Monsters, Inc. (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) Reviews

• The best animated film of the year!

  
  By AB2U893HHHG74 on 2001-10-29
  I was lucky enough to see an advance screening of this movie the past weekend and *highly* recommend it to everyone: kids, adults, monsters--you all have to go see this one! The newest movie from CGI geniuses Pixar, the studio that brought you the "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life", is a sheer delight from beginning to end. The characters are cleverly designed and fun to watch, the animation is brisk and colorful, the dialogue funny and sparkling, the voice casting perfect, and most important of all, the story compelling and intriguing. This is a cartoon that insults no one's intelligence--it's perfect for the kids as well as adults, without condescending or sinking into juvenile humor (well, there are a few toilet jokes, but they're so lightly done as to be inoffensive to anyone).

  This "E.T. in reverse" story has wonderful plot ideas--monsters in the closet scare human kids to create "scream energy" to power their city, Monsteropolis--but monsters are as afraid of kids as kids they are of monsters. When a charming and cuddly little tot nicknamed "Boo" escapes into the monster world, it's up to scaremonster Sulley and his nervous cohort Mike to save the kid, put her back where she belongs, and keep anyone else from finding out she's loose in the monster world--but Sulley's sinister co-worker Randall (a charmingly oily chameleon) has devious plans for little Boo...

  There's so much detail going on that this one demands you see it multiple times (and with a plot, characters and voice acting as charming as this, you will *want* to). The voice acting is spot-on (I've always felt John Goodman was a great actor; who would have ever expected a blue and purple monster would be one of his finest roles?) and the care and attention Pixar has put into the making of this film shows: every frame sparkles with color and wit, and the last-act chase through the Monsters, Inc. factory, where Sulley, Mike, Boo and Randall leap from closet door to closet door thousands of feet above the factory floor is amazingly designed, brilliant and inspired, a breathtaking edge-of-your-seat chase that rivals the Death Star Attack in "Star Wars." Best of all, it features a sweet and emotional ending that had the cynical New York professional crowd I was seeing it with literally go "Awwwwwwwwww..." aloud. And if you have any doubt as to the sense of fun that this movie inspires, check out Sulley and Mike's Amazon.com Customer Reviews and Wish Lists! Heck, *I'd* buy Mike that copy of Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye"!

  "Monsters, Inc": the best animated film of the year? Absolutely...maybe even the best *film* of the year. Certainly the most fun--and that's exactly what we need right now.
  
  

• Pixar hits another HILARIOUS HOME RUN!

  
  By A1BCVPSEZ5NSXK on 2002-03-18
  Summary:

  Great movie for kids and adults with lovable characters and side splitting laughter. Great Pixar quality animation, great and imaginative script, great acting voices (Billy Crystal as Mike, John Goodman as Sully) that really fit their parts, high quality comedy (some slapstick) great directing, great music.

  Review:

  This hilarious movie delivers side-splitting laughter! Everything fits together and is just great! Should be animated movie of the year!

  Story:

  Monsters work for a Corporation (Monsters, Inc.) That supplies energy for their city, Monsteropolis, by capturing the screams (scream energy) of children and monsters compete for the best screams with blue-furred cuddly Sully (Goodman) leading the competition. Somehow, a charming infant sneaks into Monsteropolis and hooks onto Sully; and whoever gets caught with her will get "cleaned" by the "authorities" - not a good thing! This throws Sully and one-eyed Mike into a panic as they stumble against all odds to send the child back without getting caught.

  Scare Factor:

  While the Monsters may be afraid of the children, there is no need for your kids to be afraid of them. The movie seems pretty harmless and young children seem to have no problem with the movie concept and scenes.
  
  

• Buy this CD set, you WON'T regret it!

  
  By A1CDZM5YMB61PD on 2002-08-30
  James Sullivan (voice by John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) make a great team...a great monster team that is. Monstropolis, the city of the monsters, gets all of its power from the screams of little human children, and though scarers such as Sulli work real hard, sneaking through children's closet doors and scaring the daylights out of them, there just doesn't seem to be enough power. But, when a human child (toxic, like all children) sneaks into Monstropolis, Sulli and Mike find themselves in real trouble. They can't tell the good monsters from the bad monsters, but it's up to them to save the day! [Color, released in 2001, with a running time of 1 hour, 33 minutes.]

  I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Monsters, Inc. Collector's Edition, and boy am I happy! This movie is an absolute masterpiece. The story is clean enough for any kid, it is extremely funny (I loved it!), and it is just the right balance of being suspenseful but not too scary for the young viewers. The monsters themselves are funny, creative, and very well-done.

  Now, let's talk extras, this CD collection is crammed full of them. It has an all-new short (Mike's New Car, which my little ones had to watch three times in a row!), the short seen when the movie was in the theatre (For the Birds), outtakes, the Monsters Inc Company Play (it's kind of hard to explain, you've got to see it), Monster World (for the new Monsters Inc employee), a game [pant, pant, pant], and so much more.

  OK, if that's not clear enough, let me put it this way: Buy this CD set, you WON'T regret it!s film is that, no matter what state you come to see it, you will leave with a smile on your face and a joy not often given to us by movies. This is a movie to warm the heart, the spirit, and the corners of your mouth, not to mention your stomach as you laugh.
  
  

• Pixar hits another HILARIOUS HOME RUN !!! (DVD Review)

  
  By A1BCVPSEZ5NSXK on 2002-09-21
  .
  Summary:

  Great movie for kids and adults with lovable characters and side splitting laughter. Great Pixar quality animation, great and imaginative script, great acting voices (Billy Crystal as Mike, John Goodman as Sully) that really fit their parts, high quality comedy (some slapstick) great directing, great music.

  DVD Features:

  The DVD extra material are plentiful and excellent! Definitely well worth the purchase!

  Great Director's Commentary; great tour of Pixar; great presentation of the animation process, etc.

  "Mikey's New Car" is a great little short feature; etc. and the "Birds" short feature is cute, too!

  Review:
  
  This hilarious movie delivers side-splitting laughter! Everything fits together and is just great! Should be animated DVD of the year!

