by Spence Blazak & Brian Long
Now we come to the question of what is the BEST Pixar film, which makes Sophie’s Choice look like picking out a pair of socks in the morning.
Brian: So now we continue to debate which of us is a big dumb, dumb head with our determination of what is the BEST Pixar film. For me it’s Wall-E. The film is an amazing science fiction piece and a brilliant satire. Let's start with the opening; the first half hour of this film is practically a silent movie with a trash disposal robot filling in for Chaplin or Keaton's shoes. The physical comedy is well choreographed and makes us believe that this little metal box could have a soul. Spence, what's your favorite?
Spence: This is tough. This end of the spectrum is a very different scenario considering there are so many perfect Pixar endeavors with Wall-E included. I'd say it is between the Toy Story trilogy (more specifically the third), Monster's Inc, Wall-E, and Up. To narrow it down a little further, I won't pick Wall-E because I don't want to give you the satisfaction of agreement and I’ll say Toy Story 3 is the best of the series. I could easily defend any of them, but for the best I'll go with Toy Story 3.
Brian: Explain why...using examples from this room.
Spence: Toy Story 3 would be a great movie without the existence of its predecessors, but with them, it ascends into movie nirvana. It cements its place in cinema history as one of the only series (along with the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films) to have a magnificent work for every installment. Toy Story is the setup. It showed the humanity of inanimate objects and that character dynamics aren't restricted to live action. Buzz and Woody are just as well developed and interesting as Geoffrey Rush's character in Shine. In Toy Story 2, it is a whole other ball game. The newly found friendship of Buzz and Woody found in the second half of Toy Story has now been around for a few years. All is right in the world. Until Woody is debilitated by an existential crisis.
The depth of Woody in the first film is like the ocean. And then in the second film, there is a sudden mile drop that makes the character even deeper. When he gets that small tear in his arm and is left home by Andy, we see through Woody a toy's peculiar take on mortality. The kids are the only thing that really make them alive, and without their kid, they might as well be dead. The thought of never being played with by an Andy who is moving on haunts him. By getting kidnapped by the Al's Toy Barn chicken, Woody finds a way to cheat "death". By joining the Woody doll museum collection, he'll be appreciated forever. At the end he realizes that forever having mild appreciation is no substitute for a few more years with Andy.
The second movie's main purpose is to give Woody's character setup for the third one, the masterwork. It all builds up for this. It’s years later. Andy is in the last week of his childhood. The toys haven’t been played with for years. Andy is apathetic. Yet Woody hasn't given up. He still has hope. Hope that doesn’t quite make sense. In The Shawshank Redemption, Red says "hope can be a dangerous thing," and it breaks the audience's heart to see him like this. Yearning for something he can never get back. He is like the man who hasn't moved on from an ex-girlfriend even though she now has a husband and 5 children. He still hopes it will work out. That first scene alone has some of the most beautiful images Pixar has ever animated. When Woody calls Andy to bring him back to the toy box in a last ditch effort, his phone connects with Andy. Woody yearns more than anything to say anything, just a word to him. It kills him that he can’t.
The movie hurts. It’s awful to watch Woody be in this denial, yet you can’t look away. Then when he is taken to the little girl's house, he starts to come to the realization that he is being selfish. Andy doesn't need him anymore. His purpose in life is to make a child happy. He finished his mission with Andy, and now it’s time for him to move on. And move on he does.
And I don’t think there are many things on film that are as beautiful as that last scene. Andy has one last playtime with his toys. Watching Andy's apathetic demeanor fade away as he remembers everything about the toys is beyond words. He goes through the toys one by one, handing them all over to the little girl. Then he gets to Woody. His final monologue. His hesitation. That’s why movies were invented. That’s why I love movies. That’s why it is the best Pixar movie.
Brian: It's difficult for me to disagree because I wept like an infant who's jonesing for milk at the end of Toy Story 3. However, we are looking for the best movie that stands alone. The trilogy is amazing, and I would put it up there with the best trilogies that cinema has to offer. HOWEVER, if we're talking stand-alone movie Wall-E has an incredible universal message about life that is incredibly powerful. We have a lone robot forced into a life of labor, but yearns for something more, something greater than himself. When Eve arrives on Earth, she too is a robot on a search for something greater than herself: a way to restore a whole planet. As I said earlier, the first half of the film is a silent comedy, while the second half becomes a Vonnegut-esque satire.
When we see the human race for the first time, we see a future that doesn't seem like a simple work of fiction. Humanity has literally become stagnant. They sit in technologically advanced chairs that transport them from place to place. Place to place being whatever stores they need to stop at on their luxury space station. Humanity now lives a material existence of corporate sponsorship. When Wall-E arrives, he unintentionally awakens the space station's residents, both human and otherwise, from their digital comas and helps them to realize the beauty of the world around them. One lone idealist leads a revolution against the technology that is enslaving the shipmates. Wall-E shows us that technology can make us grow or can hinder us beyond a point of saving, but ultimately the choice lies with us. All of this wrapped up in a story about a love-sick robot. There's literally something in this film for everyone. And while Toy Story is incredible, I feel it lacks that universal message for someone of any age.
Spence: Wall-e is great. It’s a very good satire, creates a lovable character out of a hunk of metal that says 3 words, and does a phenomenal job at making a simple yet complex work. BUT toy story is the crème-de-la crème. It’s like picking the best basketball player of all time. Wall-e is like Carmello Anthony. No. Not Lebron. Wall-e isn’t a Benedict Judas. Anyway, phenomenal player; he’s an animal in college and put Syracuse on his back to win the National Championship. As a pro, ya know same player...he just isn’t Michael Jordan (Toy Story 3). It’s nothing against Carmello (he still has a candy bar named after him which is so delicious that there must be Oompa Loompa in it) that he isnt MJ, but there can only be one His Airness. It’s a fact of life. They are both great, but Toy Story 3 is just....better.
Brian: I question if Toy Story 3 would have the same emotional impact for someone who has never seen the original first two films in the trilogy. Someone who didn’t grow up with the films, watching them every day and playing with their own Buzz Lightyear and Woody dolls probably would not feel that same emotional response. Wall-E is a film about having the bravery to think for yourself and to create the best world possible for the people and living things that are there now and will be in the future. And what helps us to get there? As Wall-E helps us to see, it’s simply love.
Spence: You don't need the first two Toy Story's to see that the third is a commentary on life's meaning and a new take on the age old story of dealing with moving on.Woody tries to come to terms with the fact that what he thought was his life's purpose has changed, and it follows him trying to find himself. And the power of love[1] is at the center of both works. Wall-e loves the world. he tries to help the world by making it a better place even though it’s a seemingly fruitless endeavor. Then when he meets Eve, his priorities change and he has an innocent love for her that he follows into outer space. Yeah... integrity. But no real reason for him to love Eve. I take that back. HE’S DESPERATE. HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ELSE ALIVE ASIDE FROM THE COCKROACH AND GOD KNOWS THAT THING WONT PUT OUT!
In Toy Story 3, you know why Woody and Buzz love each other and Andy. They need each other to survive, and they thrive on the mere presence of one another. It has depth and background. God, I'm tired. I just like Toy Story 3 better…your debates ARE SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF ME.
Brian: If I can just suck a little more life out of you throughout each debate then I’ll be a happy man.
Think we’re wrong? Tell us what you think is the best Pixar film in the comments below.
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