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Elemental (Pixar - June 2023)
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
How silly. Did Coco have a niche audience?
Just admit you're wrong about people not liking movies that directors make that are personal.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Just saw it. I thought it was solid. Visually pleasing. Really nice world building and story was better than I thought it would be. The fire girl design keeps you captivated. Soundtrack was pretty good with some nice Indian and Far East influences. Also had some heart. Almost got a tear out of me at the end.
Disney Irish
Premium Member
So would you see this as Pixar coming back to form?
erasure fan1
Well-Known Member
Making films for niche audiences are fine. But what he's saying is, it isn't always the best idea to make a niche film at these 200/230mil budgets. Those big budget tent poles need to resonate with as large of an audience as possible.
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
This isn't a new anecdote related to the films performance. The director told this story at D23.
He said a director making a film that's personal to them doesn't work with audiences and I'm saying he's wrong in many instances.
Heck, look at Rocky! I know Sly didn't direct it, but he did write it.
erasure fan1
Well-Known Member
It worked for rogue one.
Sir_Cliff
Well-Known Member
But this is not supposed to be a film made for a niche audience, it just takes its inspiration from the personal experiences of the director. Whether it appeals to a wider audience or not and why is another issue, but it's not made as a film for children of Korean immigrants who grew up in New York even if that experience was the source of inspiration for the director.
Luca was brought up earlier as being meaningful for Italian Americans. Well, I am Anglo-Irish Australian and it's one of my favourite films from Disney or Pixar in a very long time and it was also the most-streamed movie in the United States the year it was released. That's not a niche movie, even if it was inspired by the filmmaker's lived experience.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Yes, I think it’s a pretty good step in the right direction. Visually, the city did feel a little similar to Zootopia at times and at one point it even appeared like it might be like a Buddy detective story too but thankfully it didn’t go that route.
Off the top of my head I think overall I’d rank this somewhere around middle of the Pixar Pack. It’s definitely better than the last 4 Pixar movies and most of the sequels.
Ghost93
Well-Known Member
Just saw the movie. I wasn't feeling it at all for the first 30 minutes as I found the world-building nonsensical and I thought using elements for a metaphor of immigration just didn't work. HOWEVER, I became very invested in the romance between Ember and Wade as the movie went on. They were very cute! I also became more invested in the dynamic between Ember and her father, as well as her own journey of self-discovery. I got quite emotional by the end of the movie. The animation is also gorgeous, one of the top 5 most visually pleasing Pixar movies.
Overall I'd give it a 7.5/10. It had a weak start but improved as the movie continued. I think kids will enjoy it, but it honestly might be more appealing as a date movie tbh.
Overall I'd give it a 7.5/10. It had a weak start but improved as the movie continued. I think kids will enjoy it, but it honestly might be more appealing as a date movie tbh.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I have Elemental ahead of the following Pixar Films:
A Bug's Life
Monsters Inc.
Cars 2
Brave
Monsters University
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
Finding Dory
Cars 3
Luca
Turning Red
Lightyear
Soul
More or less on the same level of the following films:
The Incredibles 2
Onward
Keep in mind some of these I’ve only seen once or twice and it may have been a long time ago so I could be off on some of these. For those I’m only going off the feeling that those films left me with. I realized I’m more of a Lasseter, Brad Bird, Unkrich guy. The Docter films don’t seem to work for me as much for whatever reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if I rewatched some of the above that 2-3 (probably Monsters Inc. and maybe Bugs Life) of them would surpass Elemental. Stand by what I said on Inside Out though. I think that one was overrated and a little boring.
I’d probably have it ahead of Wall E and Up too if the first half of those films weren’t so strong. Didn’t really like the second half of either film. Especially Up.
A Bug's Life
Monsters Inc.
Cars 2
Brave
Monsters University
The Good Dinosaur
Inside Out
Finding Dory
Cars 3
Luca
Turning Red
Lightyear
Soul
More or less on the same level of the following films:
The Incredibles 2
Onward
Keep in mind some of these I’ve only seen once or twice and it may have been a long time ago so I could be off on some of these. For those I’m only going off the feeling that those films left me with. I realized I’m more of a Lasseter, Brad Bird, Unkrich guy. The Docter films don’t seem to work for me as much for whatever reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if I rewatched some of the above that 2-3 (probably Monsters Inc. and maybe Bugs Life) of them would surpass Elemental. Stand by what I said on Inside Out though. I think that one was overrated and a little boring.
I’d probably have it ahead of Wall E and Up too if the first half of those films weren’t so strong. Didn’t really like the second half of either film. Especially Up.
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tcool123
Well-Known Member
One of three movies I saw today, thanks AMC A-List! I thought the movie was solid, not the best animated film of the year nor from Pixar. However, I would place it in the top half of Pixar films.
I will say that the Carl and Dug short before was very emotional and was the only point I teared up in the theater.
A shame that this film will likely flop unless there’s a miracle, but when you market and market poorly what do you expect. Like others have mentioned this film would’ve been better suited later on in the summer where it wasn’t so crowded, I mean my theater has 5 notable releases today per the apps notification at least (Blackening, No Hard Feelings, Asteroid City, Elemental, Flash) alongside other summer films that have continued to perform well (Spiderman, Transformers, Mermaid, Fast X, Gaurdians).
I will end this by saying I think this film is worth a shot in theaters, go during the matinee times to save some money on it as well if you’re more on the sense.
