Sequels always have a daunting task! It has to offer everything that everyone loved about the original but deliver it in such a way that sets the second chapter apart from the first one! You have to give the audiences something familiar, throw in a few new elements for good measure, and cross that fine line between being the same but different without losing your balance. However, there are some sequels that benefit from staying right on that fine line with no means of trying to differentiate itself from the original or separating itself from it’s own formula, even if it does occasionally flirt with what it would do if it chose to cross that path. Since the new burger tasted so good the first time you had, why bother changing the ingredients when you have it a second time? And that is where sequels like Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come come in!
While it is no doubt more of the same and doesn’t even try to be as fresh as Radio Silence’s original magnum opus, it still contains most of the same old ingredients that audiences loved about the first movie with a few new elements sprinkled in that does enough to justify it’s existence. The cast is much bigger and adds more to the established lore of Ready or Not, there’s a much larger scope and more expansive setting to explore, there’s more bloody kills and guts spewing everywhere than before, and there’s even more beautiful blondes kicking butt this time around. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel nor is it trying to win over anybody that were not fans of the original. It just wants to have a gory, fun time and it certainly succeeds at that.
Premise: After surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game, and this time with her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), by her side. To survive, Grace must keep Faith alive and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are also hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins will rule it all.
Throughout Ready Or Not 2, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olphin and Tyler Gillett make it clear that their #1 goal with Here I Come is to have more fun this time around rather than trying to play a brand new game from seven years earlier. Going bigger, not bolder. Expand the mythos, not deepen them. Be with the grain, not against it. Deliver on expectations, not subvert them. (We even get to see Samara Weaving wearing the exact same bloody wedding dress she had in the first movie!) While that is certainly well and good because the duo are well aware of their own interests as well as the audiences, you can’t help but be mildly frustrated at the intriguing subtext and ideas that the film chooses to handwave.
The film states that the rich families that Grace and Faith are fighting against are these insane religious supremacy overlords that are using their money, wealth, and power to control all the world’s resources. And if they are not successful in killing Grace, then they will lose all of that money, wealth, power, and control over everything. Yet aside from an occasional line or two, Here I Come never really dives deep into that, feeling like it only exists to give the rich families new motives for needing to kill Grace.
And that is where the shortcomings for Ready or Not 2 come into place. Even though it’s longer than the first film and has more locations and set pieces than before, it wants to add more subtext and character dilemma than before. However, because the pacing is so break-neck and Bettinelli-Olphin and Gillett are in such a hurry to get from one glorious kill to the next, these moments never have time to breathe.
There’s the goals of the rich elites to control everything but it never goes into why they want to achieve these goals other than Satan told them so. You got a rivalry set-up between Grace and her ex-husband’s previous finance that doesn’t go anywhere aside from an awesome climatic fight between the two. You also got a sister bondship which includes scenes, while good and well-acted, forces the pacing of the film to come to a screeching halt and suspense of disbelief needed for these moments while the two girls are fighting for their lives. There’s these doors opens for Here I Come to be bolder and risker than the original but it’s clear the film would rather just close it and stay in the house that it’s clearly comfortable in.
Thankfully, none of that detracts from the entertainment value here because all of the successful elements that made the original Ready or Not so fun are still good here. The kills are fun, the blood and gore are turned up to 11, the set pieces and chase sequences, while extremely over-the-top and nonsensical, make for some of the film’s exciting and delightfully amusing moments, and the supporting cast all make for fine additions to these series of films, with the main highlights of the rich families being Sarah Michelle Gellar as the well-intentioned but morally handcuffed rich daughter, Elijah Wood as the straight as an arrow lawyer, and also whoever the heck that guy who was playing the Nintendo Switch 2 (Seriously, what’s his name?! I can’t find him on Google or Wiki!).
The real glue that holds Here I Come together is Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton playing two long distanced sisters. Samara Weaving is able to kick just as much ass as she did the first time around (and does so in that same bloody dress) while being able to match every moment she can with her effortless charisma and mighty war scream (That NEVER get old!). Kathryn Newton, who has already proven herself to be a reliable Scream queen with Freaky and Abigail, has really sold chemistry with Weaving, really buying the core relationship between two sisters who thought they wanted nothing to do with each other but deep down they really do. Even if the more character driven moments between the two sisters did come at the expense of the film stopping dead in it’s tracks, the film wouldn’t have worked as well as it does if it weren’t for these two actresses trying to work out their problems with guns, swords, and pure wits.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is the textbook definition of a sequel that is basically, “What you see is what you get!” Do you want to see more heads and bodies exploding with creative and satisfying kills?! Do you want to see more gorgeous looking locations, well-suited costume designs, and a more expansive world to spend time in?! Do you want to just have fun for 105 minutes with two super hot blondes and the OG Buffy the Vampire Slayer?! If your answer is Yes to any of those, then I can’t see how you won’t enjoy another round with Radio Silence’s most unique original series to date.
As much as I can nitpick about the glossed over subtext and lore, that’s a small price to pay for everything else it does well. Is it more of the same? Sure? Does it taste just as good as the first time around even though you’ve already had it? Absolutely!
You know how sometimes whenever a new movie comes out and the studio decides to NOT lift the review embargo until the exact day the movie comes out? That’s usually a sign that the studio has ZERO faith in the film they just poured millions of dollars into and hope they could swipe it underneath the rug from any kind of negative publicity in the hopes of making any sort or profit of said film before it hits digital and streaming. There might always be an exception (*cough* Oppenheimer) but whenever a studio usually does that, NINE times out of ten, they know they got a dud on their hands.
Project Hail Mary has been the exact opposite of that. Amazon has given the film PLENTY of attention and early press releases before it hit theaters everywhere this weekend. Only this time, it’s not just for film critics but for film audiences as well! There has not been one but TWO special screenings that has come from AmazonMGM, a studio which absolutely needs a hit after several underwhelming films (Mercy, Crime 101, and that one documentary that shall not be named) to start off 2026. Regardless if this is an act of faith or desperation, you can’t say anyone involved is afraid to show everyone what they got with this latest motion picture.
However, giving a film too much exposure can easily backfire. It can generate overhype and set the film with completely unrealistic expectations of it’s quality harder than any film that wins Best Picture at the Oscars ever could! Or there can be times where all that hype and buzz is absolutely worth it and the film just ends up being a perfectly executed version of the film that it inspires to be that there’s not much to complain about. And I can said with good pride that the film I’m just about to talk aboutis exactly the latter of what I’m talking about.
Project Hail Mary is an incredibly well made, extremely well acted, and very well paced sci-fi thriller that works (I imagine) not just as a faithful adaption of the critically acclaimed book from Andy Weir (The Martian) but it also stands strongly as it’s own cinematic experience and a thematically moving think tank surrounding art and science . There is not a single second that is boring or uninteresting, Ryan Gosling is pitch perfect in the lead role as Grace and has great chemistry with his so-called co-star (which I’m not going to spoil in case no one is aware of that character yet), it has a perfectly controlled tone that knows when to be funny, serious, and moving when it’s absolutely required, and even if you can see the inspiration from your favorite sci-fi flick from the 2010s (Gravity, Interstellar, The Martian, Arrival, Mr. Gosling’s own First Man! Take your pick!), it is able to have it’s own unique identity while telling a distinct story about the importance of loyalty, friendship, unity, and sacrifice. While it’s certainly not the most flawless film I’ve ever seen and I’m sure there will be nits to be picked from fans of the book, I can’t imagine Project Hail Mary being a better version of itself than what Mr. Lord and Mr. Miller was able to deliver here.
Premise: Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory slowly returns, he soon discovers he must solve the riddle behind a mysterious substance that’s causing the sun to die out. As details of the mission unravel, he calls on his scientific training and sheer ingenuity — but he may not have to do it alone.
I will say straight off the bat that I have NOT read the book that this film is based on. I’m well aware that Andy Weir’s 2021 spiritually successor to The Martian is one of the more beloved books in recent worry, being a New York Times’ best-seller for 28 weeks in a row. However, I purposedly choose to hold off on reading the book BEFORE seeing the movie in order to not spoil the cinematic experience for myself! Even so, while I’m sure there were some changes had to have been made and plot elements that had to be reworked or cut out in order for it to qualify as a feature film, I really get the feeling that is indeed a very worthy adaption of it’s source material.
