MOVIE REVIEW: Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out

It’s been ages since I last made a movie review (I believe the last one was 2011) and I’m really glad that I’ll be reviving my movie review posts with a movie from one of my favorite animated film studios; Disney-Pixar with their latest animated film; “Inside Out”.

Not to be confused with a low-budget WWE film of the same title (hence me labeling it as Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out), this film’s premise hinges on a simple question:

“What is going on inside someone’s head?”

The story revolves around Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), and her 5 emotions that runs around inside her head.

Led by Joy (Amy Poehler), along with the rest of Riley’s emotions namely Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith), they are in charge of keeping Riley’s well-being happy and safe.

Joy in particular, wants to ensure that Riley is always happy, all the time, and does whatever it takes so that all of her memories are all happy and bright ones. This was highlighted in the first few minutes of the film, which vividly recalls the blissful happiness of childhood, one that easily connects with younger audiences (and recalls some fond memories to older audiences, specially those with kids of their own like myself).

However, when Riley finds herself and her family moving away from their old home (something I quickly related to, because I just recently moved out of my parent’s home and into my own apartment with my family), Sadness suddenly wants to become more involved in the process. This doesn’t bode well for both Joy and Sadness that they end up being accidentally thrown off HeadQuarters (the main hub that controls Riley’s thoughts and emotions) and into Riley’s long-term memory. This leaves behind Anger, Fear and Disgust to take control of HeadQuarters.

This is the part where Riley slowly changes from a happy-go-lucky young kid, into an angry, sarcastic and anxious teen (and you guys will actually see HOW this happens thanks to the 3 emotions left in HeadQuarters). And it is here that Disney-Pixar flexes their creative muscles to bring to life visually an 11-year-old girl’s inner turmoil and conflict.

Joy and Sadness’ journey back to HeadQuarters, takes them thru several wildly imaginative depictions of the mind’s different functions. From the glamorous Dream Production Studios, to the wacky and far out Imagination Land; they give viewers a reprensentation of how the mind works… albeit in a visually stunning and highly creative way.

The level of creativity in this film is simply full to the brim, so much so that you will definitely be craving for a second viewing.

Coming from the same directors who made Up, this film is bound to draw a lot of feels (I mean it IS marketed as an EMOTION picture ain’t it?) and buckets of tears. During the screening, lots of sobbing can be heard in the room (myself included) and I remember myself driving all the way back home visibly and emotionally shaken and deeply affected (specially with a certain character in the film that wasn’t present or shown in any of the promotional trailers) so do remember to bring some tissues to wipe a tear or two.

Quite honestly, I was NOT expecting Disney-Pixar’s “Inside Out” to be THIS GOOD. Infact, I’ll be the first to admit, that watching the trailers leading up to the release of the film, it simply didn’t “click” with me as with other Disney-Pixar films. But after watching the film, I can safely say that hands down, this is one of Disney-Pixar’s most ambitious and most imaginative movies ever made.

It’s multi-level layer technique of story telling that simultaneously shows 2 different worlds/perspectives (the real world that Riley lives in, and the world of Riley’s mind) working hand-in-hand to craft one beautiful story is an accomplishment in itself.

And as with any great film, Disney-Pixar’s Inside Out, is one that rewards its viewers the more they watch it and it only gets better with time as ones who were once young when they first watch the film, will find more to appreciate as they rewatch the film again once they are older. A must-watch for any movie fan.

Disney Infinity 3.0 PH Launch

Disney Infinity fans rejoice! The team behind the amazing Disney Infinity franchise, has just announced Disney Infinity 3.0!!

Today at Makati Shangri-La, Disney Interactive’s Jason Moffitt announced the latest Disney Infinity brings in the StarWars universe. The new StarWars universe joins the Disney/Pixar and Marvel universe from previous Disney Infinity versions.

Disney Interactive also announced that Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Pack that comes with Anakin Skywalker and Ahshoka Tano Disney Infinity figures, along with the base platform and the game disc for the suggested local retail price of Php 2,999.

