• Pixar's Elemental Lights Up 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on September 26

    Posted Thu Aug 3, 2023 at 10:04 AM PDT by
    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Pixar Disney Announcement Physical Media

    Fire and water join forces in Elemental - the latest animated feature film from Pixar and Disney headed for a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray release on September 26. Digital will be available on August 15.

    “Elemental” is an original feature film set in Element City, where residents of Fire, Water, Earth and Air live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. Directed by Peter Sohn (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Partly Cloudy” short), and produced by Denise Ream (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Cars 2”), “Elemental” features a screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh, and stars the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade.

    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

    Elemental - Blu-ray 

    Elemental 

    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Walmart Exclusive 

    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Walmart Exclusive) 

    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook 

    Elemental - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook) 

    Elemental 4K Blu-ray SteelBook 

    So far we have not found preorder links for any of these retailer exclusives or the basic editions on Amazon but we'll keep an eye out and update listings ASAP. 

    It looks like only the 4K UHD Blu-ray and 4K digital include Dolby Atmos, and the following supplements should be available on most releases:

    Short Film

    • Carl’s Date – Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, this all-new short, “Carl’s Date,” finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend —but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends — if you’re a dog. “Carl’s Date” opened in theaters in front of Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental.”

    Featurettes

    • Ember and Wade – Take a deeper look at the development of main characters Ember and Wade, from early designs to final effects, and learn how the complex work of the technical and character teams brought these characters to life.
    • Next Stop: Element City – Explore how Element City is built to accommodate its different inhabitants. Director Peter Sohn and crew members share insights about the evolution of the designed world, as well as some of the research that inspired its unique look.
    • Paths to Pixar: The Immigrant Experience – Hear from first-generation filmmakers on the Elemental crew as they share their journeys to Pixar.  Discover how Elemental’s real-world themes of sacrifice and identity, amongst many others, reflect or diverge from their own lived experiences.

    Deleted Scenes

    Director Peter Sohn introduces five scenes that are storyboarded, set to music, timed, and voiced, but are not included in the final version of Elemental.
    • Intro Ember – An alternate opening in which our hero Ember helps a newly immigrated Fire family navigate through, and acclimate to, Element City. Scene introduced by director Peter Sohn.
    • Mom Rejects Wade – Ember’s traditional parents learn that she’s enamored with watery Wade…and it doesn’t go well. Scene introduced by story supervisor Jason Katz.
    • Dante Challenge – In an attempt to keep Ember apart from Wade, Bernie tasks her with finding a place to live for newcomer Dante, who Wade finds himself rather enamored with. Scene introduced by story artist Nira Liu.
    • Brook Dinner – Ember joins Wade for dinner at his home, in this abandoned storyline in which Wade’s mother, Brook, is revealed to be the villain diverting water into Firetown. Scene introduced by story artist Anna Benedict.
    • Beach Proposal – Sharing a tender moment on the beach, Ember and Wade propose marriage to each other. Scene introduced by story artists Yung-Han Chang and Le Tang.

    Audio Commentary

    • Elemental Filmmaker Commentary – Join director Peter Sohn, supe tech Sanjay Bakshi, supervising animator Mike Venturini, and directing animator Gwendelyn Enderoglu as they provide insight into the making of this remarkable animated feature while you watch it.

    None of these releases seem to be up for pre-order yet but we will add them as soon as they become available. Here is the full press release:


    “IMPRESSIVE, STIRRING, AND ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS”
    – Brandon Zachary, CBR
    Opposites React When Disney and Pixar’s Elemental Arrives Exclusively
    on Digital Retailers August 15 and on 4K Ultra HD™,
    Blu-ray™ and DVD on September 26

     
    Watch new spot here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30GrIqnrx6E

    Home Entertainment Assets: Click Here

    BURBANK, CA (August 3, 2023) – Welcome to Element City, where the fiery Ember Lumen and the go-with-the-flow Wade Ripple are about to discover what happens when fire meets water in Pixar Animation Studios’ dazzling and imaginative Elemental, which debuts on all major digital platforms (Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, etc.) August 15 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD September 26.

    Described as “stunning” (Joey Magidson, Awards Radar), “beautiful and immersive” (Belen Edwards, Mashable), Elemental is and Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes™ with “Pixar’s signature blend of vibrant revolutionary animation and imagination” (Luke Harfield, Awards Watch). Fans can be the first to watch at home by adding the film to their Pixar movie collection, and access bonus content including exclusive deleted scenes, featurettes, an audio commentary, and the widely popular all-new short, “Carl’s Date.”


