How "Cars" Lost The Oscar

[snowrabbit]

Let me begin this painful entry by saying that I love Pixar. Their movies are wonderfully artistic and their storytelling is masterful. I'm glad there's at least one studio that cares enough to put the story first and animation second. Too often the market is crammed with garbage (Shark Tale and Ice Age come to mind) wherein the focus is on

Comments

[sassylilscorpio]

I heard "Happy Feet" was really good and I'm sure that it was...BUT I still wish "Cars" had received an Oscar for something---there's a lot of heart in that movie. There are scenes that make me tear up. I love Cars and that child in my program loves it too. We sit there and talk about it. I've been watching Cars like crazy for the past few days. So yes, even if "Happy Feet" is good and has a great message--well, damn it, so does Cars!

[snowrabbit]

Hehehe I know what you mean. Both movies were great accomplishments. I guess at the moment I'm all about Happy Feet. I even snagged both the movies soundtracks (Yea, there are two) and they're playing on repeat on my computer. Great score, great songs, great movie. I'm still shocked.

And the message in Happy Feet seems to be more urgent. The movie argues that we all have the power to see beyond prejudice and make the world - at large - a better place. I can see how it would speak most to children, subtly reminding them that it will be up to them to make the whole planet a better place by respecting the animal world and the environment. Even Steve Irwin was involved in the movie so the message is the backbone of Happy Feet. I'm just still so shocked that the movie was completely not what I expected. Just blown away.

[sassylilscorpio]

I have the Cars movie soundtrack too. Based on what you said, Happy Feet has a good message about seeing beyond prejudice and make the world a better place. Cars had a good message too. People these days are moving too fast, they don't appreciate life, they think it's all about them. It's good to slow down and appreciate what's around you and to have people you can connect with. There's also messages that winning isn't the most part important thing. Cars was inspired by historical Route 66 (and other things) and I'm impressed that the movie was a personal one for John Lassetter. Happy Feet's message is important-- but then again, so does Cars. I'm not discounting the movie and it's great that Steve Irwin was involved since he felt passionately about the environment. I'll have to check out Happy Feet sooner or later. It's a shame both movies couldn't win the Oscar since they both have a lot to say about what's going on in the world today.

[snowrabbit]

Hehehe Yea, it really is a shame they both couldn't win!

[sassylilscorpio]

The thing is, "Happy Feet" might be about appreciating the environment and taking care of it---and while that's important, people have to be willing to look beyond themselves to do that. There's a lot of selfishness, and a "me me me" attitude these days that effects everyone--families, friends, businesses, organizations and so on. Not to mention the environment. So, from that, to me Cars is more important and should've won.

Please forgive me for beating a dead horse, Adam. I still think Cars should've won. :( *Steph is sad...and passionate.*

[snowrabbit]

You sure are passionate! I can't fault you for your reasoning. I agree that Cars may have had a more coherent message and moral grounding. But I think what tipped the scales for me is that Happy Feet struck me as the better technical achievement. Take any frame of that movie and it looks photorealistic as I've never seen an animated movie look like before. For instance, there's a scene as our heroes are crossing the void and a storm of fog and wind envelops them. The sight of fog rolling off the cliffs and of the sunshine on the characters that just looked stunningly great. The scale of Happy Feet is incredible. If it really did take them four years to make that movie, it shows.