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A Few (Non-Spoilery) MONSTERS, INC. Sequel Details...
Merrick here...
THIS piece at DisneyBlog offers a thumbnail synopsis for MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, the long-awaited sequel to 2001's MONSTERS. INC.
Per DisneyBlog...
Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprise their roles as Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan. In the original they were an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. When these two mismatched monsters met at school they couldn’t stand each other. “Monsters University” unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.
I could've sworn we'd heard a plot synopsis quite similar to this a while back, but maybe I'm delirious, confused, or both (as this is pretty much my normal state, it's difficult to tell). The site also has a look at a title treatment for the film - be sure to check it out.
MONSTERS, INC. was never one of my favorite Pixar films (along with CARS). This said, I saw MI at a particularly emotional and wrenching juncture in my life - so it's entirely possible I'm bringing too much "noise" to the film. Maybe I should try it again with a clearer head and fresh perspective...
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Readers Talkback
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You guys did post this a few months back!!!
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I loved MI. No question about it.
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that would be a rough time in someone's life.
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Definitely time to watch it again! I can see people's issues with Cars, but MI is a much smaller target.
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Vastly superior to Cars ... which frankly, is shite.
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May 16, 2011, 9:43 a.m. CST
How can we root for Sully and Mike in college? Think about it.
by frankenberry
In Monsters, Inc., we see how traumatized the monsters have made this innocent little girl by scaring her. Remember how Boo reacted to Sully's roar in the control room? With that in mind, it's hard to root for Mike and Sully to train in college, knowing all the therapy these little kids will need. Maybe Mike and Sully will be undeclared, and scaring kids won't even be part of the movie.
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Frankly, its got one of the BEST final shots from a film of all time, I'd say.
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Or will- SURPRISE!- the roles be reversed? Though I imagine its hard to catch a football without binocular vision.
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You are letting your lens of personal experience affect your judgement and review of a film. "Welcome to AICN! Let's get you a corner office!"
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Because it ruined one of Pixar's BEST for you.
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I'm glad this is a prequel, because anything that takes place beyond that shot would tarnish it's greatness. I even tell myself that the musical from the credits takes place before the movie's end.
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MI was robbed. Robbed and raped in front of its children.
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Can't have enough of it. I'm really looking forward to this one!
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It's not like I would mind another Monsters, Inc. film because I really like the first one....but a prequel? This sounds like Dumb & Dumberer with monsters!
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What? They're lemon!
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May 16, 2011, 10:36 a.m. CST
A Few (Non-Spoilery) MONSTERS, INC. PREQUEL Details...
by no1ofimportance
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i didn't have great memories of it, but thought it was fantastic when i saw it again. ending shot as mentioned is fantastic.
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If not my favorite, it is one of my favorite endings in film. It ranks up there with Shawshank--Just seeing Andy and Red hugging on the beach tells you everything you need to know.
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Are you kidding me? Monsters, Inc. is--with the possible exception of Toy Story--the best, most original Pixar film. It's also the funniest. I love that movie, and so does my daughter. Concept for the prequel sounds good too.
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...how Mike cheats & beats the Kobayashi Maru test.
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I'm starting to visit other movie sites more and more as AICN seems to be on auto-pilot these days and not really into providing quality or quantity any longer. It's sad. This used to be THE site for movie and tv news.
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...with the flakes falling and catching in his fur, each hair moving in the breeze, was literally breathtaking. With Pixar, I'm usually caught up enough in the storytelling to not even notice the amazing animation, but that was one of the rare moments when the tech just blew me away. Very much psyched for this prequel.
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Whatever you were going through had to have been pretty heavy to dull the effect of Monsters Inc - it is one of the few perfect movies, imho. Absolutely up there with Pixar's best. It was always one of my favorites, but watching it over and over with my now 4-year old daughter elevated it again and again - it is a sublime, wonderful and pretty much flawless piece of work.
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I wouldn't think this movie had anything to do with the energy crisis, and it would in fact take place before there was a crisis.
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Where the hell is Incredibles 2?!? The one Pixar film that actually NEEDS a sequel! If Ratatoullie gets a sequel before the Incredibles, I'm gong to fire bomb the Pixar HQ.
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...MI was pretty much perfect, especially the ending. Not too psyched for a prequel (or a sequel). Just feels unnecessary, but it being Pixar, I'll give them to benefit of the doubt.
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I figured the scaring would be more of a backdrop than a plot point. I think it will be interesting to see a world where scaring is still working. Maybe even finding out that the crisis (i.e. jaded kids) was the result of poor scaring. Or explaining why they didn't learn about laughing sooned.