  This is a great DVD to have at home, even if you saw this in the movie theatre. My daughter saw it in the theatre, but still laughed uncontrollably watching the DVD movie, as well as Mikey's car! I mean really laughing until she couldn't breath!

  Story:

  Monsters work for a Corporation (Monsters, Inc.) That supplies energy for their city, Monsteropolis, by capturing the screams (scream energy) of children and monsters compete for the best screams with blue-furred cuddly Sully (Goodman) leading the competition. Somehow, a charming infant sneaks into Monsteropolis and hooks onto Sully; and whoever gets caught with her will get "cleaned" by the "authorities" - not a good thing! This throws Sully and one-eyed Mikey (Crystal) into a panic as they stumble against all odds to send the child back without getting caught.

  Scare Factor:
  
  While the Monsters may be afraid of the children, there is no need for your kids to be afraid of them. The movie seems pretty harmless and young children seem to have no problem with the movie concept and scenes.

  And, did I mention it was FUNNY?!
  
  

• Great family movie

  
  By on 2001-10-30
  Great animation and story. I took my 3 yr old to see the movie at a preview and that's all she has talked about for the last 2 days. I think she enjoyed it as much as I did. It will be on my wish list for Christmas (and I'm 36 yrs old). You have to take your kids to see it.
  
  
• Wonderful!
  By A2WMEDQT6EL5FM on 2002-08-26
  This is one of the best DVD's I've gotten to date. The movie itself is wonderful and includes the voice talents of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Ratzenberger, Jennifer Tilly, and James Coburn. As you probably already know the storyline, I'll just talk about DVD.

  You get 2 discs- one contains the movie itself (with the "full screen" or "widescreen" versions, as well as a director's commentary option)and the second disc is chock full of goodies! You get "For the Birds" the 2001 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Short Film (shown in theaters before the movie), and "Mike's New Car" (exclusively created for the video and DVD release, as well as an exclusive sneak peek of "Finding Nemo", the newest upcoming release from Disney starring Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, and Willem Dafoe. Plus, if you choose the "Human Door" option, you get a tour of the Pixar animation studios by the makers of the film. They'll show you deleted scenes, 3-D location flyarounds, and animation gags and "inside" jokes. The "Monster World" door is where the real fun starts- train for your first day at Monster's Inc.; see the employee handbook, and play the "Boo's Door Game", which works like a CD rom-type game. Use your remote control to go through doors and find pieces of Boo's door that come together like a puzzle. The kids and I had tons of fun playing this together. Even our 4-month old son laughed heartily while rocking in his swing. Definitely a DVD for familes to own- worth every penny for the amount of material you get. Buy it, buy it, buy it now!
  
  

• We Scare Because We Care!
  By A1D663YD036KNH on 2001-11-06
  A vivid and very enjoyable romp about toy monsters who are scared silly when a curious two year-old girl (humorously named Boo) wrecks havoc upon entering their world. The ensuing chaos yields more slapstick than actual plot, but strong visuals and imaginative gags prove strong enough to support this 84-minute funfest. The folks at Pixar Films (Toy Story and A Bug's Life) continue to push the boundaries of computer generated animation. The splendid city of Mostropolis and the Monsters, Inc. factory are so vast and stunningly detailed, it's easy to forget they are indeed products of animation. The best visuals, however, are the special doors which magically transport the monsters to childrens closets, tropical paradises and blizzard infested mountains. Of course, stunning visuals alone can't keep a film afloat. No worries here as the lead characters are quite lovable and eventually steal the show. Most charming are a one-eyed green blob named Mike (voice of Billy Crystal) and big hairy Sulley (John Goodman) who is allegedly the scariest monster in town. Mike and Sulley prove to be anything but scary as they befriend little Boo while the rest of Monstropolis is aghast at the prospect of human invasion. It's an ironic twist-- one which works well as Mike and Sulley spend the duration of the film attempting return Boo to the safety of her bedroom. Pixar pulls out all visual stops as the trio make their exciting mad dash for the human world. Overall, great animation, fun characters and excellent voice casting (listen for Jennifer Tilley, Steve Buscemi and James Coburn) make "Monsters, Inc." one of the more creative and fun releases of the year.
  
  
• Movie - Good: Extras - Priceless
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2004-06-14
  We recently watched this movie again, because our 3 year old son is now getting into movies - which may not be such a good thing for him, but at least I have a great excuse to buy and watch kids movies.

  While the movie is excellent for adults, some of the humor goes over the heads of smaller kids, and my son prefers Finding Nemo and The Lion King.

  The extras are the tidbits that make this DVD a collectible item. I laughed out loud at "Mike's New Car" and "For The Birds", and loved the "Outtakes"

  Kids like to watch favorite movies over and over again, but right now it's the extras that are getting the attention.

  This DVD is EXTRA-special
  
  

• Uncertain about young children seeing this movie ? Read on.
  By AF6K69TCTCKCY on 2001-11-30
  I have two children ages 4 and 3 and was concerned about them viewing a movie about monsters. The main thing you spend time telling young children is " there aren't any monsters". I worried that the film would only make things worse for them. Before the age of 6, children have a tough time distinguishing between fact and fiction. However, the film really helped them by allaying their fears and turning something scary into a best friend. The characters are well developed and really appeal to children of all ages. Even parents can sit through the film without looking at their watch every ten minutes! The ending was somewhat turbulent but concluded on a good note. My children have repeatedly asked to see the movie again and in light of how good it was the first time through I don't mind taking them. Definately worth seeing !
  
  
• A Great Movie (A review from someone who's actually seen it)
  By A69ORVVZQ6BJN on 2001-10-20
  ... The attention to detail is great, as always, as are the voice talents. Billy Crystal is himself, Jennifer Tilly is cute, James Coburn is very fatherly. But props must be given to John Goodman, who creates a "James P. Sullivan" you can't help but love. And thanks to Pixar's economic story-telling, the story moves briskly and nothing is wasted.

  I would diffently recommend this movie to anyone. I'm a rather cynical moviegoer, and this made my feel like a six-year old kid again. It's a great family movie, a great date movie, A GREAT MOVIE.
  
