I know a lot of people tend to dwell on that but I think it could just be taken as Mike trying to make a ridiculous exaggeration— or just simply using it as an expression for “pretty much forever”.
Yes, I think that’s the retconned meaning, and I don’t care too much about that.
If something makes me feel unconfortable about the premise of this film, though, is that in Monsters, Inc. I always had the sensation that they were friends since forever.
Thank goodness, they made up for that by giving us a beautiful film.
I kind of had that notion too! I always did, before anything with MU was known to us, enjoy imagining them as childhood friends. But the excellence of this prequel justifies it. 
Just now realizing I forgot to mention anything about The Blue Umbrella in my post! It might be one of my favorite Pixar shorts, honestly. It’s very John Lasseter (esp. Brave Little Toaster-era Lasseter) with the simplicity of its characters and “everyone has a face” aspect but as simple as it was, it really captured the old Pixar short spirit. The photoreal aspect of it was also incredible. It’s a bit similar to Paperman thematically, but it holds well on its own.
I see what you mean, but there was so much to cover in such little time. I felt the pace with Randall’s backstory was fine and equal.
OOZMA KAPPA OMG THEY WERE ALL SO PERFECT! I liked them immediately as well. And thanks for mentioning the color palate, I thought about it during the film. Which is saying something, bc during first viewings I usually critically note mostly the story, and second viewing I pay more attention to the aesthetics.
You are completely right about[spoil]Randall. I was disapointed he wasn’t in it as much (bc he’s my fav), but I understand why. The scenes with him, however were very charming.[/spoil]
I heard it was present a couple times. I saw it outside the frat house during the first party scene. If I was right.
That’s the one! The parking lot was just outside ROR’s house when they’re about to enter the party.
I didn’t catch it the other time, though.
But I think it all builds up. Besides, they weren’t [spoil]the best friends.[/spoil]
Up to that point, I do think [spoil]Randall qualified as Mike’s best friend, on the account that he was the only one he had.[/spoil]
RE: Randall, the idea they were trying to convey (I think) is that he was corruptible even during his college time. He can easily be swayed by the sense of glory and triumph (i.e. joining ROR, winning the Scare Games, etc.), so it makes perfect sense for him to be Waternoose’s puppet in Monsters, Inc. All Waternoose needed to do is stoking his jealousy/hatred toward the best (i.e. Sulley) or his longing for glory, and Randall is well on his villainous way to do all Waternoose’s biddings.
In my opinion, Pixar struck a perfect balance in how much exposure we had to Randall in MU, because ultimately, MU is not his story. Too much of Randall can be very distracting.
thought the movie was good. i enjoyed it. the actor that voiced young wazowski did a good job. i also like the roz and snowman cameos. and waternoose with hair! lol.
Might see this film later today. If it is worse than [i]Up[/ithough, I will be very disturbed. ]
At this pint I’m pretty sure the movie stops being good the moment The Blue Umbrella ends. Notjhing in the trailers have shown anthing halfway intriguing. I wonder why John Lasseter let this and Frozen through his radar. Is he taking a nothing-can-be-worse-than Mars Needs Moms stance?
Someone calculated from the calendar shots that the movie takes place in the 1987-1988 school year.
Saw it on the 23rd (ironically, the same day I saw Brave last year!) and ohhhhh myyyyy goshhhh this movie… words can’t adequately describe it. It’s just. that. amazing. I was smiling from the get-go! (Of course, it helps to open up the film with a little kid version of Mike ) It was a lot different from what I’d expected, and I already had high expectations for it to begin with. I was laughing out loud and I was trying to stifle my crying. I love its feel; so nostalgic and yet so fresh! The music, the amazing realism and animation, the new characters, the heart of the story was something relatable for me… oh, let’s just be honest I love everything about it! No flaws, just awesome… just the way Pixar’s always done it! 
Now I must wait six months and two days for the day after Christmas to finally see it again…
Seeing it tomorrow! Woot!
Lol he did a good job ecause hes the same guy that played Mike originally, Billy Crystal.
What we should keep in mind is that Randall [spoil]never started to dislike Mike in the film. He was friends with Mike, but he made it clear since the beginning that he wanted to fit in with the cool kids. So he drifted apart from Mike, because they were in different Frats.
His participation in the prank against OK wasn’t out of hate, it was that he was obligated to as a member, he wanted to do the prank to fit in. The only hate we see from Randall is against Sulley during the final challenge.
I’d imagine once Randall started work as a scarer, and had to see Sulley and Mike everyday did he start to outright hate Mike. As Mike was in league with Sulley.[/spoil]
But that’s just how I see it.
I think they were referring to child Mike.
Exactly. Although I personally can never have too much Randall because he’s amazing, but I understand why there wasn’t too much focus on him. This was primarily about 1. Mike’s journey and 2. How Mike and Sulley became friends.
After spending the past TWO MONTHS resisting the temptation to discuss details about the movie, for some reason now that I can I don’t have much to say! 
Watched it 4 times already!
I do have to agree with Endrizzi94, the child that voiced Mike in elementary school did a great job nailing a consistency in channeling Mike’s persona. Especially considering the fact that Billy Crystal admitted he hadn’t even worked with the kid when recording. That’s pretty awesome. 
:
lol ya i was talking about the little mike in elementary school. pixar seems to get the best or make the best out of young kid actors. the same was done with brave last year with young merida.
Oh yeah, I completely forgot to comment on child Mike! That was just plain adorable. It’s true how it echoes the beginning of Brave a bit but it did still melt my heart.
I know this has probably been discussed before, but in regards to Monsters Inc., [spoil]would the Scaring Program be obsolete after the events of Monsters Inc.? Or would scaring still be necessary in some regard in the Monster Universe? Or would it in turn be changed to a comedy program? I’d like to see some sort of short story that explores this detail…[/spoil]
[spoil]Nah I wouldn’t. Not everything needs to be spelled out on the screen, especially things that would raise more questions than it answers like this. If Monsters, Inc. as a firm can switch from scaring business to entertaining business, there’s every chance the Scaring program at MU will adapt itself, too. It’s not unheard of in our own world that institutions adjust themselves to current needs in order to stay relevant. So it’s up to your imagination how that works with the monsters world in general, and MU/School of Scaring in particular.[/spoil]