Customer Reviews

The Incredibles [UMD for PSP]

5 star:		(168)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Did you ever read comic books as a kid? Did you ever wish you had super powers? If you answered yes drop everything and go see this movie now. I have been increasingly blown away by the quality filmmaking Pixar has brought to cinemas over the past decade, but The Incredibles marks the first time I've been overwhelmed. Everything you've ever loved about superheroes is addressed in this film, from secret identities to the danger of wearing a cape. Add to the mix an amazingly complex family drama and you have the absolute best film of the year.

Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), once the super hero of the year is now relegated to a cubicle in an insurance company, still trying to save the day (quietly) one claim at a time. His wife, Helen, a.k.a Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) has also turned in her spandex, using her special powers to juggle the task of raising three kids instead of wrangling villains. Their son, Dash, wants nothing more than to use his super speed to propel him to athletic glory. Violet, who has the ability to turn invisible and enclose her self within a forcefield broods like any normal teenager. The baby, Jack Jack doesn't seem to have any super powers at all, unless you include making funny faces in a high chair.

All of this is due to a Super Hero relocation program enacted by the government after public outcry over property damage and personal injury( a very sharp and poignant jab at our own litigious nature). Forced to hide greatness behind a shroud of mediocrity the Incredible family do their best to blend in with normal society, and for the most part succeed.

Of course events unfold to bring all of the Incredibles super powers to light, and for this to occur you need to introduce the mad genius villain, Syndrome (Jason Lee). Parents, here's where the PG rating comes from, because this is one really, really bad guy. A former superhero fan with an enormous chip on his shoulder Syndrome is like every James Bond baddie rolled into one. His gadgets are unique, insanely cool, and above all extremely deadly. Some dark thematic elements and violence cemented the MPAA's decision to slap Pixar with its first above G rating. However, this movie could not have been done properly without giving the audience such a nefarious nemesis to loathe.

In costume and out you will constantly root for the Incredibles, this movie is what going to the theater is all about, non-stop entertainment. The action sequences are positively synapse blowing. The script is Oscar worthy in its ability to seamlessly weave domestic drama and comic book daring-do. Of course the animation has to be seen to be believed, and your eyes will bulge for the film's duration.

I can't imagine this film not being successful but I hope it destroys box office records and mends the wound that has Pixar and Disney going their separate ways. Because if ever there was a film that demanded a sequel it is The Incredibles. An animation masterpiece!

In 2004, Pixar Animated Studios would go on to unfamiliar territory and that is creating a film not based on animals or insects but to create an animated film featuring humans.

With the first five animated films from Pixar Animation Studios/Walt Disney having great financial success, needless to say, there was a lot of challenges and stress that the crew had to face this time around and to spearhead the project was Brad Bird, the writer and director who has worked on "The Simpsons" and "The Iron Giant" (and would go on to direct the Pixar animated film, "Ratatouille".

Needless to say, "The Incredibles", which was budgeted at $92 million became a box office success, earning over $631 million worldwide, receiving nearly positive reviews from all critics and winning two Oscars for "Best Achievement in Sound Editing" and "Best Animated Feature Film of the Year".

And now this successful animated film receives its HD treatment with a new Blu-ray release in April 2011 featuring new special features.

VIDEO:

"The Incredibles" is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:39:1). First, let me first say that even though this animated film was released back in 2004 and within the improvement of computer animation in the last six years, the film still manages to hold up very well! In fact, this is probably the best video version to date as the Blu-ray really shows off the vibrant colors of the film.

Hair strands are much more notable, but also the detail of the fabric of the clothing is also much more present and detailed that you can see the actual stitching. Blacks are inky and deep and the special effects absolutely look awesome. And while I didn't see any compression artifacts or any major defects on the picture quality, I did notice very little banding. In one scene, where Mr. Incredible shows off his new red costume, you can see a little banding but really, this is the best I have seen of "The Incredibles" by far. From the debris, to the presentation of the city and jungle landscape, this film looks awesome on Blu-ray!

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"The Incredibles" is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 DVS, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1. And if there was one thing that really shined for this film on Blu-ray, it was the lossless soundtrack as not only was dialogue crisp but every sound and boom, you can feel it via LFE. I love action films that know how to use the LFE and really make you fel it and in this case, "The Incredibles" delivers! Also, the surround channels are well-utilized as you can hear various ambiance from surrounding objects to little rustling that can be heard as well. Literally, the lossless soundtrack delivers in immersive sound that really gives you a feeling of the action that is taking place! Awesome!