The main reason I believe that is because it’s clear how much pure confidence is on display from the cast and crew with the making of this film. You really get the sense that it’s trying to capture a special lightning in a bottle that you don’t get from films these days. They are trying to offer you an experience that you possibly couldn’t get from any other film besides this one, even including the other recent sci-fi flicks that it’s clearly inspired by. It’s trying to engage you in ways that you probably never expected, especially when you discover what the main driving force of the film is suppose to be. And it’s even trying to tell a tale about finding that spark of hope within yourself when it seems like no else can. Even if Grace himself is doubtful that he can complete his mission, the cast and crew have more than enough trust in themselves with Project Hail Mary.
As much as comparisons are going to be made with The Martian (and rightfully so…..in good ways), the main protagonist Ryland Grace is NOT Mark Watney! He’s not someone who has had major experience with space travel or being an astronaut. He’s just a simple teacher who is sent on a mission that can determine the fate of humanity and earth because he simply has nothing left to lose. Project Hail Mary isn’t strictly a story about a man working his way back home, it’s a story about a man working his way so that billions of other earthly live forms (and a very special friend) might have a chance of going back or staying home for the foreseeable future. Even if it’s not a full on direct sequel of The Martian, screenwriter Drew Goddard is able to properly expand the themes of Andy Weir’s work involving sci-fi and space operas once again in ways that will certainly put a smile on the author’s face.
Nothing in Project Hail Mary could have worked as well as it does without Ryan Gosling’s masterful performance as Grace! Much like the tone in the film, he is able to expressive himself exactly the way that the script demands for it whenever he is needed. He has great comedic timing, knows when to transition to being serious and emotional, makes every single dramatic and character beat feel earned, and makes for a overall engaging screen presence that is able to hide any sort of jarring shortcoming that the film might have. And yes, he does have absolutely perfect chemistry with that one special character that I will not mention because it’s a spoiler free review. But, all I will say is this…..Baby Yoda has some SERIOUS competition!
The other MVPs of the film goes to co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. This film makes for the duels’ first directorial feature credit since 2014’s 22 Jump Street. While it’s certainly crazy that it’s been 12 years since these guys have fully directed a film (It’s a shame that Solo: A Star Wars Story didn’t work out but the Spider-Verse films were co-written and produced by the duo, NOT directed!), they make their cinematic return feel worth it. Just like they did with films like The Lego Movie and Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, they are able to take this odd and far-reach concept of a man trying to achieve the literal impossible while including it’s own unique brain in it’s head. They know how to get their universally relatable themes about the need for connection and working together in a time of crisis while not being afraid to be funny and moving along the way.
In terms of other technical and productive achievements, Project Hail Mary is the complete package. While there’s not a direct sequence that is as aspiring as the very best scenes from Gravity or Interstellar, this is a very beautiful looking motion picture, making the extra bucks for IMAX actually feel worth it. Any shot in space is a treat for the eyes and the transition from IMAX ratio to normal ratio is surprisingly never jarring. The cinematography by Greig Fraser is on-point, the score by Daniel Pemberton is able to be as equally mesmerizing as it is moving with some truly inspiring song choices, and even though this is a story which the events are told out of nowhere, the superb job from editor Joel Negron has every scene flow together very well and makes this daring narrative choice from Mr. Lord and Miller feel completely justified.
It may seems like I’m scratching underneath the surface with this review but that’s because there’s so much AURA here that I don’t want to spoil it for anyone that is curious to see Project Hail Mary this weekend. Not necessarily because there’s any game changing spoilers to be found (outside of the obvious elephant in the room) but because I want your experience to be as fresh and surprising as it was for me.
Project Hail Mary is sci-fi, adaptions, and cinema as it’s absolute best! It’s able to find the best of every possible world that it can and is able to stand strong on any merit that you chose to measure it with. I can nitpick about there being one or two many “funny” scenes and the way the film continuously teases what ending pathway it will chose to take by the end of Act Two and leading into Act Three is a tad jarring but when a film is this well put together, entertaining, and filled with so much optimism despite taking place in a literal dying Earth, how can you let ANY kind of flaw distract you from everything else?!
This will likely go down as one of the best films of the year, an early frontrunner for Best Picture at Next Year’s Academy Awards, and proof that cinema in Hollywood can evolve without the need of a Marvel superhero or a remake of an animated film from 30 years ago to carry theaters for the future. It’s become rarer every day to recommend a film that fully justifies the $15 to $20 ticket price but Project Hail Mary is exactly that!
You ever seen that meme that says “Never Kill Yourself”? I like to imagine the person that came up with that meme was describing the experience of watching Project Hail Mary!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna pre-order the novel now!
There is a lot of bad stuff going on in the world right now. The US is at war with Iran, gas prices and electricity bills are skyrocketing like crazy, AI is cutting people’s jobs at an alarming rate, Access Hollywood just got cancelled, the government is covering up creepy people right in front of your eyes thinking that nobody is noticing, and we are just one bubble burst away from a global recession like we’ve never seen before. However, instead of having a serious conversation on anyone one of these deadly serious topics (especially in regards to Access Hollywood being cancelled), we are throwing a fit over what Hollywood actor Timothée Chalamet recently just said in regards to ballet and opera. Not only has this statement gone so haywire, it has caused so much controversy that it might just cost Mr. Chalamet an Academy Award for his star-turning role in Marty Supreme at the Oscars this Sunday. And let me tell you, this is all dumb as s**t!
In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, Timothée Chalamet recently made a comment in regards to ballet and opera and how he believes that’s an art form that “no one cares about anymore”. A few weeks ago, he sat down in a interview with CNN and Variety with Matthew McConaughey (who he co-starred with in 2014’s Interstellar, the second major film he ever stared in). In that discussion about preserving cinema as an art form, Mr. Chalamet and McConaughey talked about the importance of keeping the theatrical experience alive, which the former has done with recent box office smash hits such as Wonka, Dune/Dune: Part Two, and Marty Supreme.
He was quoted saying, “I admire people, and I’ve done it myself, who go on a talk show and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive, we’ve gotta keep this genre alive,’ and another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like Barbie, like Oppenheimer, they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it.”
However, it’s the very next comment that Chalamet chose to follow up on that has got on everyone’s nerves. He then compared trying to save the theatrical experience of film and cinema to that of trying to save the theatrical experience of ballet and opera.
The Academy Award nominee went on to say, “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,’” he says with a laugh. “All respect to the ballet and opera people out there … I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I’m taking shots for no reason.”
And that has caused everyone and their mother to initiate outrage culture like no other mainstream related thing in recent memory, at least since Mr. Tarantino decided to take shots at Paul Dino and Matthew Lillard for no reason (Seriously, WTF Quentin?!?! Shut up and make your final film already!).
Never mind the fact that he IMMEDIATELY followed up that comment with a jab at himself, knowing he spoke a bit too harshly there. Never mind the fact that Mr. Chalamet has come from a dance family (his mother and sister went to the School of American Ballet), grew up in Manhatten Plaza (a special residence for artists and dancers), and probably knows more about ballet and opera than over half the people on the internet. Never mind the fact about at least 75% of folks that are triggered by this can’t even recall the last time they have ever sat through a ballet or opera from beginning to end. Never mind the fact that there are MANY others issues going on right now in the entertainment industry and real world that are worth having serious discussions over. It’s this one distinct moment that has everyone stepping up to the plate in the hopes of hitting enough dingers to take down Timothée Chalamet’s time of fame and possibly his Oscar along with him. And I can’t not believe we are all making one big effing deal out of all of this!
I will say straight up front that I don’t love what Timothée said here. It’s not wise to take poke fun at another art form when the art form that you are a part of is currently struggling mightily with a future that is very clouded. While I do appreciate he took a jab at himself for making comments that he had to have known would get blown out WAY of proportions, it’s not smart to insert juicy, click-bating quotes like that in this day and age that we live in, especially when you are in the middle of Oscar season. However, I still can’t say he’s 100% in the wrong here.
