Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Monster Inc. made by Pixar Animation (now owned by Disney) and distributed by Disney Animation is without any doubt the most successful children's movie among the Wikman's in the world. My kid's watched it over and over again in the theater, on DVD's we rented, bought, on TV, and in hotels. My brother's kids watched this movie over and over again in Sweden (it was dubbed) throughout the beginning of this decade. Then when they visited us here in 2005 that's the movie they wanted to see again and again. The kids did not understand English but it still did not bother them that the movie was in English because they had memorized the lines in Swedish anyway. The enormous success that American children's movies and toys have on Swedish society is not appreciated by everyone, including a few of my relatives who think that Swedish culture is drowning under the American influence.

However, this is all about success and the misgivings of the less successful in my opinion. The kids aren't watching Disney and Pixar movies at gun point, it is their choice. In my opinion the Disney and Pixar movies has brought more happiness and laughter to kids in our generation world wide than any religion, ideology, or traditional cultural phenomena. Besides, this movie is ultimately about bringing laughter to kids.


The story line

Monster Inc is a large corporation in the city inhabited by monsters called Monstropolis. The corporation generates energy for the city from the screams of frightened children. They send their monster employees into the bedrooms of children through a teleportation device. I should add that children are also thought to be poisonous and dangerous to the monsters.

One day something goes terribly wrong. One day James P. Sullivan, a big blue furry monster, and the company's top employee is followed by a child, "Boo", through the teleportation device and into Monstropolis. Boo thought that James P. Sullivan was a big kitty. Since this is a serious security breach James P. Sullivan could be in trouble. James P. Sullivan gets help from his friend Mike Wazowski who is basically a green eye ball with arms and legs. During their desperate efforts to hide the child they discover that children are not poisonous and that a child's laughter generates a lot more power than a child's scream. That does not mean that their troubles are over; on the contrary the events that follow will lead them into even more trouble and so begins a great eventful adventure for the two monsters as well as for the little girl. Naturally the events will result in an overhaul of status quoi and a much nicer Monstropolis and Monster Inc (I don't consider the last sentence a spoiler. That is to be expected).


My opinion

As far as I can remember this movie was the first time I saw an animated movie with such high quality graphics. The monsters are cute and fuzzy even though they are also somewhat scary (but not much). The animation is also innovative and contains a lot of visually appealing scenes and eye catching characters which are bound to fascinate the child and impress the adult. In my opinion the animation in this movie can still compete with the latest and greatest from Pixar and Disney. The voices are provided by well known actors like John Goodman (James P. Sullivan), Billy Crystal (Mike Wazowski), Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, and Bonnie Hunt, and they do a superb job.

The story line is engaging and action packed and quite unpredictable. Even though it will end well you can't figure out how beforehand, well unless you have seen it already which most of you have. The story line is also quite innovative which makes it interesting to watch for adults as well. Above all, it is a feel good movie, filled with adventure, humor, laughter, and it has a beautiful and heartwarming conclusion and message. It is definitely one of my favorite animated movies of all time. If you ask my kids and my nieces in Sweden; it is the best animated movie of all time (grumble, grumble, grumble, from some of my friends and relatives).


Final thoughts and recommendation

This movie was released in 2001 and it is beginning to fade from the memory of many people. Therefore it is possible that there are kids out there today who have not seen it. If your kids have not seen it I suggest that you rent or buy this movie.


Since Pixar is owned by Disney and this movie was a joint project with Disney and these kinds of movies in general owes a lot to Disney with respect to production and style, I would also like to submit this review to the "All things Disney Write Off" held by Carstairs38.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8