After watching "The Incredibles" so many times on DVD, the soundtrack, while very good, never made me take notice as it did with it listening to it on Blu-ray. Not only was this lossless soundtrack magnificent, it definitely make a big difference during my viewing and enhanced my love for the film. Audiophiles will love the lossless soundtrack!

As for subtitles, they are in English, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"The Incredibles" comes with the following special features:

DISC 1

* Director's Commentary - Featuring audio commentary by producer John Walker and director Brad Bird. Both go in-depth on the characters, the action, the performance, their powers, animation and more.
* Animator's Commentary - Featuring audio commentary by supervising animators Tony Fucile, Steven Hunter, Alan Barillaro and animators Gini Santos, David DeVan, Kureha Yokoo, Dave Mullins John Kahrs, Robert Russ, Angus MacLane, Travis Hathaway, Doug Frankel and Peter Sohm. Both commentaries are split but definitely worth listening to if you are wanting a career in the industry.
* Boundin' Commentary - Featuring director Bud Luckey's commentary for the short. This feature has optional commentary.
* Jack Jack Attack - (4:42) A new animated short of what took place when the baby sitter was watching over Jack Jack.
* Jack Jack Attack Explored - (4:43) Featuring commentary by director Brad Bird, story supervisor Mark Andrews and character designer Teddy Newton and animator Bret Parker on the making of this short.
* The Incredibles Reunited - (22:06) Director Brad Bird, producer John Walker, supervising technical director Rick Sage, character designer Teddy Newton, supervising animator Tony Fucile, production designer Lou Romano, story supervisor Mark Andrews talk about the challenges the film faced during planning and production, the original ideas, making things credible, the relationships of the characters, using humans in a Pixar film, storyboarding, a staff with energy depleted, impressions of how they feel about the film today and more.
* Elle's Anthem - (7:15) Composer Rolfe Kent talks about the 91-piece orchestra and recording the music for the film.

DISC 2

* Paths to Pixar - (5:53) - A featurette about the story artists, storyboarding for "The Incredibles", the importance of storyboarding, the pitch and getting your food into the door.
* Studio Stories: Gary's Birthday - (1:25) A story how a party for the group ended up with the group receiving a cake that said "Happy Birthday Gary".
* Ending with a Bang: Making the End Credits - (1:35) A featurette about the 2D expression of the 3D of the film ala '60s illustrations used for the ending credits and the making of them.
* The New Nomanison: A Top Secret Redevelopment Plan - An interactive map of the New Nomanison island. Featuring an introduction (3:30).
* Deleted Scenes in HD - (33 minutes) A total of seven deleted scenes presented in HD.
* Incredibles Teaser in HD - (2:01) The original theatrical trailer for "The Incredibles" presented in HD.
* The Making of the Incredibles - (27:30) The original making-of featurette of "The Incredibles".
* Classic DVD Content - The following are content that appeared on the original "The Incredibles" DVD such as Story (7:15), Character Design (5:30), Evolution (2:45), Building Humans (6:17) and Building Extras (2:00).
* Easter Eggs - Featuring the original easter eggs from the DVD release of "The Incredibles" including Incredible Socks (3:33), Dancing Bob (:30), Cake (:30), Buttons and Doors (2:30), H3A Classroom, Angus' Guards, Incrediblunders, Frank & Ollie,Ball & Scooter and Markisms.
* Publicity - Character Interviews (6:30) and Trailers (featuring theatrical and TV trailers).

EXTRAS:

"The Incredibles" comes with a slip-over cover case. A DVD is included and is presented in 2:39:1 - Enhanced for 16×9 televisions, English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX, subtitles in English SDH, French and Spanish. Also, included is a digital copy of the feature film which works with iTunes and Windows Media Player.

JUDGMENT CALL:


Pixar is known for creating a good number of wonderful films but I have to admit that "The Incredibles" has continued to become one of my favorites and probably is the only Pixar animated film that I have watch possibly over a dozen times and have not gotten tired of it.

I remember when I first watched the film, I was just amazed not just by the animation and design but also the storyline and the relationship between Bob and Helen and just grown-up things that happen in the film that probably would fly over the head of children but make the adults smile.

And I'm sure that many people own this film on DVD, it's whether or not you want to upgrade to the Blu-ray version. And the answer to that is YES! You do want to upgrade as it is not only jsut a better video and audio transfer but you also have new special features featuring the crew of "The Incredibles" really giving us fantastic insight of what went on behind-the-scenes in the creation of this film.

