I have watched a bit of Pixar stuff this year, I have slowly been adding their films to my blu-ray collection. I have always been a big fan of their output and for the most part it is really amazing stuff.
Thinking about actually ranking them just boggled my mind, and it has taken me quite a while to form this list. I just honestly don’t know which films I like more than others, it is such a tough call. But I actually did it, and I have ranked Pixar (their feature length stuff) from least favourite to favourite. I don’t actually hate any of their films, even though there is one that isn’t up to the standard they have set, I do actually still enjoy it on some level.
I saw Toy Story when it first came out, and I liked it a lot. I remember being extremely excited to see A Bug’s Life when it came out and I went opening night to see it and I had a blast. It basically went on from there, and each film that came out was a bit of an event. Pixar has been with me for around 15 something years, it means a lot to me and yes this has been the impossible task.
Keep in mind, this is my opinion and how I feel. I don’t think anyone would have an identical list when it comes to Pixar. Each film brings up different feelings for everyone.
13.) Cars 2 (2011)
So Cars 2 is a film that feels like it exists only to sell merchandise. I don’t think the same level of effort was there than with other film. I don’t hate this film, I enjoyed watching it for what it was. The biggest weakness though was making Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) the main character, he was tolerable in Cars because he was a side character. He makes this a tough watch, and everything that comes with him just doesn’t really work. The film though does look incredible, and it’d have been nice if more was done to make a good story.
12.) Cars (2006)
Cars definitely caters to a younger crowd, it harks back to A Bug’s Life which was more friendly to the younger children. The world of Cars is pretty cute, and a 5 year old Marcey would have loved this a lot. This isn’t as great as it could have been, but I still think it is a fun and enjoyable film. I do like Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and some of the other characters are good too. This has amazing animation and a great voice cast.
11.) Brave (2012)
Brave is the latest film from Pixar, and I was pretty excited to check it out. When I finally did, I was rather entertained and again just a gorgeous visual feast. I felt however the film doesn’t have much of a structure going in, and I had no idea what it was meant to be about. Don’t get me wrong, I really like this film, it does have obvious flaws though. I think this will grow on me upon re-watches, and I do plan to do so. I also love the main character of Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald), a nice strong female lead.
10.) Toy Story 2 (1999)
I know I may get flack for not listing this higher, but I just happen to like the films listed below a little more. I am a big fan of this sequel, I really enjoy it a lot and I watch it from time to time. It has a rather different tone than the original, which I think helps one decide whether they like this better than the original or not. I loved being back with the old gang, and the stakes here are quite high. I love the addition of Jesse (voiced by Joan Cusack) and Bullseye, and it honestly just makes me love Woody more. The animation is certainly a step above the first film, and in HD it looks so wonderful.
09.) A Bug’s Life (1998)
Yup I am not ashamed to say I absolutely love A Bug’s Life, I had a blast seeing it on the big screen and I’ve enjoyed my re-watches, in fact I think I enjoy it even more with each re-watch. It is a film that is more orientated at a younger crowd, but it also does appeal to adults (and it does this better than Cars/Cars 2 in my opinion). I have had a lot of fun watching this with the family, and back when this came out were we so amazed by how fantastic the animation was. I love the characters and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Kevin Spacey steal the show with their amazing voice work.
08.) Ratatouille (2007)
I think I finally sat down to watch Ratatouille last year if memory serves, and by golly did I love it. I was really surprised by this film, I was a little hesitant to watch it for awhile because the story seemed odd and I didn’t want to be disappointed. There was no disappointing here, this is just a lovely film and I plan to make this my next Pixar blu-ray purchase. It looks amazing, the work done on Remy the rat is outstanding and what great voice work by the one and only Patton Oswalt. This film really is heart warming, and I can’t wait to watch it with my niece Lily when she is old enough.