    Film Synopsis

    “Elemental” is an original feature film set in Element City, where residents of Fire, Water, Earth and Air live together. The story introduces Ember, a tough, quick-witted and fiery young woman, whose friendship with a fun, sappy, go-with-the-flow guy named Wade challenges her beliefs about the world they live in. Directed by Peter Sohn (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Partly Cloudy” short), and produced by Denise Ream (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Cars 2”), “Elemental” features a screenplay by John Hoberg & Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh, and stars the voices of Leah Lewis and Mamoudou Athie as Ember and Wade.


    Bonus Features*
    Short Film

    • Carl’s Date – Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, this all-new short, “Carl’s Date,” finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend —but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends — if you’re a dog. “Carl’s Date” opened in theaters in front of Disney and Pixar’s “Elemental.”

    Featurettes

    • Ember and Wade – Take a deeper look at the development of main characters Ember and Wade, from early designs to final effects, and learn how the complex work of the technical and character teams brought these characters to life.
    • Next Stop: Element City – Explore how Element City is built to accommodate its different inhabitants. Director Peter Sohn and crew members share insights about the evolution of the designed world, as well as some of the research that inspired its unique look.
    • Paths to Pixar: The Immigrant Experience – Hear from first-generation filmmakers on the Elemental crew as they share their journeys to Pixar.  Discover how Elemental’s real-world themes of sacrifice and identity, amongst many others, reflect or diverge from their own lived experiences.

    Deleted Scenes

    Director Peter Sohn introduces five scenes that are storyboarded, set to music, timed, and voiced, but are not included in the final version of Elemental.
    • Intro Ember – An alternate opening in which our hero Ember helps a newly immigrated Fire family navigate through, and acclimate to, Element City. Scene introduced by director Peter Sohn.
    • Mom Rejects Wade – Ember’s traditional parents learn that she’s enamored with watery Wade…and it doesn’t go well. Scene introduced by story supervisor Jason Katz.
    • Dante Challenge – In an attempt to keep Ember apart from Wade, Bernie tasks her with finding a place to live for newcomer Dante, who Wade finds himself rather enamored with. Scene introduced by story artist Nira Liu.
    • Brook Dinner – Ember joins Wade for dinner at his home, in this abandoned storyline in which Wade’s mother, Brook, is revealed to be the villain diverting water into Firetown. Scene introduced by story artist Anna Benedict.
    • Beach Proposal – Sharing a tender moment on the beach, Ember and Wade propose marriage to each other. Scene introduced by story artists Yung-Han Chang and Le Tang.

    Audio Commentary

    • Elemental Filmmaker Commentary – Join director Peter Sohn, supe tech Sanjay Bakshi, supervising animator Mike Venturini, and directing animator Gwendelyn Enderoglu as they provide insight into the making of this remarkable animated feature while you watch it.

    *bonus features vary by product and retailer

    Voice Cast
    Leah Lewis as Ember
    Mamoudou Athie as Wade
    Ronnie del Carmen as Bernie
    Shila Ommi as Cinder
    Wendi McLendon-Covey as Gale
    Catherine O’Hara as Brook
    Mason Wertheimer as Clod
    Joe Pera as Fern
    Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Commander Burnside

    Directed by
    Peter Sohn

    Produced by
    Denise Ream p.g.a.

    Executive Producer
    Pete Docter

    Screenplay by
    John Hoberg
    Kat Likkel
    Brenda Hsueh

    Story by
    Peter Sohn
    John Hoberg
    Kat Likkel
    Brenda Hsueh
               
    Music by
    Thomas Newman

    Product Specifications
    Release Date

    Digital: August 15
    Physical: September 26
     
    Product SKUs
    Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD

    Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Code) & DVD
     

    Feature Run Time
    Approx. 101 minutes
     
    Rating

    U.S. Rated PG
          
    Aspect Ratio
    Digital: 2.39  
    Physical: 2.39:1

    Disc Size
    4K UHD: 66GB
    Blu-ray: 50GB
    DVD: 8.5GB

    U.S. Audio

    4K Ultra HD: English 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, English AD 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
    Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDHR, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English AD 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital,
    DVD: English 5.1 Dolby, English 2.0 Dolby, English AD 2.0 Dolby, Spanish 5.1 Dolby
    Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)


    U.S. Subtitles
    4K Ultra HD: English SDH, Spanish, French
    Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish, French
    DVD: English SDH, Spanish
    Digital: English SDH, French, Spanish (some platforms)

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  • Pixar's WALL•E Joins The Criterion Collection on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray November 22

    Posted Thu Sep 8, 2022 at 10:19 AM PDT by

    The big news of the day is Andrew Stanton's Oscar-winning animated feature film is getting an upgraded 4K UHD release courtesy of The Criterion Collection on November 22nd.