Don’t get me wrong, I have NOTHING against ballet and opera! It makes for a very fine art form and for very fine entertainment when you need to take your mind off the rest of the world. And it’s not even that it’s on life support in the same way the film industry is. It’s just not as relevant to our mainstream culture has it once was. Before tomatoes get thrown at me, let me explain.
Outside of big film adaptions of theater such as Hamilton or In The Heights, can anyone tell me the last time that ballet and opera have existed in the same bubble as film and television? When was the last time that both of these particular art forms have existed side-by-side and was view directly under it’s own merits as oppose to each other? When was the last time that both of these art forms were held to the exact same standards about preserving their futures? And most importantly, when was the last time that one of these art forms was seen as more alive than other or even considered alive and well at all? I don’t think I know the answer to these questions and I don’t think YOU do either.
There is a lot of compare and contrasting about the niche appeal of ballet and opera and film and cinema. While we tend to see a popular clip or two of either one of these art forms in the realms of TikTok and Twitter along with plenty of well-informed insiders and elite perceptions of these two particular mediums, it’s very hard to tell how each one of these art forms can exist in it’s own vacuums now in the same way they were able to in the past. Ballet and opera and film and cinema need to thrive in ways that only they themselves can for these art forms to evolve and not in ways that can compliment one another. And I think Chalamet knows this.
As I mentioned before, Timothée comes from a dance family. He has a mother and sister that went to ballet school, he grew up in a plaza that is very complimentary of artists, talent, and dancers, and he probably has plenty of experience of his own in this particular art form. I am certain he knows the ins and outs of that industry and how different it is compared to the film industry. He knows how he can help one art form preserve in troubled times and not so much the other. Because of that, he is taking upon himself to help uplift the art form that only he can do and NOT the art form which he can’t.
Ballet and opera is thriving under it’s own sphere. And if Chalamet’s background is any indication, I’m pretty confident he believes so too. However, just like many traditional media forms over the past decade such as film, television, and radio, it is NOT what it used to be and Timothée has taken notice of it. Not in the sense that he’s trying to be rude but is trying to be brutally honest. And as we’ve seen from time to time, the truth can sting quite a bit, especially when we hear it out loud.
If you disagree with what Timothée Chalamet said, you are welcome to disagree! However, it is NOT worth the outrage that it has gather over the past couple of weeks. We have far bigger issues to deal with in terms of entertainment and quite frankly the world that we should be able to move on from what was a rather tone-deaf quote and put the focus on something that actually matters.
And if you really believe ballet and opera is thriving in ways that I or Mr. Chalamet can’t see, then feel free to spread the word on how amazing the art form is. Go to as many different showings as you can, tell your friends and family about it, spread the word on social media, and have this motivate you to make ballet and opera the best and most well-known art form that it can possibly be. Make every hater eat their words and make them look like the most foolish people ever!
That being said, this is NOT worth all the discourse it has gotten over one guy’s opinion of the state of ballet and opera. And as much as I loved Michael B Jordan in Sinners, if this really ends up costing Timothée the Academy Award on Sunday, then all actors might need to just not a say a single word during awards season. Because ANYTHING you say can be held against you in the court of the Academy! And unfortunately, you will NOT have the right to attorney in this case!
Today is Mar10 day, A.K.A. Mario Day! Because of that, why not celebrate this lovely day by sharing my top 10 personal favorite Mario games?!
I’ve always been a fan of Mario! When I was kid, the first ever gaming system I got from my parents was the original Gameboy and the first game they got for me with it was a remastered version of Super Mario World. Mario has no doubt been a top tier gaming franchise since the beginning and is what got me into gaming as a whole.
This was quite a tricky list to pull off just because of how there are SO many ridiculously good Mario games they are. I do want to make a disclaimer that this list will in fact include any game that Mario himself was attached to outside of Super Smash Bros. This list will not only refer to the main installment of the series but also spin-offs such as Mario Kart, Mario Party,Paper Mario, etc. I didn’t just want to do a ranking on strictly the main series of games or spin-offs, I wanted to list all of my favorite Mario-related games at once. Without further a do, let’s get into this list starting with the honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions:
Mario Party 64
Spoiler alert: This is the only Mario Party game mentioned. This is just the one I remember having the most fun with friends and family. I never owned a Nintendo 64 myself but I do remember going to my aunt’s house who had one and would always play the Mario games she had with it. Nothing like having a blast playing this with everybody while laughing, screaming, and just having the best time imaginable. Just don’t play these games too much with your friends or else you’ll regret it! And I may or may not be speaking from experience.
Mario Kart 64
One of the more iconic Mario Kart games and an absolute fan favorite. This was the first kart game in the series to be fully 3D which allowed players to play as their favorite Mario characters in a 3D world. This introduces some of the very best tracks such as Rainbow Road and Bowser’s Castle and gives you that full sense of nostalgia whenever you play it. Not quite the best Mario Kart game in the series but it nevertheless, deserves a mention.
Paper Mario
The first installment in another successful spin-off in the franchise, Paper Mario acts as the plumber’s first jump into the world RPGs. With a great supporting cast, a creative battle system, and a ton of fun features added, this makes for a really strong start for one of the better RPG series out there. Some aspects of the game are dated and it’s not quite my favorite one but it’s still very good nonetheless.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Hard to believe this game is already over 10 years! I didn’t get to play this game until it came to the Switch in 2021. While this is not the best Mario game, you can certainly make the argument that it’s one of the more “fun” ones. This is the one that would introduce one of the most fun power-ups in all of Mario with the catsuit allowing you to climb walls and use a scratch attack. It’s also nice to have Princess Peach be a playable character this time around who joins Luigi and Toad to save the day and not just be a simply damsel in distress. The only thing holding it back is perhaps the level design being too easy and simplistic without not much challenge. Also, Bowser’s Fury is fine….just fine.
Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga
What this? Another successful RPG that happens to have Mario characters in it? You shouldn’t have! While it’s not quite the most well know Mario game out there, it’s definitely one that deserves your attention. The gameplay is fun, the dialogue is hilarious, the graphics are good for a Gameboy game, and the music is just fantastic. Not sure what more that needs to be said. If you can find a copy of it, go ahead and try it out.
Luigi Mansion’s Dark Moon
I’ve never played the original or even the third game but this game along with the series itself makes for a very intriguing one for Mario’s lovable younger brother, Luigi. There’s something so genius about creating a game where Luigi has to navigate through a haunted mansion and face his greatest fears, that being ghosts. A really entertaining action-adventure game all around that provides a very unique spin and giving Luigi the perfect spotlight to shine. I’ll be sure to play the other two games at some point.
Mario Kart DS
The Mario Kart game that basically made the blue turtle shell the bane of my existence is still one I have a lot of fond memories for it. Whether it’s playing on my own with racing tournaments and minigames or playing against my friends and cousins, there is not one Mario Kart I always enjoy playing through with a group of my pals or family members. Even if it’s not quite my favorite Mario Kart game and it won’t be until a few other games down the line that would be able to fully utilized the elements which this game help start, Mario Kart DS is still one of my favorite kart game in the series.
Super Mario Bros. 3/Super Mario Galaxy 2
Probably will be my biggest hot takes as I know these are two of the most beloved games in the franchise. I acknowledge them both as being two very good games that are perhaps a tad overrated, mostly because it retreads the same ground as it’s predecessors, not feeling as fresh as the originals, and at times feeling more like Super Mario Bros 2.5 and Super Mario Galaxy 1.5. These are still really good games and better than most other gaming sequels out there but I do think it falls short when it came to pushing their perspective series forward and instead just put it in neutral. While that’s not enough to ruin either game, it is enough to prevent it from being on the top 10.
Now, here we go to the main top 10!
10.) Super Mario Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is another superb and quality Mario game, making for perhaps the plumber’s finest 2D outing since at least New Super Mario Bros Wii. It’s able to expand on it’s level design, worlds, and power ups further than any prior 2D Mario game while acting as one that can stand perfectly on it’s own two feet.
