Monsters University (2013)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Director

Dan Scanlon

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Peter Sohn, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Charlie Day, Alfred Molina, Tyler Labine, Nathan Fillion, Aubrey Plaza, Bobby Moynihan, Julia Sweeney, Bonnie Hunt, John Krasinski, Bill Hader, Beth Behrs, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Noah Johnston

Storyline

Since he was a kid, Mike (Billy Crystal) wanted to becomes a scary monster and planed to go to the Monsters University. Unfortunately when his dream is about to come true, he meets the lazy student James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) that threatens to mess off with his plans. 

Opinion

I really did not know what to expect from the prequel to a great film like "Monsters, Inc.", considering the film was made more than 10 years after the original. And knowing that usually prequels and sequels are kind of weak didn't help. But I guess Disney Pixar did what they do best, they made another good film.

So not only "Monsters University" marks Pixar's first prequel, but it gives us back the pleasure of the companionship of Mike and Sulley with a pleasant story of friendship.

If the original was a portrait of an odd couple, this one shows us the origin of the friendship between Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan in their freshman year at Monsters University. The plot pays many homages to the classic college comedies, and is based on the American college life, and despite the lack of any identification with my country, the film is funny and entertaining, and doesn't hold out on laughs.

It was interesting to see how all the main characters of the original had met, and what their relationships were like in the earlier days, but it was also great to meet some new characters, and despite the film lacks of Boo, there's a memorable and intimidating Dean Hardscrabble - voiced by Helen Mirren - that is remarkable. 

And, as usual, Pixar the animation is amazing. Yeah, I know, it's a cliché to say that but once again they crafted unique, appealing, vibrant, colourful, wonderfully detailed characters.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Fantasy

Director

Pete Docter

Country

USA

Voice Cast

John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, Dan Gerson, Steve Susskind, Bonnie Hunt, Jeff Pidgeon, Samuel Lord Black, Phil Proctor, Joe Ranft

Storyline

Sulley (John Goodman) and his best friend Mike (Billy Crystal) work together at Monsters, Incorporated, a company that delivers energy to Monstropolis by scaring children. But just when everything looks perfect, something happens and a human child gets into their world and threatens to destroy the whole Monstropolis.

Opinion

My brother used to love this film when we were kids, he watched it over and over again. But for some mysterious reasons, I thought monsters weren't my thing, and I've never watched it. Not until yesterday, when I've found myself going completely crazy about a 15-year-old kids movie. Yes, it really is that awesome.

Back in 2001, year of DreamWorks Animation amazing "Shrek", the creators of "Toy Story" brought "Monsters, Inc." to life, a superbly animated film, featuring humour, action and a lot of fun for the whole family.

The story, how beautiful and inventive it is! Brainchild of Pete Docter, the creative mind behind many other wonderful films - and masterpieces - from Disney Pixar, the story is pretty simple and that's what makes it easy to follow if you are a kid, and fun to watch if you are a human being. 

The plot is based on the oldest of childhood fears: monsters in the closet. Only in this case the monsters works for a company, and scaring children is not only their job but it is essential for their city. Also these monsters that spend their days scaring children are terrified by children themselves. And isn't it just brilliant the idea of separating the monsters world from the real world with doors?

The characters are wonderfully animated and very detailed, and each monster is capable of transmitting its own nature through its physical appearance. However, no matter how simple its physical structed it, Mike, a green ball with stick legs and one huge eye, is the soul of the film, and his comedy is seen throughout the film. Sulley, a colourful and fluffy blue and purple monster, instead is perfect to deliver the message of the film. The Billy Crystal-John Goodman pair works perfectly, and the film also includes an evil lizard with the ability to change appearance to its surroundings, just like a chameleon, wonderfully voiced by Steve Buscemi. And a lonely but friendly Abominable Snowman also makes an appearance. What else could you possibly ask for?