    WALL•E - The Criterion Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
    WALL•E - The Criterion Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
     

    A high-water mark of digital animation, this prescient vision of a dystopian future is packaged within a dazzling pop-science-fiction love story, making for an urgent fable for our troubled millennium. It’s the twenty-ninth century, and humans have long since fled Earth for outer space, leaving WALL•E, the last functioning trash-compacting robot, to go about the work of cleaning up a pollution-choked planet, one piece of garbage at a time. When he meets EVE, a fellow automaton sent to detect plant life, the pair are launched on an intergalactic quest to return humanity to Earth. Transporting us simultaneously back to cinema’s silent origins and forward light-years into the future, WALL•E is a soaring ode to the power of love and art to heal a dying world.

    The release features a 4K master approved by Director Andrew Stanton and will include Dolby Vision/HDR10+ as well as a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo pack will also come packed with supplements:

    DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

    • 4K digital master, approved by director Andrew Stanton, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack
    • One 4K UHD disc of the film, presented in both Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+, and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
    • Alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and stereo soundtracks
    • Two audio commentaries: one featuring Stanton and the other, character supervisor Bill Wise, coproducer Lindsey Collins, story artist Derek Thompson, and lead animator Angus MacLane
    • New programs on Stanton’s cinematic influences and production designer Ralph Eggleston’s color scripts
    • Tour of the Pixar Living Archive with Stanton
    • Behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, including segments from early animation reels
    • The Pixar Story (2007), a documentary by Leslie Iwerks
    • More than a dozen documentaries exploring the film’s production and robots
    • Anatomy of a Scene: The Plant, a masterclass with Stanton
    • “WALL•E”: A to Z, a new program featuring Stanton and coscreenwriter Jim Reardon
    • Deleted scenes featuring commentary by Stanton
    • A Story (1987), a student film by Stanton
    • BURN•E (2008), a short film by MacLane
    • Trailers
    • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
    • English descriptive audio
    • PLUS: An essay by author Sam Wasson; selections from Stanton’s sketchbooks, script notes, and drawings; and artwork from the WALL•E team
    New cover by Jason Raish

    We will keep you posted as soon as we know more and when pre-orders go live. 

    Happy collecting!

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  • Home Video Will Be Turning Red With Disney and Pixar's Latest on Digital April 26 and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray May 3

    Posted Mon Apr 11, 2022 at 09:20 AM PDT by
    turning red - 2

    .   

    The latest addition to the Pixar library Turning Red from Director Domee Shi and starring the voices of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan arrives on Digital on April 26. The Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray will be available in stores on May 3. Check out our theatrical review here..

    In Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red, confident, dorky 13-year-old Mei must balance being a dutiful daughter with the chaos of adolescence. Her slightly overbearing mom is never far from her daughter. And, as if changes to Mei’s interests, relationships and body aren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited, she “poofs” into a giant red panda!

    The 4K UHD Blu-ray edition does not seem to include Dolby Atmos, however The Digital UHD appears to. Bonus features include an audio commentary, several featurettes, and deleted scenes. There will also be an exclusive SteelBook edition available only at Best Buy.

    Turning Red - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
    Turning Red - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
     

    Turning Red
    Turning Red
     

    Turning Red - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook)

    Pre-order links should be available shortly and the full press release is included below:


    “A BREEZY-SMART COMING-OF-AGE CHARMER”

    – Leah GreenblattEntertainment Weekly

    Activate Red Panda Mode When Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red Bursts onto Digital April 26 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD May 3

     

    LOS ANGELES, CA (April 11, 2022) – Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red debuts on all major digital platforms April 26 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on May 3, just in time for Mother’s Day. Pixar fans can transport back to the early aughts and experience all the warm and fuzzy red panda Mei-hem with never-before-seen bonus material including seven deleted scenes, three featurettes and audio commentary with Director Domee Shi. Turning Red is also streaming on Disney+.

