by 18 people |
Another Great Movie in the Winner's Circle
Wow! What a ride! Disney and Pixar scored another win with "Cars - The Movie," now available on Disney DVD. Looking for all of the latest news, reviews and stuff you can buy? You found it!
Cars Roars into Your Home
Cars (Widescreen Edition)
The #1 animated movie of 2006. Perfect for young and old. Need we say more?
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/09/2009) 
Cars (Full Screen Edition)
Here's the full-screen version for those who don't have wide-screen televisions.
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Disney Cars Toddler/Little Kid Mater Slipper
Honk if your kids loved Disney's Blockbuster Cars! Well now they can feel a part of the action with Disney Cars Shoes. Characters are brought to life with stunning detail, and most shoes light up with every step. Available in toddler's size 7 and 9.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
Cars Radiator Springs Adventures (Win/Mac)
Cute little program with short games and interactive adventures with the movie characters.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
The Official Inside Scoop
- Cars: The Movie Homepage
- Main web page on the Disney web site. Links to many other pages.
- Blue Book Values on "Cars" Vehicles
- Wonderful web page on the Kelley Blue Book site! A roster of the four main vehicles in the movie, with descriptions and their Blue Book value.
- "Cars" You-Design-It Tee
- Customize your own "Cars" t-shirt. Choose your own artwork - the Cars logo or one of the characters. Then add your name or a quote from the movie. This link takes you to Disneyshopping.com, then to Zazzle to customize your shirt.
- Radiator Springs
- Explore the town of Radiator Springs on the Disney web site. Not a lot of content, but it's fun to see a little more of this fun imaginary town.
Lightning McQueen
Specialty racecar, voiced by Owen Wilson. Kelly Blue Book value: $1.5 million. Sponsored by Rust-Eze Medicated Bumper Ointment.Lightning may be fast and famous, but does he have any friends?
Bring Lightning Home
Power Wheels Lightning McQueen
Your little ones can drive behind the wheel of their very own talking Lightning McQueen racecar! Cool racecar sound effects and actual voice phrases from the movie. Drives on hard surfaces and grass. 12-volt rechargeable battery system. 2.5 and 5 mph maximum forward, 2.5 mph maximum reverse. Recommended age 3-6. Perfect Christmas gift!
Amazon Price: $234.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Lightning McQueen Lights and Sounds - Disney Cars
14-inch toy car with lights and sound effects. Recommended for age 6+.
Amazon Price: $44.89 (as of 11/09/2009)
Sally Carrerra
Porshe 911, voiced by Bonnie Hunt. Kelly Blue Book value: $49,465.Sally has escaped from the rat race in California, but can she find happiness in Radiator Springs?
Make Sally Happy -- Bring Her Home!
Disney Cars 6" Sally Car Plush
Can a car be cuddly? Yes! When it's a plush pillow version of the loveable Sally, one of the "co-stars" of the Cars movie. Perfect for little girls!
Amazon Price: $6.50 (as of 11/09/2009)
TYCO R/C CARS SALLY Radio Control Vehicle
Let Sally cruise around your home with this darling radio-controlled car. Fun gift for someone who is *dying* for their own Porsche.
Amazon Price: $47.49 (as of 11/09/2009)
My Review
Whenever a movie is hyped as much as "Cars" was, you start to wonder. Isn't this movie strong enough to stand on its own? Does it need this much publicity to lure movie goers into the theater?So I was cautious even after early reviews were positive. We hit the theater on opening weekend, taking my 87-year-old mother-in-law. If there's a real test of a cartoon movie about cars, taking my husband and mother-in-law is it. My husband's family is a "car family." If it has an engine and tires, they know the make, model and year! They have stories about driving on Route 66. Every family gathering includes a litany of car stories. Get the picture?
Our professional evaluation: What a heartwarming, visual delight! The folks at Pixar have created a totally believable cast of car characters living in a world where teamwork greases the gears.