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Why the fear of kids? Was it an intentional deception? Who are Monsters Inc's competitors? What are some other locations in the monster world (we got a couple blocks of one city in the first movie)? How do they deal with bi-fold closet doors?
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May 16, 2011, 12:54 p.m. CST
'a particularly emotional and wrenching juncture in my life "
by UglyLittleSpud
were you anally raped while watching the original?
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Monster DareDorm.com? Monster CollegeRegrets.com? Etc?
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I really enjoyed Monsters Inc it was pretty hilarious. Way better than Cars. Nowhere near close to the Incredibles which was the all time best. But I'd put it right there with Finding Nemo.
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...was the basic deal-breaker for this movie for me. And I like his early work in SOAP but he just has this Billy Crystal "shtick" that he just never ever stops and I found it to bleed into his Monsters, Inc. character a bit and it unfairly biased my views against this movie. But, of course, I love John Goodman ("You see what you get when you.....??!?!") so that went a long towards correcting my bias but again... Crystal's 'shtick' was most obvious and most glaringly annoying in the "Analyze this!/that!" movies with Robert DeNiro. The scene where he pretends to be the mafia familiy's 'counselor' (the 'counsigliarie-(sic), whatever that word is in Italian) at that warehouse meeting and just goes off for like 5 minutes. Voice-over work is not an easy paycheck as many think and there are brilliant and terrible voice work from all over the place. But there are certain actors who tend to be their own audience and tend to not be able to pull themselves back from their own humor. Sometimes, that's ok as it can work; other times it's ok but gets old after being done again and again. And other times, it's not even that funny to begin with. Hank Azaria is an example of the first. His voicework is always consistently good. Even when his chosen dialect or accent is weird or oddly placed, he still does good work apart from his own persona (of course, he's an actor, not a comedian, but then these 'comedians' are hired as actors, not comedians in these roles, etc) Robin Williams is an example of the second. He can do amazing voiceover stuff but his "shtick" comes out sooner or later, if given enough lines, and it gets old very fast. And Billy Crystal is an example of the third: usually out of the box not funny and yet still pushing that same unfunny shtick. His voice tonality is fine but he seemingly just has to put in his own signature zing and screw it up. I haven't seen Monster, Inc in a long time and I don't recall it being gratuitous but I do recall at least 2 eye-roll inducing moments based on Billy doing his thing. Hate to complain here as I agree that this is a great movie but Crystal's stupid gimmick sours it a bit for me. I was convinced Jack Black would be the same in Kung fu Panda but he did amazing 'not very typical Jack Black-ish" type work and the movie was brilliant! (I was happy to be wrong on that in fact)
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It's sort of an animated version of the Howie Mandell/Fred Savage film Little Monsters. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097758/
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I understand everything you said about him. I like the Mike Wazowski character. But there are a few moments where he becomes Crystal, and I don't like it. It's most noticable with his interjections during the credit song. He's not being Mike there, he's being Billy Crystal.
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May 16, 2011, 2:43 p.m. CST
In the first movie, when Mike and Sulley are walking to work....
by F-18
Mike said something about them having been friends since fourth grade, but Pixar is changing it to them meeting in college and not being friends.
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But if it's true than this prequel is even more bullshit than I thought. And yes Billy Crystal sucks douche water. I can only stand him in Monsters, Inc. In everything else I spend all my time trying to supress the need to kill.
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May 16, 2011, 2:52 p.m. CST
"Youve been jealous of my good looks since the fourth grade, pal."
by bah
The synopsis says they met in school -- not *college* necessarily -- and they became friends at university. I'll withhold judgement on a potential and ultimately insignificant continuity error until the movie comes out.
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Maybe 4th grade is in university for them. Or maybe they met in school, in 4th grade, and hated each other until college. The quote from the first movie does not imply they were friends. It arguably suggests the opposite.
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Being that the title is "Monsters University", I would say that is the school they met at. And did you event read the article? It does say they became friends at "university"(You must not be American, we say "college"). It says ""Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame there differences and became the best of friends." How does that not say they became friends there?
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I still don't see where it explicitly says that. Oh, I'm sure it's a safe assumption. All I'm saying is that nothing given so far negates a throwaway line from the first movie. The title only suggests that's where the movie takes place. They could have known and disliked each other before. Hey, I became friends with people in and after college who I knew before and didn't especially like.
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You said, "Actually it doesn't even say they became friends at university." Yes it does. It's in the link and the red paragraph on this page. "When the two mismatched monsters met ast school, they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sully overcame their differances and became the best of friends."
