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Review: Monsters, Inc.
Before I get to the review, I want to mention that I saw this at the crappy theater in holland. The sound system is super assy, and the screen is kinda small. I've seen many movies here, but the Holland 7 always kinda taints a movie for me just because the theater is dirty and the sights and sounds aren't to par with a state of the art theater. Also our showing was led off by the Star Wars Episode II trailer (which wasn't really very interesting) and a Pixar short. I love shorts before films. I wish that this was standard practice. All movies. At least, all comedies anyway, should start off with a short. And this one was hilarious.
Since this is a computer animated film, I'm gonna start by talking a little about the CG. I don't feel like Monsters Inc has hugely advanced the state of the art for computer animated graphics with this film. There are however exceptions: especially in James, John Goodman's character. They hair system they used on the gigantic blue-with-purple-spots monster is simply stunning. There are some scenes where I simply couldn't take my eye off of it. Also the finale which takes place in a gigantic room with a roller coaster like system of children's closet doors whizzing through the air is absolutely a site to behold.
There are other exceptins too, but really what Monsters, Inc. has done is taken the state of the art CG that pixar has perfected, and used it to tell a story. And I think that it might be awhile before a movie comes a long and is able to up the ante as much as Toy Story and Toy Story 2 did. I think this is much more akin to a Bug's Life, where they broke less new ground in the rendering techniques, and instead tried to do more with the characters.
The look of the film is simply stunning. The warm tones of past pixar movies have been chucked out the door for blues and purples and neon green. But when monsters pass into the human's world, you feel as if you might be back in Toy Story... but why would you want to when this world is so interesting? The centerpiece is the Monsters, Inc factory which has a look that is sorta like a factory with a bit of airport stirred in. But then all skewed. Thats where this movie has really taken off: previous Pixar efforts have all taken place in a relatively believable world (assuming that you believe bugs or toys can talk). They take place in a subset of our world. But MI takes place in what might be thought of as a parallel world with gateways (read:childrens closet doors) back to ours. So the artists were given a chance to truly create something unique.
Now I'm going to try to give you a brief summary of the plot without spoiling anything. The main characters are the blue and purple hairy James (John Goodman) and the little green one eyed Mike (Billy Crystal). The main enemy is a chameleon monster named Randall (Steve Buscemi). Other notable smaller parts are voiced by Frank Oz and John Ratzenberger.
Anyway, James and Mike work at Monsters, Inc. The factory is a power plant... but in Monstropolis, they don't use coal or natural gas. Rather they use the power generated by the screams of children. Using a complex system where doors open into Children's Closets, the monsters run in, get their scream, and the juice is collected. It's dangerous work because children are lethal to monsters. One touch, and a monster is dead! James is the best scarer of all time... until his rivalry with Randall goes wrong, and a little girl (nicknamed 'Boo') accidentally comes back to Monstropolis.
The bulk of the show then revolves around Mike and James dealing with this tiny (and adorable) "Monster" that they have accidentally been stuck with. While trying to get her home, protect her from the Bad Guys, and unraveling the secret plot, good times are had by all.
The voice acting is all fairly solid. And I'm not particularly fond of Billy Crystal any more. I was really worried that his baggage was going to carry over into the character and his lame humor would drag everything down. But they /almost/ never let that happen. And Goodman just has great charisma as a voice. What a lucky man. I'd kill to get to be a voice in a Disney or Pixar film, and he's already got a chance to do both! (To say nothing of practically having a guaranteed part in every Coen bros. movie. What a sweet gig!). But as you would expect, all the voice acting was top notch.
The score was excellent for the film. I'm not going to comment on the sound effects because (as I said above) I saw this film in a crappy theater so its just not fair for me to mention that the audio clipped a bit in places and the surround sound effects weren't very good. I purely blame my theater.