    Film Synopsis

    In Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red, confident, dorky 13-year-old Mei must balance being a dutiful daughter with the chaos of adolescence. Her slightly overbearing mom is never far from her daughter. And, as if changes to Mei’s interests, relationships and body aren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited, she “poofs” into a giant red panda!

    Bonus Features*

    • Audio Commentary  View the film with audio commentary by director Domee Shi, producer Lindsey Collins, and director of photography Mahyar Abousaeedi.
    • Featurettes
      • Life of a Shot  Domee Shi and members of the crew describe the many-layered process and artistry involved in creating the hilarious Red Peony scene – from observing red pandas in a zoo to creating a storyboard to finalizing the animation and background lighting.
      • Build Your Own Boy Band  Step backstage to learn how 4*TOWN came to animated life. From creating each band member’s persona to writing and producing the songs to fine-tuning the details of their stadium performance, the filmmakers reveal how they designed the ultimate boy band.
      • Ani-Mei-Tion  Because Mei’s heightened emotionality is central to the story, it was important that her look and movement reflect that energy. Learn how Domee Shi led the animation team to incorporate hints of expressive anime to create Mei’s lovable, dynamic character.
    • Deleted Scenes
      • Deleted Scenes Introduction  Director Domee Shi introduces scenes not included in the final version of Turning Red.
      • Intro Meilin  In this alternate opening, Ming and young Mei have their portrait taken in a studio…but Ming has her own specific vision for the photo.
      • Taming The Panda  Under her mother's guidance, Mei learns techniques to control her ability to magically turn into a red panda...to varying degrees of success.
      • The Debate  Mei runs for class president against frenemy Tyler, and the speeches get a little out of hand.
      • Fei And Christina Hang  Mei (formerly Fei) shares a banana split while having a heart-to-heart with Aunt Christina.
      • 4*TOWN Dilemma  Mei scores tickets to her dream concert, but her strict mother won't let her out of the house. What will she do?
      • Roping In Leo  Pleading with Leo for help with getting out of trouble, Mei learns a couple of his closely guarded secrets.
    • Easter Egg - Robutton Deleted Scene  An alternate ending in which Mei, finding herself sitting next to her 4*TOWN dream-idol Robaire on a flight to California, has some feelings.

     

    *bonus features vary by product and retailer

    Cast

    Rosalie Chiang as Meilin Lee

    Sandra Oh as Ming Lee

    Ava Morse as Miriam

    Hyein Park as Abby

    Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya

    Orion Lee as Jin Lee

    Tristan Allerick Chen as Tyler Nguyen-Baker

     

    Directed by

    Domee Shi

    Produced by

    Lindsey Collins, p.g.a.

     

    Executive Producers

    Dan Scanlon

    Pete Docter

                                                  

    Story by

    Julia Cho

    Domee Shi

    Sarah Streicher

    Screenplay by

    Julia Cho

    Domee Shi

     

    Original Songs by

    Billie Eilish

    and Finneas O’Connell

                          

    Music by

    Ludwig Göransson

    Product Specifications

    Street Date

    Digital: April 26

    Physical: May 3

     

    Product SKUs

    Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD

    Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code), Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + Digital Code) & DVD

     

    Feature Run Time

    Approx. 100 minutes

    Rating

    U.S. Rated PG

    Bonus material not rated

          

    Aspect Ratio

    Digital: 1.85:1

    Physical: 1.85:1

     

    U.S. Audio

    4K Ultra HDEnglish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, English 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, English AD 2.0 Dolby Digital

    Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 5.1 DTS-HDHR, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English AD 2.0 Dolby Digital

    DVD: English 5.1 Dolby, Spanish 5.1 Dolby, English 2.0 Dolby, English AD 2.0 Dolby

    Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital (some platforms)

     

    U.S. Subtitles

    4K Ultra HD: English SDH, Spanish

    Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish

    DVD: English SDH, Spanish

    Digital: English SDH, French, Spanish (some platforms)

     

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  • Chris Pratt & Tom Holland Embark on a Magical Quest in Trailer for Pixar's ONWARD

    Posted Thu Oct 10, 2019 at 09:25 AM PDT by
    Onward trailer

    Pixar's new animated adventure is heading to theaters in March.