07.) Toy Story (1995)
The movie that started it all with Pixar, and what’s not to love? Woody and Buzz stole our hearts, and we were all so impressed with the voice work of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. The pair had amazing chemistry, and they brought so much to these characters. It was so awesome to see toys come to life, I mean when I was younger I actually used to think that happened. It’s a neat idea, and a great story, so many great themes get touched upon. The film looks impressive from the early days of 3D animation, and it still holds up fairly well.
06.) Finding Nemo (2003)
Who didn’t see this when it came out? This film took the world by storm, and it really is a lot of fun. I love the story and characters, especially Dory (with amazing voice work by Ellen DeGeneres), Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and the adorable little Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould). This story is so engaging and it does get quite intense at times, I was really taken by surprise by this the first time I watched it. The animation is outstanding, the colour palette is so vibrant and I loved the scenery from the ocean to the fish tank stuff. I adore this film a lot and again it gets better with every watch.
05.) WALL-E (2008)
From top to bottom WALL-E is a beautiful film and I think it is the bravest move Pixar has made. It is a sci-fi film, about a robot who was designed to clean up a very trashed future Earth. He falls in love with another robot EVE who also has her own design. In turn we the viewers fall in love with these robots. This film has a lot of themes and clear messages, which I can fully support. It is a breath-taking film to watch, and such a unique and wonderful piece. I honestly can’t comprehend how anyone can dislike this film, it’s an amazing achievement and this is another I can’t wait to add to my blu-ray collection.
04.) The Incredibles (2004)
I love superhero films and The Incredibles is hands down one of the best. This is an absolute blast of a film, about a family who each possess super powers. The parents were crime fighters but have since retired, only Bob/Mr. Incredible (voiced by the superb Craig T. Neilson) wants back in. I loved the family dynamic and the story at play, I think it all unfolds just perfectly. All the characters are dare I say … incredible! Oh the pun … but they really are. This is a great ride and a film I can put on when I am not feeling so great, it has great powers to lift spirits. Another wonderful looking film, I think Pixar really hit the nail on the head with the balance for kids and adults.
03.) Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3 was one of the best films of 2010, and when I got to see it I was a mess. I cried, and I cried hard, it really hit me. This is a beautiful film, and it has the best character line-up out of the three films. It has some messed up images, and it is not at all for the younger crowd. Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear (voiced by the amazing Ned Beatty) is one of cinema’s most memorable villains, and his fate to seems so cruel. The scene of the toys heading to the incinerator is perhaps one of the best sequences of Pixar and one of the most emotional. The ending just warmed me so much, and it was exactly what I was going through as well. Passing along my toys that I had kept for over 20 years and giving them to my niece Lily. This film is an amazing achievement and a fantastic way to wrap up the trilogy.
02.) Up (2009)
Another film that had my tears flowing, and in the opening sequence too. Up is a wonderful film, and again this gets better each time I watch it. It is an emotional film, and one that will hit people of all ages with its themes. I love our characters so much, Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) the elderly man who has lost his wife and wants to embark on one last adventure, Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) the young boy who gets caught up in the adventure and the animals they find along the way with Dug the Golden Retriever and Kevin the prehistoric bird. We have an amazing villain with Charles F. Muntz (voiced by Christopher Plummer) and some amazing scenes and sequences. This film looks so beautiful and on blu-ray it is one of the best experiences. I love this film so much and seriously Pixar, thank you!
01.) Monsters Inc. (2001)
Yes folks, my all time favourite Pixar film is Monsters Inc. I loved this film from the first watch, and I have an absolute blast each and every time. This is a funny film and an amazing adventure, with beautiful characters that I will adore for a long time. Sully (voiced by John Goodman) is one of my favourite characters from Pixar and animated films in general, I also love Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) and the pair are fantastic. We also have the adorable little Boo, who just melts my icy cold heart each and every time. This film is filled with colour and it is a drop dead gorgeous film on blu-ray. I love that you can see every little strand of fur from Sully, and you can see all the texture on Mike. The world created here is great, and I love escaping there. I can’t wait for Monsters University the prequel, and I hope the magic gets re-created.
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