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Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
10 best Pixar movies, ranked
There are no truly bad Pixar movies. I'll stand by that assessment even when presented with some of the Disney-owned animation studio's weakest efforts ('The Good Dinosaur,' 'Lightyear,' the 'Cars' sequels). Not every Pixar movie is great, but the level of detail, craftsmanship and feeling that goes into each production means that there's a baseline standard of quality to everything the studio releases. Plenty of Pixar movies actually are great, starting with their very first feature film nearly 30 years ago, 'Toy Story.' It's tough to narrow the list down to just 10, but these selections represent the best of Pixar and thus some of the best in all animated films over the past several decades. With Pixar's new movie 'Elio' hitting theaters on June 20, here are my picks for the studio's 10 best movies, ranked. The opening 10 minutes of 'Up' are often cited as one of Pixar's crowning achievements, but the rest of the movie is quite good, too. There's no denying the power of the early montage that charts the lifelong relationship between Carl and Ellie. That dialogue-free sequence comes after a more upbeat introduction of Carl and Ellie as kids, and the rest of the movie is similarly energetic. Carl (Ed Asner), now a crotchety old man, goes on an adventure to a hidden region of South America and befriends his eager young neighbor Russell (Jordan Nagai). It's obvious that the grumpy Carl will open his heart to friendship, but the journey is still creative and entertaining. Carl's house floats to South America powered by helium balloons, and his strange encounters show him the value of home. Watch on Disney Plus Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Just because Remy (Patton Oswalt) is a rat doesn't mean that he can't be a brilliant chef. That's the simple premise behind writer-director Brad Bird's lovely film about artistic integrity, in the form of a rodent with a masterfully refined palate. Remy stumbles into one of Paris' most renowned restaurants and finds a way to communicate with bumbling busboy Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano), who channels Remy's talents and becomes a culinary sensation. The movie's visions of both Paris and gourmet dining are lush and inviting, and Remy is a likeable protagonist with a genuine love for cooking. Bird makes a larger point via the presence of ruthless food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole), but the message of 'Ratatouille' never gets in the way of its engaging story and endearing characters. Pure artistry wins out, both in the restaurant and in the movie. Watch on Disney Plus One of Pixar's greatest strengths is presenting complex existential concepts in ways that will still captivate a young audience, and there's no concept thornier than death itself. Director and co-writer Pete Docter confronts that topic head-on by having his main character perish in an accident and end up in the afterlife. That's where jazz musician Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) rebels against the order of things, refusing to move on and instead escaping to the realm of souls who have yet to be born, and later back to Earth, albeit in the wrong body. Docter offers up a meditation on mortality that's also a goofy buddy comedy between Joe and the stubborn unborn soul known as 22 (Tina Fey). The movie faces life's biggest questions with openness and charm. Watch on Disney Plus A celebration of Mexican culture and the Dia de los Muertos holiday, 'Coco' brings a welcome new perspective to the story of a young boy learning to appreciate the bonds of family. After unwittingly invoking a family curse, Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) is transported to the underworld, where he must seek out the spirit of a legendary musician so that he can return to the land of the living. Miguel's musical ambitions are embodied in the Oscar-winning song 'Remember Me,' and he's easy to root for as he yearns to express himself in the same way as his musical idol, despite the objections of his family. The movie is fantastical but grounded in time-honored cultural traditions that it treats with respect. Miguel gains a greater understanding of his heritage, and the audience does, too. Watch on Disney Plus Perhaps the only children's movie ever made about the value of sadness, 'Inside Out' envisions a vibrant world within the mind of moody tween Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), where personifications of her emotions vie for prominence. The bubbly Joy (Amy Poehler) wants Riley to experience only happiness, but when she goes on a journey to restore Riley's core memories, she discovers that a range of emotions is necessary for a healthy internal life. That may sound like a therapy pamphlet, but director and co-writer Pete Docter makes it into a funny and thrilling adventure, with plenty of joy and sadness for the viewer to experience along with Riley. The message is all the