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But suppose, for example, the movie takes place in high school, and they're competing for a place at Monsters University (and sure, it'd probably be "Monsters High" is that were the case).
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You said "it doesn't even say they become friends at university." The part of the article quoted on this very webpage in red letters says clearly that they do.
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They will hate each other and probably end up being arch-enemy roomates vying for the affections of the same woman but then along comes a great job opportunity with Mr. Waternoose who offers them a job.
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They went so long with only making one sequel to Toy Story. All were original stories. Now, it's just non-stop sequels. And you know there'd be no Cars 2 if it didn't make an obscene amount of money on merchandising.
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That "Eye" character and Crystal's voice, playing Billy Crystal was so fucking annoying. It's why I never like the first film as much as most.
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It says that the movie titled "Monsters University" will tell how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. It does not say where the movie takes place or where their becoming friends happens.
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What's everyone getting their panties in a bunch over Pixar doing a few sequels and prequels. This company is friggin near perfect. Did Toy Story 2 & 3 suck or something? Have some faith they know what they are doing. There will be more sequels and there will ALSO be more original stuff. Deal with it.
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It's definitely my favourite Pixar movie that's not in the Toy Story series. I have a real fondness for Bug's Life as well. Wall-E is the one I think is overrated beyond belief.
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THE FUCKING SCHOOL IS MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, YOU JACKASS. BEING THAT THE MOVIE IS ABOUT THEM MEETING AND BECOMING FRIENDS, IT STANDS TO REASON THAT'S WHERE THE MOVIE TAKES PLACE.
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A) Cars is the worst Pixar movie B)MI is great C)Merrick is weird for not liking it. How sad.
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The reason is that in a sea of studio films which revel in sequels, remakes, and adaptations, Pixar was the only big studio branding itself with almost none of that. The expectation from them is to see something we haven't seen before, and pushing a few expectations on what animation is capable of in the American studio system. They're for the most part, stories we didn't know we wanted until after we saw them. That's exciting. I want to see them keep pushing themselves into areas they haven't explored yet. Brad Bird aptly said that animation is a medium which can handle any genre. I want to see a Pixar western/sci-fi or sci-fi/martial arts mash-up, or a Pixar giant city stomping monster flick, or their take on it. I want to see them do a sprawling fantasy in anamorphic panavision. Maybe a trilogy-by-design three-act epic. I want to know what the chef has that's "new", to quote Ratatouille. Other studios are comfortable with familiarity, but the most exciting films are the unexpected ones.
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Cripes, guy! All I was doing was reconciling the one throwaway line with the movie summary. Fucking relax, what the fuck?
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it's weird though when prequels use the same voices, who are now considerably older than the first film.
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That smile on Mike's face, that little music cue... a piece of understated genius.</p> <p> It actually reminds me a lot of the last shot in Matchstick Men, with Nic Cage giving a similar smile. Love those heartwarming, smiley endings.
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The "fans'/critics' least favorites" of Pixar films (Cars, the TS sequels, Monsters, Bug's Life) are, without exception, also the TOP Pixar moneymakers. Therefore, they are the films that subsidize the "GOOD" Pixar films. They are also the ones the kids love, which helps keep Pixar alive and focused on its core goal of good storytelling for ALL ages. And seeing as the cash cows ain't that bad themselves when compared to the majority of Hollywood's output every year, I would ease off on the hate. Just sayin'.
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And in the US, it was beat by Up, Incredibles, and Nemo. Even Monsters Inc beat it. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/Pixar.php
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Big difference between my son and my daughter... only 3 years separates them... but He was brought up with a VCR... she, DVDs. She also doesn't like standard animation... she much prefers the Pixar films... and I kinda think Monsters Inc. is her absolute favorite. She's 10 now. She'll be ready to be a teenager by the time the next one comes out... *sniff* (something in my eye)....
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and you know this without seeing either one of the movies. without even KNOWING any plot details about the prequel? wow.
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Looking forward to this one.
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It's also a merchandising bonanza and trumps all of those you listed in terms of money it brings in from toys, sheets, pillows, shoes... you name it. If you're saying money is a determining factor in something, Cars is a juggernaut.
