Filed under: Etc.
First review of CARS says film has a flat
We here at Autoblog have been unabashedly eager to see the upcoming animated feature from Pixar Studios called CARS in which hot rod racer Lightning McQueen rolls into a sleepy hollow and make friends with the colorful characters of Carburetor County. So it is with much chagrin that we report to you this first review of Director John Lasseter's magnum opus. CARS has received an unflattering grade of 2 out of 5 stars from Sarah Lindner of the Austin American-Statesman.
On the film's plot Ms. Lindner comments, "For a huge stretch of the film, there's not what you would call a story going on. There are just cars hanging out." Uh, is that a bad thing? That's how we plan to spend our retirement – hanging out with cars. It seems the great effort on Mr. Lasseter's part to infuse CARS with enough auto-related minutia to please even the most diehard enthusiast has been lost on this reviewer. For instance, how cool is it that the numbers on the license plate of Luigi, a Fiat 500 in the film, represent the latitude and longitude of the Ferrari factory in Maranello. That's worth at least one star alone in our book.
Look for an official Autoblog review of CARS when we finally get a chance to see it after today's nationwide release.
[Source: Austin360]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
XiozTzu 3:47PM (6/09/2006)
Cars has a 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, it can't be that bad.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004076-cars/
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Dean 3:56PM (6/09/2006)
Check out the statement our local newspaper "film critic" just HAD to make:
"The dwindling supply of fossil fuel and rising gas prices are never mentioned, and the lost opportunity may be an elephant in the room to anyone who fills up on the way to or home from the theater.
And that's one reason I was not sympathetic to this film going in."
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=433146
I can't wait to take my kids to see this film, my 4 year old can't wait to see it. I think the majority of people still like cars. Too bad for the spoilsports that don't, and just HAVE to let everyone else know that they don't approve.
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YOUR MOM 3:58PM (6/09/2006)
IT GOT 2 THUMBS UP FROM EBERT AND REOPER
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Steve C. 4:01PM (6/09/2006)
Also check this:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/
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Mohamed 4:05PM (6/09/2006)
That paper must suck. CNN/Entertainment Weekly gave it an A-: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/09/ew.cars/index.html
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Mike 4:09PM (6/09/2006)
Yea, well I happen to live in ATX, and there's a reason we've called that paper the Austin American Spaceman for as long as I can remember....
To be quite honest, I won't see a movie if the AAS rates it well!
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mr 4:31PM (6/09/2006)
Pixar's wore out its formula a long time ago. The problem is that all Pixar product is written and directed by animators. An animator isn't exactly a "go-to guy" when it comes to telling a compelling story.
They've also fallen into the ENORMOUSLY tiresome rut of using stuntcast celebrities, rather than actual voice talent. Enough, already! Hire Billy West, ferchrissakes!
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trx 4:33PM (6/09/2006)
#2 you're dead on target. THey're a group of self-loathing individuals who hate everything that the mainstream loves and they're called LIBERALS!
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Richard Warren 4:33PM (6/09/2006)
Hey, these are "critics" we're talking about.
Who gives a rats ass what they think? Sort of like who gives a rats ass about JD Powers surveys or any of the other so called "surveys" that are given.
Same for polls, Bush at 35% no 33% no 37% lowest polls for a president ever. Up from 34% to 38% still his lowest poll! Ahhhhhh last time I looked, he was still in the White House. (Even if you do or don't like him)
Two words for the critics, pollsters, and surveys, F**K Um. Go see the movie you want. Vote for who you want,a nd while you're at it, buy the vehicle you want.
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John 4:42PM (6/09/2006)
It got an A- too from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Being liberal has nothing to do with it, it's called being a snob.
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CJ 4:44PM (6/09/2006)
Hey Rush, err I mean trx. What do "LIBERALS" have to do with it? If you *meant* to say democrats, well I (and my kids) love cars and the film. Next time use your own thoughts....
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Mark 4:50PM (6/09/2006)
The problem is pretty simple. You have a bunch of reviewers that are reviewing the film heavily biased toward previous Pixar films. They are expecting Cars to surpass Toy Story 2 and Finding Nemo, and are dissapointed when it doesn't. The fact that it isn't as good as previous Pixar films doesn't make it a bad film. I saw the film this afternoon, and it was great. It is not Finding Nemo or Toy Story 2, but it still one of the best movies I've seen in a while, even if it is a "kids" movie. Car fanatics will appreciate the dozens of cameos of famous cars, of which I won't spoil the surprises. It is a great movie, just don't go into it expecting the next Finding Nemo, and you won't be dissapointed.
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SoloTwo 4:56PM (6/09/2006)
Well that review was by my local milwaukee paper, JSOnline is full of liberal idiots who need to bring there political views into every story they put out.
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John B. 5:22PM (6/09/2006)
Nobody reads the Austin American Statesman. And why don't affluent liberal austonians live in South East Austin. Over on William Cannon?
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Ryan 5:23PM (6/09/2006)
"8. #2 you're dead on target. THey're a group of self-loathing individuals who hate everything that the mainstream loves and they're called LIBERALS!"
Well you can count this fairly liberal/democrat IN, we are seeing in tonight, at where else but the DRIVE-IN!!!!
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Ryan 5:26PM (6/09/2006)
"13. Well that review was by my local milwaukee paper, JSOnline is full of liberal idiots who need to bring there political views into every story they put out."
-Well even being a fairly liberal/democrat, dude I have to say uhhhhh I agree with you.
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iQuack 5:29PM (6/09/2006)
If "CARS" is a good as "Finding Nemo," I'm going to see it.
Couldn't eat sushi for a week after seeing "Finding Nemo."
Go here:
http://www.20minutestolessstress.com/nemo%20sushi.jpg
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Philip Hutchins 5:31PM (6/09/2006)
The one thing that gives me concern is the volume of easily purchased 'hype' for three weeks now. That usually indicates a film which does not have adequate quality to get a buzz going once it has been seen.
It is pretty easy to get a 'critic' hyped about a few clever details and voices, but that is not enough to make a move really good.
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Cervus 5:37PM (6/09/2006)
I saw the first showing of the movie this morning. It wasn't the best of Pixar's efforts, but it wasn't as heavy handed in the morality department as the commercials and preview let on. There was also a hilarious short before the movie started, "One Man Band".
This movie is a must for any gearhead, though. You'll love Ornament Valley. :)
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ME 6:19PM (6/09/2006)
#8, give me a break. There are "liberals" like hate cars, and there are those that like them. Can't we just talk about the movie without going political?
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