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  • D23 News: BLACK PANTHER 2, STAR WARS, PIXAR, and More

    Posted Mon Aug 26, 2019 at 05:00 PM PDT by
    Black Panther 2 news

    Catch up on all the major news from Disney's recent D23 Expo!

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  • Google Play Adds Disney 4K HDR Titles to Digital Library

    Posted Thu Jul 25, 2019 at 12:45 PM PDT by
    google play logo

    Select Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar movies are now available in 4K HDR via Google.

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  • Woody Embarks on a Rescue Mission in Latest TOY STORY 4 Trailer

    Posted Tue May 21, 2019 at 01:30 PM PDT by
    toy story 4 trailer

    Buzz, Woody, and the rest of the gang are heading back to theaters in June.

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  • John Goodman & Billy Crystal Return for MONSTERS, INC. Streaming Series on Disney+

    Posted Tue Apr 9, 2019 at 02:15 PM PDT by
    Monsters Inc. Streaming News

    Mike and Sulley are heading to Disney's new streaming service.

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  • Rumor Mill: TOY STORY 1-3 Headed for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

    Posted Thu Mar 28, 2019 at 09:11 AM PDT by

    The beloved animated Pixar films are expected to hit the 4K format in June.

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  • Woody and Buzz Hit the Road in New TOY STORY 4 Trailer

    Posted Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 06:45 AM PDT by
    toy story 4 trailer

    Buzz, Woody, and the rest of the gang are heading back to theaters in June.

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  • TOY STORY 4 Teaser Trailer Introduces New Character

    Posted Mon Nov 12, 2018 at 02:30 PM PST by
    toy story 4 trailer

    Buzz, Woody, and the rest of the gang are heading back to theaters in June.

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  • Disney Offers Sneak Peek of AUNTIE EDNA Short from INCREDIBLES 2 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray & Blu-ray

    Posted Tue Oct 16, 2018 at 04:30 PM PDT by
    auntie Edna short

    Check out a clip from the upcoming Pixar short film.

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  • Incredibles 2 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray & Blu-ray Special Features Announced

    Posted Fri Sep 7, 2018 at 06:32 AM PDT by

    The superhero family will return to save the day in 4K later this year.

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  • 'Incredibles 2' 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray & Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order

    Posted Sat Jun 16, 2018 at 03:35 PM PDT by
    incredibles 2

    The superhero family will return to save the day in 4K later this year.

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  • Every Pixar Movie Ranked

    Posted Wed Jun 13, 2018 at 08:12 AM PDT by
    wall-e pixar movie

    Incredibles 2 marks the 20th Pixar film since the studio debuted Toy Story in 1995, changing the landscape of animated motion pictures forever. In these 20 years, we've seen animation transition from a computer-enhanced 2D hand-drawn medium to 3D CGI renderings capable of photo-real textures. Every other studio followed Pixar's lead, but technically and visually speaking, Pixar remains a pioneer.

    Not only has Pixar changed the game as far as visuals go, they weave well-rounded, emotional stories with deeply-developed characters and thematics that connect with audiences young and old. With the release of The Incredibles 2, I thought it would be fun to rank all of the Pixar movies, getting to revisit each movie once again.

     

    BRAVE


    Brave stands out as Pixar's first fairytale or princess movie. It also features Pixar's first female protagonist. Yet, while the movie is visually rich, the story and characters are forgettable.

    The story is a mother-daughter bit that should play to the heart strings of people of all ages, but somewhere along the way, the creators add in a bit of slapstick humor, which makes the film an uneven balance of sincere emotion and silly comedy. Most of the time, this sort of thing works when Pixar is involved, but it misses the mark by a million feet in Brave's case. What we are left with is a jumbled up mess of comedy and half-cocked emotion with easily forgettable characters. This is my least favorite Pixar movie to date.

    MONSTERS UNIVERSITY


    Monsters University is Pixar's first prequel to an amazing film from several years before it. The film features two of its most beloved characters back when they were in college, which I imagine is Pixar's attempt at an Animal House type of situation. With Monsters University, we get mostly a funny, silly film without any emotional heft. That's about it. Sure, there is a decent message, but we already know how everyone turns out from the original film, so nothing is at stake nor is there any real conflict.

