Elemental (Pixar - June 2023)

[MrPromey]

Who the heck cares!!!! Would anyone even have known that if the voice actress wasn't excited and didn't tweet that?

Are you all that scared of the term non-binary that if a character that is literally water doesn't identify as male or female it will stop you from seeing the movie?

HIDE THE CHILDREN!!!

An apparently female character introduces the other character as their girlfriend. It was pretty hard to miss.

It wasn't anything pearl-clutching to me but they take a beat to point it out (and then you never see those characters again, that I can recall) so anyone who sees the movie will know it.

 

[mickEblu]

A female sounding character introduces the other character as their girlfriend. It was pretty hard to miss.

It wasn't anything pearl-clutching to me but anyone who sees the movie will know it.

How would you know they’re non binary?

 

[MrPromey]

How would you know they’re non binary?

You're right, I guess.

I just assumed they were the other thing that would get people all riled up.

 

[mickEblu]

You're right I, guess.

I just assumed they were the other thing that would get people all riled up.

No I’m talking about the unnecessary back story that not only does nothing for the story but doesn’t do anything for ticket sales.

 

[MrPromey]

For those comparing this to "The Good Dinosaur", adjusted for inflation, that movie's opening weekend (FSS) was roughly $50M compared to the current forecast of Elemental being around $30M or 40% less.

To be fair, that was when people expected Pixar to be the pinnacle of animated theatrical fare.

I mean, I knew about the troubled history of production on The Good Dinosaur and still expected it to be good anyway because - Pixar.

I think at this point, they've lost that auto must-see appeal for a lot of people.

Their competition has gotten stronger, too.

 

[Indy_UK]

I think people have moved on from Pixar. For me Coco and Toy Story 4 were the last ones that had fun in them. Even Disney animation films don’t seem to push an agenda or be more serious compared to Pixar

 

[TalkingHead]

Also to add, for the record this is nothing like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Like not even remotely. Don’t feel like going into spoilers but the dynamics that make Guess interesting aren’t even at play here. Disappointingly shallow is how I would describe the metaphor the filmmakers are trying to get across.

 

[doctornick]

I think Brave also gets better on re-watch. I absolutely love that movie now.

See I think Brave is easily the most overrated Pixar film and is only really above the dregs of Pixar.

Edit: just to say though that even “bad” Pixar films are pretty decent and watchable. Maybe The Good Dinosaur being the exception

 

[doctornick]

not yet



it's mostly this... BUT part of the issue is that films make slightly less now than they did pre-pandemic. consumer interest and market dynamics have just changed due to streaming. Disney's main issue is mediocre product quality and brand fatigue/disillusionment... but for the market as a whole, theatres aren't what they were in 2018–2019.. nothing really is

I do think there’s a particularly adverse effect from streaming for family films because it is that much more expensive to bring multiple family members. And yes I know Mario but there’s always exceptions to any rule. Furthermore Disney particularly is hurt from this due to high D+ subscriber numbers compared to the likes of Peacock and furthermore D+ seems to have particularly high penetration among families with children.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

For those comparing this to "The Good Dinosaur", adjusted for inflation, that movie's opening weekend (FSS) was roughly $50M compared to the current forecast of Elemental being around $30M or 40% less.

Good Dinosaur came out when there was peak faith in the Pixar brand... as with Marvel, Lucasfilm, Disney Animation... and now Pixar... public faith in their product has plummeted.

 

[TsWade2]

Good Dinosaur came out when there was peak faith in the Pixar brand... as with Marvel, Lucasfilm, Disney Animation... and now Pixar... public faith in their product has plummeted.

Please don't go there! You're making me concern for Disney. And I'm trying to avoid saying it's the end of Disney, because I know it's not the end of Disney.

 

[BlakeW39]

Please don't go there! You're making me concern for Disney. And I'm trying to avoid saying it's the end of Disney, because I know it's not the end of Disney.

hahah

Disney ain't goin nowhere bro. That's one thing you 1000000% do not have to worry about

 

[TsWade2]

hahah

Disney ain't goin nowhere bro. That's one thing you 1000000% do not have to worry about

I know that. I‘m just trying to avoid of saying it’s the end of Disney, because it drives you guys crazy. I wish I can find a way to let me know that Disney is not going away.

