Cars Reviews

Cars es una película maravillosa. Era fanático del Rayo McQueen desde que tengo memoria, y en mi revisita a la película... hay cosas que nunca cambian.

Me encanta cómo está animada. Creo que poco se hace notar el cómo los pequeños detalles del concepto son aprovechados para darle una expresión muy viva a los autos. Tomando, por ejemplo, el spin-off medio cash grab que fue Aviones (sin pronunciarme sobre su calidad general, porque no la tengo nada fresca), allí el hecho de que la acción sucediera en el aire hacía que, inevitablemente, el "cuerpo" de los aviones estuviera estático la mayor parte del tiempo, dejando la expresión de movimiento meramente a los giros y piruetas. E incluso en tierra, algo era significativamente diferente a los vehículos.

En Cars, no tengo un concepto ni una forma de explicar claramente por qué, pero hay una expresividad impresionante. Es muy satisfactorio el solo ver clips de los autos moverse, aplastarse contra el suelo o levantarse, girar, derrapar, dar frenazos. Y es que ¡Son autos! ¿Cómo haces algo tan divertido con eso?

Pero a nivel de dirección, creo que hay mucho que me encanta de la película, aunque aquí ya no sabría indicar precisamente los elementos. Solo... LAS DOS ESCENAS DE "SOY VELOZ".

Y esto lleva al guion, el cual también es una genialidad. Me encanta como conectan el tema de "vivir sin detenerse" mediante el personaje del Rayo McQueen, Sally, Hudson; y a nivel general, con el pueblo de Radiador Spring. También está muy muy cool el pequeño simbolismo que hacen con esto de "los tres competidores de la Copa Pistón" y el cómo se da la resolución a todo. Lecciones del Pixar de aquellos años: simples, muy bonitas, muy enternecedoras y que se quedan en el corazón. Las emociones pasan de reír a conmoverte.

Mientras escribo esto, aún me duele un poquito el rostro. No muchas películas me hacen sonreír tanto...

Don't get me wrong, Cars is a good movie, it's just that it isn't a great one. Personally I do think it is my least favourite Pixar movie, but there was still a lot I enjoyed. So what were its problems? Well, firstly I felt the narrative was a little too slack and sedate particularly in the middle act. Secondly, while there were some nice jokes, some didn't quite work and the script had its weak spots, could've done with more sophistication. Thirdly, the film's message is a little muddled.

But there is a lot to enjoy. The animation is superb, the backgrounds are beautiful and the character movements are crisp. The film has some really bright and inventive colouring which was a delight to see. The soundtrack is quite exhilarating as well, and the race scenes themselves are like mini-masterpieces of editing.

The characters are at least likable and engaging, Lightening McQueen(a refreshing retread from the dull and flaccid hero), female Porsche Sally(who is really cute) and Doc Hudson(the wise old-timer with a secret past) are the best characters in my opinion.

The voice acting is very well done. Owen Wilson gives a spirited and appealing vocal performance as Lightening, this was really refreshing to see and it really helped that Lightening himself was likable, yes he is cocky and arrogant then again even the best characters ever in film have a flaw or so of some kind. The late talented Paul Newman is a sheer delight as Doc, and Bonnie Hunt is delightful as Sally. Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Keaton, Tony Shalhoub and John Ratzenberger also give solid turns in their roles.

Overall, Cars is my least favourite of the Pixar movies but for the animation and voice acting especially, not to mention the race sequences it is well worth watching. 7/10 Bethany Cox

'Cars' is one of my least favourite Pixar movies, it is actually a rather weak plot about a famous racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) accidentally ending up in a town where he accidentally breaks the road; at first he wants fame and fortune but then he realises life is about the journey

'Cars' isn't as good as its poorly received sequel 'Cars 2' (which I actually loved) and they made a spin-off 'Planes' which was really boring! But it was entertaining and good for kids!

In my opinion, it is pure and simply the worst movie made by Pixar so far (though I'm not a huge fan of 'A Bug's Life' either) and that's why it is rather dubious that they decided to make a sequel for this. Eventually, even though this sequel was even more poorly received, I enjoyed it slightly more than this first installment and, apparently, Disney/Pixar decided that they wouldn't stop here and produced the spin-off 'Planes'. Anyway, even though I didn't like much this movie (if I'm not mistaken, it is actually the only Pixar feature that I haven't seen in the theater), it doesn't mean it was actually bad whatsoever. Indeed, Pixar hasn't made a real stinker yet (though it has been a while since they have done something truly amazing). In this case, the animation was still really gorgeous and the whole thing was still mildly entertaining. The point is that, this time, it was clearly aimed towards very young children and the rest of us didn't really care about the whole thing. Still, it has more charm and wit than many other animated features you can find on the market nowadays and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

"Okay, here we go. Focus. Speed. I am speed. One winner, forty-two losers. I eat losers for breakfast. Breakfast? Maybe I should have had breakfast? Brekkie could be good for me. No, no, no, focus. Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning."

Considering the astronomical box office intake for every CGI-animated picture Pixar has distributed as of 2006, the revolutionary animation studio has developed into the most commercially successful studio in history. Their first six feature films (beginning with 1995's Toy Story) were extensively considered to be instant classics from the moment their first digitally-rendered frames streaked across worldwide theatre screens. Yet more than mere dollars are in consideration here - Pixar pictures are resonant works of art which shall remain watchable and enjoyable for many subsequent generations. Each Pixar masterpiece is infused with genuine heart, timeless laughs and meaningful messages. Thus far, Pixar features have given voices to bugs, toys, monsters and fish...so why not cars?

Cars arguably marks the first true Pixar misfire. In addition, this 2006 picture is debatably the weakest animated feature to emerge from the virtual drawing board at this successful company. Not to say that Cars is a total disaster - by all accounts it's bright and creative, and is pervaded with a very intriguing concept indeed. This is also one of Pixar's greatest visual achievements to date, featuring state-of-the-art CGI animation bordering on photo-realism guaranteed to astound on a very high level. However, feeble screenwriting proves injurious - fewer laughs, lots of excess, and a cumbersome, predictable story that preaches the same ol' clichéd messages. It's too long and listless, and while adults may tolerate the excessive character development, the children - with their notoriously diminutive attention spans - may grow restless. Cars is a character-driven feature, therefore including fewer action scenes than most animated films. The kinetic energy of the initial racing sequences is unfortunately not sustained.

Cars transpires in a universe dominated entirely by automobiles (without any humans or animals...even flies are tiny cars with wings).
The story centres on cocky hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen (Wilson). In his first year of racing, Lightning has taken the prestigious Piston Cup by storm. Locked in a battle for the championship against two seasoned pros, the final race is set to be held in California. En route across the country to compete in this final race, Lightning becomes waylaid in the small forgotten town of Radiator Springs after inadvertently mangling the main street during a police pursuit. In a subtle homage to Cool Hand Luke (starring Paul Newman, who lends his voice to the cantankerous old Doc Hudson), Lightning is sentenced to repair the main street through days of gruelling labour. As Lightning begins befriending the townsfolk (towncars?) of Radiator Springs, the conceited race car begins to realise that perhaps there's more to life than winning. The question soon arises: when he attends the big race will be maintain his newfound values or revert to his old ways?

"When was the last time you cared about something except yourself, hot rod? You name me one time, and I will take it all back. Uh-huh. I thought so.

In conveying its plot, Cars brings two well-worn clichés to the animation realm. The first is the apprehensive friendship between an elderly gent and a young hotshot. The second is the story of how a pastoral setting percolates the blood of a city boy. However, Cars isn't merely the story about one little NASCAR-type racer who becomes lost and stranded in the desert, nor is it just about a big-city hotshot who learns valuable messages. It's primarily a story concerning all the vanishing little towns in America that modern Interstate thoroughfares have bypassed and left for dead. The simple message is quite clear: life was better in the old days.

"I don't need a map! I have the GPS. Never need a map again, thank you."

For Pixar chief John Lasseter, Cars was a personal project. Lasseter had worked flat out for 10 years, and the outcome of these exertions was the first two Toy Story features. Following this extensive labour, his wife explained that his commitment to other children's happiness may cause him to miss the experience of witnessing his own children grow up. Lasseter responded to this by taking a few months off to drive his family through the backwaters of America, circumventing the interstate highways. The excursion was a revelation for the animation director - he was moved by the stories he was told about the consequences of interstates on the old Route 66 towns. Lasseter was inspired to begin penning (with the sadly deceased Joe Ranft) a story about slowing down and smelling the roses.

As usual for a Pixar movie, Cars sports a strong ensemble cast, featuring the voices of Bonnie Hunt, Owen Wilson, Cheech Marin, Tony Shaloub, Paul Newman, George Carlin, and Michael Keaton (to name a few), along with a plethora of racing personalities and a few other interesting celebrities.
Owen Wilson possesses the requisite mix of brashness and congeniality, and his vocal inflections are well-suited for the egotistical little speedster. The filmmakers reportedly named Lightning McQueen after the late Pixar animator Glenn McQueen, but most viewers will most likely associate the character name with the late actor Steve McQueen (who was fond of driving).

"These are good folk around here who care about one another. I don't want them depending on someone they can't count on."

This was one of Paul Newman's final films. Newman's wise and amiable voice is perfect for Doc Hudson. Bonnie Hunt, abandoning her regular sardonic style, wonderfully mixes sassiness and heart as the sexy Porsche Sally. Larry the Cable Guy is terrific as Mater, who invests his character with charm that makes him a memorable sidekick. Additionally, authentic broadcasters and race drivers such as Bob Costas, Jay Leno, Darrel Waltrip, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Schumacher, and Mario Andretti lend their voices to the film in cameo appearances.

"I don't know what's harder to find: Lightning McQueen or a crew chief who'll work with him."

At a little under two hours, Cars is (just barely) Pixar's longest animated feature to date. With its first act lacking a solid hook, Cars almost certainly would've been a considerably smoother ride if the road to Radiator Springs was more streamlined. Furthermore, the majority of the laughs aren't as sophisticated as we've come to expect from Pixar. The double-underlined moral lessons and oversentimentality can also be quite ham-fisted. This is not Pixar firing on all cylinders. Judged merely as a visual exercise, Cars is a triumph. However, Pixar are usually renowned for their clever stories and great screenplays which are as deft as the animation. On account of the screenplay here being so dodgy, Cars is a misfire - visually wonderful, but still a misfire. As a piece of storytelling, Cars sometimes has a sluggishness that is all the more surprising considering it's directed by animation god John Lasseter, back behind the wheel for the first time since Toy Story 2.

5.8/10