The levels are fast paced and fun, all characters are a delight to play as, the music is amazing, the graphics are beautiful, the new voice cast does a find job, and the Wonder Flower power-up stands out as one of the best and most unique power-ups in any Mario game. Even the difficulty spikes to certain levels/challenges along with the often repetitive level theme that constantly plays throughout isn’t enough to bring this game down in any way.
I don’t know why it took Nintendo this long to put out a new and fresh 2D Mario game or just a new Mario game in general but it was absolutely worth the wait. Even I can’t live to see the next true 3D Mario Game that is the successor to Super Mario Odyssey, I can at least say I had Super Mario Bros. Wonder which will make me die not only happy but trippy!
9.) Mario Kart: Double Dash
This might be seen as the oddest entry on this list but I can’t help having completely fond memories of Mario Kart: Double Dash. One of the Mario Kart games that tend to get the most short shrift happens to be one of my favorite ones in the series.
The two-driver gimmicks was a genius idea and helped introduce a new layer of strategy as you switch between characters and juggle items, the courses themselves are greats, and the fully 3D models were able to translated very well for the first time. There’s just a certain way this game sticks out compare to the other kart games that just appeals to me for some reason.
I’m not gonna say it’s overflowing with new ideas but Mario Kart: Double Dash is an absolute gem that offers some of the best gameplay mechanics and strategies in the series. I can honestly see this one getting a cult following if it hasn’t already. If it has, then I can gladly say I’ve been on this game’s side since the very beginning! Rock on, Double Dash!
8.) Super Mario 3D Land
Being the one main Mario game made exclusively for the 3DS, Super Mario 3D Land still holds up strongly as being one of the most purely entertaining Mario titles. This entry brings the right amount of entertainment and challenge with it’s uniquely designed, bite-sized Mario levels and being loaded with intriguing content and extras.
It was also nice to have a game based off of a handheld system that was able to add in levels designed for 3D gameplay along with a handful of retro-style levels in 2.5D. (Although I NEVER would use the actually 3D features to save my life on the Nintendo 3DS!) The platforming shines, it looks great, the sound is a treat for the ears, and it’s able to be fairly challenging without ever being to frustrating due to poor game design.
While there definitely can be a strong debate among many if this is truly the best handled Mario adventure, Super Mario 3D Land is one very fun and enjoyable title that should be a must-have for anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS.
7.) Paper Mario: A Thousand Year Door
While the original Paper Mario is certainly more iconic, there’s not a single game in this series that was able to execute it’s RPG formula in the best possibly way with The Thousand-Year Door. If you take everything that worked about the previous Paper Mario games, trimmed down the things that didn’t work, and add in fresh and new elements of it’s own to give itself a true identity, this is basically what you get.
It’s a lively, colorful adventure filled with exciting battle systems, fun gameplay, clever callbacks and references, and being able to stand well as it’s own unique thing in the series compared to Mario’s other platformers. From the story to the battles to the core gameplay to the core presentation, it’s able to get everything right about a Paper Mario adventure.
I don’t know how much of a hot take it will be to have this in the Top 10 and not the original Paper Mario but sorry to those that disagree because The Thousand-Year Door is my definite Paper Mario game.
6.) New Super Mario Bros Wii
The Wii edition to the somewhat controversial New Super Mario Bros series is far in a way the best of these batch. While nostalgia might play a factor into that (And to be fair how could it NOT?!), it’s able to make best use of taking traditional Mario levels and zones of old and remaking them to feeling something fresh and new.
With brand new power-ups and the introduction of co-op play, New Super Mario Bros Wii is able to provide new and exciting ways for players to enjoy the traditional style of 2D Mario games. While also including some of the best boss fights and music in the whole series, it makes for another colorful and fun adventure that will bring joy to anyone playing it.
It’s far from being the most “original” Mario game and maybe it could have benefitted from just being Super Mario Bros 4 to save face, or at least not having the word “New” from the title. Even so, regardless if you are playing this game by yourself or with a group of friends, New Super Mario Bros Wii is still a blast all these years later!
5.) Super Mario 64
When it comes to the Mario game that had the biggest impact on 3D platformers, very little would argue that Super Mario 64 is what helped set the golden standard of exactly that. Being the very first Mario game to be fully 3D, everything about Mario 64 just screams fun, adventure, excitement, and nostalgia.
I’ve played multiple versions of this game and every one of them provided me with the exact same experience. The level design is top notch, the environments are perfectly translated into 3D, the controls, while at times stiff, does feel about as good as it could be for one of the very first 3D platforming games ever made, the hub worlds are addicting and fun to explore, and the soundtrack is so beautiful that it’ll make you want to cry.
While there are certain elements of the game that are dated such as the graphics, character models, and wonky camera, I don’t think Nintendo could have made a better start to Mario in the 3D world if they tried. Even to this day, I still have the theme of Princess Peach’s castle living rent free in my head.
4.) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
If you wanna see a kart racer that is able to offer just about everything with immense satisfaction, this is how to do it. While the original Mario Kart 8 released on the Wii U in 2014, it was eventually able to get a remastered version on the Switch which many would argue makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the definite version of Mario Kart 8 but the very best Mario Kart game to date!
From the breathtaking advanced graphics to the fantastic track design to the rose gallery of nearly every notable Mario character ever, it’s able to give you anything you could ever want in a Mario Kart game and so much more. It doesn’t matter if you are playing single player or multiplayer, offline or online, race mode or battle mode, the main game or the DLC, there is not a single instance where the game is a chore to play.
Not only is this far in a way the best Mario Kart game but there’s even an argument of this being one of the best kart racing games out there. It’s able to take everything fans have loved about the previous Mario Kart games and is able to add in plenty of old and new elements to make this basically the top-tier Mario Kart experience. I can not recommend this game enough to anyone who is a Mario fan or a fan of good racing games.
3.) Super Mario World
The very first Mario game I ever played was bound to make this list one way or the other but I strongly believe Super Mario World represents the very best of Mario in 2D form. As someone who respects the old 2D Mario games than he truly loves them, this is the one exception where I feel it’s reputation perfectly matches it’s quality.
The gameplay is fast and tight with plenty of thrills and difficulties that greatly rewards speed runners for superb memorization. It’s able to build upon the framework that Super Mario Bros. 3 did and expanded upon it and made it arguably even better than before. The overworld map is much bigger with more power-ups to unlock and challenges to try out, each level contains multiple different paths and exits that always enhances replay value, every single secret/reveal/place/level/world is always interesting to explore, and it has my boy Yoshi to go along with it.
While I still mostly prefer Mario in 3D as that allows for more freedom and expansion with each game, Super Mario World shows 2D Mario at his absolute best. No matter which version you play, you will always be in for quite a ride. Thank you Super Mario World for not just getting me into Mario but getting me into gaming in general.
2.) Super Mario Galaxy
If you want the Mario game that shows when the series became at it’s very best in terms of the sheer amount of scope, wonder and creativity, that would be Super Mario Galaxy. For the longest of time this was my favorite Mario game and the fact this is only number two on the list should not discredit the fact that this is a truly fantastic game.
Taking the direction of levels from worlds to galaxies was a brilliant movie, with tons of planets and open space for you to explore in. Each area of each galaxy you visits offers plenty of enjoyable challenges that help pushed the limits of what the Wii hardware could possibly do. It’s the kind of game that even after you beat the main story, you will wanna go back to 100% the whole thing and feel truly rewarded by the end. Throw in a beautiful orchestral soundtrack, impressive visuals that looks great even for the Wii, and the introduction of instant fan-favorite Rosalina, you got a geninuely terrific Super Mario experience.
While some might argue that Super Mario Galaxy 2 did this style of gameplay better, I still believe the original is the superior game as it felt more fresh, creative, and helped set the brilliant foundation for 3D Mario games going forward. I can not praise this game enough!
1.) Super Mario Odyssey
I’m probably gonna have some online buddies that are gonna fundamentally disagree with me on nearly every single level here but Super Mario Odyssey is to date my favorite Mario game! When it comes to that one Mario game that not only hits every single beat that I want it too but it does all with an absolute exclamation point, I can’t think of any Mario game that does that better than Super Mario Odyssey.
