DISCLAIMER: This review has nothing to do with a storyline movie review of 2017. Readers discretion is advised.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my review.
As time goes, Pixar became a masterpiece of animation company for a computer graphic movie, from Toy Story 1 and 2, to Finding Nemo.
Which in 2004, animation companies are probably behind of Pixar for a difficult challenge. Dreamworks is doing above average with good films like Shrek 2 and flop one like Sinbad. And for Disney, its a long story, because they're trying pretty hard for their success, but didn't work out. Even though it was a time that there's a drama between Disney and Pixar for a near separation from expired contract.
Despite the drama, there's a film that it was a success, but without John Lasseter or other people behind of Pixar, but this time, with a man behind "The Iron Giant".
The Incredibles is a 2004 animated superhero Pixar films that was written and directed by Brad Bird and produced by John Walker.
This is the film that it came out five years after "The Iron Giant", which Brad Bird wrote and directed his film, since it was based on the book "The Iron Man" (Yeah, i guess it explained why he changed the name to avoid a confusion from Marvel's comic.), but ended up with a big flop from the lack marketing campaign, that it ended up with a blame.
That is until John Lasseter came in to ask him three times to come with Pixar for a movie, Brad accepted it and join in with his project for his redemption.
So, with all that said, will this movie will be "super success", or maybe "Super Flop"?
Well, lets find out.
The story
It takes place in vintage time of 50's or 60's. Where the people with powers known as "Supers" are a crime-fighters in the city, including Mr. Incredible (aka Bob Parr), ElasticGirl (aka Helen Parr), Frozone (aka Lucius Best), etc. However, things start to going down that after Mr. Incredible save a man who attempted to committing suicide and stop the train from explosion rail, it results a lawsuits and a boycott towards "Supers" for damaging the civilians. After 15 years, the "Supers" remain obscure for retirement or probably death. Bob Parr married Helen to have a children, Dash, Violet and Jack-Jack. However, he was in business as a white-collar job at an insurance agency, but didn't work out for his temper from his boss, causing it to losing his business. Later on, he noticed a computer message from a mysterious lady named "Mirage" that he was chosen to travel to the island called "Nomanisan" to dealing from a tripod robot called "Omnicdroid". But it was revealed to be an evil plan from a former fanboy named Syndrome (aka Buddy Pine) that he wants Mr. Incredible for his side. Helen was devastated from her husband's capture, she needs to go to the island (along with Dash and Violet unexpectedly) to not only save Bob, but also stop Syndrome's plan of taking over the city.
I find the story itself is pretty cool and probably understandable, since we like to be "Supers" to saving everyone from the beginning, but the people in the city will may or may not be pleased us, with suing in the court or even get banned from the city or in country for risking the damage for the monuments or even their lives. But coming back from more than ten years retirement will be an awkward story for our age or even overweight.
However, that idea that Brad Bird came up from his difficulty life of his career and family from the 90's, since he was struggled with his bombed film, which its also understandable, despite his film was a cult favorite.
There's a subplot where Bob Parr meets a costume designer Edna Mode (aka Mrs. "No cape!".) for the change of supersuit and explaining that having a cape is a risking-life from previous heroes who's either injured or dead. Which although i find it funny, but probably agree, because having a cape is a like a death trap for "out-of-nowhere" obstacles or strangles. Despite that, there's also scene with a reunion of Helen and Edna that she made a costume for not only Mrs. Parr, but also her kids because their powers Edna noticed the truth from Helen.
Ad for the gags in the movie, i find some moments are pretty funny (despite of risking from superpowers.), like the scene where Bob lost his temper from his crappy car or probably our favorite moment, is where Lucius asking his Honey for his Supersuit that it was missing that he was asking two times with "Where is my Supersuit!?", it always made me laugh and no matter how many times i replayed it.