  

• Pixar packs a punch!
  By A1E94T4GW7O149 on 2002-09-04
  Monster Inc. is up there with the major hits of Pixar (Toy Story (1 and 2) and my favorite of all time - A Bugs Life). The writers can't get away from the Disney formula but this one sure adds a twist. Using the old Narnia story of entering in and out of children's life via a door, Sulley (John Goodman) and his partner Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) use their scare tactics to make children scream. Scream power is the oil in the machine that keeps the electricity going. After having said all that, the story itself is loaded with twists and tales that I am not at liberty to divulge - you will have to get the DVD for that.

  However, the 2 - Disc DVD itself is loaded with lots of goodies that will keep kids and the young at heart captivated for a long time. The program is divided into two - physically. The first DVD has the movie proper while the second houses the tour of Pixar, bloopers and outtakes. On a technical level, the scene selection feature is great. The first disk does allow for things like commentary and the surround sound effect feature. Of course, there is the mandatory choice between widescreen and fullscreen format. The caption feature is also good and easy to read. I was a little put out by the sneak peak section. The first thing that hits you once you insert the disk is a set of previews (actually, almost commercials). As much as I like Beauty and the Beast, Lilo and Stitch and am awaiting Inspector Gadget and Treasure Planet - I really don't need it to have to skip over. The second disc is where Pixar pulls out all the stops. The in-depth look into the production and animation of Monster Inc. is simply amazing and the set is worth it simply for that.

  Call me a romantic at heart but all I am left with is the infectious laugh of Boo. The video and outtakes are memorable as well. However, Pixar/Disney could not pull it off without a great story - and to make it simple - that is what it was - a great story.

  Miguel Llora
  
  

• A wonderful family movie & the best extras ever on DVD...
  By A1JJOV69MAU2J2 on 2002-09-10
  The folks at Pixar have really outdone themselves with this joy-filled DVD package, which I was lucky to receive about a month before the official release.
  If you have not yet seen the movie, have no fear, buy the DVD, do not rent. You will not regret it. Wildly imaginative, totally hilarious and yet filled with deeper meanings and fine acting, Monster's Inc. is first-rate family entertainment that rewards multiple viewings.
  And like other Pixar pictures, Randy Newman's unique musical talent is a wonderful antidote to the schlock you will find in other companies' animated pictures.
  As for the 2-disc DVD set, the bonus disc alone is worth the price of admission. Most DVD "deluxe" packages that I have seen to date have a haphazard collection of lame "making of" features, a few deleted scenes and previews. Not with Monsters Inc. This well-thought out disc is packed with fun games, entertaining documentaries on the movie and on the crazy people at Pixar, and the bonus "Mike's New Car" short among the hours of features on this disc. Instead of 90 minutes of movie, you are really getting four or five hours of real entertainment.

  The director's commentary track is also a well-thought out addition to the disc, not just an annoying throwaway that you will find on other discs. My wife and I really enjoyed the story behind the story, and the fun that the Pixar folks had in making this movie is infectious.

  I can't recommend this enough.

  Enjoy!
  
  

• Pixar has done it again!
  By A3TUZOJZM9008Y on 2002-08-26
  Admittedly, I am a fan of Pixar's work. Their artists have done some incredible animated features over the years. Between the "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life," they have managed in a short time to build an impressive track record. Their shorts are also among the best ever produced. So my expectations going into this movie were very high.

  The story concerns the monsters in your closet. The theory being that their world runs of the energy produced by children's screams. Sulley (John Goodman) is number one at getting screams. His main rival (Steve Buschemi) will do anything to gain the top spot. Oh, and they consider the touch of a human child to be toxic.

  While not as instantly relatable as "Toy Story," the movie builds on the talents of Goodman and Billy Crystal (Mike) to bring you into this make-believe world as Sulley and Mike try to get little Boo back through the closet door to the safety of her bedroom.

  Disney/Pixar has presented this well on DVD. Both Widescreen and Pan & Scan versions are available on the first disc. The second disc has games, outtakes, an award winning animated short, and a fun (easy to find) Easter Egg.

  All in all, if you enjoy Pixar's work, or animated features in general, this is a must have for your collection.
  
  

• Monsters lead such interesting lives!
  By A3EW2L59UBHQSG on 2002-09-01
  I loved this movie in the theaters (saw it 3 times in one week) and I love it even more on DVD. How is that possible you ask? Well, this 2-disc set is simply jammed packed with monsterously good information and entertainment for the entire family.

  Disc 1 - A smile immediately came to my face when the widesceen version played as a default (you can select the fullscreen version from the menu). But the widescreen issue isn't as big a deal with PIXAR films since they restructure each frame of the film for a fullscreen presentation. I haven't read any cooberating info but this seems to be the case with Monsters, Inc. too. The only other options on this disc are a directors commentary (quite good, with minimal pauses) and an option to watch the film with an isolated sound effects track (very cool).

  Disc 2 - After you've watched the movie it's time to delve into the worlds of PIXAR and Monsters, Inc. The disc is separated into the Monster World which is aimed at kids and the young at heart and the Human World which offers much more depth and insight into the creation of the film. The games offered in Monster World are fun and easy to learn. Slowly but surely, games offered on DVD are getting better every day. And lest I forget the Monster Handbook is a laugh riot! There is a terrific tour of the new PIXAR studios as well as fly-throughs of some key sets created for the film in The Human World section. This is also where you will see production art, deleted scenes, the original story treatment as well as a guide to the "in" jokes, original trailers, and much much more. It will take a truly dedicated fan (and most of your day) to sit through it all in one sitting.

  All of PIXAR'S DVD releases have been stellar and Monster, Inc. pushes the bar even higher. By keeping the fun level high (keep an eye out for a wacky monkey) as well as separating the features into a fun and games section and a making-of section they have created a flawless DVD presentation and proved the old addage, "monsters lead such interesting lives."
  
  

• 'S Wonderful!
  By A1HS9F7J51E9CB on 2002-09-10
  Pixar and Dreamworks score a perfect Ten! The advances in animation since "The Toy Story" are breathtaking. The villain, Randall, is so shudderingly slinky, I have to invent a new verb for him: he just "slimes" around!

