So I saw WIR twice.
Out of the four animated films I’ve seen of 2012, this one is my favourite! I adored it so much.
I appreciated the Ed Wynn inspired King Candy!
I saw more of a Mad Hatter inspiration for King Candy.
Of course you did! Ed Wynn voiced the original Mad Hatter.
Congrats WIR on its Oscar nomination!
This movie is so awesome! This will be a favorite for the new generation of kids growing up with today’s hit movies. Ralph and Vanellope make the perfect team. I also love how Ralph tries so hard to be good, and when he messes up, he means well and still comes through. Wreck-It Ralph IS my favorite Disney film, although it shares that title with both Winnie the Pooh films and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
That’s who I happened to think of. Even still, he’s hysterical!
Oh! 
I did not realize. Well that makes a lot of sense (and I feel like duh!) 
No problems, most people haven’t ever heard of Ed in the first place. Which is a shame, because he was a very talented comedian.
I’m glad you really enjoyed the movie! I agree that it is an instant classic. It nearly brought me to tears.
Haha, which scenes? Mine was [spoil]when Ralph wrecks the car he and Vannelope built together, even more heartbreaking by the fact that she gives him her handmade ‘hero’s medal’ just before his ‘betrayal’[/spoil]. Oh, and the ending and his final line. It’s such a perfect bookend to the film and an echo of the theme of him being ‘the bad guy’.
^Oh dang, same for me, too. [spoil]The scene of Vanellope giving Ralph the medal itself made me tear up… the charm of that it comes off at first like a prank and then, boom! Her geninuity and all-around sweetness shines through! Then boom again! Things go completely downhill in Ralph and Vanellope’s relationship. And when Ralph makes that incredible effort to stop the Cybug invasion at the risk of his own life, I literally clutched at my chest and started sobbing in the theater… 
it was so brave, and I seriously thought he wouldn’t live… considering the time I went there wasn’t a huge crowd, I’m sure people heard me [/spoil].
Yes, that is a the very seen! And that’s one reason why WIR was my favourite animated film of the year, even better than Brave and Rise of the Guardians. The fact that it moved me emotionally, and I think the entire theatre as well.
I’m going to watch ParaNorman tonight, but I doubt I’ll like it better!
I agree with you guys on those being the most emotional scenes. Ralph is a true hero because he can have whatever label anyone wants to give him and he can still know who he really is. I’m sure he will be adored for ages.
OWP: Yeah, the writers are brilliant at milking those tears. [spoil]The fact that Vanellope is the first person that looks up to Ralph as a hero, and how we actually see her scream and beg Ralph to stop (when previously she was such a tough cookie who never cries)[/spoil] just killed me inside. The worst part of it all was that Ralph was [spoil]tricked by King Candy/Turbo to begin with, and even his lie was already a sob story if it was true![/spoil] 
The aptly-named TearJerker page on TVTropes lists many more heartwrenching and depressing scenes in the movie. I think Disney has caught a lightning in a bottle of reproducing Pixar’s “rollercoaster of emotions” in this film.
Haha, interesting you said that your theatre crowd felt the same way too. During my first viewing, after King Candy’s [spoil]“Tough choices”[/spoil] speech, the whole theatre was deathly silent, and after [spoil]Ralph returned to the empty Nicelanders’ apartment[/spoil], I heard a few sniffles and sobs. The second one had less people and a talkative pair of pre-teen boys with their parents, but they were very quiet during the [spoil]betrayal[/spoil] scene.
Do tell us what you think of ParaNorman, or if there’s no thread yet, set one up! A lot of film critics here gave it good reviews, and it’s out on home video here, so I might see if I can watch it too (if only because I like genre parodies/deconstructions).
You know, I was a bit confused with that moral when he [spoil]recited the Bad Guy Oath as he fell into Cola Mountain[/spoil]. Did it mean that he was incapable of escaping his title as a bad guy? Then the final line, [spoil]“And if that kid likes me, how bad can I be?”[/spoil] made me realise that[spoil], yes, he will always be judged by some because of his job and appearance. That will always be an inescapable fact of life for him (and us, the audience). But as long as we know in our hearts that we strive to be the best that we can be, and do good for others, it doesn’t matter what the haters say.[/spoil]
A bit off-tangent, but Ralph’s last lines on acceptance and redemption reminded me of the final lines in the denounement of an FIM fanfic Shipping And Handling (one of my favourites too, I may add):
[/quote]
Exactly. What I like about this Disney movie is that not only is it moving and warms our hearts, it would actually make a lot of sense in the real world. If video game characters really had minds of their own, this is exactly what would happen! No one was a straight-up good or bad guy from start to finish. In fact, nearly everyone seemed to be the opposite of their labels.
“…labels not make you happy. Good! Bad! Errgggh! You must love you.” Zombie’s words couldn’t be more correct. Funny, I find the nice-landers to be quite the extremists, almost by-the-book about everything and not giving a break to Ralph just because he has no opportunity to be their hero. For that same reason, I applaud Felix for knowing better and not being such a ruthless jerk to Ralph at all. I can understand his stuck position of wanting to please “nice” people but still wanting to be a better friend to Ralph. He’s not really into himself, just into being good. I feel like the whole time he knows something’s not right about how Ralph’s being treated, and can’t figure out what, but will still travel the arcade to make things right.
This film also has perfect timing and direction. Our short time in Hero’s Duty is still significant because we can’t forget about the Cy-Bug spreading throughout Sugar Rush, and how Calhoun has to defeat it with Felix’s help. The scene where King Candy lies to Ralph is intense but also well-done. Somewhere way in the back of my head I knew he was lying, but he was so convincing and driven by his motivation that you buy into it, just like Ralph. Or at least I did. And Ralph never leaves Vanellope’s side once they become friends. Even though he wrecked her car, he still did it to save her. And when he realized he made a mistake (even though he meant well), he still corrected himself because he truly cares. Again, just like I said, a true hero.
