I’ll keep this spoiler-free, but honestly, if you haven’t seen The Incredibles yet, you owe it to yourself to go and do so.

For films that are so overwhelmingly well received, it’s interesting to check out what those few negative reviewers said. Is it just blustering and ‘feelings’, or do they present a legitimate case?

One of the five ‘rotten’ reviewers, a Jeremy Heilman, did have some interesting things to say. Some of it is garbage. To suggest that The Incredibles comes as a new installment in a series of ‘domesticated toys, bugs, monsters, fish and now superheroes’ is complete and utter baloney.

However, his discussion about the violence in the film is an intersting one.

Children causing death to the villain’s minions is surely new to Western kids’ movies. Is it an accident that no one thought to replace them with ‘killer bots’ that could be dispensed with no regret? Moreover, how did Brad Bird feel about this, considering the peace-and-love message in his ‘other’ film, The Iron Giant?

As I thought about it, it occurred to me that perhaps it’s a completely different message here — one that Heilman overlooked. Is Bird simply trying to point out that under situations of deadly threat, extreme force is permissible? In the watered down, UN-permeated society of today, it seems possible.

It doesn’t necessarily justify the actions taken in Iraq, but some people still need the reminder that talking things out at a mahogany conference table doesn’t stop a terrorist or dethrone a dictator.

I disagree with Heilman that The Incredibles undermines family values, but these things are worth thinking about. And hopefully there’ll be some commentary about this on the DVD.

Whatever your take, the fun-factor for this movie is off the map — it’s out there becoming a classic regardless of any political overtones. And anyways, according to IMDB, this was mostly conceived by Bird in the early 90s, and in production well before September of 2001.

Mike

Addendum: Here’s a terrific review of the positive morality in Pixar’s films. I found this link from SaveDisney.com — exposing the shocking acts by Mike Eisner that are driving Disney into the ground.

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