  The Monster World is generated by the power of children's screams when said Monster leaps out of the closet. However, there are problems: the latest generation of children don't seem to scream as much, and the Monster World is running low on power. All of this must be done without coming into physical contact with said children because they are toxic to the monsters.

  Sully, the #1 power-maker, is just as lovable as only John Goodman can make him. His voice is so comforting; it should be declared a National Treasure. Mike, done to perfection by Billy Crystal, is Sully's fast talking, one-eyed sidekick. Little girl, Boo (voice done by a real little girl, Mary Gibbs) is a pocket-sized sweetheart who will make the toughest go "Awww--" My whole family were agonizingly stumped over the voice of the Yeti (Abominable Snowman--"who IS that guy? I KNOW that voice!") For other aurally challenged customers, John Ratzenberger is Cliff the Mailman in "Cheers." He carries off the big, dumb but friendly "I don't know my own strength" character with aplomb.

  The package: Loaded with goodies. You have a choice of Widescreen or Pan and Scan. Has an original short of "Mike's New Car" (fairly funny) and a delightful Oscar Winning Animated Short Film, "For the Birds." There are a couple of very primitive games for the toddler set inexplicably (to me) overdubbed from Japanese. I loved going through the Monster Door that told you how the animation was done and discarded takes. My favorite was the "hard to do" stuff that explained how Sully's furry coat was made to move and blow and get snowed upon. No one could ever say they were shorted in the "extras" department. The sound and picture quality were excellent.
  
  

• A monstrously funny film for all ages
  By A3QZCA4LTTVGAD on 2001-11-26
  "Monsters, Inc." is one of those great films to which both my 5-year old nephew and I can give our highest rating. A wonderful animated fantasy with suberb vocal performances, "Monsters" is full of both suspense and laughs.

  Briefly, "Monsters" depicts a society of monsters that inhabits a world parallel to ours. Its theme is thus not unlike that of "Men in Black" or "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which also imagine fantastic alternate realities that exist beyond the perception of most people. The monsters of "Monsters" routinely cross into "our" world in order to harvest the energy gained by the terrified screams of children. But the lives of our monstrous heroes are complicated when a human child crosses over into the monster realm.

  The filmmakers do an excellent job of creating a complete monster society from this premise. The monster world is populated with some of the most visually imaginative characters in recent film history. My favorite (as well as my nephew's) is Waternoose, a multi-eyed crustaceanlike creature with an elegantly rolling gait. The voices to the monsters are perfectly cast: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, James Coburn, Steve Buscemi, and Jennifer Tilly have major roles.

  There is a great action scene in the film that is as thrilling as anything in an "Indiana Jones" film, and some great satiric material which will particularly please adult audiences. The film as a whole has a bright, colorful, energetic look, and the filmmakers add in just the right amount of sentimental appeal. Although "Monsters" is partly about fear, the film ultimately celebrates the power of laughter, friendship, and courage. And don't worry, parents: our monster heroes are essentially friendly creatures who want to do the right thing for the little lost child, who becomes quite fond of them. This is a wonderfully entertaining film for viewers of all ages.
  
  

• Another great Pixar Production!
  By A2DRHY9HJ4DE1F on 2001-11-03
  I really enjoyed this film and so did all are little cousins who saw it. Actually a lot of parents also loved it but. It is really enjoyable and is a funny light-hearted comedy with great voice talents just like all the other Pixar animated feature films. If you loved Toy Story and Toy story 2, you will definitely love this. Not as good as the great Toy Story production but just as imaginative and creative. I loved the animated characters and the way they look just like every other Pixar film. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I recommend it for all ages! I guarantee fun and excitement.
  
  
• A beautiful, beautiful film.
  By A27CFNHYZG6WS8 on 2002-02-04
  Disney/Pixar have done it again. First Dreamworks gave us 'Antz', and D/P trumped it with 'A Bug's Life'. Now DW give us 'Shrek', and D/P return another film about a lovable ogre, 'Monsters, Inc.' In each case, DW offered a film that seemed funnier, fresher, sassier, more gratifyingly 'adult', but which, in the end, couldn't begin to compare with the D/P films. This is because both companies go about making animation with opposing attitudes. Although they might not say so, DW make their films for adults. 'Antz' was a transposed Woody Allen movie; 'Shrek' an 'anti'-fairy tale. They appealed to adults' cynicism and disenchantment, their weary lack of wonder. Once you start winking, there can be no wonder. Their films are 'negative' entertainments - they mock or lampoon or play with or rework existing narratives or cliches or expectations. D/P, rightly, unashamedly, brilliantly, make their films for children first. They create new worlds (or recreate old ones) rather than knocking old ones down. Their cleverness doesn't go over childrens' heads, aren't contemptouos of them. And if adults get it too, well that's nice, but not the main thing. And this is brilliant for receptive adults, because it allows them to tap that lost sense of wonder, to re-enter and re-live their childhood emotions - AS CHILDREN, not knowing adults.

  'Monsters, Inc.' is not classic D/P - the script is only sporadically witty (most of the best jokes seem to have been reserved for the end-credits 'out-take' sequence) and the characterisation not always inspired (exceptions: John Goodman is an adorable gentle giant; Steve Buscemi as a slithery villain with a scary ability to go invisible, undone by the fact that he's, well, Steve Buscemi). But this doesn't matter, because the animators of 'Inc.' have created a huge, whole new magical world, with its own integrity and movement, operating to its own logic, and believable right down to the tiniest detail. It's not 'our' world or filtered with our sensibilities, although we may recognise some of it - it's a paralell universe, co-existing with ours. The philosophical implications of an industry in which mere doors in the monsters' world opens onto the bedrroms of humans' is too dizzying to contemplate, but it makes for incredible cinema. From the Osbert Lancaster-inspired opening titles on, the film glows with that colourful lumonisity other movies can't reach. The three-dimensional hair rustling Sulley's body is amazing, yes, not because it so 'lifelike', but because it gives him life. The whole concept, where young children, our surrogates on the screen, become the scary Other, the 'abnormal' or 'freakish', is inspired. The climactic third is especially good, with its banishment-in-Nepal agony, its one-eye-poppingly astounding and vertiginous action sequence, in which a factory becomes a kind of candy-coloured Orwellian nightmare, with characters pursuing each other in and out of a global travelogue labyrinth, like one of Chuck Jones' more twisted fantasies (I could also mention that 'Inc.' is the best, most knowing and subversive blue collar drama in American cinema, but that would contradict what I said earlier). And the goo-goo little baby Boo is so Adorable.
  