The story itself is pretty good for the difficulty life of family or superhero and nice settings
The animation
What do i have to say for Pixar? Its another film with great concept and quality, even though it came out thirteen years ago. The concept and the design of the movie has a nostalgic feel, since it takes place in vintage era of superheroes, even though it has a few of futuristic design, but hey i like what they made. The concept idea was an inspiration from the artwork of Jim Steranko (best known for the comic of "Nick Fury: agent of SHIELD"), which i like how he came up of nostalgia. Even though he was originally wanted to do a hand-drawn movie, but it didn't because Pixar is a work of CG films. However, they claimed that it was the hardest film ever made, with water, hair effects and design (since Monsters. Inc.), the character/costume designs, fire, random smokes, superpowers/gadgets and even explosions. I mean, i probably feel bad for the crew members for their struggle of the animation, but to be fair, they put a lot of effort for the effects and stuff.Even though some of the character designs look kind strange and some are pretty good, but hey, it was an inspiration from a vintage artist of Marvel comics.
The production and the animation of this movie is well-done and well executed, even though its one of the most difficulty work in Pixar film.
The characters
I can tell with these characters, they're pretty fun and likable.
First is our main hero, Mr. Incredible, aka Bob Parr (voiced by Craig T. Nelson). He's a father of Parr family with super-strength and limit of invulnerable. Although he's somewhat independent, but he's known to have a bit far from his family for going back as a hero or even losing his temper for his problem like injuring his boss before getting fired or even his old car (Although his temper kinda is funny.). Despite his issue, he's always an interesting hero and Craig did a nice work.
Next is Bob's wife, Helen Parr, aka ElasticGirl or better known as Mrs. Incredible (voiced by Holly Hunter). With her former nickname suggest, she has the ability of stretching her limbs, torso and sometimes shape-shifting as a parachute. Although she's a typical mother, but i think she's quite interesting as Bob, she's somewhat intelligent, feisty, humble and likable. Which i guess i could say that she's a favorite. Even though she has a same problem as Bob, being retired after fifteen years kinda gain a weight to make her feel awkward for her comeback, especially for her new outfit for her butt. (I can't help it, cause she's kinda hot though. ^^;) Despite that, i like her along with Bob and Hunter did a nice work of her role.
As for the kids like Dash, Violet and Jack-Jack?
For Dash (voiced by Spencer Fox), who's a son with super-speed. although he's self-less, but he's mischievous, kinda cocky and pretty quick. Although he's like a young version of "The Flash", but he's a one kid to have fun with actions.
For Violet (voiced by Sarah Vowell), she's an older daughter and she possesses invisibility and force-field. At first, she started as a shy emo girl, despite her ability. Its not easy to feel bad for her, since she seems to be fragile, but later on for the second to final act, she gets more interesting that i also liked her. Here's a fun fact, while Pixar was thinking for the cast of Vi, they're thinking for Sarah, by using a sound clip in episode of "This American Life" in the animation test.
And for Jack-Jack (voiced(?) by Eli Fucile and Maeve Andrews), at first he's just baby in filler, even though it didn't happen until the final act for a big surprise. either that or some of you saw "Jack-Jack attack".
Then we have a remain hero is Frozone, aka Lucius Best (voiced by... Samuel L. Jackson?), although he's a minor hero, but i can say that he's a cool looking hero with ice powers. He's cool,laid-back and good friend of Bob Parr. Even though this isn't the only film that Sam L. Jackson played as a superhero, he also played Nick Fury in Marvel Cinematic Universe films and he's still a great actor.
And we have a the villain of the movie, Syndrome, formerly known as either Incrediboy or Buddy Pine (voiced by Jason Lee). Oh man, i never heard that we a have a villain from a fan like him. Which from the beginning, he wanted to become a sidekick with Mr. Incredible, but he got rejected a lot, causing himself into a breakdown and transformed himself as psychotic and a cruelty villain known as "Syndrome". Which his evil mission is to killing off every "Supers" with his intelligent, power and robots known as "OmnicDroid", but thats not all, he can also plan to brought his big OmnicDroid to make every civilians as "Supers" to dealing from a giant robot. Even though he's not a "Super" with special powers, but he has gadgets like rocket boots, a remote control robot on his wrists and Utility Gauntlets. But the one thing that really bothered me is... How the heck did he got robots, armies, weapons, technology and more?! That will be a lot scary for our questions.