We hear about the challenges and the long hours it takes to create an animated film but in the case of "The Incredibles", I never knew that a higher-up at Disney opposed the film, I never knew about the intense feelings the crew had and how morale was low at one point because of communication issues. There was a lot of things that happened during the making of this film and you start to realize how much of a challenge these individuals, these departments at Pixar had to face when creating this film. Definitely it was not easy but at the end of the day, the entire crew delivered another Pixar hit!

Not only was it well-received, not only did it make a lot of money but it was a film that managed to hook in both young and old. And it's important to note that at the time when Pixar Animation Studios had films based on toys, insects, animals, etc., to have an all-human based storyline that was well-planned, well-written and well-executed made "The Incredibles" so entertaining and fun!

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone Magazine wrote that "The Incredibles" was #6 on his list of the best films of the decade and to tell you the truth, when I think about films that I have watched more than 3-5 times in the last decade, there are not many. "The Incredibles", I have probably watched about a dozen times or even more than that. There are not many films that deal with many realistic issues that couples face and yet putting a superhero/sci-fi twist to it, "The Incredibles" is an exciting film that will continue to entertain generations to come.

"The Incredibles: 4-Disc Combo Pack" is an excellent release. A first Blu-ray disc with the movie and new special features, a second Blu-ray with new and all the classic DVD special features, a DVD and also a digital copy of the film. This is truly a magnificent release from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and fans should be happy with this release, especially with how awesome this film looks on Blu-ray and its wonderful lossless soundtrack.

Highly recommended!

As a parent of two kids I have had to sit through some awful films; "Home on the Range" anyone? So I was excited to see previews for "The Incredibles", it looked like the perfect family movie, something I could enjoy and the kids could as well. "The Incredibles" lives up to the hype. Both of my kids couldn't stop talking about it and want to go again...even (gasp!) choosing to see this again over Spongebob when it comes out! The story is a lot of fun, and it's funny, how now, as a 30+ year old cubicle dweller, I can relate to Mr. Incredible and his longing for past glories. Pixar's animation is, as always, a real treat. It's amazing how Pixar's characters just come to life, and express more emotional range than a gaggle full of Keanu Reeves. And though "The Incredibles" is rated PG, there is nothing in the film that should keep you from taking your kids. This really is a great family film, and one that adults will be able to enjoy as much as the kids.

I just came back from seeing `The Incredibles' and must say that it is one of the best movies that I have watched this year! The people at Pixar have succeeded again in making a unique movie that is entertaining for both kids as well as adults.

Director Brad Bird (who also directed WB's `The Iron Giant' which is another amazing movie!) tells us the story of Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible), a superhero who is forced to give up using his powers and live a boring ordinary life (after litigations are made for any superhero from using his/her powers in public). However, things change when he gets a mysterious call from a secret agency requesting his help to sabotage a machine that has gone insane. Little does he realize that the person, who he is working for, is his worst enemy, and soon gets into trouble for it, for which his family (who also has unique super powers) has to come to save him. Will they succeed in destroying their nemesis? Will they be accepted as superheroes again?

Combining various elements of various superheroes like The Fantastic Four and X-Men, this amusing story provides us with adventure (an immediate scene that comes to mind is when Dash and Violet try to save themselves in the jungle), comedy (the character of Edna Mode was hilarious!), suspense and a moral, which is basically what everyone looks for in a good movie. The special effects and CGI for this movie is amazing. I couldn't believe that some scenes were actually computer animated because they seemed so real! Hey, the CGI is not enough though; the voices provided for the characters, from a talented cast such as Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, are, forgive my pun, `incredible' and make they characters really believable!

All in all, this movie has a little of something for everyone, and is worth watching at least once!

If I could sum up Pixar's latest offering in one word it would be, Incredible.

The film is a marriage made in heaven as most people would agree that Pixar animation films rock because of the animation. Most kids (and kids at heart) also mark out big time for superheroes movies and cartoons SO a Pixar animated Super Hero flick = $$$,$$$.$$


THE PLOT:

The movie opens up almost like a scene out of the Batman or Spider-Man or Superman cartoons with Mr. Incredible out and about saving the day.

From there the film takes a humorous twist with all super-heroes being banned from practicing their trade due to lawsuits (ah yes, only in the 21st Century can you SUE a super-hero for saving lives) and we fast forward to see the super-heroes fat and out of shape and bored.

We also see that our two main characters Mr. Incredible and Elasti-Girl are now married with three mutant kids of their own.

Mr. Incredible is tricked back into action by two old conniving rivals with a dastardly plot to destroy him and all the former superheroes. When all looks bleak with Mr. Incredible sidelined it takes the combined power of the Incredibles family to save him.