  

• Charming romp
  By A1D2C0WDCSHUWZ on 2002-08-28
  Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties. Or, perhaps just the last of the three. For anyone who has heard bumps in the night, "Monsters Inc" will be an entertaining animated romp, by the talented people who made "Bug's Life" and "Toy Story." With cute animation and a fast-paced, humorous storyline, it's a treat for young and old.

  The monster metropolis of Monstropolis is powered by the screams of frightened children, which are gathered every night by specially-trained Scarers that pop out of closets. Despite the power shortage, the most revered Scarer is James P. "Sully" Sullivan (who resembles The Beast with a bad blue dye job), accompanied by his talkative pal Mike Wazowski (who resembles a giant green grape with one big eyeball, and who sounds remarkably like Armin Shimerman). Sully works at Monsters Inc. power plant, and is close to breaking the all-time scare record -- if he can beat the poisonous lizard Scarer Randall (who resembles a carnivorous chameleon).

  But one night, Sully finds a door to a child's room left activated -- and inadvertently lets a little toddler (whom he calls "Boo") into the monster world. She sets off a panic, as children are considered to be toxic and dangerous. Mike and Sulley find themselves in a race to return Boo back to her own world -- but find out about a dangerous plot more insidious than any ordinary monster suspects.

  It's a cute "what if" concept -- what if monsters weren't frightening? What if scaring kids were their job? What if closets were really portals to another world? Fortunately the concept never runs away from the moviemakers; by treating it normally, they keep it from seeming stupid or overworked. The portrayal of monsters as ordinary guys going to work every day in a city full of monsters -- all shapes. sizes, textures and levels of furriness -- is well-done and never banged into the viewer's head. And the monsters themselves are hilariously done -- a jelly-like monster who slips through a grate. The fuzzy-faced Adorable Snowman. The undulating serpentine motions of Randall. A sluglike janitor who mops the floor while leaving a trail of slime behind him. Monster kids jumping rope with the very long tongue of their playmate.

  The characters are delightful. Sully (John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal) are well suited to their roles: The big quiet guy and the little self-absorbed sidekick, who has a heart of gold beneath his grating voice. Randall (Steve Buscemi) is deliciously, delightfully bad -- there's no misunderstanding, he's just nasty. "Boo" (Mary Gibbs) is remarkably well-done, very similar in motions and baby-talk to a real toddler (parents will wince when she begins to cry). Mr. Waternoose (James Coburn) is a multilayered character, with realistic motives. And Celia (Jennifer Tilly) is Mike's bewildered Medusa-haired girlfriend, who comes through in a pinch.

  It's not perfect -- there's a draggy section in the middle; the plot lags between the two encounters with the Scream Extractor, and picks up after that. And the movie wouldn't be worth it if the special effects were all there were. The storyline is simple but not simplistic, quick-paced and full of extremely funny dialogue ("I'm so romantic, I could marry myself!") as well as physical comedy (mostly provided by Mike). The technical aspects and additions are just as good. Not only does the film allow you to see it in either widescreen or fullscreen, but it also allows viewers to hear the commentary from the filmmakers as the film progresses.

  And, in the manner of the new "Lord of the Rings" movie," there is an second disc of extra stuff. It's too extensive and complex to fully summarize, but there is a lot to see. Younger kids might not be interested in most of it, but older kids and adults will definitely like it. There's a lighthearted tour of Pixar and the people who work there; interviews with the talented cast; explanations about basic computer graphics, storyboards, and evolving storylines. It's fascinating to hear how complex things like Sully's fur and Boo's T-shirt were made to look as real as possible, how Monstropolis was designed, and the earlier incarnations of the various characters (such as how originally Sully had tentacles instead of legs). There is a cute music video, a "Boo's Door Game," monster biographies, and much more.

  But the best of the extras are the animation shorts. There is one specially created for this movie: "Mike's New Car," in which Mike shows off his wonderful new car to Sully -- except the car causes a lot more trouble than they expected. Oscar Award-winning "For the Birds," a short unrelated to the movie, is also included. It's a cute, funny little film about twittery egg-shaped little birds sitting on a power line, and the dorky heron that intrudes on them. And, most hilariously, there is a section of "Monsters Inc." bloopers (including a cameo by a "Toy Story" star), ending with the musical play "Put That Thing Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me," performed by Mike and the other monsters.

  It's a fun animated romp -- kids can enjoy the whimsical plot, and parents can chuckle over the use of "Working Joe" workplace. Well-animated, well-written, funny and cute and packed with informative and funny extras. Definitely worth the price, and worthy of being seen again and again.
  
  

• Another great DVD package for a Pixar classic
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2002-09-12
  I was sitting there watching "Monsters, Inc." on DVD, the first time I had seen the film, and kept thinking it was a very good but not a great animated film. Then we got to the ending and suddenly I find myself crying. I get weepy over lots of movies, but rarely animated films ("Bambi" and "Beauty and the Beast" begin the exceptions that prove the rule). I think this especially surprised me because I did not think that "Monsters, Inc." was going to be that kind of a film.

  The story is about Monsters, Inc., a corporation in the Monster world that sends scarers into the bedroom of human children all around the world to capture their screams, which are used to provide energy. James P. "Sully" Sullivan is the best of the best, and Mike is his assistant. They are going for the all time record when something really, really bad happens: Sully accidentally brings back a little girl from the human world. At this point, wackiness ensues.

  The promotion for this film really made it seem like it the main character was Mike Wazowski, the frenetic one-eyed green dude voiced by Billy Crystal. But this film is really about James P. Sullivan, the hairy blue giant with John Goodman's voice. I was sort of disappointed that Crystal was not really stealing each and every scene, sort of like Eddie Murphy did in "Shrek." But this film is clearly Goodman's show (how did they ever avoid giving this man an Emmy for his flawless work on "Roseanne"?), and he shows you what he can do with just his voice.