Worth noting is that this is the first Pixar film not directed by John Lasseter, and I think it shows. The pixar trademark of being family friendly, but just skewed enough to make it fun for adults is definitely strong here, but MI is a little edgier then its predecessors.
Pixar's deal with the devil (read:disney :) is almost at an end, and I'm really interested to see what they're going to do after they have free reign to create films on their own. But as long as they are producing films as solid is this one, I'll continue to show up to the theater on opening night. The eye candy. The humor. It's just a class act in an age where most movies have none. I still think TS2 is a better film, but you're not going to see many better all-ages movies this year. Unless of course Harry Potter is everything it could be...
can be found at landoverbaptist.com.
And I braved crappiest theater in all of holland to see it opening night.
It thought english was the main language in Slashdot...
Shouldnt john katz be reviewing monsters inc and telling us how the monsters represent the post-colombine geekiness and solidarity against the microsoft behemoth?
Very descriptive, Taco. Sort of like an airport or a factory but all skewed, eh. Right. That really works to drive the image home. Yet once again have you applied your steady hand and unwavering eye commandingly to the razorsharp scythe that is your pen, burning with great precision this image unto my inner eye!
Your writing is so lame, Taco. Also the dept's you use, always the same tired "gee-that's-nice", "well-isn't-that-special" claptrap.
Just some criticism.
Pushin' 'n dealin', shovin' 'n stealin'
The Origins of Bukkake:
Let me start with the origin of this fetish. The term bukkake is from the country of Japan. This term is actually not a sexual term at all. It was just brought out as a sexual term just recently (around the late 80s) That is the facts. I have heard so many times in the past of people saying that Bukkake is a ancient form of humiliation in Japan (this is NOT the case) It was actually just brought about in porno videos in Japan not too long ago. Now bukkake is growing and moving across the world rapidly.
True Term Meaning of Bukkake:
As I said earlier on the site that Bukkake is from Japan. The term of Bukkake is not a sexual term at all. After this explanation of bukkake hopefully you will understand why the term is not and why it could be a sexual term and fetish. So let me get on to the explanation of this hot new fetish racing through the American continent.
Bukkake in Japanese is base form of a verb, as it stands alone it is a noun. Bukkake means splash or heavy squirt. This being said let me give you an example of this misunderstood word:
SIMPLE EXAMPLE:
Japanese:
boku ha kanojo ni mizu wo bukkaketa.
I her water splashed
English:
I splashed her with the water.
When adding something to the end of bukkake such as: ta (makes it past tense) te(command, such as do it) or teru(present) or tai(want to do)
With that being said you could say as well:
SIMPLE EXAMPLE:
Japanese:
boku ha kanojo ni mizu wo bukkaketai
I her water want to splash
English:
I want to splash her with the water.
Either way you know what bukkake means as a word. believe it or not Japan even has a soup called bukkake udon. That's how much of a normal word it is. This soup has nothing to do with sex at all. It is a soup that Japanese call bukkake because it makes the soup sound more appetizing. They put a lot of vegetables and liquid in the soup, and by calling it bukkake it gives the feeling that the soup was made quickly and its fresh. As if they splashed the soup together. So maybe that will give you more of an insight as to the meaning or feeling of the word as well. Now on the the sexual meaning of it.....
Sexual Definition and History of Bukkake:
Now that you know that bukkake is a term from Japan that means splash, let me tell you why it is a new sexual fetish.
Around the late 80's early 90's a couple of video companies were trying to make videos that catered to facial and sperm lovers in Japan. So they decided to make videos that would consist of a girl getting facial after facial over and over again.There are many videos series and companies from Japan that do nothing but bukkake specific videos such as: Soft on Demand, Shuttle, M's video group, Deeps and a few more smaller companies (these videos are hard to find, but do exist). There are also a list of great sites and magazines that show this Japanese bukkake fetish such as: gotcum.com or the magazine Gal's shower. With this information you can do your own research as well as see examples to cure your own curiosity or sexual desire.