    The film looks great, of course, but this prequel just failed to impress above a silly comedic level that doesn't have a good replay factor at all. Even when you're watching this movie, you can't help but want to watch the original film instead. There are some wink and nod jokes throughout, but other than that, Monster's University doesn't have a lot going for it.

    THE GOOD DINOSAUR


    Arguably the worst Pixar movie to date is The Good Dinosaur. However, I moved it up a couple of rankings due to the movie's very sincere ending. There are many things to dislike about this movie, but at the end, Pixar tugs at those heartstrings quite well, which leads to a few instances of forgiveness. First of all, I do believe this is Pixar's attempt at a subtle western movie. There are numerous homages to the western movie genre, which play out great, but the fact remains that The Good Dinosaur fails miserably due to its horrible protagonists.

    Arlo the dinosaur and Spot the cave boy are so obnoxious throughout the whole movie that you begin to loathe being with them. Add to that an incredibly slow paced movie that results in snoozes and snores. I do enjoy the fact that Pixar uses real-life settings and backdrops in the movie, but the contrasts of the goofy-looking animated dinosaur is (dare I say it) an eye-sore. This had a lot of potential, but again, it misses the mark.

    CARS 2


    I'm so torn on this movie. On one hand, Cars 2 is a spy thriller film with Bruce Campbell lending his voice to one of the cars. On the other hand, this is a horrible Mater-centric movie that is unfunny, lacks any emotion, and is quite a chore to even watch with my eyes open, let alone listen to the awful sound of Larry the Cable Guy's voice-acting.

    Even with Bruce Campbell being a part of this movie, I just can't in good conscious give it a good ranking. What puts it further up the chain than the others, though, is it's spy thriller side story and excellent visuals that take us out of Radiator Springs and into new worlds. It is simply gorgeous. Other than that, Cars 2 fails to do much of anything else, other than excite the few of us who love the Evil Dead franchise for a few minutes.

    FINDING DORY


    Visually, Finding Dory is stunning, and is maybe one of the best looking Pixar films. Every nuance of sea life and underwater scene is intricate with the finest of details and fully immerses you into this world. The voice work is spot on and Ellen DeGeneres shines as Dory, while Ed O’Neill and Albert Brooks pack some good laughs. Even though, a lot of the charm and boldness of the first film is gone here, Finding Dory is still worth your time.

    Finding Nemo did everything the first time, where as this sequel just re-hashes the same material with a somewhat different message behind it. That is until the final act where all of the fish actually drive a car on the highway. This is where the film lost me and became low on the totem pole. Finding Dory may have some good moments, but they aren't great.

    CARS 3


    Cars 3 if a bit better than part 2, but still falls short of the original. This film has some good moments, but I'm not sure why they decided to tell a story about retirement to its core demographic of eight-year-olds. By and large, the Cars franchise is mostly geared to its younger audiences, but in Cars 3, it's all about being old and retiring, or at least knowing when to retire.

    It's a good message and storyline for sure, but it's just a strange one to tell. Given the storyline, most of the movie is actually quite slow moving, that is until the third act of the film, when the visuals look exceptionally good. Again, it's nice to see a lot of people return to their voice roles and see Lightning's transformation, but they may have jumped the gun a little bit with this one. All in all, Cars 3 is a decent film, but not a keeper.

    CARS


    Pixar's take on a world inhabited by talking cars is a good one. It's a sweet movie with fun characters and a great message of helping someone new -- with a backdrop of how difficult it is to get a job and keep a business from failing. This film applies to all ages and is a joy to watch. The only thing missing is any real sort of big conflict that would be drastic to anyone.

    Sure, we want to see Lightning win the race and Radiator Springs thrive with business, but that's about it. There isn't a sense of urgency to keep our interests up to see these characters save the day or win the race. Instead, the film is just natural and fun, and sometimes that's all you need. Cars is a film that isn't talked about a lot, but is still worth your time. Plus, it's the only Pixar film to have George Carlin in it, and that should count for something.

    INSIDE OUT


    Before Inside Out was released, Pixar had a few movies that didn't play well and lacked any emotional heft to them. Luckily, Pixar returned with a vengeance with Inside Out, a movie that is as funny as it is sad, which is exactly the point of the film. Pixar tells an amazing story about a little girl who moves from her hometown to somewhere new, with her emotions struggling to accept the new environment.

