Cars 3 & The Science Behind Pixar
Currently at the Telus World of Science in Edmonton is The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition and an IMAX theatre which is playing Pixar movies. I recently visited both with my wife as we enjoy going to the exhibits, having also seen Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Sherlock Holmes. It begins with a quick video to introduce how to experience the often interactive displays, as well as get folks excited to see behind the scenes on some of the biggest computer animated films from the last twenty years. If you have an interest in animation, you will want to watch many of the videos on display as they introduce people who work for Pixar and what they do. As Toy Story in 1995 was their first major release, Pixar has been building technology and creating ways to make films on computers long enough to have plenty to show and tell about. In addition to being funny, inspiring, and successful, their films are showcases of the latest in digital technology and animated filmmaking. Watching the videos, interacting with the displays, and taking lots of pictures (they encourage it!), can easily take you the better part of two hours.
Cars 3
2017, G, 1h 42m
Distributor – Buena Vista
Budget / Worldwide Box Office (in millions) – $175 / $344 (and counting)
After the exhibition, we saw Cars 3 in the IMAX theatre (they are now showing Finding Dory in 3D). Animated at studios in California, Cars 3 is an action adventure about Lighting McQueen, an aging race car who tries to prove himself against the latest generation of racers. Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy again voice in this followup to 2006’s original and 2011’s sequel, and it’s the original in which this film is closer tied to in spirit. Where the first part introduced us to the world of Cars and the second went international and had more spy action, the third takes a more dramatic approach to where McQueen is at in his life and again pays respect to Paul Newman/Doc Hudson (the actor who voices Hudson passed away in 2008). I couldn’t help but notice how shiny the reflective surfaces were in Cars 3 after learning about how they developed that technology back in 2006 for the original and have improved the process for this one and it sure does look great. A benefit of the large IMAX screen is more clearly seeing the amount of detail the animators put into every scene, especially the racing scenes complete with specs of tires breaking off and full crowds of spectators. The new characters introduced fit well with the world of cars and there are lots of laughs. This is Brian Fee’s first directing credit, more often credited for the Art department in Cars 2 (2011), Wall-E (2008), and Ratatouille (2007) and was written by Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson, and Mike Rich. Voicing actors include Owen Wilson (Lost in London), Cristela Alonzo (Angry Birds), Chris Cooper (Live by Night), Nathan Fillion (Castle), Larry the Cable Guy (Jingle All the Way 2), and Armie Hammer (Final Portrait).
Links
Cars 3
Pixar