This works greatly as not just the perfect culmination of everything the Mario franchise has built up to this point but it evens works as a near perfect game that stands greatly on it’s own. The level design, whether it’s familiar or original, is superb in every sense of the world, the gameplay despite introducing so many elements at the same time all blend together beautifully without ever feeling disjointed or loose, the new worlds that are introduce is able to translate greatly to Mario and the characters, the new hat mechanic works like wonders, the boss fights absolute triumph, it’s gorgeous to look at, the soundtrack is one of the catchiest I’ve ever listen to, the story is one of the better ones in the series, and it has some of the best replay value out of any game I’ve ever played. It also has one of the funniest endings to a game I’ve played in recent memory. Seriously, if you did not at least chuckle at the end, you have no sense of humor!
I have wondered why Nintendo hasn’t bother to releasing a new and original Mario game since this one came out but I’ve come to believe because the bar this game set is so high that it will be nearly impossible to top it in the future. While I still look forward to anything Mario related in the future, I’m not sure how Nintendo will ever be able to top this one. Super Mario Odyssey is able to deliver on every single Mario goodies you can possibly imagine and something even more than that. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna jam to Jump Up, Super Star!
Happy Mar10 day and look forward to my review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie when it comes out next month!
Here it is! My ranking of every single Disney-Pixar film from worst to best!
Everyone tends to have their own opinion of what constitutes as the very best and very worst work from Pixar! It’s one of the few studios to where you can name nearly any film as the absolute best or worst and it’s quite hard to argue with that! Whether we are talking about Toy Story 2 or Cars 2, I don’t think there’s a single Pixar film that doesn’t have at least one diehard fan defending it or hating it to their dying breath! Heck, I’m pretty sure there’s at least one lone soul out there that has The Good Dinosaur as their favorite Pixar film and Finding Nemo as their least favorite Pixar film!
Even so, there’s no denying that this is a company that has a huge impact on the way we all view animation and cinema in general! If someone claims there has never been one Pixar movie that has left a lasting impression on, they are lying through their teeth! To put it simply, they are one of the very best to ever make movies! And yes, while their quality has been quite inconsistent for the better part of the past 15+ years, there always comes at least one giant gem every now and then that reminds us all that when it’s done well, Pixar is easily the animation company to beat out there!
Now that Hoppers is now out in theaters, let’s rank all 30 movies they have released thus far!
30.) Lightyear
If there is one Pixar film that I find to be downright INFRUIATING, that would be Lightyear! Because on paper, this should be an EASY film to get right! (Especially since it has ALREADY been done right in the form of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins.) Instead, for what is suppose to be Andy’s favorite film, it’s actually the most bland, generic and run-of-the-mill Buzz Lightyear film you could possibly imagine. The first 2/3rd’s play out as the most conventional space adventure ever that leads to a third act that contains one of the dumbest plot twists in Disney history (You wouldn’t believe me if I told you!). It’s so bizarre seeing Pixar spent so much of the Toy Story films building Buzz’s legacy and history as a space ranger only to just toss that aside completely for his feature film. Not even the excellent animation and the awesome sidekick in Socks could make this space opera even remotely appealing. Lightyear should have been a slam dunk for Pixar but instead, it’s far in a way their weakest film to date.
29.) The Good Dinosaur
The second worst Pixar film is probably one you either forget exist or didn’t even know it existed at all. The troubled production that The Good Dinosaur faced during the development of it is as clear as daylight when watching it. It’s got a neat and exciting premise (Dinosaurs never becoming extinct and living among human beings!) that it does nothing with. It’s got wonderful animation but there’s no creativity to it whatsoever. It’s got a story about a relationship between a young mute boy and a dinosaur that is told in the most dull and predictable way imaginable. And that’s not even going into the inconsistent tone, shockingly poor voice work (The kid’s voice for the dinosaur just doesn’t fit whatsoever!), and even a scene where the kid and a dinosaur are basically… high on drugs. (Yes, really!) It’s certainly more watchable than other bad animated films out there and there’s a few moments when the visuals are allowed to do the talking that are effective, but The Good Dinosaur is a dull, mediocre, and plain forgettable mess.
28.) Cars 2
Here is the one Pixar film that pretty much everyone agreed was bad. No one was really clamoring for a Cars 2, not even fans of the original Cars, but considering this was John Lasseter’s passion project along with one of Disney’s most successful toy brand, there just had to be a sequel somehow. This time around, Mater is put to the forefront and it doesn’t work for the same reason that most comic relief characters don’t work then they are given the spotlight, they just don’t work as their own character. You also have a bizarre premise surrounding spies and espionage, an overly complicated plot, and an incoherent narrative that it makes you forget that first film was literally about a race car learning humbleness. At least it still looks good with nice new locations added and some entertaining action scenes but those aren’t anywhere good enough to justify this sequel’s existence. While I can conceive that Cars 2 is slightly over hated, it’s also not a film that is deserving of being defended in any way.
27.) Brave
Pixar had finally shown a big crack in the armor with Cars 2 a year prior and their next film, Brave didn’t really do much to win back audience’s trust. Much like The Good Dinosaur, it’s just a confused mess with ideas you’ve seen many times before and done many times better in other films. Take every cliché you’ve seen done in every other Disney princess movie and every other “nature” Disney movie, use those cliches in the most half-baked way possible, thrown in some family and relationship dynamics that feels unbelievable forced, and put all of that in a blender and you get Brave. It’s well-animated and it was sure nice to see Pixar finally make a film with a female protagonist for once but all of that is put to waste in this lackluster bore fest. Brave may not be quite the worst Pixar film ever made, as it does at least feel more like a coherent vision than The Good Dinosaur and at least slightly more interesting than Cars 2 or Lightyear, but this is the one Pixar film I will always feels the least compelled to rewatch.
26.) Elio
Here’s yet another recent original Pixar movie that is cute enough in it’s own right but nothing to write home about! There’s nothing that Elio does particularly wrong but there’s not much it does to stand out among the very best of Pixar! It’s got a rather beautiful world, an engaging relationship between the lead human boy and his alien friend, and it’s message about finding acceptance is resonating. But, it’s still bogged down by a rather predictable narrative, plot turns and morals you can see coming from a mile away, and a very weak main bad guy. Like with 90% of Pixar movies, Elio has it’s charms and thrills but you can definitely feel the troubled production onscreen and how the film was clearly gutted from it’s original vision. Still would rather see more films like this than Cars 4 or A Bug’s Life 2!
25.) Onward
Here’s a Pixar film that didn’t hit me the way it did for most people. It has a fascinating premise with an emphasis on Dungeons & Dragons, a fun universe to explore with the two main brothers, and a very recognizable cast of celebrities that seems like they are having fun in their roles. But the journey with two brothers needed to take their deserted corpse of a father is quite off-putting and while the ending moved many people, it left me underwhelmed and made the whole journey feel like a waste of time. Although the doors are left opening for a VERY promising sequel, Onward never felt like a complete whole as a standalone adventure in it’s own right.
24.) Incredibles 2
Everyone and their mother had been waiting years for an Incredibles 2! With the original being one of the greatest superhero films ever made, everyone wanted to see more adventures with this super family! And after a 14-year long wait, we got a sequel that is aggressively…..just fine! The animation is great, the action sequences are a lot of fun, it’s quite funny throughout, each character get a moment or two to shine, Michael Giacchino’s score is on point, and it was cool to see Elastic Girl get more of the stoplight this time around. Unfortunately, all the good things that are presented are hindered by a weak narrative with a plot and themes that has been done a million times before in other superhero films with nothing new added to it. It also has probably the most predictable plot twist in animation history with the main villain of the Screenslayer, who pails EMBARSSINGLY to Syndrome! For those that just want to spend more time with the characters from the original, you will likely be satisfied. However, for everyone else, you will likely be underwhelmed. To put it simply, Incredibles 2 is simply too late…14 years too late!