more powerful thanks to the inventive and affecting presentation of familiar emotional milestones. Watch on Disney Plus Director and co-writer Domee Shi was inspired by her own childhood experiences in creating this exuberant movie about the awkwardness of adolescence, and that personal touch always shines through. Set in 2002 Toronto, 'Turning Red' embraces its specific time and place, with a substantial subplot about a dreamy boy band, and it also embraces main character Mei Lee's Chinese-Canadian identity. Mei (Rosalie Chang) has enough trouble dealing with puberty before she discovers that she's also inherited the family legacy of transforming into a giant red panda when experiencing heightened emotion. It's a blunt metaphor for the body changes that teenagers go through, but Shi takes a playful approach that keeps the movie from feeling heavy-handed. As mortified as Mei might be about what's happening to her, it doesn't stop her from asserting her own unique identity, no matter what her family or friends think. Watch on Disney Plus Produced at a time when superhero movies hadn't yet reached their current level of pop-culture saturation, writer-director Brad Bird's first Pixar movie remains one of the best and most clever deconstructions of the superhero genre, while working wonderfully as a superhero movie itself. The title characters are a superpowered family who've been legally prohibited from using their superpowers, but when a new villain threatens their city, they defy the restrictions and spring into action. Bird stages exciting action sequences that rival any live-action superhero movie, and he balances those with smart comedy and sweet family bonding. The message about individual exceptionalism elevates the concept of the superhero to a sort of philosophical ideal, which gives 'The Incredibles' a distinctive point of view that's lacking in most action blockbusters. It's a large-scale act of personal expression. Watch on Disney Plus There could probably be multiple 'Toy Story' movies on this list, but the second installment marks the high point for Pixar's signature franchise. This sequel takes the oddball crew of sentient toys on a bigger adventure, while further exploring the theme of what happens to childhood attachments when people grow up. Cowboy doll Woody (Tom Hanks) and action figure Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) are no longer at odds, and Buzz is determined to save Woody after he's accidentally sold to a greedy adult toy collector. The toys are still worried about being discarded as their owner, Andy, gets older, but they band together to rescue Woody so their makeshift community can remain intact. 'Toy Story 2' mixes a riveting, suspenseful rescue operation with melancholy reflections on the passage of time, improving and expanding on the first movie in a meaningful, rewarding way. Watch on Disney Plus One of the earliest indications of the emotional depths that Pixar movies could reach, writer-director Andrew Stanton's story about a neurotic clownfish's search for his missing son remains just as moving now as it was when it was first released. Marlin (Albert Brooks) panics when he realizes that his sheltered son Nemo (Alexander Gould) has gone missing, and he sets out on an oceanic odyssey to find his lost child. Marlin's love for Nemo is touching and honest, as is Nemo's love for his father, as both fish do everything they can to reunite. Despite the potentially heavy subject matter, 'Finding Nemo' is lively and joyous, with both father and son making new friends and exploring the world beyond their comfort zones. Sometimes the scariest experiences can lead to the most positive life changes. Watch on Disney Plus There may be no purer embodiment of the power of animation than conveying an entire rich, multifaceted story without any dialogue at all, and that's what Pixar's best film accomplishes. Director and co-writer Andrew Stanton takes both of the top spots on this list thanks to this gorgeous love story between two robots. On a post-apocalyptic Earth, the recycling bot known as WALL-E dutifully stacks the massive amounts of trash that humans have left behind. His routine is shaken up by the arrival of the sleek robot designated EVE, an emissary from the spaceship that contains what's left of humanity. The courtship between WALL-E and EVE plays out like a vintage silent film, and even when they end up on the human ship, their expressive dynamic remains at the center of the movie. It's a beautiful romance that anchors a fable about simple connection — with others and with the world around us. Watch on Disney Plus
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Evans turns 44: a look back
Actor Chris Evans got his start in Hollywood as a young star before appearing on TV series "Opposite Sex" in 2000. Evans is now best known for portraying Captain America throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe and for his roles in "Lightyear," "Knives Out" and "Fantastic Four." Evans turns 44 on Friday. Here is a look back at his career through the years.