  Any doubts I had about the rating to give this DVD were quickly settled by the second disk. You can read the list above of all the goodies you will find there, but the chief joys are (1) the hilarious "outtakes" Pixar always managed to come up with for their films; (2) the Original Treatment, which tells the earliest storyline about Johnson, the monster who dreams of being a star scarer; (3) an all-new animated short film, "Mike's New Car; (4) "For the Birds," the 2001 Oscar winner for Best Animated Short Film; and (5) a behind the scenes look at Crystal and Goodman recording "If I Didn't Have You." I think you will find that with numbers (1), (3) and (4) you might laugh more than you do while watching the actual movie, especially on (3) and (4). My stomach hurt I was laughing so hard.

  So, that's the "Monsters, Inc." DVD in a nutshell. You cry, you laugh. What more do you need to know?
  
  

• Fantastic animated fun
  By A2ZVERVFM25MJT on 2002-01-02
  Pixar is quickly becoming a gold mine. Not only does it manage to produce witty, intelligent movies but they are also visually stunning and a hit with both adults and children. This particular movie takes another look at an old theme, just as the `Toy Story' films did, by taking a peek at the monsters that live in our closets. We're told that they don't live in our closets but in a world of their own and their power source is us or, more specifically, children's screams. Our two heroes are Sully, a big hairy blue creature, and his little one-eyed green friend. Sully is the best worker at Monsters Inc, managing more screams than any other worker. There's a fuel crisis though, and children aren't as easily scared as they used to be, so something has to be done. All of a sudden, a little girl called Boo enters into the monster world and is swiftly taken under the arm of Sully. Meanwhile, villains are afoot building a new and terrifying device to extract human screams from kidnapped children.

  Although the fact that the initial feelings of fear and trepidation turn into feelings of love and caring is quite obvious, it's the way it's done that's so good. In this part it's even comparable to movies such as `Three Men and a Baby', but it's so affectionate, funny and thankfully un-cutesy that you have to give it credit. Also worth mentioning are the countless little details that will make both adults and children laugh - i.e. a newspaper headline reading `child born with five heads; parents delighted'. Just like the `Toy Story' movies, there are plenty of visual gags and a host of likeable, well-drawn characters such as Cecelia, a one-eyed Medusa, and the abominable snowman that deludes himself that his icy home is both pleasant and accommodating. With all this, you can't fail to fall under its spell.

  It's well acted, visually interesting, innovative and even gently touching. The inevitable separation scenes are not only done well, but they are devoid of schmaltz and sentimentality that would ruin the moment. Even if this isn't as funny as the `Toy Story' movies that it's bound to be compared to, it's actually more touching and yet more proof that children's movies can be good too.
  
  

• Fantastic entertainment for kids AND adults
  By A2B7BUH8834Y6M on 2002-01-12
  I don't have kids, but if I did, I'd love to take them to this film. I have seen it twice... once with a friend and once I treated my parents and took them... they are in their 60's and got a kick out of it.

  I love the latest advances in computer animation and you will be blown away by the quality of everything you see. If you see this in the theater, get there early... Pixar has a short film (as they did in Toy Story and Toy Story 2) before the film and it is adorable and highly entertaining skit with animated birds sitting on a telephone line... I can't wait to get this film on DVD.

  Mike (the green guy with one big eye... Billy Crystal) and Sulley (the blue shag carpet - John Goodman) are best friends and partners at Monsters, Inc., the only power plant that supplies power for cars, lights and everything electric where the monsters live.

  In this very clever tale, you quickly learn the source of power for Monstropolis comes from the screams of frightened children... which is the explaination for why monsters hid under your bed when you were a kid.

  I don't want to give away the best parts or concepts of the film, but film buffs should pay attention... there are lots of hidden gags, statements and props here and there... some of which I picked up the second time I saw the film. The animators and story writers put amazing details in every square inch of the screen... very cute, humorous and clever things show up or are even minor and in the background... and when you see the "making of the movie" featurettes on other discs like "Toy Story," you realize how many weeks, months and years these folks labored to add the little nuances that some viewers will simply miss or not even appreciate.

  I wish Pixar would work on several of these types of films so there would be more available. Family safe enterainment that is not only non-corrupting, but a treat for adults and kids at the same time... although there will be scenes in which adults and kids will be laughing at totally different things.

  As fantastic as the animation is, it would be nothing without a story, and the story is original and very clever. My hat is off to those at Pixar... they should all get Oscars for the revolutionary techniques they have made available to the film industry.

  Each year, the Academy has ceremonies that are not televised along with the more popular "Best Actor" and "Best Film" categories. Apple (another Steve Jobs founded company, like Pixar) won an Emmy last year for their invention of FireWire and how it revolutionized TV editing, etc... it's only a matter of time before these new animation techniques, coupled with fantastic stories begin to get Oscar nods for scientific and technological breakthroughs in the film industry.
  
  

• A delightful Movie...Grown-Ups - Don�t Miss This One!
  By A1H3S4KTB6QJ8H on 2002-08-26
  Monster's Inc is the factory that supplies all the energy for Monstropolis, a city that humans never heard of and cannot see. The energy is derived from the screams of children who are tormented during the night by monsters who work for the company. The monsters enter through a fabricated bedroom (closet)door, scare the child, and the child's screams are bottled up and saved as an energy source. Immoral but ingenious!

  John Goodman is the voice of James Sullivan (Sulley), the best "scarer" of the lot, revered by his fellow associates. His sidekick Mike (Billy Crystal) is a one-eyed "lover boy" and jokester. Randall is a nemesis who desperately wants to unseat Sulley as the number one scarer and devises a plot to cheat his way to the top. The plot backfires when Sulley accidentally discovers Randall's plan and ends up bringing an adorable little child into the Monster-World unexpectedly. That's when the real fun starts and it doesn't let up until the closing credits roll across the screen at the end.

