Cars 3 Delivers A Shocking Amount Of Emotionally Engaging, If Sometimes Formulaic, Storytelling

In many ways, Cars 3 feels like a companion piece to last summer's PIXAR movie, Finding Dory. Not only are both sequels but they arrive in an era of PIXAR's filmography so heavily dominated by sequels it's become understandable to question whether the more bold storytelling instincts the studio was relying on for its first 15 years of existence have escaped them (though Inside Out is the kind of masterpiece demonstrating how good this studio can be when it really swings for the fences). Cars 3, even moreso than Finding Dory (whose predecessor never really spawned much in the way of merchandise) is mostly a gamble to create toys and assorted paraphernalia that these Cars movies have become most noteworthy for.

My Thoughts On The New Cars 3 Trailer

Like all summers since 2006 (sans 2014), the hot months of this years bring forth a new PIXAR movie, with this year's newest movie being Cars 3, the newest entry in the animated saga that aggravates adults and sells billions of dollars in merchandise to children. I'm a big fan of the first Cars movie myself despite some major flaws in it (Lightning McQueen may be the worst protagonist in a PIXAR movie, save for Mater in Cars 2) but that second Cars movie really was the pits. Can Cars 3 turn things around for the franchise? I've got no clue but that first teaser trailer brought an ominous atmosphere that was unexpected at least.

Sam Elliot As A T-Rex Wanders Into The Final Trailer For The Good Dinosaur

If 20th Century Fox tends to advertise their family films in a hyperactive manner that tries to toss in as many references to modern pop culture as possible (the perfect proof of this is the placement of DJ Khaled's All I Do Is Win in the trailer for a freaking Charlie Brown movie), it seems Disney has decided to market the animated features from Walt Disney Animation Studios and PIXAR in a manner that allows them to embrace the fact that a number of the films from both studios are known to generate "feels". Notice how the trailers for Big Hero 6 and Inside Out had action and humor a-plenty, but also didn't shy away from displaying the more heart-tugging moments of the proceedings.

Why Exactly Is Cars 2 The Worst PIXAR Movie?

A two year hiatus from releasing a motion picture left many wondering if audiences would show up for the newest PIXAR film, Inside Out, but this weekends box office made it blatantly clear that there was no reason to fret. The newest effort from the studio made $91 million in its opening weekend, the biggest opening for an original film (one that's not a sequel or based on a preexisting source material) in history. To boot, it was the second biggest opening for a PIXAR movie in history, only behind the mammoth $110 million debut Toy Story 3 had five years back.

Planes: Fire And Rescue Review (Classic Write-Up)

As Plane As The Ann On Noses Face

The entire Cars franchise fascinates me to a degree that would easily perplex 98% of the human population. I love the first movie, which is the most underrated PIXAR film in my book, but Cars 2 was a messy feature that was made solely for toys and commercial tie-ins. But here's the thing; John Lasseter, who directed the first two Cars movies and produces both Planes features, genuinely loves this franchise. The first movie originated from a very personal place inside of him, and his love for toys and marketing is why this franchise has such a high level of presence in the world of marketing (well, that and of course the fact that Cars stuff sells like hotcakes).

Toy Story 4 Is Coming, Purely For Storytelling Reasons, We Assure You

The whole reaction to PIXAR making sequels in recent years has pretty much boiled down to people on the internet announcing the company is "losing its soul" or "selling out". I've felt that's more than a bit hyperbolic; sure, Cars 2 was underwhelming, but the Toy Story and Monsters Inc. continuations ranged from great to astoundingly incredible. But this newest sequel puts my faith in the company to the test. PIXAR is embarking on a fourth Toy Story.

The Next Movie From PIXAR, The Inside Out, Just Got Its First Trailer

I love PIXAR, and I find it a shame they didn't have a film released this particular year, since there's so much I'd love to talk about and discuss regarding their films on this blog. Without a new feature to center my thoughts on their filmography around, I worry any PIXAR editorials I conjure up will be thought of as random or bizarre. But I'll have plenty to talk about now regarding the company since their next feature, The Inside Out, just unleashed its first trailer, which you can watch below!

The List!!!: Five Great Things The Cars Franchise Brought Us

In The List!!!, I do a list that just reeks of being click-bait, analyzing a particular topic or subject that pertains to something major occurring in pop-culture. This week, in honor of Planes: Fire And Rescue, I look at five great things PIXAR's Cars franchise brought us.

 Let me just say it now; Planes: Fire And Rescue isn't a PIXAR movie. Neither was Planes. Those are made by DisneyToon studios, the fine folks responsible for such cinematic highs as Cinderella 2. PIXAR isn't involved in them aside from John Lasseter bewilderingly producing both movies. My hopes aren't high for the second Planes feature, and the first one was the absolute worst movie of 2013, and Cars 2 was a mess, but that doesn't mean this series of transportation movies has never created something interesting. Behold, five great things the Cars franchise has bestowed upon us!