'Incredibles' and what makes Pixar -- Pixar

Thursday, April 21, 2011
Disney/Pixar's latest Blu-ray release of "The Incredibles" is packed with extras and showcases once again what makes Pixar an animation powerhouse.

BY CAINE GARDNER

Film Crtiic

While watching the special features for the new Blu-ray release of Disney/Pixar's "The Incredibles", I was amazed to find myself once again blown away. A lot of movies pile on movie extras, even animated features, but there's something special about Pixar releases.

I know Disney and Pixar go hand-in-hand, but most of the time the extra features are focused on the filmmakers and that's Pixar's domain. The film landscape has tons of animated features, but Pixar flicks are a cut above the rest. And after looking over all the extras on multiple discs, it all comes down to one word -- story.

While some animated and live-action films rely heavily on effects and one or two hooks, Pixar films simply focus on story, which encompasses all of that and more. A great story has to be great on almost all levels -- the story, the characters, the action -- it all must work to make it exceptional. I dare to you to name a Pixar flick that doesn't have these attributes -- and you can't say "Cars". I beat you to it.

From the original "Toy Story" to "Finding Nemo," from "The Incredibles" to "Up", a Pixar story is perhaps more complex its live action counterparts because it needs to entertain and hold a kids attention, while giving the adult something they can relate or connect with. It's not an easy task, but the filmmakers pull it off time and time again with ease.

And "The Incredibles" is no exception.

Hidden beneath the story of cast away superheroes who blend in with the ordinary citizens, only to come out of retirement and ultimately save the world, is a story of pride, midlife crisis and a person struggling to find their place. Heavy stuff for an animated flick, but that's why Pixar will forever be synonymous with telling top-notch stories.

The extras are stacked in the Blu-ray release. Deleted scenes, a Jack-Jack Attack short film, trailers and NSA with info about the supers.

My two must-watch recommendations are "The Making of "The Incredibles" featurette and one key easter egg. The Making of featurette is an awesome behind the scenes look at how the film was made filled with laughs, but surprisingly one scene where a member of the production staff gets, shall we say, a little upset and mimics a certain idea being deficated upon and then covered up. It's hilarious, but shows the passion the men and women behind the scenes possess.

The first Easter egg available is a sock puppet version of "The Incredibles" that is outstanding. Of all the extra features, this was the one that had me howling.

Final Cut: "The Incredibles" is just another in a long line of awesome Pixar Blu-ray releases. A must have for your collection.