Pixar's Wall-E Proves Its Mettle

Incredible studio turns out another incredible movie

(NEWSER) - It's only June, but Toy Story 3 already has one call for best movie of the year. In fact, Dan Kois of the Awl goes so far as to declare that “the people of Pixar are currently America's most important filmmakers.” This movie is “totally bonkers,” with loads of crazy scenes—like a mushroom cloud made out of a trillion plastic monkeys—real laughs, and truly exciting moments. And then comes the last 15 minutes, “which I spent bawling, as did every moviegoer around me.” More»

Critics say frisky Disney animation is its best effort in years

(NEWSER) - Disney's latest animated movie may not win prizes for originality, but Bolt is barking up the right tree for family entertainment, say critics. John Travolta voices with "terrific tenderness" the super-powered pooch who's unaware that his life has been a canine Truman Show, writes Michael Rechtshaffen in the Hollywood Reporter. Miley Cyrus is equally effective as his owner. More»

Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson star in Pixar film

(NEWSER) - Just because it’s Pixar doesn’t mean it’s good, as Cars 2 proves. Its worst offender: sidekick-turned-lead Mater, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy.

• “Maybe the company was tired of turning out one masterpiece after another and decided to coast for a while,” suggests AO Scott in the New York Times . The film “takes the bold, arguably generous, and ultimately calamitous step of pushing its lovable, goofy second banana to the center of the action.” Mater is the “redneck Jar-Jar Binks.”

DOJ targeted studio's hiring deal with Pixar

(NEWSER) - The force was with some of America's best animators. Lucasfilm, as part of a settlement with the Justice Department, has agreed to cancel a secret agreement with Pixar aimed at preventing a bidding war for top digital animators, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The firms had agreed to notify each other when offering jobs to employees of the other comapny and to not make a counteroffer higher than the initial offer, according to the DOJ's complaint. More»

Pixar brings series to 'dazzling, emotional' finale

(NEWSER) - Toy Story 3 is a heartwarming masterpiece that easily ranks among Pixar's best, say critics in unanimously positive reviews (as of this writing, it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes ). Andy's headed to college in this one, but instead of being stored in the attic or put out with the trash, the toys end up in a day-care center—and at the mercy of manic toddlers.

• The return of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the gang "is everything a movie should be: hilarious, touching, exciting and clever," writes Claudia Puig of USA Today.