Toronto Sun
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Chris Evans ‘sad' he's not invited to ‘Avengers: Doomsday' party
'It's sad to not be back with the band, but I'm sure they're doing something incredible,' actor says of being left out of next year's superhero sequel Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox Chris Evans attends the World Premiere of Disney and Pixar's feature film "Lightyear" at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. on June 8, 2022. Photo by Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney Chris Evans is feeling blue he won't be appearing in next year's mammoth superhero team-up Avengers: Doomsday . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Evans, who played Captain America/Steve Rogers in eight Marvel films, handed the shield to Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson at the conclusion of 2019's Avengers: Endgame . With filming now underway on Doomsday in London, Evans, who is doing the press rounds for his upcoming rom-com The Materialists , was asked if he was keeping in touch with some of his former castmates and how it felt to not be asked to come back for the sequel. 'Yeah, I talk to them all the time,' Evans told ScreenRant this week. 'It's where Pedro (Pascal) is right now. I mean, it's sad to be away. It's sad to not be back with the band, but I'm sure they're doing something incredible, and I'm sure it's going to be that much harder when it comes out, and you feel like you weren't invited to the party.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Several of Evans' Avengers co-stars are set to appear in Doomsday , including Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier; Paul Rudd as Ant-Man; Tom Hiddleston as Loki; and Mackie as Captain America. Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. will also be returning to the Marvel fold, but this time he'll be playing the villainous Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom. A fter directing Captain America: Winter Soldier , Captain America: Civil War and the last two Avengers flicks, Anthony and Joe Russo are making their MCU return to helm Doomsday and its 2027 follow-up Secret Wars . During an appearance on an episode of The Hollywood Reporter 's Awards Chatter podcast last summer, Downey said he was convinced to return to Marvel after getting a pitch from studio boss Kevin Feige. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'He said, 'It just keeps occurring to me, if you were to come back …'' Downey said . ' H e brought up Victor von Doom. I looked into this character. Later on, he goes, 'Let's get Victor von Doom right.' In 2021, rumours swirled that Evans had closed a deal to return to the MCU in an untitled Marvel film, with an option for a sequel. The Boston-born actor promptly shut down that speculation when he tweeted, 'News to me,' adding a shrugging emoji. Talk that he was coming back bubbled up again last December with The Wrap , Deadline , The Hollywood Reporter , and Variety all reporting the news that he was returning for a role in the event film. But Evans shot down those reports in a cover story for Esquire's January issue saying he was ' happily retired.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'That's not true,' Evans said . 'This always happens. I mean, it happens every couple of years — ever since Endgame . I've just stopped responding to it.' After his character time travelled into the past and opted to live his life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) following the events of 2019's Endgame , Evans has continually said he would be reluctant to rejoin the MCU. Chris Evans as Captain America in a scene from Avengers: Endgame. (Marvel Studios) 'I would never say never, but I'm very protective of it. It's a very precious role to me, so it would have to be just right,' he said during a 2023 stop on The View . But s creenwriting duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who penned the two-part Avengers finale as well as three Captain America films and Thor: The Dark World , told Postmedia in a 2019 interview that there were still more stories Marvel could tell involving Evans' iconic hero. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Chris and I are partial to the idea that Steve is part of a strange, unique time-loop where he has always been there. The husband that you very purposefully did not see at Peggy's bedside in Winter Soldier is Chris' Steve. We have always thought that he was her husband. The movies you have been watching follow a line where he always goes back (in time). To be fair, not everyone agrees with us. I don't even know if Marvel agrees with us. But that's what we think,' McFeely said . And there was a note of finality to his time in the MCU coming to an end when Postmedia caught up with Evans on the set of Avengers: Infinity War just before Christmas in 2017. Teary-eyed Chris Evans in a scene from Avengers: Endgame. Photo by Marvel Studios 'It's a cocktail of emotions … It went by in the blink of an eye, but it was also a lifetime. It's nice because it has evolved the way you hope. It's not like we peaked with our friendship back on (2014's Avengers: Age of ) Ultron . The camaraderie we have is at an all time high… It feels like family, it really does,' he said. 'It's nerve-wracking,' Evans said as he contemplated the possibility that he was finished for good. 'But Marvel really knows what they are doing … It's all one big arc. Everything's moving towards the same endgame.' mdaniell@ Read More Toronto Blue Jays World Relationships Olympics Editorial Cartoons
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disney's new Abu Dhabi theme park contradicts stance on Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill
Disney, which infamously sparred with Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., over what the company claimed was a "Don't Say Gay" bill, now plans to build a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Middle Eastern country that criminalizes homosexuality. The entertainment company announced on Wednesday that it will open its seventh park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE. "This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity," Disney CEO Bob Iger said, adding that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be "authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati." The UAE, however, has a history of human rights violations, including the criminalization of "consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults." Comedian Nate Bargatze Says Disney Has Abandoned Its Audience As He Talks About Building Rival Media Empire According to a 2023 report from the U.S. State Department, penalties for individuals guilty of "consensual sodomy with a man" included a minimum of six months in prison. Penalties for men dressed up as women or entering women's spaces were up to one year in prison and an approximately $2,700 fine. Read On The Fox News App The UAE even banned the Disney-Pixar animated feature "Lightyear" from showing in movie theaters in 2022 after reports emerged that the film included a kiss between two female characters. The decision to partner with the nation marks a stark contrast with Disney's past stance on LGBTQ issues. In 2022, then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against DeSantis' Parental Rights in Education bill, which aimed to ban classroom instruction on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" in kindergarten through third grade, during the company's annual shareholder meeting. He also pledged $5 million in donations to LGBTQ organizations. "I called Gov. DeSantis this morning to express our disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law, it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary, and transgender kids and families," Chapek said at the meeting. The Walt Disney Company also released a statement condemning the legislation and incorrectly labeling the bill as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. "Florida's HB 1557, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law," the statement read. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that." Disney Reportedly Backing Away From Culture Wars: 'Politics Is Bad For Business' This opposition kicked off a multi-year litigation battle between Disney and DeSantis after the latter dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the self-governing tax district for Walt Disney World, in response. In its annual SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) report in 2023, the company seemed to acknowledge that weighing in too much in the culture wars damaged their brand after a string of movie flops. Fox News Digital reached out to Disney for article source: Disney's new Abu Dhabi theme park contradicts stance on Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Disney's new Abu Dhabi theme park contradicts stance on Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill
Disney, which infamously sparred with Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., over what the company claimed was a "Don't Say Gay" bill, now plans to build a new theme park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Middle Eastern country that criminalizes homosexuality. The entertainment company announced on Wednesday that it will open its seventh park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE. "This is a thrilling moment for our company as we announce plans to build an exciting Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, whose culture is rich with an appreciation of the arts and creativity," Disney CEO Bob Iger said, adding that Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be "authentically Disney and distinctly Emirati." The UAE, however, has a history of human rights violations, including the criminalization of "consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults." According to a 2023 report from the U.S. State Department, penalties for individuals guilty of "consensual sodomy with a man" included a minimum of six months in prison. Penalties for men dressed up as women or entering women's spaces were up to one year in prison and an approximately $2,700 fine. The UAE even banned the Disney-Pixar animated feature "Lightyear" from showing in movie theaters in 2022 after reports emerged that the film included a kiss between two female characters. The decision to partner with the nation marks a stark contrast with Disney's past stance on LGBTQ issues. In 2022, then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against DeSantis' Parental Rights in Education bill, which aimed to ban classroom instruction on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" in kindergarten through third grade, during the company's annual shareholder meeting. He also pledged $5 million in donations to LGBTQ organizations. "I called Gov. DeSantis this morning to express our disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law, it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, non-binary, and transgender kids and families," Chapek said at the meeting. The Walt Disney Company also released a statement condemning the legislation and incorrectly labeling the bill as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. "Florida's HB 1557, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law," the statement read. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that." This opposition kicked off a multi-year litigation battle between Disney and DeSantis after the latter dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the self-governing tax district for Walt Disney World, in response. In its annual SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) report in 2023, the company seemed to acknowledge that weighing in too much in the culture wars damaged their brand after a string of movie flops. Fox News Digital reached out to Disney for comment.