After these Japanese companies did such extreme facial and cum play videos, pictures and websites; the world caught on like a bon fire in the Evergreen Forest. Now all countries around the world are trying to emulate what the Japanese have done with this new and exciting sexual fetish.There are many American videos out as well other great key players of bukkake media such as Germany or the U.K. Although these countries have tried to emulate the Japanese, nobody does quite like Japan. so far Japan has the most exciting and extreme bukkake out.
The Japanese usually have a cute girl sit down in front of a line of up to 200 men. From there she awaits her huge sperm shower. These men repeatedly give her facial after facial. These is where the term bukkake is used because it is like they are splashing her with sperm!! This is not the usual facial you see at the end of a video but rather a shower of facials over and over again on a willing person. This is what makes the fetish a group project rather than just something that two people do together. With this being said, bukkake is not only a fetish but also a sort of orgy.
Now that the fetish on video has blown up so big there are many parties through out the U.S. being thrown by amateurs doing large bukkake parties. You can go to the yahoo groups and find many types of bukkake groups who throw parties all the time. Just do a little research and you are on your way to even being in one of these parties. You could be a giver or a receiver!!! Its up to you and it is no holds barred.
So now you know exactly what bukkake means. The true meaning (in the sexual term) is to splash or squirt a large amount of sperm on a girl (or man, if you are gay) This being said you are well on your way to knowing more about this great phenomenon that is bukkake. Go out and have a good time....but please make sure before you do any parties to make sure everyone is tested for STD's (although they say that aids is difficult to pass through saliva or semen) Be sure to use your best judgment, or just join a site or buy videos and be completely safe.
Different types of Bukkake:
There aren't really a lot of genres of Bukkake, but rather a different way or additions to them. Here is a simple list that I have come across in the past of this style of sex.
Forced Bukkake:
This is were a willing participant acts or seems unwilling to get a facial shower from several men.
Bukkake Summit: Here is where a person receives a bukkake shower but tilts their head back and opens their mouth for the full experience, trying to catch it all. At the end of all the facials the cum is collected and drank by the target of the bukkake shower.
Costume Play Bukkake: Here is where a party or video is made in a theme setting such as a girl wearing a schoolgirl uniform in a schoolroom. She would sit and suck off each guy in a line waiting. The men repeatedly cum in her mouth or face.
Dream Shower Bukkake: This is where the group of men have sex with the target. As one man is having sex the other men watch and cum on the girls face. When the man comes to his climax he cums on her face and the next man in line has sex with her. This one can last a while depending on how many men the target is willing to have sex with.
Snowball or Trade Bukkake: This style of bukkake has two or more targets, which when receive facials swap the cum from mouth to mouth or lick it off of eat others faces.
Cum Play Bukkake: Here is where many men cum on the girls face, after which she plays with the cum. Also the men cum on the girls food and the proceeds to eat the food with the sperm glazing.
The genre of Bukkake that I listed above are just a few. There are many more and there are many that are created everyday. You might want to check back to get new ideas on what can be done with bukkake. I will be listing more styles of bukkake in the future.
"People should be allowed to keep midgets as pets."
- Gov. Jesse Ventura
Given the male/female ratio of the Slashdot audience, shouldn't that be "lady and gentlemen"?
-- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
Ho ho ho. You probably think Tool is brilliant.
True, but 000,000 is reservered for putting the door station in debug mode? :)
Lucas was wise to keep him out of the trailer. This is how he's going to lure people in. They'll figure he's not in the movie. Then once they've paid their $10, BAM! Fucked in the ass again.
Damn funny! Shame this was modded down.
Sully is handing toys from the girl's room to her: A ball from Tin Toy, a Jesse doll from Toy Story 2, and others.
The guy behind me stage-whispers to his date: "Look, he's giving her props!"
I couldn't tell if the pun was intentional, or even realized, but it was beautiful either way.
Kevin Fox