THE COOL THINGS:

I TOTALLY dug the vibe throughout the movie. With the initial Batman vibe as Mr. Incredible makes his way throughout town saving lives and helping people and the later "Fantastic Four" and "Bionic Six" vibe the movie TOTALLY rocked my world.

The plot villain is masterfully inserted into the film with a legitimate grudge against our hero and is brilliantly weaved in and out of the film. Awesome writing, character development and continuity from the Pixar gang. Plus, he's actually a cool (if geeky/dorky) villain.

Seeing the kids come out of their shells and display and use their cool powers was awesome. Pixar's animation gets better and better and most of all the movie's ending seems to leave open the possibilities for a SEQUEL.

THE VERDICT:

Hey, if you dig Pixar animation or Super-Hero flicks or toons, you KNOW you'll see this one.

Highest Recommendation

When Toy Story was released, I lived overseas and missed much of the initial hoopla over the new class of animated films that Disney was releasing. It was only after I was dragged to see Toy Story 2 did I see the light and agreed that Pixar was the true innovators of animated film. With each new release, I went in with doubts that it could never top the previous film, only to leave with such adoration for their latest work of genius.

This adoration is a double-edge, however, as I never believe the next film fits the mold. When I heard of the concept for The Incredibles, I was dubious that it would capture my imagination the same way Monsters Inc, or Finding Nemo would. Of course, my fears were unfounded as this film is genius and is perhaps my favorite of the entire Pixar catalog.

What makes Pixar films so different? How do they manage to do it? Why would I leap over wheelchair-bound nuns in order to buy a ticket for The Incredibles when you wouldn't catch me dead watching Shark Tale or Shrek 2?

Pixar films excel because they're storytellers first, animators second.

The stories in Pixar films are contained, but limitless in their appeal. Shrek has to rely on pop culture references within a fairy tale, which is either pandering or just lame. In film and television, there's the concept of the "fourth wall" which is the viewer. Pixar never destroys the fourth wall by breaking character or tone, while other animated films feel too self-congratulatory or self-aware for their own good.

Pixar doesn't cast their voices based on celebrity star power, but rather on talent that conveys the range of emotions their stories require. DreamWorks' films feel like they're cast solely on how many millions the combined cast has brought into their coffers. Do you ever notice that except for the Toy Story films, they don't list the cast on posters or opening credits? The actors are important, but not more than the story. Shark Tale hits you over the head with so many "stars" that it has to show them in ads to convince people to see the film. There is a difference between acting and just reading lines.

The story draws you in, makes you engage with the film and truly brings magic back to cinema screens. The detail is crucial, but not at the cost of the narrative.

Oh, and the part about animation being second? That doesn't mean that this film ignores that aspect of the movie. This film is fluid, but tight; relaxed, but not sloppy. You forget after a while that this is animation, which is as high a compliment as animated films deserve.

The Incredibles is a film that is lush with colors, swells with emotion, and scored with the right touch of relaxed swing to convey the era when superheroes captured the dreams of a generation. As a film, it puts regular features to shame with all of the elements of classic movie-making. Truly worthy of the Oscar presented to Brad Bird two nights ago, this film perfectly encapsulates why Pixar is the leader in the animated film industry.

Bravo.

Well, Pixar has raised the bar again.

I dragged my younger daughter to see this, and although she enjoyed it, I enjoyed it more. If you didn't grow up reading comic books, you'll think this one is much ado about nothing. But if you still have a box of Marvel comics stashed away somewhere ('in your heart' will do), you'll love this film. Kids will like it too, but don't mistake it for a 'children's film' just because it's animated and has superheroes in it.

The eye-popping animation is Pixar's finest to date, and that's saying a lot. The voice characterizations are consistent and believable throughout as well, especially (but not only) Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, and Samuel L. Jackson.

The storyline is wildly, exuberantly inventive. There's lots of gentle spoofing of comic-book conventions, but it never descends into mockery; this film takes itself seriously, plays by its own rules, and delivers a surprisingly powerful story within those rules. Writer/director Brad Bird (of _Iron Giant_ fame) is obviously familiar with superhero comics in a way that only someone who loves them can be. (And the script passes the sternest test: it would have made a fine live-action movie too. In its way it's every bit as good as the _X-Men_ films.)

The family's superpowers are, at a literal level, lifted directly from the comic-superhero world. But Bird puts them to sly metaphorical use as well, invoking well-known 'familial' archetypes: the super-strong dad, the pulled-every-which-way mom, the hyperkinetic little boy, the teenage daughter who turns invisible and isn't yet very good at putting up shields. Adults will enjoy this stuff if they notice it, but it's handled in such a way that everybody (including kids) will grok it intuitively whether they're consciously aware of it or not.

