New Pixar Film "Cars" in 2006- Thoughts?

[Classic Speedy]

So last night I finally saw The Incredibles. Yes, I put it off for this long. Foolish me, it was the greatest American animated film I've ever seen. Anyway, I saw this trailer for a new CG film called "Cars", which is apparently a characterization of NASCAR-style cars. I know the film is a long ways off and the plot isn't very well-known (if known at all), but for those that have seen the trailer, what are your preliminary thoughts?

Personally, I love the artwork- each car seems to have its own unique characteristics and, as usual, Pixar is the master at cartoony yet lifelike facial expressions. Of course, some of the textures seemed preliminary (though maybe that's what they were going for).

What will be interesting to see is what the story for a film like this will be. If it's another "underdog race car climbs through the ranks and defeats his nemesis in a big race" story, that'll be unfortunate. I'm confident that Pixar will be able to do original things with the concept of car racing, but it will be hard to top The Incredibles.

So what are your thoughts on this film? And has anyone heard anything more about Cars that would provide useful?

[Superperson]

The only plot summary I could find at all on this was this: A collection of classic automobiles set out for adventure on Route 66.

That really doesn't tell us much and I'm not even sure if that's what the movies about, that mite just be speculation. But I've seen the trailer countless times now, and am really excited about this movie. Reminds me of the brave little toaster, well a little. But I'm pretty sure Pixar will pull it off pretty good. They have yet to fail in the story department.
The movie was actually set back farther from November to June of 2006. Notb thhat it matters much we'll still be waiting forever for thisw movie to come out but IMDB gave some minimal info: http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/

[J. B. Warner]

Pixar doesn't make bad movies. It's, like, the law or something.

EDIT: On an unrelated note, Speedy Boris, you aren't the last person here to have seen "The Incredibles" - I still haven't seen it yet either. I may have to wait until my college does a free campus screening.

[Matt-a-Tastic]

Still havent seen it either:crying:

Cars looks really good BTW, Its too bad we will have to wait ages for it:sad:

[Fone Bone]

The trailer didn't look that great, but to be fair neither did the trailer for The Incredibles, and that was awesome.

[Samurai]

Pixar doesn't make bad movies. It's, like, the law or something.A Bug's Life wasn't great, and in fact, I thought it stunk. Then again, I think a lot of stuff stinks, so maybe my tastes are different.
Personally I think Pixar's streak of hits will end with Cars. I just didn't get that same feeling from watching the trailer. Then again, the movie's not out, so who knows. But I have a feeling this will appeal more to budding Nascar fans than anything else.

[Dee]

I wasnt really impressed with the trailer for Cars. It looks too much like the character design for the Chevron cars from the Aardman animated commercials.

[Fone Bone]

I wasnt really impressed with the trailer for Cars. It looks too much like the character design for the Chevron cars from the Aardman animated commercials.Me neither. But again The Incredibles trailer was underwhelming too.

[Dee]

I was actually really excited to see the teaser trailer for the Incrdibles.


This cars one though was disappointing and immediately--- I thought "Geez, that looks exactly like Aardman's designs".

[Fone Bone]

I was actually really excited to see the teaser trailer for the Incrdibles.


This cars one though was disappointing and immediately--- I thought "Geez, that looks exactly like Aardman's designs".I wasn't. It screamed stale superhero spoof about a middle-aged paunchy hero (real original:rolleyes: ). I was so pleasantly surprised that the movie offered a social satire and a love story about a man and his family. The trailer never even HINTED at the depths the movie would reach.

And I thought A Bug's Life was really good so in my mind Pixar hasn't made a bad movie yet (Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins excepted).

[Xfox]

I have loved everything Pixar has done- the only one I was skeptical of was Finding Nemo and that really surprised me that it was very good.

However, the trailer I saw for Cars just made me drop my mouth in utter shock at how bad it looks. The characters come off as annoying and the jokes were lame. Sad to say, I don't have very high hopes for Cars.

[TheBaldOneMpls]

My expectations are very low. But the shot of the cars coming around the turn four-wide with the reflection on the ground... man, that was perrrrtty.

[Johnny Cakes]

I do not think that the Cars trailer looks very good, but I am still optimistic given Pixar's record. Of course they are bound to make a mediocre film at some point.

Also, I think Bug's Life was a great movie. I definetly enjoyed viewinng it in the theature more than any other Pixar movies.

[Scythemantis]

I just don't see how you can do as much with cars as you can with toys, insects, sea life, monsters or superheroes. It'll probably be okay, but the premise seems really dull. Maybe pixar should steer away from these "a look into the secret life of everyday things that reflects our own!" type movies and maybe do a couple of action/adventure tales NOT grounded in the real world.

