Change Your Image
edbuskirk
Reviews
The Assistants (2009)
A hidden gem that took me by surprise!!
I enjoy films about Hollywood, so the subject matter was right in my wheelhouse. I did not expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did. I have purchased it and watched it a few times now as I introduce it to others.
While giving the audience a fun look at Hollywood, this film also puts scruples to the test as you journey with the characters struggling with blurred lines of morality as they just try and achieve their collective goal.
It took me by surprise, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Cars 3 (2017)
Cars 3 Review: Back On Track
Cars 3 Review: Back On Track By - Ed Buskirk Editor: Disney Movie Database
From This Moment, Everything Will Change...but in a good way!
Okay so I added the last few words, but it holds true. If my memory holds true, Cars 3 was announced at D23 two years ago. The announcement of a new Cars film was met with lukewarm response at best. It was slated to come out a year from now in 2018. Somewhere along the way, Toy Story 3 got bumped back, and Cars got pushed forward.
Naturally, I was hoping that this would be a good film. Full disclosure, the original and its sequel held a special place in the heart of my family, and myself. I became skeptical as the six month mark approached. We had seen very little advertising, and what we did see was met with mixed emotion. I became very worried, when we did not see any more advertising for quite a while, then the first real trailer dropped. My fears began to dissipate. As the marketing machine turned up, my apprehension turned down. In the past weeks we have seen some really good marketing for this film, and I don't say that often. For the Animated properties, I just don't feel that they do a great job advertising, but maybe as the tag line says "from this moment, everything will change".
In Cars 3, we catch up with Lightning at the top of his career, and he loves what he does. Things are changing for Lightning, his sponsor has been sold to a new owner, his friends are being forced out of of their positions as race team leaders to make way for the younger racers, and the sport is changing around him. Along comes the newer and faster, Jackson Storm, rocking McQueen's world, and making him doubt himself resulting in a near career ending crash. In order to reclaim his spot as the leader of his team, and his own confidence, Lightning sets off on a cross country journey, as a last ditch effort to find a way to beat Storm with his new trainer Cruz Ramirez.
Getting back to its roots, Director Brian Fee, keeps his focus on Lightning through the changes he has to make or be pushed out of the career he loves. Cars becomes a very adult story about career changes, and trying to stay at the top of your game. This is a story filled with heart, and moral lessons. The antagonist in this story are not really "bad guys" they just have different agendas than our heroes, and our heroes have to learn to overcome the obstacles that they never could have seen coming. The story takes some unexpected, but always pleasant detours and feels fresh and exciting. That is quite an accomplishment for a franchise that seemed to have lost its footing. I am pleased to say that this film lives up to its Pixar pedigree.
There are a couple of minor complaints with the film. I did not feel that the soundtrack from Randy Newman was as inspired as his first score, and there was no stand-out "McQueen and Sally" moment in the score for me. I may feel different upon multiple viewings, In the first film McQueen and Sally race each other through the area surrounding radiator springs, and the music is wonderful. It swells to a crescendo when the road takes a turn and you get the reveal of a waterfall. This movies score was just lacking one of those musical moments. My only other complaint if there was one, was the story arc of our antagonists. One seemed to kind of make a sudden change, and one felt like it did not wrap up to me. As important as this may sound, the film stayed focused where it needed to, and the stories we were invested in were the ones that received all the concentration, and the attention they deserved.
As with any Pixar film, it cannot go without saying that the visuals are mind blowing and worth viewing the film for at least a couple of times. I cannot wait to get this movie home and pour over the details that the animators packed into every frame.
The Summer movie season is crowded, and I for one know how expensive an investment it can be to take your family to the movie. However I do not have any reservations about recommending this movie to you. Its well worth your time and effort.
Score 8.2 out of 10