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Monsters Inc.: Family EditionThe monsters in Monsters, Inc. are just so incredibly cute--and they know it. Whereas Woody, Buzz and pals in the Toy Story saga were filled with self-doubt about just how much the children in their lives would continue to love them, here our heroic monsters and their impossibly lovable human ward Boo have no such worries, at least when it comes to the cinema audience. And that's why Monsters, Inc., for all its wondrous computer-animated artistry, its smart humour and its family-friendly appeal, doesn't quite capture the naïve charm of its predecessors.
Nevertheless, John Goodman and Billy Crystal, as scare-champions Sulley and Mike, are a great double-act whose comedy never goes over kids' heads but still reaches up to make their parents laugh. The film's central conceit--that monsters in the bedroom closet are just doing a night's work in order to generate power from screams for the city of Monstropolis--is funny and cleverly worked out; and kids will of course love the fact that the monsters are mortally afraid of the very children they are trying to frighten. The animation is extraordinarily detailed (Sulley's fur is a marvel in itself) and the set-piece action sequences top anything that has gone before for sheer audaciousness. But overall Pixar play things very safe, from the hissable villain to the end credit "outtakes". A bolder film might have taken inspiration from The Nightmare Before Christmas; instead, a little of that Disney disease of knowing cuteness seems to have crept into the formula. --Mark Walker ... Read More » |
Average User Rating: 80% (59 Reviews) | |
| 5 / 5 | Watch out for the aspect ratio!
"baratron" - 10 September 2002 "Monsters Inc" is a fantastic film - no questions. My partner & I were anxious to buy it on the day of release. However, what we did not realise is that the "standard edition" of the DVD features the film in 4:3 aspect ratio. To get it in 16:9, you must buy the "collectors' edition". This is a surprising choice by Disney. For years, film buffs have insisted on their right to see films at home in a similar aspect ratio to that used in the cinema. The arguments about not losing any of the picture must apply doubly to a movie produced entirely in CGI, where every tiny object that you see on the screen took hours of rendering. The majority of DVDs come only in 16:9 or in a dual format, with one side of the disc showing 16:9 and the other 4:3. To release this only in 4:3 seems like a step backwards. The cynic in me would say that they're trying to rip-off consumers, by getting them first to buy the "standard edition", then to buy the "collectors' edition" at a few pounds more. If you are a film connoisseur, you must buy the "collectors' edition" to see the movie as it should be shown. |
| 5 / 5 | A thoroughly enjoyable and stunning treat for adults too!
"dolphina25" - 13 September 2002 I was unable to see Monsters, Inc during it's cinema release so I decided to buy it on DVD instead. The plot revolves around the Monsters, Inc factory which produces electricity from children's screams! The two main characters are the lovable and gentle giant Sulley (who is currently Head Scarer at the factory!), and his equally friendly best pal and co-worker Mike. Sulley and Mike are having an average day at work, when a child (Boo) accidently enters the factory and everything goes haywire! Although the plot isn't terribly sophisticated, it still manages to suck you in and you find yourself eagerly anticipating what happens next. Pixar do deserve many awards for the sheer originality and imagination that has gone into this film - from the Child Detection Agency, through to the door factory you can see how much effort has gone into the entire film. The animation in Monsters, Inc is absolutely stunning too, and even the most cynical and critical movie buff could fail to be impressed. The movement and texture of Sulley's fur is perfect, and Boo is eerily realistic as a child - her gurgles and choreography alike. What makes Monsters, Inc such a gem is that each and everyone of the monsters has their own personality and Roz has got to be one of my favourites! I purchased the Collectors 2-Disc Edition of Monsters, Inc and certainly don't regret it. It's jam-packed with features and includes a hilarious short - "Mike's Car". Monsters, Inc is one of those films that will stick in your mind, and is one of the those few films that is genuinely enjoyable for both children and adults. |
| 5 / 5 | Utterly Fantastic
gordo (Glasgow, Scotland) - 16 December 2003 Five stars really doesn't give this film justice. It is the best animated film ever, yes better than shrek and definetely on par with Toy Story, if not better. This is one of my favourite films of all time, without question. Pixar are absolutely brilliant. I mean they take such a simple yet unoriginal idea (monsters coming out of children's cupboards at night to frighten them) and they elaborate it to make an utterly fantastic film! The plot is simple yet effective, the characters are superb; Boo is the cutest character ever to grace the screen, it's hilarious; Mike is just the funniest character in this, the animation is excellent, it's just one of the finest films ever made! The special feaures are also superb, with over 3 hours of them, you will love it! This film should be in everyone's collection. It's not just a kid's film, im 18 and i absolutely love it! I cannot stress how good this film is and if your a fan of Pixar, i cannot stress enough how important it is to have this DVD. Buy it, watch it, love it, watch it again and again and.......you can watch it again and again and still laugh it, no joke. Buy this now, it is an outstanding film! |
| 5 / 5 | A parents' lifesaver
Psycho-theologian - 9 April 2006 I'm writing this review specifically from the point of view of a father with a 2 year old who loves this film. It is a great movie with lots of laughs and lovely animation. However, the best thing about this film is that it has decent plot and, as another viewer mentioned, you keep seeing more things buried in the background on repeat viewing. This is vital when you have a 2 year old who wants to watch it again, and again, and again, and again (you get the idea) Most childrens' movies are mildly entertaining for adults when watched the first time, bearable the second and actively irritating after that. This one stands repeated adult viewing without making you want to kill yourself.... Read Full Review » |
| 4 / 5 | "Come on! We've gotta find another door!"
Jennifer Litchfield (Auckland, New Zealand) - 8 January 2003 Monsters, Inc. is another triumph of computer animation from the wizards at Pixar. As with the Toy Story series, the plot is taken from a "what if?" scenario in a child's imagination. What if the monsters (whom everybody knows dwell in childrens' closets and under their beds) in fact live in a parallel world to ours? Monstropolis City is powered by energy garnered from children's screams, which are collected by the workers at Monsters Incorporated. James P. Sullivan and his sarcastic assistant Mike are Monster Inc.'s top scarers, but when Sulley inadvertently lets a small girl into the monster world things start to go awry. Monsters believe that human children are highly toxic, and in their efforts to put little Boo back where she came from, they uncover a fellow worker's sinister plan to revolutionise the scream-collection industry. One of the few down sides of the film is that at times it is just a little too cute, and Sulley definitely works best as a strong and straight-forward good-guy, as opposed to his attempts to be a moraliser and emotion-analyst. His computer-generated fur though is incredible. Over one million hairs have been animated to move realistically in response to anything from a light breeze to a Himalayan snowstorm. The concept of a factory that has an exact replica of every child's closet door, and that of monsters living in a world not all that dissimilar to ours is certainly clever; but it is also the little details - such as a "Grossery Store" and "odorant" (rather than deodorant) - which really make the movie. Although the ending is a trifle schmaltzy, this is a film that kids will love, and adults won't mind watching again and again.... Read Full Review » |
RRP
£21.93
Release Date
7 September 2002
Price Range
£4.99 - £14.99