23.) Toy Story 4
Everyone was worried about a Toy Story 4 and for good reason. After the perfect way that Toy Story 3 wrapped up, where exactly was there left to good? As it turns out, that’s exactly what Toy Story 4 is about and why it’s able to function despite the worst possible circumstances. It’s an interesting experiment of how to continue on with your new story after your previous story basically ended. The real key trick here it doesn’t so much functions as a “true” finale to Toy Story but more as an epilogue. You also got some great new characters, Bo Peep’s welcome return, and an ending that wraps up Woody’s story very well (if not quite divisive). I could have done without the “inner voice” jokes with Buzz tho. Toy Story 4 is like the equivalent of watching a friend perform a very dangerous stunt after they claimed they were done doing them a long time ago. While you are happy they succeeded by sticking the landing, you would rather they would NOT attempt that again!
(Unfortunately, because Toy Story 5 is yet coming out, it can no longer justify as being a satisfying epilogue to the franchise! It’s now of more as just…..a footnote! Because of that, it falters in the rankings!)
22.) A Bug’s Life
Here we have the film that takes the crown for being the most generally “okay” Pixar film that they have ever released. What makes it all the more ironic that this came out just around the time that DreamWorks’s Antz did, which would also take the crown for being the most generally “okay” DreamWorks film that they have ever released at the time. How is the story? It’s okay! How are the characters? They’re okay! How is the animation? It was okay for the time! How is the sound? It’s okay! How is the main villain? He’s….actually pretty awesome and probably one of the best Pixar villains ever, and also happens to be voiced by a real life villain himself! No, I will not mention him by name! There’s not much to say about A Bug’s Life other than what I’ve been saying throughout. It’s just okay!
21.) Cars 3
I never would have thought the most unnecessary of the Pixar sequels to come out in the 2010s was actually one of the better ones that didn’t involve toys or emotions coming to life. In a area of legacy themed sequels, Cars 3 is able to stand out uniquely on it’s own. This makes for a rather interesting tale about Lightning trying to compete in the age of younger, modern racers while also being able to teach a younger, modern racer in the meantime. The animation and racing sequences have never been better, Lightning McQueen’s arc is odd but also compelling, Cruz is a nice new addition to the series, and the way it ties back to the legacy of Doc Ock is very well done. Jackson Storm himself is a pretty bland villain and there’s too many “old” jabs at Lightning but for what it’s worth, Cars 3 makes for a fine successor to the original Cars in the ways that Cars 2 failed badly at.
20.) Elemental
I was quite generous to Elemental when I reviewed it a few years ago. While it’s still a fine film three years later, it’s not quite up to par with top tier Pixar. Although it looks gorgeous, has a beautiful score, mostly likeable leads, and resonate themes that folks will be able to engage with, it’s whole love story is quite standard with nothing new or different added to it, just filled with the typical rom-com cliches. Not to mention, Wade is quite annoying for a good chunk of it. It’s certainly enjoyable and I’m glad it was able to find an audience while gaining strong legs at the box office back in 2023, but Elemental is just one Pixar film I don’t see myself going back quite often.
19.) Monsters University
I don’t know how many people in the world were clamoring for a Monsters Inc. prequel that put focus on Mike and Sully’s early days in college but we got exactly that in 2013 with Monsters University. This is similar to Lightyear, where the first two acts plays out as predictable and straightforward as you could imagine with a third act that’s literally the exact opposite of that with a wild turn that either makes or breaks the film. Whereas Lightyear‘s third act completely broke the movie beyond repair, Monster University‘s third act makes the whole movie worth it, with a heart hitting message about how not everything is set in stone for everybody and there are other options for you out there if you are unable to follow the traditional path. While everything before then is enjoyable enough, the final 30 minutes of Monsters University saves the entire movie of being another useless prequel. I still would have liked to see a sequel of Boo all grown up though.
18.) Finding Dory
Here’s another solid “good enough” B/B+ movie to an A++ predecessor! While Dory was a beloved character in the original Finding Nemo, there was the question of whether or not she would be good enough to carry her own film considering she was the comic relief of that movie! Thankfully, unlike Mater, Dory has an engaging story of her own, where she looks to find her long lost parents while fighting her short term memory crisis. The animation is beautiful, the journey that Dory goes on to find her parents is both fun and funny, and the new characters that are introduced fit into this movie’s world quite well. There’s too much nods and winks to the original with a climax that’s a bit too ridiculous for what it’s worth but Finding Dory manages to exceed quite well when it comes to laughs, character drama, and even emotion. Just keep swimming Dory! Keep swimming indeed!
17.) Cars
There are plenty of folks that decried the original Cars when it came out in 2006 because it was no Toy Story or Finding Nemo. However, when looking at the film for what it’s trying to be, it’s actually a sweet, moving, and just plain nostalgic road trip movie that acts as a great tribute for Route 66. There’s also a nice story here where the main protagonist Lightning McQueen learns the value of life and how there’s more to it than just winning a race. Plus, you are lying if you claim that Doc Hudson isn’t a great character, the sequence of him driving in his “prime” form wasn’t breathtaking and the ending of Lightning going back to help Mr. “The King” finish his last race wasn’t brave and heartwarming. It’s world of cars may not make the most logical sense and does come across as a more kid friendly version of Doc Hollywood, but the original Cars still remains a cult classic that doesn’t deserve the scorn it’s gotten over the years. While it’s far from the best Pixar film, this is certainly one of the ones I’ve felt the most nostalgia for. Also, R.I.P. to the great Paul Newman!
16.) Luca
If there’s one film out there that I would describe as being the perfect “summer” movie, look no further than Luca. It’s a delightful and relaxing film about two best friends as human beings trying to spend their summer outside of their own comfort zone as actual fish. I don’t think I have seen an animated film that was able to capture the fun and spirit of summer vacation than this one! There’s just something so unique of seeing two best friends hanging out with a girl they just met, who then later becomes best friends with them! If you ever wanted to see a Pixar film in the style of traditional Studio Ghibli movies but in 3D, this is basically what you get. The first 20 minutes or so aren’t great, but once the kids get up to the surface, it’s a really fun time and makes for a perfect way to take time out of the summer heat.
15.) Turning Red
One of Pixar’s most divisive films to date is also one of their most important ones they’ve ever released. I can’t recall a film in the Pixar library that is has open and honest with itself as Turning Red. It take risks and tackles subject matter that at least 99% of other animation studios are probably afraid of tackling for a supposed kids film, it has a strong thematical and emotional core that holds the whole thing together near perfectly, and has animation that serves it’s purpose and executed in all of the intent and purpose imaginable. This is a wonderfully, lovable movie about an awfully, cringe-able time period that we all have or will have to go through. There are definitely some things you can criticize (The mother is way too much of a Karen for my liking!) and it doesn’t make for the most comfortable watch for those quite sensitive to it’s subject matter, but Turning Red is certainly a film that anyone that has gone through that awkward stage of their lives can get something out of.
14.) Hoppers
Hoppers is a showcase of what happens with Pixar allows themselves to let loose and forge their own path to creativity. The film has it’s own distinct animation style that compliments the storytelling without it being too overbearing or “in your face”, the characters are all likeable with their own relatable goals that anyone can get behind, it’s easily among the funniest Pixar movie in years, and despite prior reports of Disney’s efforts to downplay the themes of environmentalism, it’s able to get that exact message across in as much of a profound way as Pixar was able to in 2008 with Wall-E. It may take it’s time in getting to that exact point in the ways that it was intend and does have one or two cringeworthy lines about how “aware” it is of it’s own premise but the pay-offs by the latter half of Hopper makes it the whole experience feel worth it!
13.) Monsters Inc.
Talk about a film that’s able to take a familiar idea but executing it in a way that makes it feel fresh and new. Even if you know it’s premise and ideas by heart, Monsters Inc. is able to exceed greatly on that front thanks to an exciting world in Monstropolis, some incredibly inventive set pieces (especially the end sequence with the doors), two very likable leads in Mike and Sully, and of course, a strong central and sweet relationship between the two monsters and the little human girl that is Boo. The main villain is pretty service level and I don’t recall remembering much about any character that is not Mike, Sully, or Boo, but Monsters Inc. is still a very strong watch that holds up incredibly well to this very day.