[Mandi-chan]

I was skeptical of all the movies they did when I saw their teaser trailers (with the exception of Monsters INC because that teaser was funny). But so far, they've all been pretty good! I won't judge this movie until I see it!

[Mynd Hed]

I wasnt really impressed with the trailer for Cars. It looks too much like the character design for the Chevron cars from the Aardman animated commercials.

Yeah, like a bizarre fusion of that and Thomas the Tank Engine / Jay Jay the Jet Plane (both of which I've always found more creepy than anything else).

I'll probably wait on word of mouth before making a call on whether or not to see it. Incredibles was great, but I'm slightly south of the "Pixar can do no wrong" camp-- although both Toy Story flicks were lots of fun, I'm going to break with the majority and state right here that Finding Nemo was a pretty average kids' movie and uneven at best.

[Behonkiss]

Personally, I thought Finding Nemo's original teaser (Dory and Marlin swimming around having a conversation) was godawful. And I loved how the movie turned out.

Pixar is not unfallible, as A Bug's Life, a good but average film, proves. However, I can't make a guess concerning Cars's quality until we get a true trailer.

[Classic Speedy]

Yeah, like a bizarre fusion of that and Thomas the Tank Engine / Jay Jay the Jet Plane (both of which I've always found more creepy than anything else). It reminds me more of the videogame Stunt Race FX, with the eyes/ears/mouth on the front of the cars and reflecting the personality of a particular vehicle.
The only plot summary I could find at all on this was this: A collection of classic automobiles set out for adventure on Route 66. Hmm... I hope it's not a road trip movie. It would lose originality points for that. Of course, it's all in the execution- if they take the road trip idea and put a new spin on it.
But I have a feeling this will appeal more to budding Nascar fans than anything else. Not necessarily; I dislike NASCAR racing (don't get me wrong- I have a lot of respect for the difficulty of endurance racing, I just find it boring to watch on TV), but I liked the sense of speed that the trailer gave off.

I think the real concern here is whether the film will be able to top such a monumental achievement that was The Incredibles. That film has raised the bar for all animated films from here on out, so Cars will definitely have some stiff competition, even if it's from the same studio. It's difficult for a film with more mature themes than your average Pixar film to revert back to a more kid/family-themed film. Of course, this is all heresay; we know nothing about the themes of Cars yet. Maybe it WILL have mature themes. Like, I dunno, the cars leak motor fluid to symbolize blood or something. ;)

Does anybody know who is writing the screenplay for Cars?

[Dee]

I wasn't. It screamed stale superhero spoof about a middle-aged paunchy hero (real original:rolleyes: ). I was so pleasantly surprised that the movie offered a social satire and a love story about a man and his family. The trailer never even HINTED at the depths the movie would reach.

And I thought A Bug's Life was really good so in my mind Pixar hasn't made a bad movie yet (Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins excepted).
Bugs life bored me to death. I'm a fan of goofy parody, and I adored The Incredibles trailer. Right now, Cars has me rolling eyes, so I hope things will be totally different between the movie and the trailer.

[Rae78]

A Bug's Life wasn't great, and in fact, I thought it stunk. Then again, I think a lot of stuff stinks, so maybe my tastes are different.
Personally I think Pixar's streak of hits will end with Cars. I just didn't get that same feeling from watching the trailer. Then again, the movie's not out, so who knows. But I have a feeling this will appeal more to budding Nascar fans than anything else.
I agree. Although the trailer is in its proto stages I didn't like the look of Cars, either. It looks rather boring and unfunny, imho.

[Waylaid]

So the whole point of this discussion is:

Pixar: Boring trailers, but Damn Good Movies!

[Behonkiss]

I liked the teasers for Monsters Inc. and Incredibles, but not for Finding Nemo and Cars, so they're 2 for 2 in my book.

[Alaskanbullworm]

I wasn't really impressed with the Cars trailer either, but I still have faith in the movie. I guess you could say "Don't judge a book by its cover" but replace book with movie and cover with trailer. It was like how the Incredibles ads were promoting the movie as a big comedy movie, but the humor wasn't the main theme. It was still a great movie though. Teasers are more of a "Look what we're making!", like for example the "Hitchhikers Guide" movie.

I won't really say too much about Cars until I hear a more of the plot and some of the pictures from the movie. Although the designs for the faces do seem a bit....different.

[Nin-Nin69]

Animation will be better than Incredibles, the plot will be dull like Bugs Life.

[DerekPowers]

I personally thought it looked boring. Cars, eh. I dont watch nascar and i never really played with Hot Wheels as a kid. I guess i'm not big on cars, and to me the trailer was just un-interesting.

To be completely honest, i think "The Incredibles" was over-rated. I liked it, dont get me wrong, but i honestly found myself a little bored at times, and found it quite predictable.

Infact, when i saw "Finding Nemo" i was struck by how the "Pixar Formula" was so apparent in that movie.

