Of course this is not a great movie but not all movies are made to be great. Some movies are just there to entertain. Movies like that are also often able to get away with more than just the average movie, as also is the case with this one.

This movie delivered on what it promised; lots of specular giant robots versus giant monsters action. What more do you need? I hope your answer is 'nothing' or 'not much', or else chances are you probably aren't going to enjoy or like this movie. It really doesn't have an awful lot to offer otherwise, in terms of its story or characters. Things are kept pretty simple but having said that, I still do feel that the movie actually did a good job with its storytelling.

There are large portions of the movie in which no giant robots or monsters show up. Yet the movie never starts to drag or appears to be running out of ideas. There is a really pleasant pace and style to the movie, that keeps things enjoyable and interesting, all at the same time. It's not a terribly clever or all too surprising movie but it also isn't anything too predictable or formulaic either and it actually manages to work out as a totally unique movie on its own right.

The movie never goes for a hyper-realistic sort of approach, which only adds to the movie its entertainment. In some ways it feels more like an anime than an actual live action movie. This of course especially goes for the movie its giant robots and monsters and the special effects in general. It really isn't as slick looking as for instance a "Transformers" movie but that's probably also one of the many reasons why this movie works way better. It never takes itself too seriously and the movie is all about the fun and its entertaining aspects. It allows itself to go crazy at times and it isn't pretending to be anything more than just some simple, high quality, entertainment.

The fights themselves are all a joy to look at, though it would have been nice if the movie used some more wide-shots at times. It would have worked better for the scale and scope of things and it potential could have made the fights more intense and involving, since it would have showed you more of what was going on at times. At times it's somewhat hard to tell, also since the movie features lots of night scenes and scenes set in the middle of the Ocean, with large waves blocking your view. But no, I'm really not complaining too much about it. It was pretty intense and impressive to watch all and it most certainly never got boring!

I can't overall complain about this movie, despite the fact that it of course is a far from flawless one. It simply delivers, by giving you just about everything you could hope and wish for, from a movie involving giant robots and monsters!

7/10

Watch trailer

As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi and others

Current release date: July 12, 2013

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day and others

Current release date: July 12, 2013

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

It always surprises me to hear that "Monsters, Inc." isn't loved by everyone. Some people even consider it to be one of Pixar's lesser movies but personally I love it. It's cute, it's funny, uses an entertaining premise, it's wonderful to look at and has some likable characters and a great voice cast in it. I therefore also wasn't opposed to a sequel, or prequel in this case, to "Monsters, Inc.". The only thing that bothers me is that it had to take 12 years to finally arrive.

It's definitely good to see this isn't just another throwaway sequel/prequel, made to cash in some more on an already familiar and well established franchise. There definitely went some serious time and effort into making this movie. It doesn't only result in yet another wonderful looking animated Pixar movie but also one that's entertaining and good to watch on its own right, regardless of whether you're familiar with the first "Monsters, Inc." movie or not.

The story in itself is pretty simple and straightforward but you of course have to remember that this foremost is still a children's movie. No need to over-complicate things or feature too many needless distractions and side-plots in it. It's actually good to see how well focused this movie is on its one and main plot line and doesn't even allow any generic and predictable things to happen. It for instance isn't overly sentimental in parts, it doesn't feature a love story, no real villain and it isn't constantly busy trying to send out messages to its young audience.

The movie really didn't disappoint me. I was entertained by it. all throughout and it offered more than a few laughs. The comedy isn't just in its writing or dialog but often more so in its animations and visuals. It's a more of a physical comedy in that regard and its settings and characters allows the movie to do plenty of creative and effective things with it its physical comedy.

What I besides love about the move is that it isn't ever trying to impress you with anything. It's a very humble movie, that isn't trying to show off with its strange and unique looking worlds and characters. It's treating its subject and characters like its all something completely normal. I liked this approach, since it definitely added to the movie flow and consistency, since it never allowed the movie to slow down for anyone or anything because it wanted to show and impressive you with a new, spectacular looking location, or awesome, newly introduced character. That's also what I mean by saying this movie feels like a very well focused one. Its main concern is to tell you its main story and even though the movie features lots of different characters in it, it's mainly focusing on those who are important to its main story, or for letting it move along. It's a really well constructed movie with its storytelling.

Just as its predecessor, it's also a very cute movie, which sounds like a strange thing to say about a movie featuring a bunch of monsters. But all characters are truly cuddly looking ones (well, most of them) and I loved their unique and detailed character design. This movie features plenty of new characters in it, as well as some familiar faces from the previous "Monsters, Inc." movie, all voiced by some great actors.

The colorful animations of course also help to ensure that this is a great and cute movie to look at, at all times. It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that the animations by Pixar are absolutely wonderful again to look at. Especially the characters and their facial expressions look better than ever and I also loved the fact how there is always something happening in the background of this movie. It's incredible, the amount of detail that went into making this movie, which is showing you all the more the time, craftsmanship and love went into the making of this movie.

Perhaps not as good and certainly not as fresh as its predecessor but just as fun and maybe even more so!

8/10

Watch trailer

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends. From: IMDb.com

A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends. From: IMDb.com

A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Dan Scanlon

Starring: Nathan Fillion, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and others

Current release date: June 21, 2013

A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of friends. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Dan Scanlon

Starring: John Krasinski, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman and others

Current release date: June 21, 2013

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi and others

Current release date: July 12, 2013

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi and others

Current release date: July 12, 2013

When an alien attack threatens the Earth's existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace. From: IMDb.com

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Starring: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi and others

Current release date: July 12, 2013