Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #471 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-03-18
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Collector's Edition, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 111 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After creating the last great traditionally animated film of the 20th century, The Iron Giant, filmmaker Brad Bird joined top-drawer studio Pixar to create this exciting, completely entertaining computer-animated film. Bird gives us a family of "supers," a brood of five with special powers desperately trying to fit in with the 9-to-5 suburban lifestyle. Of course, in a more innocent world, Bob and Helen Parr were superheroes, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. But blasted lawsuits and public disapproval forced them and other supers to go incognito, making it even tougher for their school-age kids, the shy Violet and the aptly named Dash. When a stranger named Mirage (voiced by Elizabeth Pena) secretly recruits Bob for a potential mission, the old glory days spin in his head, even if his body is a bit too plump for his old super suit.

Bird has his cake and eats it, too. He and the Pixar wizards send up superhero and James Bond movies while delivering a thrilling, supercool action movie that rivals Spider-Man 2 for 2004's best onscreen thrills. While it's just as funny as the previous Pixar films, The Incredibles has a far wider-ranging emotional palette (it's Pixar's first PG film). Bird takes several jabs, including some juicy commentary on domestic life ("It's not graduation, he's moving from the fourth to fifth grade!").

The animated Parrs look and act a bit like the actors portraying them, Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter. Samuel L. Jackson and Jason Lee also have a grand old time as, respectively, superhero Frozone and bad guy Syndrome. Nearly stealing the show is Bird himself, voicing the eccentric designer of superhero outfits ("No capes!"), Edna Mode.

Nominated for four Oscars, The Incredibles won for Best Animated Film and, in an unprecedented win for non-live-action films, Sound Editing.

The Presentation
This two-disc set is (shall we say it?), incredible. The digital-to-digital transfer pops off the screen and the 5.1 Dolby sound will knock the socks off most systems. But like any superhero, it has an Achilles heel. This marks the first Pixar release that doesn't include both the widescreen and full-screen versions in the same DVD set, which was a great bargaining chip for those cinephiles who still want a full-frame presentation for other family members. With a 2.39:1 widescreen ratio (that's big black bars, folks, à la Dr. Zhivago), a few more viewers may decide to go with the full-frame presentation. Fortunately, Pixar reformats their full-frame presentation so the action remains in frame.

The Extras
The most-repeated segments will be the two animated shorts. Newly created for this DVD is the hilarious "Jack-Jack Attack," filling the gap in the film during which the Parr baby is left with the talkative babysitter, Kari. "Boundin'," which played in front of the film theatrically, was created by Pixar character designer Bud Luckey. This easygoing take on a dancing sheep gets better with multiple viewings (be sure to watch the featurette on the short).

Brad Bird still sounds like a bit of an outsider in his commentary track, recorded before the movie opened. Pixar captain John Lasseter brought him in to shake things up, to make sure the wildly successful studio would not get complacent. And while Bird is certainly likable, he does not exude Lasseter's teddy-bear persona. As one animator states, "He's like strong coffee; I happen to like strong coffee." Besides a resilient stance to be the best, Bird threw in an amazing number of challenges, most of which go unnoticed unless you delve into the 70 minutes of making-of features plus two commentary tracks (Bird with producer John Walker, the other from a dozen animators). We hear about the numerous sets, why you go to "the Spaniards" if you're dealing with animation physics, costume problems (there's a reason why previous Pixar films dealt with single- or uncostumed characters), and horror stories about all that animated hair. Bird's commentary throws out too many names of the! animators even after he warns himself not to do so, but it's a lively enough time. The animator commentary is of greatest interest to those interested in the occupation.