StarWars fans will also be pleased to learn that the new playsets promises to bring the complete StarWars experience with the “Twilight of the Republic” (which brings in the StarWars Animated TV series universe) and the “Rise Against the Empire” (which brings in the the original Star Wars movie trilogy universe) playsets.

Along with the 2 new announced playsets, they will also bring in as a future playset, the latest in the StarWars franchise; the upcoming film, The Force Awakens.

Along with the new universe, Disney Infinity 3.0 also brings in new playsets based from the latest Disney-Pixar film; Inside Out.

Sony Playstation users will get an exclusive StarWars Disney Infinity figure; Boba Fett.

This fan favorite, will only be available on the Disney Infinity StarWars Saga bundle (which comes along with Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia and a small Death Star figures) for Sony Playstation 4 and Playstation 3.

Aside from this, we also got a glimpse of upcoming Disney Infinity figures coming in the future.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Packs will be available September 1, 2015 on major toy retailers at the suggested local retail price of Php 2,999.

Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out" directors comes to Manila! :D

I never thought I'd ever see the day, where I would be in the same room with the directors from Disney-Pixar, and last friday that day finally came true when I was invited to the Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out" press conference which was held at the Manila Shangrila Hotel! :D

The day started off with me meeting some old and new contacts from my blogging circles! It was so nice to meet you guys again! :D

And then the moment arrived where the 2 directors of Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out" finally came to the stage!

One notable guest was co-director; Ronnie del Carmen, who left the Philippines in the 1980s dreaming of making movies of his own that people would love to watch, now comes home with a Disney-Pixar film he co-directed no less! He was given a warm pinoy welcome by fellow filipino Pixar fans.

At the Q&A portion, I loved the directors dishing out alot of trivia that fans like me enjoy learning about! Some of the most memorable trivias they share are:

• Ronnie del Carmen revealed that there is a "pinoy-centric" group of artists within Pixar that they labeled as "Pixnoys". According to Ronnie, they are fun, loud and loves to eat every now and then.
• According to Pete Docter, the film originally had atleast 27 emotions in the original draft. However, they cut the number down to 5, and combined many of the emotions they created to be embodied by just 1 major emotion.
• Speaking of emotions, the two directors also revealed that for the movie, they actually consulted with psychiatrists and experts in emotions to help them in crafting the movie.
• The one of the film's main characters; Riley (the girl where the 5 emotions have their misadventures), was based off Pete Docter's own daughter; Elie. When she was younger, she is known to be bubbly, happy and full of life. As she hit puberty, she is now more quiet and this gave Pete the idea of playing around with what is happening inside his daughter's head (which is the main idea of the film). Looking at Riley and Elie, I can definitely see the resemblance!

• Ronnie del Carmen revealed that apparently he was the one who directed the first 5 minutes of the Disney-Pixar film "Up". Here's the said clip for reference:

• Speaking of "Up", Pete Docter also revealed that his own daughter Elie, was the one who provided the voice of the younger Ellie in the film.
• Someone asked if there's any truth to the "shared Pixar Universe", while both Pete and Ronnie debunked the said rumor, they did however not stop the fans from dreaming up the possibilities (and also plugged in the Disney Infinity toyline)
• According to the directors, the voice talents behind the different emotions, not only influenced the character's look, but also how the character was written due to the actors' way of delivering lines and how some of them are actually great writers on their own.

Overall, the event was really awesome and as a Pixar fan, I feel so honoured to be in the same room as these amazing people. To close off, Ronnie del Carmen, left an inspiring answer to a question that most aspiring artists (such as myself) always wanted to ask people at Pixar of how can they be successful in what they do.

And his answer? Just do stuff.

Doesn't matter whether or not your work is great now, just make stuff and show it to people and you will definitely get feedback to improve your art. The more you get yourself out there, the more possible it is for you to get noticed and hopefully one day, join the guys at Pixar. :)

Catch Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out" on August 19, opening nationwide thanks to the distribution efforts of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures! :D