I've heard many reviewers say that "Cars" is a movie about a time lost, of bypassed cities and towns, lamenting forgotten heroes. To me, those things are simply a beautiful backdrop for a story about how you will always find the best in yourself when you allow yourself to be part of team. Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) stars as a selfish racing hero who finds himself stuck in the small town that progress has passed by. With the willing and unwilling assistance of the town eclectic residents -- Sally Carrerra (voiced by Bonnie Hunt), Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), and others -- Lightning learns that giving is the best way to receiving. Deep, right? There are a couple of twists and turns and a heartwarming ending. What more could you ask from an animated movie?
As I said, the visuals are stunning. The backgrounds (especially of Radiator Springs) are perfect, making them an integral part of the story. Reflections and shadows are done to perfection. Some of the slow-motion effects are overdone, but that does not detract from the movie.
Only a few complaints: The transition from the opening sequences about the first race to Lightning's isolation in Radiator Springs is a bit too long. And some of the sequences with the other characters in Radiators Springs could be tightened. I used some of those scenes as "break times."
At the end of the movie -- by the way, be sure to stay through ALL of the credits -- we gave it three big thumbs up. And my husband immediately telephoned his two brothers so they could talk about the cars!
Doc Hudson
1951 Hudson Hornet, voiced by Paul Newman. Kelly Blue Book value: $19,852.Doc's the trusty country doctor, keeping the cars in Radiator Springs in tip top shape, but is he running from his past?
Collectibles Destined to Become Classics
The Art of Cars
Absolute must-have for Disney fans and collectors. Excellent artwork, interesting story. Don't we all love taking a peak behind the scenes to see how magic is created?
Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 11/09/2009)
Tow Mater
Tow truck, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. Kelly Blue Book value: $2,475.Mater may be rusty on the outside, but he has a heart of gold. Can he bring all our heroes together for a happy ending?
Haul Mater Home!
Disney/Pixar Cars Shake & Go Racers - Mater
Tow Mater is now a delightful toy for the little ones. Parents of toddlers love how much their toddlers like playing with this!
Amazon Price: $22.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Other Disney Pixar Movies
Toy Story & Toy Story 2 (2 Pack)
The quintessential tales of our love affair with toys. Are they really alive? Every child wonders if it could be true, and every parent is sure that the toys must be alive (otherwise how could they scatter themselves around the room?). Two beautiful, inspiring, rollicking movies in one package.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
Disney Pixar DVD Three-Pack (Toy Story/A Bug's Life/Toy Story 2)
Here's a bonus package with "A Bug's Life" added to the deal. An alternative if you're looking for a deal on the Toy Story movies.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
The artwork is sensational, and the characters tug at your heart. While I wasn't a big fan when this movie first came out, it's now one of my favorites. Around our house, you know you're in trouble if someone asks "Who's a Mr. Grumpy Gils?" This movie will find its way into your heart!
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Monsters, Inc. (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
This movie is my sister's favorite. We're both in our 40s now, but she remembers all those nights when I made her check the closet for monsters. Maybe she was right!
Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Other Reviews
- Yahoo Movies Page on "Cars"
- Excellent resources: basic info and stats, cast and credits, critic's reviews, reader reviews, and photographs. Links to 14 critic's reviews.
- Rotten Tomatoes take on "Cars"
- One of the best collections of movie reviews, check out Rotten Tomatoes. (Or is that Rotten Tow-Maters?) Summary of 150 reviews from around the country. Average rating: 7/10.
- Catholic News Service Review
- If you're looking for the straight-up scoop on whether a movie is family friendly, check out the Catholic News Service movie reviews. The verdict on "Cars": A-I General Patronage.
Cars Memorabilia on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
A Final Word about Cow Tipping
Fact or fiction? Decide for yourself!
- Cow Tipping Anonymous T-Shirt
- Perhaps Mater needs this t-shirt.
- How to Go Cow Tipping
- Practical suggestions and a list of supplies from someone who understands the nuances of cow tipping.
Reader Feedback
zuzanna wrote...
Very professional lens - lots to learn from. Thanks, Anne. I'm giving you 5 stars and am adding you to my Favorites and Lensroll.
Posted December 04, 2006
by AnneEasterling
Anne is the author of the EZ Fun Guide to Walt Disney World, a travel guide that uses maps and checklists to help you plan the perfect Disney World va...
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