Not rated due to having not seen it or seen enough to make a decision:
Bug's Life, Cars 2, Monster's University
With that, there are only two movies I am solid about. The rest vary based on my mood and other factors, so they are more fluid.
TLDR: I enjoy most of their movies.
1. Toy Story 2 - I've seen this movie countless times, and it just has the best combination of pacing, humor, and heart of pixar films. That montage of Jessie gets me every time, while the dilemma of choosing either a life of fame without performing the duties of a toy (to be played with), or to eventually be forgotten but enjoying the ride is relatable without being preachy.
2. Toy Story 3 - Oh man. I expected this movie ride the coat-tails of 1 & 2 and when I saw it, I'm sorry I ever doubted it. The daycare story was both hilarious and disturbing (that monkey!), and the furnace scenes and Andy's final playtime with his toys before going off to college were powerful. Definitely the last great Pixar movie.
The rest of these movies are in no particular order:
WALL-E - The pre-Axiom scenes are some of the best Pixar. Yes, the corporation/consumerism stuff is very blunt, but the way everything is so desolated and sad with only the music and WALL-E's beeps to drive the narrative was amazing. The spaceship plot was nothing great. More slapstick and kid-friendly stuff. The movie is like eating filet mignon as the first course and then having salad/breadsticks afterwards.
UP - Once again, the beginning of the movie is heart-wrenching while the rest of the movie is good, but not at the same level.
Cars - I know this movie gets a bad rap, but there's something about it I enjoy. I guess because it's basically the movie "Doc Hollywood" and I like that movie is partly why, but I'm a sucker for montages of bygone times. It's one of Pixar's weaker films, but I appreciate it.
The Incredibles - This movie I want to like more, and I really do like it, but I loss interest in the final act. This movie was at its strongest when it was about a family with superpowers dealing with day-to-day issues (family/marital issues, work, etc.), before it becomes a movie about superheroes who happen to be related.
Monsters Inc. - I really like this movie. Sure some of the sidekick comedy and villain scenes miss, but Sully's conflict of doing what's easy and expected or doing what's right was some of Pixar's best work. Of course Sully chose to do what's right and it just also happened to solve the monster world energy problem which is a bit too convenient, but I think a sad ending might've been too tough for kids.
Brave - What this movie excels in visuals, it lacks in most everything else. The comedy was standard issue, and the scenes that were meant to be poignant were instead a bit cheesy. Basically, the blue wisps (the ones that led everyone around) were literally the reason why the story happened and also how it was able to be resolved. Thanks for nothing, jerks!
Finding Nemo - While I thankfully can't relate to the story of losing a family member due to some unforeseen event, I can understand the challenges it presents when the movie start. The visuals are gorgeous and the plot is fun if not basic. For whatever reason, my favorite scenes are when the Pelican discusses dental procedures with the fish. It's so absurd, and great.
Ratatouille - This movie is like comfort food to me; it's not the best, but it's very enjoyable in small quantities. Remy sort comes off as a food snob, which annoys me, but he's so passionate about it that it doesn't feel too pretentious. Most of the human interaction is so-so. My favorite scene from this movie is where all the commercialized Chef Gusteau cardboard props would talk in their respective cultures, Texas, Southern, Mexican, etc. Of course every time the movie ends, reality kicks in and the idea of rats in a kitchen is disgusting.
Last, but least, Toy Story - While the advent of CG movies was going to happen eventually, this movie showed that it can turn lifeless computer models into characters that you can connect to. The plot of avoiding irrelevance at all cost is pretty dark though Pixar skillfully masks it behind sharp humor and nostalgia. If they didn't make any more Toy Stories after the first one, I'd be satisfied with it, but I'm glad they produced two more, though I hope they end it there.
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