Cars 2 was designed – from storyboard to cash register – as a revenue generator. For any other studio, there would be no apology necessary, but when the film comes from Pixar – a studio who, until recently, prided themselves in
not following the money trail to mediocrity – an apology is not only necessary, but a couple rolling heads would be appreciated as well.
Cars 2 isn't a bad film, but nor is it a good film, and when you are accustomed to a studio putting out classics, that is the ultimate insult.
Staff reviewer Kenneth Brown commented in his
Cars 2 3D Blu-ray review , "Pixar, for perhaps the first time in its history, loses a race to other animation studios. There's still plenty of fun and action to be had, but the story, characters and pacing are lacking, and the sequel will be far more appealing to kids than their parents. Thankfully, Disney's AV presentation -- complete with a stunning video transfer and a terrific DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track -- takes away some of the sting."
Riding on the
Twilight gravy train,
Water for Elephants was the much hyped romantic drama starring Robert Patterson and Reese Witherspoon based on the novel of the same name. In execution, however, the chemistry just didn't work and circus theme served more to distract viewers from this, than add to an overly familiar story.
For the
Water for Elephants Blu-ray review , staff reviewer Jeffrey Kaufman commented, "Perhaps the best way to sum up the problems with Water for Elephants is to state that the chemistry and emotional pull between Pattinson and Tai, the elephant portraying Rosie, is far more visceral than that between Pattinson and Witherspoon." He continued, "Still, the film is inordinately beautiful, has an intriguing (if smarmy) performance from Waltz, and boasts some great supplements."