 

[BlakeW39]

I know that. I‘m just trying to avoid of saying it’s the end of Disney, because it drives you guys crazy.

no worries man, doesn't seem like you're bothering anyone

I wish I can find a way to let me know that Disney is not going away.

1. Disney IP isn't going anywhere because it's some of the most valuable IP on earth...so long as there is an entertainment industry, Disney will be a part of it
2. Disney Parks aren't going anywhere because demand is high and profitability is consistent even when mismanaged...they are a rock
3. TWDC as an autonomous corporation isn't going anywhere because there's currently no company that has both the means and desire to purchase it... Apple atm doesn't seem to care about about building an IP library

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We just got back from seeing it and the whole family really enjoyed it.

I will say the marketing really didn't do it any favors though. To me the most important parts of it were about the family and how they were immigrants and the challenges they faced (seemed specifically reflecting how it was for Jewish immigrants) and the relationship with their children and the pressure their children have to make them proud, etc

The love story was fun - tough a little hit or miss. I liked the world created and the music was good ... The main song "Steal the Show" is really cute

My kids all really enjoyed it and all said they hope there is a sequel (I think a Disney+ series set in the world, exploring more folks that live there could be good).

Overall, not top tier Pixar or anything but definitely a rather good family movie

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

I'm excited because the one common positive statement I'm seeing everywhere is the 'world building'. That's what I've been missing from Pixar lately.

 

[MrPromey]

I'm excited because the one common positive statement I'm seeing everywhere is the 'world building'. That's what I've been missing from Pixar lately.

They definitely do that.

Without any real spoilers, how the cloud people arrive on a blimp was cute.

 

[dreday3]

They definitely do that.

Without any real spoilers, how the cloud people arrive on a blimp was cute.

Cloud people on a blimp pretty much sums up my life goals and now I must see this movie.

 

[Tiggerish]

I don't think that argument even has to be made.

If streaming weren't a thing, I'd be saying to wait to Red Box it.

We continue to go because the slate of animated movies is few and far between and we enjoy the disconnect from the outside world that watching something at home lacks.

We've seen everything Disney and Pixar has put out in theater since my son was born 11 years ago. (he slept quietly through Brave in his carrier while his mom and I watched) Onward is the last one from either studio that we've seen in theater that wasn't a disappointment and, If I'm being honest, I wouldn't say that one was great, either.

As for D+, we loved Luca. I liked Soul but he thought it was boring and I completely understand why. If I weren't closer to the protaganast's age, I probably wouldn't have liked it, either. I feel like Turing Red was saved a bad theatrical release by being put on Disney+ to shield it since I don't think they were ever going to get enough of the 25-35 female crowd showing up to compensate for the family audiences that would have avoided it.*

Instead, they can lament how good it might have done without having to answer for how it probably would have done.

They just don't seem to have it like they used to and others are stepping up to fill the space.

Heck, I love the Tom Holland Spiderman movies but even Sony, who'd been putting out stinkers before striking a deal for the MCU made what is in my opinion, one of the best super hero movies of all time with Into the Spiderverse only to top it with the sequel.

It's inventive and creative and touching in real ways that feel earned rather than contrived - everything I used to expect from Pixar.

Disney+ didn't cause that.

*as a reminder for everyone who loved it, that one doesn't even show up on kid's accounts on D+ which seems like a pretty strong admission from Disney about the audience they felt it was made for.

I loved Brave. Probably because I could totally relate to the red headed rebel.

I also loved Luca, because what feeling human being couldn’t? Totally enjoyed Soul. Didn’t care for Onward, and I was much too old for the Turning Red demographic. If I was a tween, I probably wouldve loved that movie.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm excited because the one common positive statement I'm seeing everywhere is the 'world building'. That's what I've been missing from Pixar lately.

Yeah it definitely got that right. It looks like I may be a little less critical of these animated movies than most here. I’m usually happy with something that looks good, feels good and sounds good. If I left the theatre feeling something that usually lingers and is more important to me than a few tiny plot holes or inconsistencies. Especially in movies with things like anthropomorphic elements. I think a few of us may be forgetting how to suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride. Watching it through kids eyes can help with that. I think that IGN review was terrible.

I think at a certain point the level of expectations people have for Pixar movies got so high that the odds of matching or exceeding them became extremely low. Which is a testament to how great they were for so long. Even Walt Disney Studios has had a lot of ups and downs. I think Elemental was good step in the right direction.