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The Godfather · Nov 1, 2006, 06:53 PM

Is it the rabid fanboi'sm in me, or is there really a trend that other CG studios are always choosing themes that have been used by Pixar. Ejemplos:

* Bugs' Life - Antz, The Ant Bully
* Finding Nemo - Shark Tale
* Ratatouille - Flushed Away
* Any other I've missed?

It is one of the reasons why the only non-Pixar movie I like is Shrek.

Dakar² · Nov 1, 2006, 07:31 PM

Was there a Pixar precursor for Ice Age?

CharlesS · Nov 1, 2006, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

the only non-Pixar movie I like is Shrek.

So what you're saying is that you don't like any movies that aren't cartoons?

And here I was thinking by looking at your username that you'd be a fan of... oh what was it called. Some movie about gangsters.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Nov 1, 2006, 07:38 PM

Volcano - Dante's Peak
Armageddon - Deep Impact

slugslugslug · Nov 1, 2006, 07:39 PM

ISTR reading that Antz was in production before A Bug's Life. Who knows who, if anyone, was doing the copying.. But A Bug's Life was reputed to be far better (I liked it, never saw Antz).

As far as the next batch, I heard of Flushed Away long before Ratatouille. From the trailers and the advance reviews of Flushed Away on IMDB, I'm guessing Ratatouille will again be far better. Flushed Away looks awful, which is a shame, because I'm normally a big fan of Aardman stuff.

FWIW, I've liked every Pixar feature I've seen (all but Cars and Toy Story 2, I think). The only fully-computer-animated DreamWorks movie I've tried watching was Madagascar, which was so unfunny we had to turn it off.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Nov 1, 2006, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

It is one of the reasons why the only non-Pixar movie I like is Shrek.

Oh god i thought it sucked.

The Godfather · Nov 1, 2006, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Oh god i thought it sucked.

Good to know!

Gossamer · Nov 1, 2006, 08:05 PM

Well Madagascar (Dreamworks) and The Wild (Disney) both seemed a bit similar. (from the trailers at least)

sek929 · Nov 1, 2006, 09:18 PM

Deep Impact came out before Armageddon.

Also, I'd like to point out that Deep Impact had a deep imapact while Armageddon failed to live up to its name.

Kerrigan · Nov 1, 2006, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

Good to know!

No it did suck. It was nothing but pop-culture references aimed at the creepy "Kiddult" audience

MindFad · Nov 1, 2006, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

No it did suck. It was nothing but pop-culture references aimed at the creepy "Kiddult" audience

[goodtoknow] I liked the story and the characters. And it was funny. [/goodtoknow]

Art Vandelay · Nov 1, 2006, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

No it did suck. It was nothing but pop-culture references aimed at the creepy "Kiddult" audience

I agree. It seems that most of the non-Pixar movies are that way. The humor in Pixar movies seems more sophisticated, yet entertaining to both kids and adults. The others, especially Dreamworks, seem to be more lowbrow.

MindFad · Nov 1, 2006, 10:07 PM

As if lowbrow can't be entertaining and funny! Dang, buncha Shrek haters.

Dark Helmet · Nov 1, 2006, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

No it did suck. It was nothing but pop-culture references aimed at the creepy "Kiddult" audience

Bingo.

olePigeon · Nov 1, 2006, 10:19 PM

My guess is this: Some bloke comes up with a script. Offers the script to a studio. The studio tells him his idea's stupid and that they won't make a movie. So the guy takes it to another studio. The studio thinks its OK and agrees to buy it (or finance it) and make a movie.

The previous studio, after having read the script, hires some other script writer for less money than it'd cost to buy the original script, pitches the idea they stole from the script to the new writer, and get a movie that's almost identical.

After a few years, you get movies in twos and threes that are practically the same.

- - e r i k - - · Nov 2, 2006, 12:00 AM

Shrek was alright, shrek 2 was ok too even if I can't stand the constant pop-culture and movie references which I view as a lazy copout when you can't write real humour.

Ice Age was good. Madagascar was boring.

Antz was pretty good too, never saw Bugs Life.

OwlBoy · Nov 2, 2006, 12:28 AM

We just had 2 magician movies come out within a month of each other…

There are 2 Penguin movies (both 3D animated) on the way.

There do seem to be lots of 2s

-Owl

icruise · Nov 2, 2006, 12:47 AM

Don't forget about Gordy and Babe, two movies about talking pigs released in 1995. This can't be a coincidence, can it?

screamingFit · Nov 2, 2006, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

No it did suck. It was nothing but pop-culture references aimed at the creepy "Kiddult" audience

No wonder I didn't understand about 3/4 of that movie. Well, the 3/4 of the 5/16 I could actually make it through.

voodoo · Nov 2, 2006, 05:45 AM

Ice Age sucked so much. Avoid.

V

Dark Helmet · Nov 2, 2006, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

Shrek was alright, shrek 2 was ok too even if I can't stand the constant pop-culture and movie references which I view as a lazy copout when you can't write real humour.

When I watch shrek 1 and 2 a couple years after the fact is is even more pathetic. I mean when Shreks woman does that Matrix spin or shrek kisses her upside-down (like spiderman) is it funny the first time... let alone 5 years later? The thing is they don't add to the scene or even make fun of it they just expect you to find it funny because a green guy is doing and hopefully you know what movie it is originally from.