Like others have said it takes a bit to get into it, but once you do it’s a great time. I think the world ended up being very creative and inventive on how the elements were able to coexist. The imagery is also gorgeous, and I hope that I have the opportunity to watch it in Dolby over the next week before Friday when it switches over to…I’m not sure what comes out next weekend actually. The score is phenomenal as well. However I can’t think of a Pixar movie that doesn’t have a bad score or without scenes that mesmerize in their beauty. Yes even films like Lightyear have some great pieces of score and imagery,
In terms of the characters honestly other than Clod I really enjoyed them all. In particular the chemistry and dynamic that Ember and Wade had in as phenomenal, and honestly I aspire to be half the person Wade was. Wade was so sweet, caring, and really pushed everyone to be themselves. Wade is everything and honestly he made me miss my boyfriend - we’re currently long distance and its been hard, but this character reminded me of us. Right after I called him just to tell him that I love him and how lucky I was to find someone like him.
Ember’s family’s story is very familiar and I could connect to it even though my parents immigrated from Cuba. I think a lot of people, or at least first generation kids like myself can relate to this struggle to live up to your family, your culture and knowing everything they’ve sacrificed to come to a new world. This to me is a classic story of the American dream not something niche that is just to one people group.
A lot of the side characters were extraordinarily quirky and provided a good amount of comedy for the film - except Clod, he was annoying. However the mothers were hoots, Gale was entertaining, the various other fires that Ember deals with in the store with fun to watch.
Overall, I think this was a classic love story that was made better with its interesting and compelling setting, relatable characters and story, humor, and most of heart.
In terms of the characters honestly other than Clod I really enjoyed them all. In particular the chemistry and dynamic that Ember and Wade had in as phenomenal, and honestly I aspire to be half the person Wade was. Wade was so sweet, caring, and really pushed everyone to be themselves. Wade is everything and honestly he made me miss my boyfriend - we’re currently long distance and its been hard, but this character reminded me of us. Right after I called him just to tell him that I love him and how lucky I was to find someone like him.
Ember’s family’s story is very familiar and I could connect to it even though my parents immigrated from Cuba. I think a lot of people, or at least first generation kids like myself can relate to this struggle to live up to your family, your culture and knowing everything they’ve sacrificed to come to a new world. This to me is a classic story of the American dream not something niche that is just to one people group.
A lot of the side characters were extraordinarily quirky and provided a good amount of comedy for the film - except Clod, he was annoying. However the mothers were hoots, Gale was entertaining, the various other fires that Ember deals with in the store with fun to watch.
Overall, I think this was a classic love story that was made better with its interesting and compelling setting, relatable characters and story, humor, and most of heart.
I will say that the Carl and Dug short before was very emotional and was the only point I teared up in the theater.
A shame that this film will likely flop unless there’s a miracle, but when you market and market poorly what do you expect. Like others have mentioned this film would’ve been better suited later on in the summer where it wasn’t so crowded, I mean my theater has 5 notable releases today per the apps notification at least (Blackening, No Hard Feelings, Asteroid City, Elemental, Flash) alongside other summer films that have continued to perform well (Spiderman, Transformers, Mermaid, Fast X, Gaurdians).
I will end this by saying I think this film is worth a shot in theaters, go during the matinee times to save some money on it as well if you’re more on the sense.
Ghost93
Well-Known Member
Maybe Elemental will have good legs. It will open much less than Lightyear, but it might have a chance to make more in the long run. I think it will still be a financial disappointment, but it may not be a total debacle.
As far as how I would rank it among other Pixar movies:
1. The Incredibles
2. Toy Story 2
3. Finding Nemo
4. Monster's Inc
5. Toy Story
6. Coco
7. UP
8. Inside Out
9. Toy Story 3
10. WALLE (need to rewatch, haven't seen it since it was in theaters)
11. Soul
12. Turning Red
13. Luca
14. Elemental
15. Incredibles 2
16. Toy Story 4
17. Ratatouille (also need to rewatch, but I didn't love it at the time)
18. Onward
19. Lightyear
20. A Bug's Life
21. Brave
22. Finding Dory
23. Monster's University
24. Cars
Still have not seen The Good Dinosaur or Cars 2 or 3. Will probably check out the Good Dinosaur at some point, but I have no interest in the Cars sequels.
As far as how I would rank it among other Pixar movies:
1. The Incredibles
2. Toy Story 2
3. Finding Nemo
4. Monster's Inc
5. Toy Story
6. Coco
7. UP
8. Inside Out
9. Toy Story 3
10. WALLE (need to rewatch, haven't seen it since it was in theaters)
11. Soul
12. Turning Red
13. Luca
14. Elemental
15. Incredibles 2
16. Toy Story 4
17. Ratatouille (also need to rewatch, but I didn't love it at the time)
18. Onward
19. Lightyear
20. A Bug's Life
21. Brave
22. Finding Dory
23. Monster's University
24. Cars
Still have not seen The Good Dinosaur or Cars 2 or 3. Will probably check out the Good Dinosaur at some point, but I have no interest in the Cars sequels.
CaptainMickey
Well-Known Member
Wow! A Bug's Life is not getting much love here. I suggest some rewatching. It is getting ranked below some trash. Hopper is underrated as a Disney villian. His finale is classic!
I think Brave also gets better on re-watch. I absolutely love that movie now.
Ghost93
Well-Known Member
I don't think Pixar has made a flat-out bad movie, but they have made some mediocre ones. Brave was disappointing as the trailers promised a dark epic mystical journey and what we instead got was a mashup of Freaky Friday and Brother Bear set in Scotland.
Ghost93
Well-Known Member
Yeah it's bad. However, WOM from audiences seems to be positive and it has an A cinemascore. While unlikely, I'm still rooting for it to have a good second-week hold.
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
That sounds about right. Just kind of middle of the road stuff.