Despite the big questions, he's probably another famous Disney/Pixar villains for all of his evil reason. And for Mirage (voiced by Elizabeth Peña), i find her pretty gorgeous with white hair and sympathy for Mr. Incredible. Even though she disappeared before the climatic battle of gigantic Omnicdroid.
As for the rest of the characters? Well, there's not much that i want to talk. But the one minor character that i also like (Aside Samuel L. Frozone) is Edna Mode (strangely voiced by Brad Bird himself). She's known for a old fashion designer of "Supers", especially that she likes to make a new suits to making completely different than before like The Incredibles. But its also worth noting that she's against the capes, mainly because it caused a lot of damage of fashion concept with previous heroes wearing a cape who's either injured or died, which is kinda like her trademark of "No capes". To me, i find that she's a fascinated minor character for not just her business of supersuits, but also for her spunky, passionate and sometimes creative personality.
With the characters who's funny, sweet and cool, they're always enjoyable.
Spoiler Alert for those you never seen the final act (Or if you don't care)
In the final act, the battle with a big Omnicdroid is pretty cool and pretty hard to beat it before Bob find the easiest way to destroy it. As they're finished, we though it was over, but we noticed what happen to Syndrome, which he came back for his Plan B, by kidnapping Jack-Jack after knocking down Kari. But as The Incredibles trying to save their baby, it reveals that Jack has shape-shifting ability, in fire, metal and a monster? Holly heck, that is crazy for little baby (Better than Baby Geniuses), as Mrs. Incredible saves her "bundle of transformation", Mr. Incredible fought back at Syndrome by throwing his own Corvette (But, it was his new car.) at the plane, which resulting Syndrome getting got with his cape by a jet's turbine and dies in foreshadowing of "No capes!". But three months later, as they're back in peace, they're been interrupted by a new villain named Underminer, meaning that they're going back in business to stop the new bad guy.
It was a pretty good third and final act in the film and also a well execution for a Villain's death like Syndrome. (Which im sure he's one villain that we love to hate, right?)
And now, its time for my final opinion.
Overall, The Incredibles is another successful Pixar film and also a great comeback for Brad Bird, with cool story, fantastic animation of old fashion, likable characters and it was funny as heck. I loved it a lot as a kid, looking back as i grew to adult, i still enjoyed it. Like i said before, even though it was a hardest work they've ever done, but hey, they put a lot of effort for their practice in their development. If you're a fan or superheroes or Pixar films, this one is definitely for you.
Il give this movie a perfect 10/10.
And before il end my review, il talk about a legacy a bit and even an upcoming sequel. Ever since it was successful, a comic company called BOOM! Studios announced for a publishing a comic based on the movie and it came out in 2009 with a name "The Incredibles: Family Matters" and it did do well. Well, before the comic, in 2005, there's a game called "The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer" by Heavy Iron Studios (The same company for releasing Disney Infinity franchise foe Nintendo and PC.), to making it as a sequel and it was so-and-so... Then two years after the movie came out, Brad Bird returned in Pixar to writing and directing "Ratatouille" and it also succeed, even though i never seen it, but maybe il give a try to buy a DVD.
And finally, after several years later (Which is sometimes after Ratatouille), Bird was announced to make a sequel with reprising actors (except Spencer Fox, he'll be replaced by Huck Milner, because Fox was getting old as adult), a lot of thinking for the story that whether Underminer is a main villain or others and at one point that Helen Parr is going to be a main focus after Bob, which im fine for a changing role. Plus, it was originally to be release on 2019 along with Toy Story 4, but they cut the date on June 15 2018. Overall, i am highly anticipated to see it and maybe it will be great like Toy Story films. So, raise your hands if you like to see "The Incredibles 2".
So this ends of my movie review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know that the comment bellow.
Thanks for reading and im Anthony, signing out.