12.) Wall-E
There seems to be two sides to Wall-E: those that thought the film was absolute perfection from beginning to end or those that adored the first half but only REALLY liked the second half. I would say I’m part of the later category. The first half to Wall-E offers some of the best visual storytelling I’ve seen in any animated film, daring to go almost complete silences and let the animation and visuals do all the talking. Then comes the second half that while very good, feels more conventional compared to the first half, with more emphasis on dialogue and character exchanges to tell the other half of the picture. Thankfully, it all still works greatly because Wall-E is arguably the most lovable robot in all of action and his relationship with Eve is incredibly engaging. The film perfectly encapsulates innocence, purity, and hope in a world that is dying all around you. It might’ve missed my top 10 but make no mistake, Wall-E is still a wonderful animated film regardless!
11.) Toy Story
Not only the one that started it all for Pixar but the one that started the trend of 3D animation! The idea of toys coming to life when the kids are not around is executed to absolute perfection with a cast of characters that are all iconic in their own ways. Woody and Buzz makes for possibly the very best characters in Pixar history, the script is airtight, it’s paced marvelously, and there’s just not a dull moment to be found here. The overall formula of these movies have become more noticeable throughout the years and there are parts of the animation that don’t hold up. Plus, there’s also that one annoying little plot hole about how Buzz acts like a toy when humans are around even BEFORE he knows he is a toy. However, NOTHING can take away the amazing accomplishment that was the original Toy Story, even 30 years later!. The fact this is only #11 on the list is just more of a showcase of the amount of fantastic films that Pixar has made.
10.) Inside Out 2
The nine-year long awaited sequel might not be quite as “fresh” as it’s original counterpart but that shouldn’t discredit Inside Out 2 as being a really affective and worthwhile sequel, easily acting as the best Pixar sequels that is NOT Toy Story related. This is arguably the first Pixar sequel not related to Toy Story that seems to have more on it’s mind to justify it’s own existence other than branding and merchandising. Going from seeing Riley as a youth moving to San Francisco to a teenager looking to make it into the high school hockey team with the popular girls while making time for her current friends, this sequel takes the logical next step into showcasing the inner turmoil of taking the next step to puberty with Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment entering the picture, portrayed perfectly by newcomers Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adele Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser. Even if it can’t quite top the original, Inside Out 2 is able to act greatly as a near perfect continuation and expansion of the first movie’s story and themes. This is probably the one Pixar series that I wouldn’t mind seeing more sequels to!
9.) Ratatouille
I can’t help but feel like this is the most overlooked Pixar film to date! In a sea of Pixar masterpieces, this one tends to get lost in the shuffle when talking about the best of the best from Pixar. Ratatouille might be the most thematically rich and inspiring film in Pixar’s library, showing how anyone has their own talent no matter who they are or where they came from. Patton Oswalt is perfect as the lovable lead rat that is Remy, the whole supporting cast of characters are great, it’s themes and messages are perfectly inspiring, and who can forget the pitch-perfect speech at the very end which is an absolute all-timer. It does suffer a bit from the main of character of Linguini being arguably the least good character in the film but his chemistry with Remy is so spot on and the film around him is so great that it really doesn’t matter. This is a food porn film at it’s absolute finest! Rock on, Brad Bird!
8.) Soul
This make for possibly the most human and relatable film that Pixar has ever made! Soul goes into great depth in showcasing the meaning of life and why it’s worth living to the fullest, even when you are not where you want to be. You aren’t going to last forever and there will be a day where you suddenly die like Joe does. Until that time comes, make sure your life was one that was worth living, because you may just NEVER get a second chance to do so. Jamie Fox is perfect as Joe and has perfect chemistry with Tina Fey as 22, the ideas are executed in the most creative ways imaginable, the animation is incredibly impressive, it’s extremely funny throughout, the whole building is exceptional, and the message of finding satisfaction in your life is one that anyone can relate to no matter what age they are! If you need a film that can lift your spirits, help recognizes the talent that you have within yourself, and shows why life is indeed worth living, look no further than Soul!
7.) Up
If we are judging strictly on the opening of this film alone, this would probably be #1. Up has the most perfect first ten minutes of any film that I’ve ever seen, perfectly showcasing the origins of Carl as a young kid to an adult along with being the love of his life that was Ellie. Just like Wall-E, it goes from that silent form of storytelling to something a bit more conventional. Thankfully, the rest of the film is done so well that it really doesn’t matter. Carl’s arc of moving on from his past to enjoying the rest of his life while he can is incredibly well done, the side characters such as Russell and the dogs are a lot of fun, the sequences with the flying house is breathtaking, and Kevin might just be the funniest animal side character in animation history. (I always DIE laughing at the “Squirrel” bit!” I know some like to dog (no pun intended) on this movie as being overrated because the film never quite lives up to the first ten minutes of the film! However, the rest of Up is still so fun, engaging, and emotional that I can’t help but still love it to death!
6.) Coco
This is one Pixar film that has only gotten better in age for me, especially in the wake of my grandma’s passing (RIP, Grandma!). Not only is Coco a perfect representation of Mexican culture, especially with the traditional holiday of Day of the Dead, but it makes for a perfect human story of a flawed family that love each other despite their beliefs and traditions wearing them down. The animation is some of the very best ever put to film, the family dynamics are great, the world of the afterlife is brilliantly realized, and it has perhaps the most emotionally draining final act in Pixar history (I am always sobbing at the section of Miguel singing and playing his guitar to Coco)! Even the incredibly obvious bad guy reveal that has been redundant now can’t bring it down because of how it connects perfectly to the themes of the film involving the cons of pursuing greatness. While there are comparisons to be had with The Book of Life, Coco strands strongly not just as it’s own thing but has yet another home run for Pixar.
5.) Finding Nemo
If there’s an animated film that perfectly captures every parent’s worst nightmare of losing their own child, it’s Finding Nemo! What might seem like a simple story of a father trying to find his son is able to be told in the best way possible! That is thanks to INCREDIBLE world building that’s full of side characters who are all memorable no matter their screentime and perfectly exploring the ins and outs of the deadly deep blue sea. It is world building at it’s FINEST! You also got a great emotional father/son core with Marlin and Nemo, a perfect counterpart with Dory, and a hard hitting message of never taking the ones you love for granted and it’s better to be safe then sorry. Oh, and this movie is like REALLY funny! (The scene in the dentist office KILLS me every time!) No matter how many times I watch Finding Nemo, it always manages to be fun, fresh and exciting all the same! If that’s not the best compliment to give a film, then I don’t know what is!
4.) Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 is wildly considered to be one of the greatest sequels ever made and I have to agree 100%! It takes everything people loved about the first movie and expands upon it in every single way. With even more memorable characters, much stellar animation, hard hitting emotion, an incredible soundtrack, having Woody and Buzz go through reverse arcs that work perfectly, and timely themes anyone at any age can relate to, Toy Story 2 is one of the sequels that manages to be as good as the original, if not even better Also, the opening with Buzz Lightyear might legit be the best opening for any movie ever! (It gives me goosebumps EVERY single time!) I love this film when I was a young kid watching this film on repeat on my VHS and I still love it to this day! It’s so hard to believe that this was the film that nearly broke Pixar due to it’s very troubled production! But by the end, not only did Toy Story 2 NOT kill Pixar, it made them stronger.
3.) The Incredibles
I don’t know how it took until five films for Pixar to make a film with actual human characters but they finally did that with The Incredibles. Even in an era where superhero films have dominated pop culture for such a long period of time, The Incredibles still stands out as being among the very best that the subgenre has offered. Not only because it’s able to subvert the very tired tropes of most superhero films but it’s also able to embrace the very best and traditional tropes that comes from them as all, managing to execute them even better than over 90% that have ever come out. The characters and family dynamics is a lot of un, the themes are all ones that feels completely timeless even nearly two decades later, the action and set pieces are absolutely fantastic, the animation holds up very well, every member of the super family gets their own moment to shine, and how can anyone not love the main bad guy of Syndrome. It also has the funniest Pixar short ever with Jack Jack Attack! (That “BS” joke only gets funnier the older I get!) There’s not a lot I can say about The Incredibles that hasn’t been said by everyone else already. It’s just awesome!