There is a 30-minute segment on deleted scenes with temporary vocals and crude drawings, including a new opening (thankfully dropped). The "secret files" contain a "lost" animated short from the superheroes' glory days. This fake cartoon (Frozone and Mr. Incredible are teamed with a pink bunny) wears thin, but play it with the commentary track by the two superheroes and it's another sharp comedy sketch. There are also NSA "files" on the other superheroes alluded to in the film with dossiers and curiously fun sound bits. "Vowellet" is the only footage about the well-known cast (there aren't even any obligatory shots of the cast recording their lines). Author/cast member Sarah Vowell (NPR's This American Life) talks about her first foray into movie voice-overs--daughter Violet--and the unlikelihood of her being a superhero. The feature is unlike anything we've seen on a Disney or Pixar DVD extra, but who else would consider Abe Lincoln an action figure? --Doug Thomas

Synopsis
Combining a family-oriented superhero adventure with the brilliant animation of Disney's Pixar (the creators of MONSTERS INC. and FINDING NEMO), THE INCREDIBLES charts new territory in the technical wizardry of computer-generated cartoons. Using complex angles and a filmic sensibility, the animation feels like live action, and smart techniques such as cuts to 'grainy film stock' give this movie instant sophistication. Writer-director Brad Bird, with his creative storytelling and well-paced character development, does the rest. This tale is set in a slightly futuristic society where superheroes are no longer appreciated (Read: But I didn't want to be saved!) and are forced to assume a very low profile. So, for Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), his wife Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and his three fledgling superhero kids, maintaining a lifestyle of mediocrity in order to appear normal causes constant friction. When the opportunity suddenly arises for the Incredibles to use their powers to fight evil, it's trial-by-fire to learn to work as a superteam. Together they must stop the maniacal Syndrome (Jason Lee) from unleashing a murderous robot in a big city. Fast action and violence involving large explosions make this a film that is better suited for older children rather than the very little ones. Yet family themes and comic episodes prevail, with eclectic characters like Edna the fashion designer (voiced by Bird himself) and the iceman Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) adding extra moments of fun.

Special Features
Double Disc Set - Special Features

Customer Reviews

Wow
I watched this film with very high expectations having loved most of the earlier PIXAR films (particularly Toy Story 1 & 2 and Finding Nemo), The Incredibles exceeded these high expectations. It is a great film

It almost goes without saying that the state of the art animation is fantastic (as is the transfer to DVD). The animation of the hair and costumes is particularly impressive.

The real strength of the film is the story and the cast. They have taken a number of clichés/jokes and created a family that is simultaneously familiar while being new and interesting. The strong man unable to use his strength and struggling to be a good father (Mr Incredible), the mother pulled in all directions (Elastigirl voiced by Holly Hunter), the teenage daughter who wants to be invisible and can be (Violet), the hyperactive son (Dash) and the baby (Jack-Jack). The supporting cast is also excellent - Samuel L. Jackson has great fun as Frozone, director Brad Bird steals every scene he is in as Edna ("No capes!") Mode although I am a little less sure about Jason Lee's performance as the bad guy, Syndrome.

After an opening sequence that shows Mr Incredible & Elastigirl in action, the story follows this family of superheroes attempting (not entirely successfully) to lead quiet lives after a series of lawsuits and public disapproval forces them to give up their superhero identities and adopt their 'secret' identities permanently. Then Mr Incredible is tempted out of retirement and sets out on an action packed adventure.

As usual for PIXAR the film works on multiple levels. It is an action adventure packed with humour and references to comic books and movies (that are almost seamlessly integrated into the story). It is a family drama about the father coming to terms with how important his family is to him. There is some biting social commentary ("It's not graduation, he's moving from the fourth to fifth grade!", everybody will have super powers, meaning that nobody will be super).

This is a triumphant success - beautifully made, action packed yet engaging, funny and moving. This is a film that I already know my family and I will watch again and again.

A super Pixar Studios animation!
The Incredibles is probably the best movie that Pixar Studios has produced to date. Having already brought us the monster hits of both of the Toy Story's, Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo, this time it is a story about daring to be different, marital breakdown and a mid-life crisis, through the eyes a group of superheroes forced into retirement after a series of lawsuits.