I dont know, i have liked all the pixar films to date, and but i think their formula is starting to show and the novelty of the animation isnt what it use to be.

I'll still see cars, and i definately loved Finding Nemo and i liked the incredibles a lot, but i think they're a bit over-rated. As films they are over-rated. if your talking strictly on technical animation terms, they're all that AND a bag of chips :p.

again, the cars trailer just bored me, and i was left thinking it could be the Pixar shark jump, but i'll wait and see. Again, i'm biased because i find cars in general to be boring. peace.

[Dark Fact]

If they show cars in a race skidding into the walls, blowing up, and having the other cars mourn them like a real death, maybe it'll make the movie more interesting....maybe. :shrug:

And I have yet to see the Incredibles....dagnabbit! :mad:

[Ben]

I also worry that the possibilities for expression are limited for a character design based aroung an automobile. There just aren't enough moving parts (on the outside). It has the potential to play to the weaknesses of computer animation instead of to its strengths.

[sKorpia]

Actually, none of Pixar's trailers have ever made me really interested in the attached movie. I was afraid that Monster's Inc was going to be bad but I was skeptical about all of them. It was only Pixar's strength in reputation, gained from one hit after another, that got me going into the theatres and eventually hyped up.

I have a feeling Cars will be another one like that. From what I've heard about the story (I think there's a link to a news article about Pixar and Ford in the news section), it will be another touching allegory. My only fear is of the saccharine level. If they avoid overly sugary stuff, Pixar will do fine.

Unlike Dreamworks, the goal has never been hyper-realism. It's been about stylization, infusing each film with its own unique signature.

[mdamman]

...I, like many, think Pixar can do no wrong. I know this thread is about whether the movie will be any good, but, as far as the box office is concerned, I don't think they should worry much. Pixar is doing the same thing they did on Toy Story - they're thinking about the brand extensions, only this time, the 'toys' have 4 wheels. Nascar, whether you like it or not, is absolutely huge. If the movie is any good, it will tap into the true heart of America, and it will be one of the biggest grossing movies of all time. If you don't believe me, read...

The facts: 72% of NASCAR fans are brand loyal, 42% of the NASCAR fans earn $70,000 or more in annual income, the NASCAR season runs for 10 months, broadcasting to 91 countries worldwide each week and is the second most watched sporting event on television in the US through partnerships with FOX Sports, NBC and Turner. NASCAR has access to more Fortune 500 companies than any other sport and in 2002 their licensed sales topped $1.5 billion.

'Nascar Dads' have Nascar kids, and they'll probably see it together in droves.

[Mynd Hed]

I know this thread is about whether the movie will be any good, but, as far as the box office is concerned, I don't think they should worry much.

I think that's kind of a given-- Pixar would have to make a REALLY bad movie to counteract the hot streak they're currently on, and even then the bad mojo wouldn't set in until the next film after, if then. As things stand there are so many fans who've had good experiences with their past films that they could edit together five or six episodes of Reboot, claim it was a brand-new state-of-the-art movie, and it would make a profit.

[TServo2049]

I've read this thread, and I would like to point out a few things:

First of all, as most should know, Pixar teaser trailers do not contain one single frame of footage from the actual movie. So you can't judge the quality of the movie by a teaser trailer, which exists only to get people interested in the film.
Second, as far as I know, it's not going to be about racing. That entire part of the trailer, from what little I've heard, is apparently supposed to be a big fake-out. The real movie is going to be, from what I can figure, a "road" / "buddy" picture featuring the two cars (the sports car voiced by Owen Wilson, and the tow truck voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) that appear at the beginning and end of the trailer, and their adventures on Route 66. I know that screams "typical Pixar formula" but I am sure they are going to pull off a film leaps and bounds beyond what everyone's expecting.
Third, people shouldn't be expecting another The Incredibles. The Incredibles was originally conceived by Brad Bird and other people who were not part of the "classic" Pixar team that did Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc., etc. Though I am sure that Bird and co. will probably end up doing more for Pixar, Cars is probably going to be a "classic"-style Pixar film in the vein of Toy Story and A Bug's Life. For starters, John Lasseter is directing, and I have also found out that, for the first time since Monsters, Inc., Randy Newman will be doing the music. So this movie will probably be more in line with Pixar's past stuff. And to me, that's not bad...Pixar has not yet disappointed me, and I doubt they will disappoint me any time soon.
Yeah, that's about it...

[Classic Speedy]

Thanks for clearing up a lot of stuff, TServo. Seeing the trailer for The Incredibles was a bit misleading, because it was made to look more like a comedy than a dynamic adventure of a movie with comedic elements. It'll probably be the same with Cars- we might get an INTRO segment where the cars are racing each other and THEN they hit the open road, but it won't be the main plot of the film like I originally thought.