2.) Inside Out
People were starting to doubt Pixar before this film came out with a handful of films that ranged from fine to aggressive mediocre throughout the early 2010s, but then Inside Out came out in the summer of 2015 and blew everyone away! This is an example of a film that takes an unique idea and does everything it possibly can with it. It showcases how negative emotions can be just as healthy as positive emotions and how to keep them all in check and finding the right balance is the most important thing of all. Plus, anyone that has gone through the struggle of moving and having to adjust to a new place/culture will certainly get a LOT from this film! The animation is beautiful, creative, and imaginative, the mind of Riley is as unique as any world in the realm of Pixar, each character is fully realized and engaging, the humor is great, the score is mesmerizing, the voice cast is prefect, nearly every idea and concept is flawlessly executed, and the emotional moments hit as hard as you could possibly imagine. (*sniffs* Bye bye Bing Bong! *sniffs*) While it’s not quite my favorite Pixar film, there’s a strong argument to be made that Inside Out is objectively the very best Pixar film! And I would NOT argue with you there!
1.) Toy Story 3
While I can concede that Inside Out is probably the best Pixar film overall, there is no other Pixar film that I would rather rewatch than Toy Story 3. There is just no other Pixar film (or possibly ANY animated film) that has hit me, moved me, entertained me, and satisfied me more than Toy Story 3. Acting as a perfect culmination of the entire Toy Story franchise up to this point, Toy Story 3 is a perfect showcase of what happens when the kids grow up and are ready to move on to other things. It’s all about learning to let go of the past and embracing the future while also never forgetting the fond memories that got you were you are now. It’s able to be the funniest, darkest, and most emotional of all the Toy Story movies, the stakes are at their highest and feels the most personal, it has perhaps the best villain in all of Pixar with Lotso, and who can forget the final sequence that made grown men and women bawl like a baby! It might’ve took 11 years to be made but at the time and even now, Toy Story 3 is that rare long awaited sequel that was able to succeed EVERY expectation that I had for it! Yes, it’s a shame that Disney and Pixar didn’t stop the series right here, but taking at it’s own thing, being an impactful film about growing up and evolution, and as being a fitting conclusion to the “golden era” of Pixar, Toy Story 3 is Pixar, animation, and cinema at it’s absolute finest! This film has been one of my all-time favorites since seeing it in 2010 and it still is over 15 years later!
There’s a line in Hoppers that is quite the eye roller. You might’ve already seen it in the trailers but it’s when the two doctors, Sam and Nisha, explain to Mabel, the main protagonist, what the actual concept of Hoppers is suppose to be. And it’s during that moment where Mabel says how the concept of a human using sci-fi tech to transferring themselves into a nocturnal animal in the hopes of forming a relationship within the inhabits of a forest and preventing a demise of that said forest from the government is just like the movie, Avatar! It’s in that moment where you think you know which movie you are getting with Hoppers because the film directly tells you it! And for the first half of Pixar’s latest original, that is basically the movie you get.
Yes, we get to see the main protagonist’s hivemind be transported into that of a realistic beaver robot. Yes, we get to see to see the main protagonist interacted with other beavers and animals among an enchanted forest, which she realizes they are all just as human as her. And yes, we get to see a town’s government try to destroy that forest in favor of their own personal wants and needs for that forest. While that is all competently done in an entertaining enough way, it’s when the second half comes around and pulls the rug from underneath you (everyone will know EXACTLY the moment that I am talking about) that Hoppers fully forms into it’s own unique identity. And that identity makes it the best Avatar movie since well…...Avatar. And even then, it might just be better than that!
Hoppers is a showcase of what happens with Pixar allows themselves to let loose and forge their own path to creativity. The film has it’s own distinct animation style that compliments the storytelling without it being too overbearing or “in your face”, the characters are all likeable with their own relatable goals that anyone can get behind, it’s easily among the funniest Pixar movie in years, and despite prior reports of Disney’s efforts to downplay the themes of environmentalism, it’s able to get that exact message across in as much of a profound way as Pixar was able to in 2008 with Wall-E. It may take it’s time in getting to that exact point in the ways that it was intend but the pay-off by the latter half makes it all the more worth it.
Premise: When scientists discover a way to transform human consciousness into robotic animals, Mabel (Piper Curda) uses the new technology to uncover mysteries of the animal world that are beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
Hoppers is an animated feature with a lot on it’s mind, not so much interested in pushing itself in one certain directions but multiple, imaginative directions. Director Daniel Chong is able to explore the wonders of it’s premise, trying to create a world with logical problems that ben solved with the most logical answers imaginable. We see that perfectly through the main protagonist Mabel, a college girl who is fighting for animal and environmental rights, who wants to make a positive change in her hometown. However, as the film constantly states over and over again, it’s not as easy as it seems because the world itself isn’t one for solving logical problems with logical answers.
As much as Hoppers makes it’s case of being a story about optimism and unity, it’s not naive. It’s able to have that right brain in it’s head throughout the actions made by the characters without needing to contradicts itself to get it’s point across (Alyas, Raya and the Last Dragon!) A good example of this is with the character of King George (Bobby Moynihan), the leader of the beaver monarch. King George is someone that believes that everyone is a good person deep down, something which Mabel clearly disagrees with because of her past experiences with people. As much as she wants to be on King George’s side, she can’t because she know deep down that the ideal world that King George has in his head doesn’t exist. There’s a difference between an idealist and being a realist (something which a certain silver hedgehog from another certain franchise led by furry animal can attest to).
However, just because everyone can’t be a good person doesn’t mean you can at least change who they are if you work hard to do just that. Mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm) may seem like a one-sided greedy mayor on the service but allow him to see a different perspective on the way things function and how it affects others and it might just lead him down a much better path than he expected. It’s further proof on how Hoppers isn’t just a story about how everyone should be kind and good-hearted when they are not but some might just be able to when they are given the perspective of someone from the “other side”, or in this case….a beaver.
This is basically what makes Hoppers a distinct animated parallel to that of Avatar, and in many ways is a better film than any of the three hugely successfully but ridiculously expensive sci-fi opera adventures. While James Cameron was able to use the premise of a human being leaping into the body of another species to tell a story of a man going against the grain of his own kind in favor of helping out an indigenous tribe, Hoppers uses that exact same premise to tell a more complicated and layer story about an interloper who wants to make a positive impact on a community and have it lead to the best of both worlds for both her kind and the endangered animals she is trying to save.
When it comes to the other aspects as well, Hoppers is still quite rock solid. While the animation style won’t be to everyone’s taste (especially if the “civil” reaction to the animation style of Turning Red had anything to go by), it has enough novelty in it’s own cartoony style that benefits the way it tells it story in ways that are both funny and effective. The voice cast is quite strong, with Piper Curda and Jon Hamm being the main standouts as the main protagonist and antagonist respectively, with other worthy work done by the likes of Bobby Moynihan, Dave Franco, and Merryl Steep respectively. And despite having plenty of moments of levity, emotion, and even some shock value (again you will know EXACTLY the one turning point scene I’m talking about, it’s able to have a perfectly controlled tone that never contradicts one scene or the other. Oh, and it’s ALWAYS nice to hear SZA’s voice when doing music.
I won’t said that Hoppers is an instant Pixar masterpiece on par with the likes of Up,Inside Out, Coco, or Soul. As I said, the film takes a while to get it’s engine going, playing like the standard “human turns into animal” premise the trailers depicted it as along with one or two cringeworthy lines about how aware and “meta” it is of the kind of premise it is taking inspiration off. It’s once things are put into place and the film starts throwing more twists and personal dilemmas into it’s conflicts that the film become more than meets the eyes. It’s a film you have to be patient wait but I assure you, your patience will be awarded by the halfway point.
After last year’s Elio, it seemed like Pixar was no longer able to make original and thought-provoking animated films with a distinct message of it’s own without it getting gutted like a fish by the higher-ups of Mickey Mouse. However, Hoppers, seems to prove otherwise. It’s prove that Pixar is still allowed to make original films that are smart, wacky, funny, complex, and enough relatable and charm that it might just become a hit among mainstream audiences. While it might fall just short of a classic, Hoppers is prove that perhaps we can make a difference! Enough said!
Adam's Blog 