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Granted, Cars was 3rd in Pixar box office takings, but it also did over $1 billion in merch post release. Sure, that went to Disney, but you know some of the love comes back to Pixar in many forms... including carte blanche to create whatever they like. Of course, it also brings the weasels out looking for their share of the pie... http://accesspixar.blogspot.com/2011/03/screenwriter-sues-pixar-claiming-cars.html
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How DARE you post your negative opinion of Billy Crystal's voice work, citing examples, comparisons and a well thought out argument. Is this no long AICN? Where was the name calling? The foul language? The registered trademark signature sign off? Where was the bad spelling and grammar? tsk tsk tsk... ... disgraceful. Have you dignity? Have you self-respect? It was a good post. I don't agree with it (douche), but I can dig where your coming from. In closing, you're weird. Not because of your opinion, but because you expressed it very well.
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I thought Jack Black was very Jack-Blackish in Kung Fu Panda - especially in the opening Voice-over, the tone of which sounds like it could have been lifted straight from Tenacious D. That said, it felt appropriate for Kung Fu Panda.</p> </p> Another actor/comedian whose schtick extends to his V/O work would have to be Russell Brand. Although, I admit I don't mind Brand's particular brand of well-articulated idiocy.
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May 17, 2011, 12:14 a.m. CST
Is there an angry time-traveling monster that wants to destroy Sully's monster planet, causes the death of Mike's dad, and creates lens flares, in this movie?
by MrMysteryGuest
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Just replace the words mike and sully with kirk and spock! It's uncanny I tells ya! ;)
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...but who cares; when Pixar does a film, ANY film, Ben Bernanke turns green with envy at how easily they all but print cash. And Cars2 will do every bit of $300M Domestic..and most likely another solid $1B in merchandizing sales. When it ties in with "Carsland" opening in 2012...the $$$ will flow in so hard and fast Disney will replace all the toilet paper in the Executive shitters with $100 bills. Go Pixar GO! DIS @ $52/share target price for the year on a $40.50 buy in....make up for Mars Needs Moms and Feed my Dividend you fuckers!
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I can get this off my chest: I HATE MIRACLE MAX! From the moment he opens the door going "What? What?" in a Brooklyn Jewish accent, you can see he desperately wants you to gleefully gasp "It's Billy Crystal!" He tries to top every one of Carol Kane's lines and make it his. He works hard to take you OUT of the movie. It's a shame he has so many classic lines, but I'd argue it's the fact that they're in that movie that makes them classic, not his delivery of them. Going on a tangent now, Martin Short and Christopher Guest are sort of the same way. They have the chops to lose themselves in a role, but at the same time, you can tell they want you to NOTICE they're losing themselves in a role. I have a feeling that Short's monologue in Three Amigos about mingling with old Hollywood is what he's really like. I once saw all three of those guys talking about their time at SNL. They were sickeningly self-satisfied, and it ruined some of those skits for me. Short gets a pass for humping Miss Piggy, though. Well, I've gone this far, might as well say it: Tom Hanks does it too. I respect the guy, but I have never once seen him on screen and NOT thought "That's Tom Hanks". Not even with a beard in Cast Away. That just makes me think, "Wow, Tom Hanks grew a beard!" Again, it's like he wants you to notice how deep into the character he is. And to bring this rant full circle, yes, that goes for Woody. I like Woody, but he never lets me forget it's really Tom Hanks.
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Toy Story and Monsters Inc are the only Pixar films for which they pushed the voice actors in the advertising at all. I rarely know who's voicing a Pixar character before the credits roll. The other studios, on the other hand, literally design their characters after the actor, and then the posters are nothing but the character mugging at the camera with the actor's name on its forehead. I swear by all that is holy, I saw the character from Kung Fu Panda before I knew it was Jack Black...and I knew it was Jack Black! I hear Rango was good, but I was immediately put off by the "Johnny Depp is Rango!" posters. And why is that important? Because it tells me you want me to be thinking about the actor doing the voice in your animated movie instead of noticing your weak-ass story and ugly computer work.
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My two least favorite Pixar films have always been Cars and Monster's Inc. When I picked up Monster's Inc on blu ray and gave it another shot I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying myself. Cars is much the same, though in my opinion still the "worst" of the Pixar flicks, which means still better than most animated movies.....
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Why does it have to be about scaring kids at all? You've got to think there are other jobs in the monster world aside from scare-energy (and, well, sushi chef). The whole movie could be about them being majors in something entirely different and then ending up at the power plant.
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The first movie showed very, VERY little of the monster world.
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Tom Hanks had the same problem you did when ever he met Tony Randall.
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I should have mentioned I DO like Hanks a lot when he's doing comedy, especially SNL. I wish he was less serious all around.
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We get an unnecessary prequel to one of Pixar's average movies, buts STILL no Incredibles 2 !?!?!?!?! W... T.... F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I fucking told you so, asshole.
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