It is the same as Scary movie which just parodies movies within the last 2 years but when you go back and watch them now the "I know what you did last summer" and "scary movie" jokes are just eye rollingly bad.

That is what is so amazing about all the Pixar movies. They aren't trendy, almost no current event jokes or pop-culture references. It is like well crafted, timeless furniture.

Dark Helmet · Nov 2, 2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by voodoo

Ice Age sucked so much. Avoid.

V

Uh see robots, it is the worst 3D movie I have ever seen. It looked nice but the story seemed to be written by the 3D animators as it was all little animation gags that they make up overnight to entertain the fellow animators.

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

That is what is so amazing about all the Pixar movies. They aren't trendy, almost no current event jokes or pop-culture references. It is like well crafted, timeless furniture.

You make me laugh.

Aren't you the one that prefers trendy furniture over the timeless kind??

That said, Pixar did give in and let Larry the Cable Guy say "Git R Done" in Cars. But otherwise, it's definitely funny stuff.

Dark Helmet · Nov 2, 2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

You make me laugh.

Aren't you the one that prefers trendy furniture over the timeless kind??

No I am the one that can't afford a $1500 chair and $10,000 bed so I just get cheap modern furniture and replace it when it goes out of style.

residentEvil · Nov 2, 2006, 10:39 AM

The cartoon short before Nightmare before Christmas 3D is pretty funny. The credits at the end give a list of thanks, and Pixar and Steve Jobs are at the top. And, it being in 3D added to the humor. It was well done.

Brien · Nov 2, 2006, 10:40 AM

While I do agree Pixar movies are better, I should say that I did see 'Over the Hedge' and it was actually pretty good. (And not a Pixar copy!)

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Brien

While I do agree Pixar movies are better, I should say that I did see 'Over the Hedge' and it was actually pretty good. (And not a Pixar copy!)

The absolute best scene in the movie was the hyper one going so fast that he was just skipping around...that was hilarious (although quite similar to the end of Hoodwinked).

slugslugslug · Nov 2, 2006, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Brien

While I do agree Pixar movies are better, I should say that I did see 'Over the Hedge' and it was actually pretty good. (And not a Pixar copy!)

Damn, really? We were gonna see that in the theatres, but upon realizing it might have something to do with the abomination that was Madagascar, we never got 'round to it. Maybe it'll go on the ol' queue.

Dark Helmet · Nov 2, 2006, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Brien

While I do agree Pixar movies are better, I should say that I did see 'Over the Hedge' and it was actually pretty good. (And not a Pixar copy!)

I heard the same thing.

Anywho, cars kinda sucked. Definitely the weakest Pixar movie.

Gossamer · Nov 2, 2006, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I heard the same thing.

Anywho, cars kinda sucked. Definitely the weakest Pixar movie.

Oh man, Cars is my favorite Pixar flick.

Dark Helmet · Nov 2, 2006, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Oh man, Cars is my favorite Pixar flick.

Hey to each his own.

Dark Helmet · Nov 3, 2006, 10:35 AM

This story has good timing:

Wired News: Flush the Awful Animation

Gossamer · Nov 3, 2006, 10:48 AM

In the same way that easy-to-use and inexpensive video equipment has resulted in more terrible coming-of-age romantic comedies being submitted to long-suffering film festival programmers, the relative ease of computer animation has taken the medium out of the rarefied hands of, say, Disney's legendary Nine Old Men and plopped it in the lap of any yutz with a Mac.

christ · Nov 4, 2006, 03:13 AM

It isn't new - it even happened on TV back when the world was in black and white, e.g. The Munsters/ The Addams Family.

One side always tries to cash in on (or undermine) the success of the other side.

... and Katzenberg hates Disney, which adds spice to the broth.

The Godfather · Nov 5, 2006, 01:41 PM

But if the moviegoing market was more like me, these trailing studios would be shooting themselves on the foot. I don't want to watch a fish movie shortly after another. If an studio wants to repeat a theme that was already made before, they should wait at least 3 years.

Happy Feet: too soon since March of the Penguins

itai195 · Nov 5, 2006, 02:12 PM

I thought Antz came out before A Bug's Life? Either way, I thought Antz was much better.

davesimondotcom · Nov 5, 2006, 02:47 PM

Newsflash: Hollywood recycles and "borrows" ideas.

- - e r i k - - · Nov 5, 2006, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

But if the moviegoing market was more like me, these trailing studios would be shooting themselves on the foot. I don't want to watch a fish movie shortly after another. If an studio wants to repeat a theme that was already made before, they should wait at least 3 years.

Happy Feet: too soon since March of the Penguins

Nah, an animated film about stingrays would be Too Soon™.

christ · Nov 5, 2006, 04:29 PM

The copier (usually inferior) normally rushes to market to get there first, therefore hoping that people won't go and see the later (usually better) rival.

Dark Helmet · Nov 6, 2006, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by itai195

I thought Antz came out before A Bug's Life? Either way, I thought Antz was much better.

I did the website for the company who dreamworks hired with the instructions of "We need rendering software from you guys to beat Bugs life to theatres".