  The Collector's Edition 2-Disc DVD has several enteratining bonus features: Mike's New Car (animated short), For The Birds (Academy Award winning animated short), A preview of Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo" (slated for Summer 2003 release), and outtakes and bloopers from Monster's Inc. There are also 2 additional interactive features: Monster World lets you go through first day training as an employee at the Monster's Inc factory (and also includes a history of the Monster's Inc world and a few games). The Human World takes you behind the scenes at the Pixar animation studios and also gives us a peek at deleted scenes.

  Overall, this is a spectacular collection of entertainment from Disney/Pixar which is destined to become an all-time classic.
  
  

• fun family fim with LOTS of great dvd extras
  By A2C27IQUH9N1Z on 2002-09-02
  Having a young child, we were waiting for this movie to come out on cable or dvd -- no chance of going to a theater yet! So we were delighted to receive an advance copy from an online store and Disney/PIXAR. We've watched the film at least six times in the past four days.

  The movie is terrific -- one of those films that children of different ages can enjoy AND adults can watch multiple times without going insane. This is the story of Monsters Incorporated, an energy supply company based in Monstropolis. In this reality, energy comes in the form of children's screams, and to that end Monsters, Inc. employees emerge from closets all over the world in order to collect a few GigaHowls and keep everyone's lamps and toasters running. The best scare team at Monsters, Inc. is John "Sulley" Sullivan (John Goodman) and his assistant Mike (Billy Crystal). One evening after hours, a child gets through a closet door and enters Monstropolis. Not good, considering monsters are scared of kids and believe their touch is toxic. Over the course of the movie Sulley and even Mike become attached to "Boo", risking health and careers to get her back to her home. In the meantime, incorrigible adorable Boo is having a great time scaring all the big monsters.

  The film is incredibly well done, as technically flawless as earlier PIXAR productions, the Toy Story series and A Bug's Life, but even funnier. John Goodman perfectly voices gentle, affable Sulley, and Billy Crystal creates Mike, a frantic egotist who is also optimistic and loyal. In other words, with more depth than half the human characters being written today. The animation is stunning, and the story is lots of fun. Nothing here to disturb little kids, and a lot to entertain them. The only part I didn't like much was the opening credit sequence, which was reminiscent of 60s bedroom farces, but that's what the Select Scene feature is for.

  There are two discs here. On Disc One you can view the film in fullscreen or widescreen format. Audio commentary by the director and staff is available with the latter. English captions, audio and video optimizers, and sneak peeks at PIXAR's upcoming "Finding Nemo" and Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" are also here. Disc Two contains almost three-and-a-half hours of amazing dvd extras. There's an interesting 20-minute tour of PIXAR; a very funny bloopers reel (that also plays during the credits of the fullscreen version); storyboards; deleted scenes; recording studio footage; character design; trailers and tv spots; footage of the Hollywood premiere; discussion of tie-in toys; a poster gallery; two Monsters Inc.-related segments from Ponkickies, a goofy Japanese animated show; Peek-a-Boo, a game; a history of Monster World; a Monsters Inc. employee handbook; and an introduction to Monsters Inc.'s version of baseball cards called Scarer Cards. The 13-minute original treatment and several scenes from an alternative story are presented that are as funny as the one that made it to the screen.

  Our favorite extras were the outtakes; a new animated short, "Mike's Car"; the Oscar winning PIXAR short, "For the Birds"; fly-arounds of several movie locations; the guide to "in" jokes (eg, the appearance of Toy Story 2's Jessie when Boo is showing her favorite toys to Sulley); a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the technical wizardry required to produce complex backgrounds, Sulley's fur, Boo's shirt and the city of Monstropolis; being able to watch a scene as it was done in storyboard, layout, animation or finished presentation; and a fun 4-minute clip with a few seconds of dialogue in each of the 30+ languages into which the film was translated. There's even a brief appearance by PIXAR CEO Steve Jobs.

  Packaging and foldout are nice, and include a contest entry form (to win Disney dvds), a free tie-in storybook offer, and a coupon book (for popcorn; Monsters Inc. tie-ins; Disney storybooks, videos and dvds; and Disney on Ice). With one exception we ran everything on our dvd player without a glitch, and could not be more pleased with this very funny family film and the many many extra features.

  Highest recommendation.
  
  

• Plot, Performance, Pixar--It's a Must See
  By A4FRXP169UZ46 on 2001-11-03
  The City of Mostropolis has a big problem. Its energy source, the screams of children scared by thier stable of "scream-makers", is growing ever scarcer. Not only are fewer kids scared at all of monsters under the bed or in the closet, when they do actually get scared, they don't get very scared, and their screams no longer have the potency they once had. For a city that runs on scream power, this is a big deal. Enter our heroes, Sully and Mike (played convincingly by John Goodman and Billy Crystal), the leading scream-producing team at Monsters, Inc., the power generating company of Monstropolis. The plot--how will our heroes save Monstroplois?--plays itself out through a series of clever and innovative contraptions worked out with a supporting cast which ranges from the essence of adorable (Boo, the "toxic human child") to the nadir of nastiness (Randall, the criminal chamelion). There's even a bit of obligatory big-corporate criminality thrown in for good measure.

  Weaving this world of complex characterizations and compelling contraptions into the fabric of fable is the incomparable animation artistry and movie-making genius of Pixar. As they did in their other three hits, Toy Story 1&2 and A Bug's Life, Pixar has morphed the meaning of "computer generated" to another dimension--this is cinema at its best; that it is "animated" through a myriad of techniques is both incidental to and inseparable from the experience and enjoyment of the film.

  But at the final remove, Monsters, Inc. is a story told exceedingly well.

  Imagine this for a recipe:
  A thoroughly engaging plot with characters who show courage and strength in the face of evil and ostracism, exciting scenes of daring and action-reaction-reversal worthy of any adventure epic, a score that enhances the on-screen material while not calling attention to itself, a cast that brilliantly plays its characters and resists the temptation (a la Jim Carrey in "The Grinch") to make their roles extensions of their own celebrity, and a "virtual" world so rendered as to make it seem completely real, again, not calling attention to itself, but whose ultimate genius is that it so fully captivates that the viewer is not aware of its "virtualiy" at all.

