "involuntary" movement of the eyes when Mr. Incredible is listenting to his wife. It's about half-way through the film.
It's subtle. He's looking at her. Then, there's the smallest of movements of his eyes when she speaks...and he's looking at her. Seriously, he's watching her speak.
It's just so lifelike...a tiny, delicate detail... that it absolutely blows my mind. I got a cool chill when I noticed it, like the first time I saw 'Al' the toy collector, sleeping on the couch in Toy Story 2. So very "real", extremely cool.
And as for the preview for Cars, hey, I liked it! My son will probably enjoy it, he really digs that stuff!
Very Enjoyable (Score:5, Interesting)
I enjoyed how they portrayed the mothers domestic use of her powers. Elastigirl makes the best use of her powers through the movie I think, in many various ways. A superfamily trying to be normal... perhaps not the most original premise, but very well executed and hilarious nonetheless.
You can tell when someone makes excellent characters... you want to see more of them. You wish there was a longer movie, or a sequal, or something. And at the end of this movie, I was very much wanting to see Incredibles 2.
But... I am glad to say that there's a good chance we'll never see that. Pixar is very good about creating a new world with every movie... Toy Story 2 was a mandate from Disney, not a Pixar choice. And there's no real need to revisit the Incredibles... their story is done. I just loved the story, the world, and the delivery... impeccable.
I'm a Pixar fanboy, I admit.
Re:Very Enjoyable (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, it wasn't a mandate so much as a request. However, Disney screwed Pixar on the contract by saying that TS2 couldn't count against the number of movies on the agreement. This is what really caused the wedge to form between Disney and Pixar.
Also, I think we will see a The Incredibles 2, but it will be done by Disney (as apparently is their right under contract...expect Monsters Inc 2 and Finding Nemo 2 also, along with other soulless Disney rip-offs of itself and Pixar).
note to parents (Score:4, Insightful)
This isn't "Finding Nemo" - it has people getting killed. It shows parental fear & inability to protect children. Scarey stuff for a four or five year old.
I saw (and thoroughly enjoyed) the film yesterday, but it was partly spoiled by screaming babies. If you're the couple at the Colo Springs showing with four kids under five, that allowed the one baby to cry continuously - please don't do that to a theater again. Next time someone might say something awkward to you. Like "hey man, go be a dad".
And next time, don't assume that because something's animated it's great for kids.
powers of just the right magnitude (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Copy? no... "satire" (Score:5, Insightful)
It's precisely because of that sort of thing that the movie works. Rather than "Copy", though, it's more frequently called "tribute" and "satire" (the latter gaining them protection from lawsuits).
There's touches of Fantastic Four, X-Men, Superman, Spiderman, James Bond, Rankin and Bass HeatMiser and more. Just look for them and enjoy the cultural richness
:-)
Re:Copy? no... "satire" (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Copy? no... "satire" (Score:3, Informative)
The fact that all the characters are totally cliched lets you think about all the times you read the old comics and never thought about things they might have to deal with, as well as ways of using their powers together that comic book writers don't think about. (And for that matter, how did Iceman get the ice to prope
Re:Copy? no... "satire" (Score:3, Informative)
Marvel does indeed have a fairly prominent super-speed character: Quicksilver - son of Magneto, former member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, The Avengers and X-Factor.
They also have "The Whizzer" but I won't try to describe him any further since there are too many versions of him in alternate realities.
If you'll excuse me, I need to crawl back under my rock.
Re:Copy? (Score:2)
A lot of these super powers have been recycled - strength, flexibility, invisibility, speed. The only suspicious thing is that invisibility and force-field are in the same person in both families.
Rule of kings (Score:4, Insightful)
The intelligent guy who wants to manipulate the world, he's the one who wants to "rule."
I think the point is much more "it's important to be yourself even if you're not 'normal'" instead of "use your talents to control the world".
And just to be devil's advocate: the young girl's powers DO go together. The theme is "she's hiding from the world and pushes people away." Like a lot of teenage girls. Much like the boy's powers are along the "bundle of energy" theme, and Elastigal is "stretched thin" as a mother.
Re:wow (Score:3, Interesting)
it wont air here (israel) for another 3 weeks though... :(
I guess it'll take even longer here in germany. Well, it'll be coming soon to a torrent tracker near you :-)
Re:wow (Score:2)
Or a country near you. It open on Nov 19th in Poland - after a couple of vodkas, you will even begin to understand Polish dialogue
Re:Highlight (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Speaking of CG, Blizzard is showing good form.. (Score:3, Informative)
Blizzard does all of their animation in-house, and they are very well known for their high quality work. Their artists are obsessive with detail, and the standards for getting into one of their animation jobs are sky-high.
And represent the game they're trying to sell? That's a matter of opinion: they're trying to make the most exciting and visually pleasing movie possible using the source material, which they do, and do rather well. A video reflecting in-game gameplay would be best served by... recordi
Re:Speaking of CG, Blizzard is showing good form.. (Score:2)
Point taken, but having seen some rather beautiful screenshots from WoW it might actually be possible to pull off. This and still be a very useful marketing tool.
Re:Edna 'E' Mode - voiced by Brad Bird (Score:3, Informative)
I have to see it again, just for Edna. She's based on the famous Hollywood costume designer Edith Head [imdb.com] (471 films credited on IMDB!). Most of her best lines are throwaways, like her annoyance at not being able to design for superheros anymore - just supermodels -
Re:"cigarette burns" (Score:4, Informative)
It's like the "pop-up" commercials in the middle of TV shows these days - they'll do it until people stop watching. The dots are put on there by burning each print with a laser, and each individual print has a different pattern. The idea is that they can track which print was used to make a copy. Of course this is moronic, as the dots are large enough to be noticable even in a crappy, VCD resolution, copy made with a camcorder in the theater. So any pirate group worth their salt will take a few minutes to clone-paint out the dots with a pirate copy of a tool like Combustion.
Silly, silly Hollywood movie studio executives!
Note: I see at least 100 films a year in the theater, so I'm a good example of the sort of person that the studios really ought not piss off.