LogFAQs > #962331725

4. Soul

Inviso: 3
Karo: 6
Johnbobb: 8
Red: 8
Evillord: 9
Ermine: 12

Total: 46

Inviso: For a long time, Pixar has been makingfor better or worsemovies that are either sequels to their previously-established properties, or movies that have a tone more befitting modern Disney than the classic Pixar style that really put the company on the map. Soul really brings back some of that classic Pixar magic, with a unique concept thats more character-driven and mature in its subject matter than anything else. I loved the characters, and I loved how the movie both takes them seriously, and takes itself seriously in creating them. Joe is a likable guy, but hes down on his luck and feels unfulfilled in his life, and he winds up dying and becoming a soul and meeting 22, who is an unborn soul that feels unfulfilled in her purpose, and together, theres just a really nice story about both characters learning to help each other grow and change. Its not the most comedic film, but it doesnt have to be, and the happy ending feels earned for both characters. It was just really heartfelt and really well-written, and I think the only thing it couldve done better was maybe having ONE post-credits sequence to demonstrate the positive changes in Joes life.

Karo: An aspiring musician ends up in the land of the dead after an accident, where he meets the personification of people's consciousnesses and Jerry as my witness I swear this is actually a new movie.
Anyway, he ends up as a reluctant mentor to an ornery soul and he has to help her find her cutie mark so he can steal her earth pass and get back to his dead corpse. When this fails, he enlists the help of some dubious spiritualists, with the result being that the wayward soul ends up in Joe's body and Joe's soul ends up in the body of a cat. Hilarity ensues.
This situation turns out to be an awakening for the both of them, Soul 22 finally realizes the joy that comes from living, and Joe kinda realizes the same thing. That chasing after a dream is not necessarily the path to true happiness, sometimes just experiencing life is more than enough. A profound examination of the meaning of existence is not what I expect to find in a mainstream animated film, but here we go.
Soul is a film that seems to be an indication of Pixar heading in a more refined, mature direction, and I couldn't be more glad. Yes, it does seem to be made from the discarded scraps of other Pixar movies, but much like an artist who builds things out of random rubbish, Soul polishes them up to become something greater than just the sum of its parts.

Johnbobb: This movie was a 5/5 for me the first time I saw it. Joe's story is compelling and touching, the music is just absurdly good (seriously, this movie has one of the best scores of the last decade), the animation is beautiful, and the message at the heart of it made me tear up pretty easily. Still, it hasn't had the lasting impact on me I expected it to, and I expect that's partially the go-to Disneyisms that hold it back. Things like Tina Fey's intentionally irritating 22 (who has a powerful ending which doesn't quite make up for dealing with the character until then) and some lame visual gags.

Red: Dead end musician almost has a fulfilling life but cartoon falls in a pit and dies and in a dumb case of confusion has to redeem a hopeless not yet soul. They have to get body swapped, he has to spend some time as a cat, and they sort of find lifes purpose isn't really a purpose. The great beyond/before are horribly disorganized for something we are supposed to believe is an incredibly well oiled machine. The later adventures in the movie in those areas end up feeling more as padding for the rest of the film. 22 can be kind of annoying and Joe consistently kind of a big downer for no reason at times. It was nice to have a good original Pixar film, even if it maybe wasn't their best.

Evillord: Probably Pixar's most ambitious film in at least a decade, Soul deals with some really heavy stuff for a kids' movie - not just the inevitability of death but the fact that some people don't want to live in the first place. I loved the parts where they were in the afterlife, and all the music-related scenes are incredible, but it did lose me a little when Joe went back to Earth in the body of a cat. Depending on your feelings toward death and purpose, this movie might end up really resonating with you - it did for me.

Ermine: A pretty good film that's brought down by its terrible ending!

I guess I wouldn't say the ending is terrible... but it's just so by the books, playing it safe. I do not think Joe should have gotten another chance at life. Sure it would be a very bittersweet ending to do... but the fact he just gets a free pass and chance again just feels... wrong? I dunno, it left me feeling just off about the whole thing.

Despite what other people say, I actually enjoyed the part where he became a cat and the whole body swap thing. I think there were a bunch of heartfelt moments that came from it and some humorous scenes as well, sure.

That being said, I was far more into the real world stuff compared to everything else.