Monsters University

When Monsters University was first announced, many fans of Monsters Inc and Disney/Pixar in general felt a wave of worry wash over them. Would they do justice to the original movie with this sequel? Or would Monsters University fall flat? With the long awaited released, fans can rest assured that Pixar and Disney have once again shown us just what they are capable of. Monsters University holds everything Disney and Pixar fans have come to expect out of the joint companies. The movie is witty and funny with an emotional background; it might just even get you crying a time or two. The movie is filled with heart and emotion. It’s a fun adventure for children and adults alike.

While Monsters University was created and released after Monsters Inc, the movie serves as a sequel to Monsters Inc. The movie takes place a couple of years in the past when Mike and Sully were just in college. The movie takes us on a fun but emotional journey through Mike and Sully’s friendship, showing us that they weren’t always the close friends we know them to be. The movie begins with a young Mike Wazowski on a field trip with his class to the Monsters Incorporated headquarters. It is here that Mike makes the promise to become a top scarer, a monster who scares sleeping children to power the monster world.

Fast forwarding a few years, we follow Mike as he takes his first steps to accomplishing his dream: attending Monsters University as a scare major. On his first day of class, Mike meets the arrogant James Sullivan, a monster who comes from a line of well-known scarers. Mike and Sully are like night and day. Mike has to work hard to be a scare major while scaring seems to come naturally to Sully. Almost right away, the two spark a bitter rivalry when Sully expresses doubt about Mike’s ability to be a scarer. But soon enough, the pair find themselves in a situation that threatens their futures. If they want to avoid a monotonous life of making scare canisters, the pair of opposites must overcome their differences and learn to work together.

Monsters University brings back old, beloved characters such as Mike, Sully, and Randall. While the movie primarily focuses on Mike and Sully’s relationship, it also answers why Randall has such a jealous feeling towards Sully. But certain minor characters also make appearances, such as the Abominable Snowman who has a small but funny appearance answering why he ended up banished. While we can all appreciate the return of old characters, Monsters University introduces us to new characters such as Dean Hardscrabble, Squishy, Don, and Heather Olsen. Like with any Disney/Pixar movie, each character has their own personality and feels real. Some characters will make you love them, while others will make you hate them. Each character brings their own to this movie.

The graphics don’t disappoint either. There is a reason Pixar is considered one of the best in digital animation and Monsters University is a prime example of why. The world created in this film is filled with vibrant colors and detailed scenery. Even the smallest detail isn’t forgotten. The characters are full of life and so is the scenery around them. Everything with the graphics mashes together to create a simply beautiful animation.

Monsters University is a film full of laughs, from the silly antics of Oozma Kappa to the struggles of Mike and Sully learning to live together. Laughs will hit you where you don’t expect it with this movie. But don’t underestimate the movie; it also has an emotional side. We will join Mike through a painful journey as he struggles to learn how to accept himself and keep trying when it seems the entire world is against him. Every emotion in this movie is portrayed accurately and realistically, viewers will be able to relate to the characters and feel what they do.

Overall, Monsters University was a very good film. It’s fun and watchable for people of all ages. It has plenty of laughs and all the heart and emotion we’d expect from Disney and Pixar. In a rating, I would give this movie an 8/10.

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