    This message and story is highly intelligent for both kids and adults alike. It tells us that we as humans need to have a healthy dose of not just happiness, but also sadness to help keep us sane and well-rounded individuals. There are some funny moments for sure, but there are also some extremely emotional scenes as well that are done with love and tenderness. The story structure and voice acting is incredible, too. One fault I have with this, is perhaps the emotion characters themselves are a tad bit silly, but still, Inside Out is a fantastic film.

    FINDING NEMO


    Finding Nemo is a fantastic film through and through. It is the first time in Pixar's career that we get to see life under the sea and what it might be like. Nobody thought that a trio of fish could become household names, spawn sequels, and make you cry and laugh all in the same scene. Finding Nemo does that. It follows a father/son dynamic that is filled with thrills, adventure, big monstrous fish, and even life and death.

    It's a powerful story that really connects to its audience, which is just about everyone. The film looks gorgeous and never slows down. If you're wondering why Finding Nemo isn't higher up on the list, that would be due to a few out of place slapstick scenes, which are more or less a staple early on in Pixar's career. Still, it's a fantastic film.

    MONSTER'S INC.


    One of Pixar's earliest films is Monster's Inc. and it brought audiences into unfamiliar territory with different dimension where monsters scare human children to power their lives. It could have gone in a horrible direction, but Pixar plays it out beautifully from start to finish. Billy Crystal is a welcome addition to the Pixar family with his unique comedy in the character Mike, and of course the extremely cute toddler named Boo melts everyone's heart.

    However, there is more than meets the eye with Monster's Inc. in the character that John Goodman voiced so perfectly. This big monster named Sully is the most famous monster in this Pixar world, but it comes at a cost. He's completely lonely, which I imagine is a satire on the rich and famous in real life. Even though they are respected, wealthy, and successful, some of them are completely alone, and that's how Sully feels -- until he meets Boo. It's a fantastic and heart warming Pixar favorite.

    A BUG'S LIFE


    A Bug's Life doesn't get enough credit like it should. It's an amazing film that was the second effort from Pixar and follows an ant colony, which shouldn't be confused with AntZ that was released around the same time. This Pixar film though has a ton of heart, which features an ant who thinks outside the box, but is shunned and looked down upon, because he doesn't follow the pack.

    It's a great message about being yourself no matter what obstacles come your way. It doesn't have the emotional weight that other Pixar films embody, but the characters are top notch, the script is tight, and it's a lot of fun still to this day.

    RATATOUILLE


    What a lovely film from Pixar that probably plays more to grownups than a younger crowd. This film follows a rat who loves to cook in Paris and eventually befriends a fumbling intern cook at a fancy restaurant. The visuals alone of the Paris cityscape and countryside is breathtaking, but it also has an amazing story about family, doing what you love, and great food. Patton Oswalt hit a home run with his voice as Remy the rat, while the animation is some of the best we've ever seen for the time. Ratatouille brings the kid out in all of us with this story of love and food.

    COCO


    One of the most recent Pixar films proves that Pixar still has the juice in the engines to make amazing and important films, such as this one - Coco. The filmmakers completely immerse themselves in Mexican culture for their research for the film in every aspect and it shows flawlessly on screen. Coco will have you in tears every time you think about it, as it tackles subjects of family and warmth as well as sympathy for strangers you might not know yet.

    I would also go as far to say that Coco is the most colorful and best-looking Pixar film to date, showcasing the underworld and beautiful villages of Mexico. The score and original songs are perfect and spark emotions that you didn't know were there. This is Pixar at its finest and let's hope they continue with this type of filmmaking.

    TOY STORY


    The movie that started the Pixar movie franchise back in 1995 still holds up after all these years. Nobody knew if Toy Story was going to be good or if the new animation style was going to take off, but the creators made a beautiful film, not only visually, but with iconic and endearing characters that we still talk about today. It is a fantastic simple story of what our toys or think when we humans are not playing with them.

    It could have been left at that, but instead Pixar takes two characters with Woody and Buzz who make their way into our hearts forever as they try to stay relevant to their owners. This film brings out the kid in all of us and reminds us of our best friends growing up, which were our toys. There are no forced emotions here, but rather just natural kindness and fun. Toy Story is still magnificent and one of the major milestones in filmmaking and storytelling.

