Monstrously Fun – A review of Monsters Inc 3-D

Summary: Some animated films are actually better suited for 3-D translation than others and this is one of those films. Still amazing even today.

Ahh, those creepy crawly monsters under the bed at night. Gotta love them.

Monsters, Inc. put a whole new spin on these creatures who use the power of the screams of children to run their culture. Utilizing portals via children’s closets, they slip into a child’s room at night and spook the bejeezus out of them. The bottled screams then generate power for the monsters’ habitat.

The best of the bunch is Sully (John Goodman) who, along with his partner Mike (an ever hysterical Billy Crystal) work diligently to produce a nightly record of screams for the monstropolis. However, they have an archrival, Randall (Steve Buscemi) who will stop at nothing to beat the renowned pair.

Those who haven’t seen the movie yet should note that the monsters really aren’t that scary once you get to know them. Even Sully comes off as a giant teddy-bear type when you strip away the growls. Maybe that’s why Boo, instead of being scared of him, latches on and refuses to let him go. She also calls him “Kitty”. Vocabulary check time.

But beyond the voice acting and Pixar’s stunning visuals (as always) there’s a real pathos to the storyline that Pixar has become famous for. Their films stretch the boundaries between children’s entertainment and the fun factor for adults to boot. This film is still fun to watch, even 11 years after its original release.

The 3-D technology employed to bring this movie up to speed is top notch and virtually flawless. The characters, already visually interesting, now pop from the screen and take on an even more entertaining quality, if that’s possible. This is a film that bears viewing more than once.

Monsters, Inc. still feels fresh and relevant even today. The characters face and deal with morality and responsibility in a manner befitting the best on screen characters. I am always pleasantly amused to watch the sneaky and snarky Randall try to push the blame for his mistakes on others. In typical animated fashion, though, the bad guy always gets his comeuppance.

I have a very sizable DVD collection and because of that, I always carefully consider any new films I want to add to the collection to be sure they are deserving of the room. Monsters, Inc. is part of my collection, and I have no intention of parting with it to make room for something else.

The film originally got 5 out of 5 stars from me. I’d be remiss if I gave the 3-D version any less, so 5 out of 5 it is.