  Story, characterization, execution--brilliance! Oh, and did I mention that it's big fun? Well, it's also BIG FUN!

  Go, see and enjoy!
  
  

• Pixar Strikes Back!!!
  By A3B2NVTP78WHUE on 2001-11-05
  It's seems that Pixar can do no wrong. Let's look at their track record: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, and now Monsters, Inc. Four films, four grand slams. Monsters, Inc. may be the most brilliant light amidst Pixar's spectacular lineup. It is the most impressive computer animated film from the technical side that I have ever seen. It also has an unheard of amount of emotional depth in regards to animated features - or even current live-action films for that matter. Besides being a spectacular film, Monsters, Inc. also serves to reclaim Disney's animation crown. Shrek, a great film in and of itself, had taken the crown earlier in the year in direct competition. Shrek not only was far superior at the box office, it was also far superior from a story standpoint than the lackluster Atlantis. Just as Pixar and Disney asserted themselves over Dreamworks in 1998 with A Bug's Life over Antz -a bug movie taking on a bug movie- Disney and Pixar has once again topped Dreamworks with Monster's, Inc. - a monster topping a monster movie. I'm not sure if this film will surpass Shrek's massive take, though I'm sure it'll make a boat load. I can tell you that it does surpass Shrek in story and pure entertainment, not an easy task. If you haven't seen Monsters, Inc. then go see it. It's like Pixar's other films, it makes us all feel more human and realize the shortcomings of our lives - and it attempts to show us some corrective measures. Thank you once again Pixar for such a wonderful gem of a film.
  
  
• Simply Wonderful
  By A1NR9ZB40TRO84 on 2001-11-07
  Every once in a while, there comes a movie which every person, regardless of age, should see. Monsters, Inc. is one such movie. The movie follows two monster friends who work for a company designed to scare kids. This is because the city functions off the power generated by screams. However, the monsters are just as afraid of the children, for kids are thought to be poisonous. One of the beauties of this film is that it will allow kids to come to terms with the fear of things in the closet, and yet it is still entertaining to all who see it. Billy Crystal brings the laugh-out-loud humor while John Goodman provides the heart and soul of the movie. Along with it comes a villain, voiced by Steve Buscemi, who is the epitamy of slimy. In fact, he is a slithering lizard that can appear and disappear at will, proving that these things can be creepy even to adults. The best part of this film is that, no matter what state you come to see it, you will leave with a smile on your face and a joy not often given to us by movies. This is a movie to warm the heart, the spirit, and the corners of your mouth, not to mention your stomach as you laugh.
  
  
• Perhaps the Cutest Movie You�ll See All Year...
  By A2ASEBCEN9ZWTZ on 2001-11-25
  Like Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Antz and Shrek before it, Monsters Inc. is another powerhouse kids movie (from our good friends at Pixar) with all those cool animatronic characters we've come to marvel at. Full of comedy (lots of it slap-stick) and lovable (but not all that scary) characters, this movie will be loved by kids of all ages and just about anyone who sees it.

  The basic plot follows the adventures of Sully (the huge bear like creature) and Mike Wazowski (you'll be hooked by the end...)(the one-eyed green thing) who work for Monsters Inc. In Monstropolis, the city is powered by the screams of young children who the monsters scare at night via a HUGE network of children's closet doors that they crawl through. The odd thing is that the Monsters are even MORE scared of the children, and that is where our story takes off as little baby "Boo" ventures into the world of Monstropolis. What follows is a hilarious (and cute) story of scares, laughs and corporate intrigue as Sully and Mike stumble across a dastardly plot that begins as a simple game of "healthy" competition between Sully and the chameleon Randal.

  Movie Highlights:

  - Our heroes chasing the villain throughout the world via the network of closet doors (that's TOTALLY ultra-cool).

  - The hilarious actions of the "Child Detection Agency" and all their CODES.

  Aimed more at the "cute" factor than its earlier predecessors, Monsters Inc. is bound to leave you with a smile on your face (or barf bag depending on your tastes) by the end of the film. Already a commercial success tons of parents are bound to be buying Sully, Mike or Boo dolls for X-mas.

  Highly Recommended for kids and parents
  Recommended for all others
  
  

• Monsters Inc
  By A266KVYXDXEMK on 2002-04-21
  This movie is want young people today need to see because they Don't make that many good movies for the young and old anymore like the good old days.I hope movie companys take more pride in making movies for all ages.
  
  
• Special Collector's Edition DVD Is Full Of Fun
  By ACIBQ6BQ6AWEV on 2002-08-29
  Kids have always loved monsters, and both kids and grown ups will likely love MONSTERS, INC., a surprisingly witty fantasy that finds the citizens of Monster World popping through closet doors to collect screams--screams that are converted into the power that makes everything from cars to televisions sets run in Monster World. And Sully (voiced by John Goodman) is the top scream-gatherer at the factory... until he accidentally allows a human child to wander into Monster World and runs afoul of a jealous co-worker's plot to unseat him from the top spot. The humor is surprisingly sly, and there's plenty for all generations to enjoy.

  Although TOY STORY was impressive, Pixar's computer animations have come a long way since then, and MONSTERS, INC. is memorable for both design and visual depth. And the Special Collector's DVD has a large package of bonus material that will appeal to any one interested in how the film was created. But there's also plenty on the "pure entertainment" side. The bonus material DVD includes the extremely memorable and hilariously funny animated short "For the Birds," a very enjoyable animated short "Mike's New Car" (featuring characters from MONSTERS, INC.), and a tour of the scream factory from a new employee's point of view. There are also some games that will appeal to the youngest viewers as well--in fact, the bonus material has so much to explore that it will keep both youngsters and young at heart busy for quite a long time.

  But the actual movie is the important thing--and it looks and sounds absolutely great on this DVD, which gives you the option of seeing it widescreen or full screen and hearing it in surround sound. It's all beautifully done, and fans of animated film--and especially of computer animated films--will find this well worth the bucks. Recommended.
  
  

• Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
• A Bug's Life (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
• Toy Story (10th Anniversary Edition)
• The Incredibles (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
• Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition)