Cars 2 - One Year On

Pixar's thirteenth feature film, Brave, is opening in US theatres this Friday, 22nd June, and the embargo has been lifted, thus reviews are flooding onto the Internet, and they're a mixed bag. There are none that I've seen that cite Brave as a bad film, nearly all of them say, in fact, that it is very good, that it is gorgeously animated, has a wonderful score and great characters, but that the story is unoriginal - more Disney than Pixar. The most balanced and reasonable review I've read is that of Bryko from Upcoming Pixar, who says:

"Ultimately, one has to question: if a film makes you laugh, shed a tear, and stay on the edge of your seat, is it really at fault for lacking originality? Even if it’s not Pixar’s best movie to date, does it really matter? The film will undoubtedly be a hit with audiences worldwide with its boundless appeal and beauty; even with a fairly predictable story, Brave is a winner."

So, despite some quibbles, general consensus is that Brave is still a good film, even if it's not Pixar's finest. We've been down this road before though, and much criticism was directed, last year, at Cars 2. The sequel that nobody was particularly clamouring for, Cars 2 was often maligned as being "the first bad Pixar film"; this is simply not the case. I watched Cars 2 again yesterday, and thought I'd offer up my thoughts, in hindsight, one year on.

Cars 2 Review - It's Got a Lot More "Vroom" to it Than Most Reviews Say

Cars 2, the latest release from famed Pixar Animation Studios and the follow up to the 2006 original, has been received by very mixed reviews, which, for a Pixar film, is an incredibly negative response. If fans thought that the reviews of Cars 1 were below the usual lofty heights of Pixar films, reviews of Cars 2 have surely been shocking. Many critics cited that the spy theme was too complex, that the refocusing on the sidekick of Cars 1, Mater, was a mistake, even that he is Pixar's Jar Jar Binks, and that it is Pixar's first bad film - or certainly the closest thing from Pixar to being bad -, the box office run for Cars 2 seems to reflect these mixed reviews, certainly looking like it's on track to be one one Pixar's weaker films commercially. However, believe me, after just seeing the film which opened here in the UK today, all of these criticisms are unfounded, Cars 2 is not only NOT a bad film, it's a very good one!

Pixar at IGN

The film, game and more, news and reviews website, IGN, has posted a couple of interviews with Cars 2 director, John Lasseter. The animation pioneer shares details about the hidden details of Pixar films (above), such as the Pizza Planet Truck and A113 (which this blog is named after) and tells you what you should keep your eyes out for in Cars 2 (which opens here in the UK on Friday).

Secondly, Lasseter shares details about the progress of the film (below) and how it became a spy film in the first place (based on a scrapped drive-in movie scene from Cars 1), as well as the huge scope and scale of the film.



Both of these interviews are very interesting and are getting me incredibly hyped for the film's UK debut on Friday, keep your eyes out for my review shortly thereafter.

Cars 2: The App Review - A High Speed, High Octane Blast

Cars 2, Pixar's latest feature film, has been received to very mixed reviews from critics, however, it's holding it's own on the Box Office front. Cars merchandise has always sold like wildfire, as such games dedicated to it are inevitable, however, film tie-in games are notoriously shoddy and poor quality. However, Cars 2 - The App, released by Disney Mobile, is a surprisingly good and fun game.

First Cars 2 Reviews Surface

With just under a week to go until the North American release of Cars 2 (all of us in the UK will, unfortunately, have to wait until July), the first reviews are beginning to surface, and they, generally, seem good.

Two reviews in particular that seem to be very positive in view of the film are from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Variety cites Cars 2 as "The rare sequel that not only improves on but retroactively justifies its predecessor", claiming "If "Cars" was perhaps the least engaging of Pixar's hugely successful animated features, John Lasseter and his team have hit the creative accelerator with the unexpectedly delightful "Cars 2."" This review sounds very promising and you can read the full, but spoiler heavy, review here.

THR seems to be similarly impressed, saying that Cars 2 features "cooler cars and more action than Fast Five", but also says that "Cars 2 is notably less refined and more rambunctious than Pixar’s recent run of artistic gems". Again, you can read THR's full review of Pixar's latest film here.

From  what I can glean from reviews (there's also a few over at Rotten Tomatoes), the general consensus, so far at least, seems to be that this still isn't Pixar's strongest effort, but most seem to agree that it is leaps and bounds better than the original Cars.

Update

Reviews are now looking decidedly less promising, as Cars 2, currently holds a 55%, Rotten, rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This certainly doesn't look good for Pixar and it could very well be there first Rotten film, however things can always change when the film opens on Friday.

Fingers crossed.

Update No. 2

Be worried. Only one day away from its North American release, Cars 2 has plummeted to 38%. This seems to be an incredibly negative response, however, reading some of the reviews, I believe Cars 2 isn't getting a fair looking. Cars 2 seems to be being reviewed, not on its merits as an animated film, but against other Pixar films; of course it's going to suffer by this comparison. However, there is a very positive sounding review from arguably one of the most influential reviewers on the planet, Roger Ebert, who gave the film as 3.5 out of 4.
Things aren't looking a lot better on review aggregator, Metacritic, which currently holds Cars 2 at 60.

The Art of Cars 2 Review - A Work of Art

The first thing I have to say is that I’m insanely grateful to Abrams&Chronicle for the free copy; however, it won’t influence my review in any way shape or form. Now this is not to say that it needs the help; the book is fantastic and another great addition to the already strong ‘Art of’ range. The book is written by Ben Queen (the Cars 2 screenwriter) and Karen Paik (who wrote the Art of Ratatouille book) and they’re previous professional writing experience shines though, as they do a great job of it. I’m still inclined to say the Art of Toy Story 3 is better, as it felt more special, like a legacy of the franchise of Toy Story, whereas this book deals specifically with Cars 2, not the original Cars. The book is also decidedly less wordy for the aforementioned reasons; however this is somewhat of a good thing, as it brings more attention to the fantastic artwork. The book is still extraordinarily detailed and is just a bit easier to get into, whereas with the previous instalment, you had to sit and read it for a while, whereas here you can dip in and out, yet you will still want to commit to it, which is to be commended.

Final Cars 2 Trailer

The final trailer (above) for Disney and Pixar's upcoming high-octane sequel, Cars 2, has just recently debuted on the Internet, courtesy of Apple Movie Trailers. The trailer showcases a lot of new footage as well as reiterating a lot of the great footage we've seen in previous trailers. The trailer also does a fantastic job of showing the worldwide feel of the film. Also, I'm loving Francesco Bernoulli!

This trailer just proves that Disney sure can handle advertising, I can't wait for Cars 2. Roll on July!

Cars 2 Tidbits

This past week has brought a tonne of new Cars 2 stuff; characters and posters galore. Firstly, above we have a huge new Cars 2 Triptych poster courtesy of Apple and it showcases pretty much all of the characters we have previously met and a few new ones (Double Decker buses anyone?).

We've also been introduced to 4 new Japanese Cars 2 characters (below):

Kingpin Nobunaga

Official Description: As a professional Sumo wrestler at an arena in Tokyo, Japan, Kingpin Nobunaga is a gold-painted micro van who fights his fiercest matches when he’s wearing his lucky purple mawashi.

Pinion Tanaka

Official Description: Pinion Tanaka is a gold-painted micro van and a professional Sumo wrestler from Tokyo, Japan, who’s always a menacing sight in the ring in his signature teal mawashi.

Okuni

Official Description: Okuni is a micro car Kabuki dancer who dons the traditional white-painted face and an exquisite colorful kimono for her performances at the Kabuki theater in Tokyo, Japan.

Zen Master

Official Description: A master in the art of sculpting the serene zen rock garden at the Tokyo museum, Zen Master wears his old woven reed hat and uses his antique wood rake to create mesmerizing patterns in the garden’s sand.

Finally, we have 3 new Cars 2 Retro Posters (below):

Cars 2 Viral Campaign Begins

In the same vein as last year's "vintage" Lotso commercials, we now have a viral advert promoting Cars 2. The above video is advertising a "sale-a-bration" blow out at Cars 'n' Deals of Emeryville, California (home of Pixar) and whilst the actual video is really funny, what it leads to is awesome.

For want of not ruining all of your individual discoveries of the "secret" Cars 2 clip, all I'll say is pay close attention to the small glitch in the video. If you absolutely give up follow this link to the "secret" clip.

Nonetheless, the clip is great and offers some new footage and an actual look at the film, however the viral ad is also really good and has lots of Pixar trivia (A113 registration plate anyone?) for us die-hard fans to enjoy.

This got me even more psyched for Cars 2!

New Cars 2 Characters: Gorvette and Cartrip

We have recently been treated to 2 new Cars 2 characters, based on (in a similar vein to John Lassetire) real life celebrities. These are Jeff Gorvette (based on and voiced by NASCAR star, Jeff Gordon) and Darrell Cartrip returns (based on and voiced by announcer, Darrell Waltrip), below are the official descriptions, character images and turntables:

Jeff Gorvette

Official Description: Jeff Gorvette is one of the greatest American racecars alive today. Donning the stars and stripes of his country’s flag, the #24 Corvette C6.R has proven his ability to succeed on the big ovals and the road courses of the Grand Touring Sports circuits. Having moved from his hometown of Vallejo, California to Indiana to be closer to the racing world, Gorvette’s ability to accelerate at such a young age has turned hoods wherever he competes. His championships and number of victories are unmatched, making him a respected competitor-and legitimate threat-at the World Grand Prix.

Darrell Cartrip



Official Description: Darrell Cartrip is a legendary multi-Piston Cup champion turned beloved racing announcer. The Kentucky-born #17 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is known for his wild color commentary, delighting Piston Cup fans with his humor, charisma and signature catch phrases—"Boogity, Boogity, Boogity! Let's go racin' boys!" He’s spent years on the track, in the pits and in the grease, and he’ll tell you all about it. This American Southern gentleman knows what it takes to win, and plans to bring that fervent expertise to calling the World Grand Prix.

We also have the two awesome new posters for Cars 2 (below).

New Cars 2 Stuff: New Trailer and Stills

Once again we are treated to a cornucopia of Cars 2 stuff, namely the third official trailer (above), which is a mix of previously seen footage from the Cars 2 Daytona 500 TV Spot and some previously unseen (yet awesomely action-packed) footage. We also have 4 new Cars 2 stills courtesy of Stitch Kingdom (below).

Cars 2 Website Updated

Disney and Pixar have just updated the official Cars 2 website, the website now incorporates a super cool espionage theme and has the bios, images and wallpapers for computers and iPhone (above) for all of the characters.

In addition, the website shows us a new locale, Topolino's Village Italy. The website is exciting and interesting and has all the information about the film up until now.

Stay tuned and you can view the website here.

New Cars 2 Characters Unveiled

As The Pixar Times have previously reported, Disney and Pixar have added a Cars 2 Showcase Tab to the Cars 2 Facebook page listing and detailing all of the characters for Cars 2, with silhouettes for the yet to be unveiled ones.

Today, Disney and Pixar have revealed three new Cars 2 Characters (above) who will likely be competitors for Lightning McQueen in the World Grand Prix. These new characters are Brazilian, Carla Veloso, French, Raoul ÇaRoule and Japanese, Shu Todoroki.

No descriptions are yet provided but will likely be unveiled soon. I'm not personally a fan of Facebook and as such don't have an account and will likely miss updates on these characters, so I advise you to keep an eye on The Pixar Times, as they alerted me to this update.

Also, remember to vote in the poll to the right, as there isn't long left now.

Holley Shiftwell Turntable

In the latest of the Cars 2 turntables, we are given a 360 degree look at the new female character Holley Shiftwell (voiced by Emily Mortimer).

After being treated to several turntables over the last few weeks, including Lightning, Mater and Finn McMissile (finally uploaded on Disney/Pixar's YouTube channel in HD), we get the fourth one and the first in depth look at what is understood to be a main character in Pixar's upcoing sequel.

You can view all of these turntable videos in HD on my YouTube Channel as well.

More Cars 2 Character Shots and Descriptions (again!!!!!!!)

The latest in the recent blitz of Cars 2 paraphernalia is character shots and descriptions for 2 of the new characters for Cars 2, Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell. Courtesy of HeyUGuys, you can view the images and read the descriptions below.

Finn McMissile is a master British spy. Though charming and eloquent, it’s his stealth maneuvering, intelligence and years in the field that enable him to thwart unexpected attacks from bad guys, making quick daredevil escapes.. Finn’s design is sleek and timeless, but he’s also prepared for any tricky situation with an arsenal of ultra-cool gadgets and weaponry, including front and rear grappling hooks, a missile launcher, deployable magnetic explosives and a holographic disguise emitter. As a seasoned professional in the game of international espionage, Finn believes there is a conspiracy brewing during the World Grand Prix. His clandestine work surrounding the global exhibition race puts him on a collision course with Mater, whom he mistakes for an undercover American agent with a genius disguise.

Holley Shiftwell is a beautiful young British desk agent, turned spy-in-training who’s stationed in Tokyo. Well-educated and sharp, she knows every trick in the book—or rather, she relies on every trick in the spy manual. She’s armed with the latest state-of-the-art spy equipment imaginable, from hidden cameras and concealed weapons to a telescoping utility arm and a holographic pop-up display. Holley is a highly motivated agent, but is fresh out of the academy, so her experience is based on lessons learned in school rather than real-life situations. When seasoned international spy Finn McMissile requires Holley’s technical expertise for his latest top-secret field operation, she finds herself pursuing a rendezvous with the most unlikely candidate—Mater, an innocent caught up in the intrigue, who is mesmerized by the beauty of his newest friend.

Thanks to HeyUGuys and The Pixar Times.

New Cars 2 Image

Mere hours after we were given a still from Cars 2, we were given another shot from Pixar's upcoming sequel. The image (above) shows Mater and new characters, Holley Shiftwell and Finn McMissile, in (what I assume) is a plane, which raises several questions: are the planes alive like the cars, I guess the film will answer all questions.

The image comes from the Australian Herald Sun and is accompanied by an article about Cars 2 and the new characters.

Cars 2 Goes to Japan

Following on from their massive win at the Golden Globes yesterday, Disney and Pixar look ahead to June and to Cars 2 and continue their massive stream of Cars 2 updates with the above image.

The main and overriding thought when looking at this is awe, it is astonishing how much better the animation looks here than in Cars after just 5 years, it's breathtaking.

Thanks to The Pixar Times to alerting me to this.

Also, remember you only have a week left to vote in the poll to the right to determine what film YOU think will make the biggest impact in 2011.

Yet More Cars 2 Information

Over the past few weeks and months, we have received absolutely hordes of information regarding Pixar's next release, Cars 2. Last week we were treated to character shots and bios, a foreign poster and a Lightning McQueen Showroom Turntable, this week we got yet more information regarding the high octane sequel. We got another character turntable (above) for the 007 style Aston Martin, Finn McMissile - one of the coolest looking characters I've seen out of Pixar in a few years -, McMissile is to be voiced by British legend Michael Caine, you can watch the above video with the 007 theme music over the top (made by me) here or here in HD

We also got information on a new character (or CARacter - tehe), called Francesco Bernoulli (above), an Italian F1 Character. Whilst we've never heard of Francesco before, we have seen him before, in the first piece of Cars 2 concept art (below) with Lightning McQueen. It's been reported that the picture is artwork for some upcoming merchandise by Stitch Kingdom, so he is presumably quite an important character.

Finally, Pixar News Australia posted this new Cars 2 poster, a variant of the previous one featuring some of the main characters. It looks pretty awesome.

I'm really revved up (man, I'm hilarious today) for Cars 2 and super hyped for June (well... July here in the U.K.). Thanks to Pixar News Australia and The Pixar Times.

Cars 2 Cast

Following all of the Cars 2 unveiling from this past week, we have been treated to the cast list for new characters in the film. Courtesy of Empire:

Michael Caine as Finn McMissile (seasoned spy)
Emily Mortimer as Holley Shiftwell (spy in training)
Jason Isaacs as Siddeley (spy jet)
Joe Mantegna as Grem
Peter Jacobson as Acer
Thomas Kretschmann as Professor Z (Villainous sounding name)

Michael Caine in Cars 2

According to The Pixar Blog, a trusted Pixar source says that British Acting Legend, Sir Michael Caine is the voice of Cars 2 character Finn McMissile.
No official confirmation from Pixar or Disney as of yet.