    TOY STORY 2


    Sometimes you get terrible sequels, however at other times, you get sequels like The Godfather: Part II. Yes, I'm going to do that. I'm going to compare Toy Story 2 to The Godfather: Part II in that it's just as good if not better than the original film. We get more of an insight into the world of these toys and what makes them tick as well as dive head first into the good and sinister world of toy collecting. Each character develops even further, along with some new faces that are instantly likable. Also with Toy Story 2 is the faint hint of a hard hitting, emotional film, which we see in later films, but it's here where it all started.

    THE INCREDIBLES


    What an incredible movie for sure. Pixar took a chance on its version of the superhero genre and scored a big win. Not only that, but they set the story in the mid-century modern 1960s in the vein of noir spy thrillers.

    The Incredibles centers on a family of superheroes in a world where it's frowned upon. It's a wonderfully told story on just how important family is. The movie doesn't shy away from showing adult problems or arguments within the family, nor does it sugar coat a villain. In fact, the villain -- played perfectly by Jason Lee -- is ruthless and evil, which makes everything relevant and worthy of your time. The Incredibles is an amazing film from top to bottom, and has some room for some emotions and a great score, inspired by the 1960s.

    THE INCREDIBLES 2


    The most recent Pixar film is stunning and highly entertaining. You might be thinking why it took so long for Pixar to make a sequel to one of the most popular films in their wheelhouse, but we can all rest easy now, because The Incredibles 2 is here and it's one of their finest achievements. The Incredibles 2 takes place right where the first film left off and fully develops each character even more with bigger twists and turns around every corner.

    The same message is still in play here of family sticking together, but there is more to it than just surface material. There is also an added element that can relate to our own political and social climate these days, which plays out perfectly. The visuals are even better than the first film and the action along with the adventure and thrills are at an all-time high. There isn't an emotional punch in this one like in some other Pixar films, but it's not needed. The Incredibles 2 is utterly fantastic.

    TOY STORY 3


    Toy Story 3 really breaks the mold and decides to go all out with a super emotional and very dark film. Andy is all grown up and going to college, where all of his toys, including Buzz and Woody, haven't been played with in a long time. They are kept in a trunk, which leads to a garbage bag headed for the attic. This film goes to new territory in a very adult way that tackles situations such as death, abandonment, getting older, and broken relationships.

    On top of all that, it's the funniest Toy Story film out of all of them. Pixar took a chance here, and it reaped the rewards on each of those chances. There are two big tear-jerking moments that you'll never forget, in that you've grown up with these toys and they are friends and family and not just pieces of plastic. I really don't know if they can top this one with Toy Story 4.

    UP


    I've seen this movie no less than 50 times and each time I bawl my eyes out throughout the entire film. The opening several minutes of the film have almost zero dialogue, but tells a story of decades between a couple who fall in love, which brings tears to my eyes as I write this. This is the most mature of Pixar films, but it's told so tenderly that all ages know exactly what's going on in the film, and just how big the stakes are.

    The unlikely duo of an elderly man and a young kid who go on an adventure of a lifetime with a talking dog is a visual spectacle to behold. Not only that, this story rips out those heart strings and will cause you to tear up and think of those you love dearly. This is a one-of-a-kind movie and holds up after each viewing. Up is one of Pixar's best ever.

    WALL-E


    Wall-E is the perfect film. This is Pixar's opus on all levels and is the movie we all need right about now. The film tells a story about a futuristic Earth that has been abandoned due to our own greed and unhealthy ways, leaving a series of robots to clean up our trash on Earth. This is the fall of human kind in a way, which is quite scary and could possibly become a reality sooner than later as the technology in the film is becoming more and more true with each year. After all that said, this movie really is a love story between two robots.

    Wall-E is an old soul who is kind, generous, curious, and is struck by the love-at-first-sight arrow when he sees the impressive and technological robot Eve. What's great and poetic about this movie is that Wall-E is the hero of the film, but he's not your typical hero. He doesn't save the day or protect his loved one because he fights for a great cause or wants to impress anyone. Instead, he does these good things, because he wants to be kind and love everyone. This could be billed as the world's sweetest movie.

    The emotional charge is here as are the simple funny moments. This love story and two characters are probably the best in-love couple on screen, and they barely talk in the film. In fact, the first part of the film there is no dialogue, but the filmmakers tell a story so intricately and perfectly that you instantly bond with these robots. Again, Wall-E is the perfect film that rounds out this ranking. Now, I dare Pixar to do better than this.

     

     

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