In a more innocent time when superheroes were acceptable, Mr Incredible ruled the roost, being the superhero pin-up of the day, but after saving a suicide jumper, he is sued for saving his life and causing him injury in the process. This leads to a series of copycat lawsuits forcing the government to outlaw the "Supers" and to put them onto a relocation program to integrate them into normal society under aliases.

Fast forward fifteen years and Bob Parr (Mr Incredible) has married Elastagirl, now known as Helen, and has three children, the shy Violet, the brash Dash and baby Jack Jack. Bob is working for an insurance firm, processing claims, were his only super hero deeds are in helping his claimants, much to the disgust of his boss, and in scanning the police radio with his old friend Frozone. This all changes when the mysterious Mirage offers Bob a secret mission to destroy an experimental army robot on a remote jungle filled island. After his success, Bob finds himself reinvigorated, loses weight, buys a sports car and finds a renewed passion for life. However, things are not as they seem, and Helen starts to believe that Bob is having an affair, and sets off to confront him, "He better be (in trouble)," she tells Violet, "Or he will be." Little do the Incredibles know that the past is going to come back to haunt them and put the entire Parr family, and the world, in jeopardy.

The films story and script is excellent and surprisingly mature for a Pixar/Disney movie, full of jokes and comments about society and family life, Bob's complaint that Dash isn't graduating but moving up a grade; Arch-nemesis Syndrome tells the Incredibles that when he sells his inventions, everybody will have "super powers" meaning that nobody will be super; the litigious nature of modern society that brings down the Supers, and not an evil mastermind; jokes about villains going into a monologue instead killing the superhero. The Incredibles jokes set its target high and wide and never fail to hit the mark.

The extras on the DVD are also well worth a look, and include a short animation about what really happens to Kari the babysitter when Jack Jack starts acting a bit strange as well as some good extras with commentary from writer/director Brad Bird. All in all a great movie that deserved its recent Oscar success, and I haven't even mentioned Edna, the eccentric costume designer, and probably the best character that Pixar have created!

Taking the Superhero Genre Into New Place
There are two crowds with this movie. Those who think it was OK, and those who think it is brilliant. Few dislike it.

My thoughts here are strong -- Brilliant, and then some.

"The Incredibles" is the beginning of a new era of superhero movies. It pokes at the genre, and it tells a fantastic story in the process. More than a parody, it has a rich pro-family flavor, folded into a drama about relationships, yet never taking itself too seriously.

The Plot
Take a couple with superpowers, move them into a federal protection program after superheroes are sued, give them three kids who aren't allowed to use their powers, and wait. Prod them occasionally with anxiety and restlessness to keep them in minor trouble. Soon, a powerful, intelligent enemy bent on becoming a self-made messiah will come along.

Will the retired and in-hiding superheroes don the uniforms and save the day? Can they after all these years? Who is this amazing arch enemy?

Does my version of the plot tell as well as it works in the movie? Probably not, because what is missing is the funny sight gags, situation humor, and spectacular animation. You also don't hear the swift one-liners, allusions to classic comic books or sarcasm about society.

The movie soars farther than the average superhero movie because, like Spiderman, it looks into the reality of the kind of personal life a superhero would have. If a world with superheroes existed, what would it be like? While the X-Men movies have attempted to address this, the concept of Charles Xavier's mansion is not easy to believe. Thinking that after Mr. Incredible unretired, he would have a beer gut is believable. These superheroes are just like us, after all, only "super."

The art and design of "The Incredibles" is not the usual either. Calling it art may seem too much, and I don't want to suggest that this is an animated version of the Louvre. However, "The Incredibles" angles beyond comic book art, and into art deco, and pop art akin to a more sophisticated, moving Andy Warhol.

The messages in the movie encourage us to be ourselves, be humble, do the right thing, and, in the case of peril, be courageous.

I fully recommend "The Incredibles." I am looking for a sequel or two, and am hoping they can continue this style and quality.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com