Dear the Internet,
Saying you like Pixar is like saying you like the Beatles; of course you do, everybody does. I like Pixar. A lot. I've seen almost all of their movies in theaters. I have most of them on DVD. I've even met Brad Bird (writer/director of Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille) while I was working at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It was just a handshake and a hello, but I still cherish it. So, because Cars 2 is coming out tomorrow (and even though it's getting bad reviews, I still want to see it), I thought it would be fun to rank my favorite Pixar movies. This, with a few exceptions, was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. To make things interesting, I'm also going to just admit the point at which they made me cry. Fair warning though, there are spoilers in here, especially when I talk about what made me cry.
#11 Cars
This really shouldn't come as a surprise, Cars is by far the weakest of the Pixar films. It isn't bad per se, it is just the most "kids movie" of the bunch. The story isn't really that compelling and the characters all seem kind easy. I would probably love it if I was a kid, but I'm a grown up so I just like it the least of all the Pixar movies.
Where I Cried: I teared up right at the end where Lightening loses the race to push The King across the finish line. It was probably just as much a product of the general emotional state I was in at the time (I was in a weird mood that day), but those happy moments tend to get to me more than the sad.
#10 A Bug's Life
This probably isn't fair because I haven't seen this one in ten years. I remember liking it, but it didn't blow me away. It's probably tied with the next one, but I don't believe in ties (that isn't true).
Where I Cried: I didn't. Thirteen-year-old me was too cool to cry at kids movies.
#9 Toy Story
I loved it at the time, but it doesn't hold up in comparison to Pixar's later stuff. The animation is also starting to look a little dated by today's standards. It's still a solid movie and I watch it every time it's on TV.
Where I Cried: I didn't at the time, but I've since teared up at the part where Buzz unsuccessfully tries to fly. That change in expression on his face when he starts to fall is just heartbreaking.
#8 Finding Nemo
I feel like a lot of people would put this one higher, but there are just others that I liked more. This is the only one I didn't see in theaters, which I think might be the reason that I didn't like it as much as everybody else. By the time I saw it, I had heard people quoting it all summer and that always dilutes the experience. This is the prettiest and most colorful of them all.
Where I Cried: It got me a bit when Dory's memories all start to come back. Those big, swelling happy moments just turn on the waterworks.
#7 Up
I loved this movie, but I hurt myself a bit because I had pictured a very different movie when I watched the trailers. I thought it was going to be an Around The World In 80 Days kind of thing, but they really don't spend that much time in the sky. I got past that the second time I watched it, but it kind of tainted my first viewing. It's one hell of a movie and Dug is one of the most absurdly simple and ingenious characters ever.
Where I Cried: The first ten minutes get a lot of attention for their emotional punch, but it's too early in the movie to get me to cry. I'm still thinking about the short that played moments before and I haven't had enough emotional foreplay to tear up. It's a great sequence, but I didn't cry until the end where you see the house perched on the cliff. There was just something about it that made me feel like everything would be okay.
#6 Monsters, Inc.
I went a week in high school where I watched this movie everyday on DVD. I love it. The whole world is fascinating to me and the character of Boo is more adorable then the Puppy Bowl. That sequence with the doors is unlike anything I've seen. Unfortunately, at this point in the list, I'm kind of splitting hairs when it comes to each films ranking.
Where I Cried: The part where he says goodbye to Boo and she tries to open the door again got me. I started to tear up again when he puts the door back together and they are reunited.
#5 Toy Story 2
This is just a great movie and is a rare sequel that is better than the original. The addition of Jessie and Bullseye really bring new life to the rest of the characters. I don't really have a whole lot to say about it, but I love it.
Where I Cried: I was still a little bit "too cool to cry" when I first saw this, but that music montage is just so stinking sad.
#4 Toy Story 3
This movie is awesome. I really don't get how Pixar can make two sequels to a movie and have each one be better than the original. It's a real testament to the characters that there is that much of their story to tell. I think Pixar realized that the kids who had seen Toy Story when it first came out had grown up and then aged the movie with them. They really did some daring stuff in this one and it pays off.
Where I Cried: Basically, the whole final third had me in tears. The part where they just accept that they are going to die really got me. By the time it got to the part where Andy gives his toys away and has a little send-off for each one, I was a wreck.
#3 WALL-E
This one could actually be number one if it weren't for a few things. I adored the whole first part of the movie when they are on earth. WALL-E is a great character and his attempts at wooing EVE are classic. I thought the movie got pretty heavy handed with the environmental message and I thought it was even a little mean spirited in their depiction of the future humans. The non-WALL-E parts all just seemed very un-Pixar. The parts with WALL-E, however, were fantastic and that dancing in space scene was amazing.
Where I Cried: The part when WALL-E gets put back together and doesn't have his personality was making me tear up, but I really broke down when he came back. When EVE holds his hand it is just adorable.
#2 The Incredibles
For all intents and purposes this could be #1, but I had a roommate in college that watched it everyday for months on end. Any sort of novelty has been completely worn away. I still love this movie though. I'm a bit of a superhero nerd, so this story is right up my alley. The action sequences are all thrilling and the voice casting is spot on. This is also one of the deepest Pixar movies.
Where I Cried: I can't really remember if I did, but the part were Mr. Incredible thinks his family has died is pretty powerful.
#1 Ratatouille
Here it is, my #1. I absolutely love this movie and I think that it is simply flawless. I love to cook, so the setting in general really gets me excited. Like Brad Bird's other movies, there is a lot of depth here that helps it to hold up when viewed multiple times. Again, the voice casting is remarkable.
Where I Cried: The whole final cooking scene where Remy gets his rat buddies to help got some happy tears and then the part where Ego tastes the ratatouille clenched it.
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