Totally agree with your thoughts. It has the ideas of Inside Out with the heart and dynamic of Up, which is such a winning combo. It's up there with Wall-E and Up in my top three for sure.Went ahead and stayed up until midnight to watch Soul. To quote @mickeyfan5534...I have thoughts.All in all I will say it's a spectacular film. Combining the best of Pixar comedy writing with the heady concepts we've come to except from Pete Docter. Some of the afterlife stuff is just beyond creative and I don't dare spoil how insanely clever some of the world-building concepts are.
A lot of it feels very Infinity Train-esque in a good way. 22 works way better as a secondary protagonist than the trailer leads you to believe. There's a TON of characterization on her end you simply don't see in the trailers. Joe is possibly one of the most complex and multi-faceted leads in a Pixar film. This does for middle age what Up does for old age.
Couple spoilery things to bring up. Read at your own risk...
So...they basically pulled off a sucessful version of Brave with the body switch plot line. If that was in any of the later trailers, I'm so glad I held back on marketing when I did because MAN what a surprise in-movie to find out that the whole film isn't going to be some Inside Out style metaphysical adventure. Things in the film are still insanely creative after the twist, but take on a MUCH more humanistic tone. Some of my favorite moments are simply 22 in Joe's body taking everything in. The barbershop scene in particular feels really special. Just such a fantastic plot point to really get to explore both of the main characters.
And that ending though!
When Joe goes with 22 down to Earth after she gets her sticker...tears. First tears of the movie, but DAMN they came hard and fast in that moment. I was REALLY hoping the film would just cut to credits right as 22 is about to hit Earth. It doesn't, which leads to probably the most divisive thing in the movie for me and I'm curious to get other people's takes on it...Does anyone feel like Joe just getting a free pass back to Earth was a little cheap? It's a LITERAL last minute move for the story.
Don't get me wrong, it absolutely feels EARNED in a "Joe has discovered the meaning of life and now gets to lead a more fulfilling existence" kind of way and I LOVE that they leave the issue of the teaching job vs. the dream gig ambiguous. That being said in spite of the hilarious way we sidestep the numbers at the end, I think it makes Joe's sacrifice for 22 in the final act ring just a little less true. I was convinced the film was going to end with Joe becoming a mentor in the Great Before which would carry on how he found his love for teaching throughout the film. Really need to see the film again and like I said on paper it all works, I just think the move to keep Joe dead would have elevated this movie all the more.
Also, can I get some love for my man Moonwind?
a sign-spinner hippie who spends his time in the metaphysical realm riding around in a big ship blaring Subterranean Homesick Blues?? Are you KIDDING ME??? This guy was both MADE for me, and easily the most clever bit of world-building in the film. I loved every second he was on screen.
I respect your opinion on the movie, but I don't know if I'd attribute the movie being free on Disney+ to mean they weren't happy with the quality, particularly given the glowing reviews it's gotten for the most part. I think if anything, Investor Day showed us they really didn't have much choice in when to release Soul since every major slot in 2021 onwards is pretty much full.I think the fact that is was free on Disney+ means that they know it did not turn out as well as they expected.
I noticed the cityscapes being especially realistic and impressive.The animation for this movie is so good, especially viewing it on an Smart TV (since we own two Smart TVs with a Firestick).
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