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diversions
Disney, Pixar
create a 'Monster' film
By Michael Watanabe
On-line Forty-Niner
As technology fills
our world, the distinction between reality and virtual reality
seems indistinguishable. Such was the case in this summer's
"Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within."
All the time and effort "Final Fantasy" put into
the pretty pictures could have been better spent on a workable
script. Pixar Animation Studios, releasing its latest flick,
"Monsters, Inc.," which opened Friday, has not made
the same mistake.
"Monsters, Inc." combines tradition with innovation
to deliver impeccable voice talents, an inventive story and
even better technology than its predecessors "Toy Story,"
and its sequel, "Toy Story 2."
In Monstropolis, a quirky world with monsters of all shapes
and sizes, James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski
work at Monsters, Inc. The company, owned by Henry J. Waternoose
(James Coburn), produces energy from children's screams.
Standard fare. Here's the twist.
The monsters, believing children are toxic, are scared of
the children. When one child, which Sullivan names Boo, accidentally
follows Sullivan into Monstropolis, the whole city goes nuts,
resulting in twists only Pixar could deliver.
Traditionally, Pixar has displayed original concepts of which
everyone could relate. "Toy Story" and its sequel
told us that mere playthings had lives of their own. Why else
would that Woody doll be in a different place every time?
"A Bug's Life" allowed us to see the complexities
of an ant society. Who ever thought those small creatures
faced so many dangers?
And, "Monsters, Inc." is no different. Everyone
has seen the monster under his or her bed. Everyone has a
monster in his or her closet. But who would have thought that
monsters were scared - even paranoid - of human children?
Following tradition, Pixar has once again included a short,
"For the Birds." The short, like the movie, was
funny while delivering a positive message about cruelty and
the last laugh.
The movie allows us to laugh while taking in a deeper message
- work through your fears.
"That should be the key," John Ratzenberger, who
voiced the Abominable Snowman, said in a round-table discussion.
"That should be the drum beat that Hollywood follows
right now."
Through the movie, Sullivan - and especially Wazowski - must
work through his fears to see Boo as an equal, not a dangerous
threat to monsters everywhere. This message is extremely poignant
in the trying times after the Sept. 11 tragedies.
"We're one country," Ratzenberger said. "Hollywood's
got to realize that it's not one group against the other."
Crystal moves one step further. Maybe this movie will open
the floodgates, and children will be able to discuss their
fears.
"Maybe parents will talk with their kids," Crystal
said. "They may open up to them, they may ask questions."
Aside from deeper meanings, "Monsters, Inc." delivers
brilliant voice talents. Often, the character shines and the
actor falls into the background.
"It's not the name of an actor, but how good they are,"
said Executive Producer John Lasseter.
Crystal and Goodman play off each other well, convincing the
audience they have been best buddies since kindergarten. Steve
Buscemi snarls as Randall Boggs, a gecko-type monster that
competes with Sullivan for the most amount of screams.
James Coburn sounds like a boss who runs his company like
a general. And Jennifer Tilly swoons, with just enough sultriness
in her voice, as the good-looking gal who Wazowski has his
eye - yes, his one eye - on.
The technology further emphasizes the voice-over talents by
convincing the audience, consciously and subconsciously, that
the characters are real. The little things, such as the 3
million individual hairs on Sullivan's body, immerse the audience
into Monstropolis.
The tech guys at Pixar had to simulate the movement of the
hairs on Sullivan's body and the lighting and movement of
Boo's T-shirt. They had to consider how hairs would move when
Sullivan grabbed something or brushed against a wall.
Videos taken of the actors during the voice-over process added
to the believability. At times, the actors could actually
see themselves portrayed on screen. Crystal recalled seeing
his eyebrow movements and arm gestures in Wazowski.
Buscemi saw himself in Boggs as well.
"There were little moments where I felt like I was watching
myself," he said, via satellite in Times Square in New
York, "and that was pretty unsettling I would have to
say."
Overall, "Monsters, Inc." works on a deeper level
while delivering a funny, innovative story compounded with
excellent technology. While the film does not quite reach
the heights of "Toy Story," it does speak to people
across the board.
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Disney/Pixar.
All rights reserved.
Mike,
top, has one eye for one girl, the snake-haired cyclops Celia.
Top Kid
Scarer Sulley, center right, and his Scare Assistant, Mike
Wazowski, center left, show up for work at Monsters, Inc.
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