The film doesn't moralize or preach, but its universe is one in which good and evil matter. To the extent that it has a moral, it's healthily individualistic and even anti-egalitarian; for example, the villain is motivated primarily by soul-deforming envy and resentment (and quite needlessly, since his own talents are clearly remarkable even though they're not superpowers). It shows genuine teamwork in action and doesn't confuse it with conformity or collectivism. It suggests very strongly that there's something wrong with refraining from displaying and using one's gifts just because not all other people share them. It illustrates that when heroes aren't permitted, the result is mediocrity.

It may even stimulate older viewers to ask ourselves what _our_ special powers might be and whether _we've_ stopped exercising them (and if so, why); are we sure _our_ glory days are really over? Why, in short, did we put those comic books away? Have we forgotten why we liked them?

You don't need me to tell you the plot; the other reviews have already done that. If you have an ounce of comicbookery in your soul, you'll love this grand, rollicking homage to the genre. See this one in the theater and _then_ buy it on DVD. Trust me.

Finally a heroic nuclear family!

This film is for all the moms out there. You have a film that supports your values of family and team-work and all things you are trying to teach your munchkins. It is the perfect family and also is good for adults too.

Some of the action may be too intense for younger kids-after all, it is a PG movie and not a G one. The violence is about what you see on the Japanese cartoons, or the Superman or Teen Titans cartoos. Some of the themes are heavy, such as Elastigirl thinking her husband is cheating on her, or the death of so many heroes that is alluded to. There is also a skeleton of the X-Man Cyclopes in the movie. So moms, be aware!

I haven't seen such a pro-family film in a long time. It reminds me of the old "Lost In Pace" TV show, and the cartoon "The Bionic Six." I think these formats are good for getting boys and men interested in families, since they are outer-space and superheroes, but also about supporting the traditional family. Way to go Pixar!

PS I want to be Edna!

With two more movies to go under the wrath of Disney, Pixar Studios comes out with their best yet in The Incredibles.
Coach's Craig T. Nelson does the voice for Mr. Incredible, a muscle-bound superhero who loves the hero life. To add more love to his life, he marries Elastigirl, voiced by Holly Hunter.
Just after the marriage, however, a number of superheros get sued by citizens. This results in the government putting all superheros into a type of superhero protection program which requires them to assume mild mannered identities and never use their super powers again.
Jump ahead 15 years. Our happy hero couple now have three kids: Dash, who has the power of great speed, Violet, who has the same powers as the Invisible Girl in the Fantastic Four, and Jack Jack, whose powers are unknown until the end of the movie.
After getting fired from his regular job, Mr. Incredible finds a contract job in which he can use his super powers. But, this is actually a trap set up by an overzealous fan of his.
The movie doesn't have one dull moment in it. Brad Bird, the director, has done an amazing job with the movie. He also does the voice for the superhero outfit designer, Edna Mode. In an interview, Brad said several people tried out for the part, but none of them had the right voice, in his opinion; so, he decided to voice it himself. Sheesh! Talk about an ego trip.
As far as the violence is concerned, it has about as much violence in it as your average Teen Titans episode.
Movie warnings: punching, kicking, explosions, woman getting choked, teen angst, and baby rage.
I can easily say that this movie is worth both the matinee and night time movie prices.
Have fun and don't forget to leave the cape at home. :)

Most superheroes don't like to throw it in our faces, but -- accept it -- they are better than us. Way better. Brad Bird, the writer-director-voice behind The Incredibles, isn't shy about this quiet truth. In fact, Bird even dares to suggest -- Heavens! -- that maybe even without superheroes, some of us are more equal ... okay, better -- than others. So the heroes in The Incredibles have two kinds of enemies -- supervillains and a society that wants nothing more than to make everyone equal (and therefore equally mediocre). Who leads the fight for mediocrity? Liberal lawyers, of course ... those insidious creeps who not only want to turn basic human emotions and conflicts into money, but are hell-bent on [...] concepts of legal equality into factual equality.

Yes, boys and girls, The Incredibles actually stands for something that ought not be controversial, but is. If you want your kids to go on believing that people are all the same, watch out! This movie might quietly burst that silly illusion.

It's also a darn good movie -- more of James Bond, than of Toy Story, full of action, explosions, and peril. The dialogue is crisp, and there are no ridiculous fart jokes. This isn't Shrek. The folks at Pixar are too intelligent to aim that low.

This film is a vast improvement over the so-so Finding Nemo, and is every bit as good as A Bug's Life and Toy Story.