I heard this is one of the Academy Award nominees. While I was upset by some great films getting snubbed last year, I think I actually will tune in again, and I hope this one wins. I think I love Brave as much as this movie, but I’ll probably dance and scream if Wreck-It Ralph is announced. It looked like it was going to be my kind of movie. In some cases, the outcome is different, but this time it really was the awesome film I hoped it would be.
Yes, that silence was present in the theatre. After sad scenes, it’s like a telling silence. You can feel the attentiveness of the audience. Especially [spoil]after Ralph destroys Vannelope’s car[/spoil]
I will find the ParaNorman page!
LQstudiesPixar: Zombie’s speech is surprisingly deep and reflective, considering the brevity of it!
It is interesting how a lot of the characters have layers to them - you get your first impression of them: Vanellope = annoying brat, Calhoun = tough and fearless, King Candy = goofy ruler who cares about his subjects ([spoil]he questions Ralph if he’s going Turbo and vows to defend his kingdom from him if he is[/spoil]). And then, slowly, their shells start to peel away, and you begin to see that there’s another side to them, whether through their backstories, actions or revelations.
I love how every rule ([spoil]You can’t respawn if you die outside your game, glitches can’t leave their game[/spoil]) or fact ([spoil]Cybugs are attracted to beacons, Sugar Rush denizens can’t remember their history[/spoil]) in the universe is cleverly conveyed to the audience, adhered to, and then utilised to devastating effect later on. There’s tons of Chekov’s Guns in this film, and every one of these foreshadowings are important!
I would really like to read the script, so that I can see how the writers broke down and spaced out each plot detail and revelation throughout the runtime, while making the exposition seem so seamless that it doesn’t occur to you that they’re dropping a major clue or foreshadowing.
I would truly be surprised if the Academy gives this one to Disney, seeing how Pixar is a shoo-in almost every year. As much as I love Brave, it was very predictable and too narrow in its setting and action setpieces. I’m personally rooting for Ralph. Seeing how the Golden Globes went, though, I think Merida stands a better chance!
Oh my land, I think they cottoned on when [spoil]King Candy quietly drives away, and then Penelope returns smiling, with her hands behind her back.[/spoil] Even the sky turned grey, and the colour went all muted, so you know something awful is going to happen, which was very clever on the artists/animators part.
…
I’m also quite surprised by the amount of dark humour in the film. Scenes like Calhoun’s “tragic backstory”, [spoil]the shell-shocked soldier (probably having PTSD) from Hero’s Duty, the nerdy girl in the arcade having one unfortunate event after another happen to her, and Felix dying after being hit by a ceiling block and respawning[/spoil]. And then the massive amounts of fridge horror, fridge brilliance and fridge logic you get after a few viewings.
It was beautiful.
I’m sad that WIR didn’t get the Golden Globe, but there’s hope for the Oscars!
What do you guys think? Who do you think will win the Oscar, not who you want to.
I have a feeling the Academy would have a “Pixar bias”, although you never know, seeing how different people and films were snubbed and included for both awards! I ‘know’ that Pixar’s going to win, but I have a ‘gut feel’ that the Academy might try something different this year. WIR is really a dark horse in the race this year.
…
Just wanna share with y’all something I found on Tumblr.
What is that on the bulletin board behind ya, Ralph?
Holy -
[spoiler]
Not only that, but apparently the flyer next to it on the right says “Lost Dog” with a picture of Bolt.[/spoiler]
Nice find! I love it when Disney puts little references to their other works in their films.
Edited by TDIT. No need to quote the entire post, thanks!
Whoooa now! That’s a ridiculously awesome find 
Yeah, I think that Brave might win. The Globes are always good to take in mind. (Although as evidenced by Ben Affleck’s win for Best Director at the GG and wasn’t even nominated for it at the Oscars, tastes in both awards differ). But it’s still can be taken as an indication. And as you said, there is a Pixar bias.
And holy cow!!!
How did you find that? That is such a cool hidden joke!
^That egg is just too awesome! X3 [spoil]Any chance Paperman: The Game was released? 
[/spoil]
Anywhos, I was really surprised to see that Brave won the Golden Globe… not that I’m not totes happy for Brave, considering that I’m one of the few here who consider Brave and WIR equally awesome. I just really expected that, since it seems that WIR has done better in critical reviews, I really expected Merida to be politely clapping for Ralph on the sidelines. But who knows how the Oscars will go? I’ll be thrilled as long as it’s Merida or Ralph accepting the award (although my biased, still-hugely-disappointed-that-Cars-2-didn’t-win-either-Oscar-or-Golden-Globe-last-year self is rooting for Pixar anyway 
)
Yeah, it seems like they’re taking a leaf from Pixar’s book!
Ahaha, I didn’t spot that either, and I watched it twice! I bet there’s a lot more to watch out for during the Game Central Station scenes.
Out of the 12 Academy Award for Best Animated Features given out, half of them are for Pixar films! And Disney, which used to be the greatest Western animation studio, has not won a single one in over a decade.
From this Tumblr. She’s a fan video editor who’s a fan of Surf’s Up (as you can tell from her username) and is now a fully fledged Wrecker!
By the way, who’s Mr Top Hat in the GIF? Is that from The Daily Show (I recognise the background, laugh out loud)?
There’s a piece of fanart which [spoil]depicted Paperman as a 16-bit game[/spoil], but I can’t find it!
I loved Cars 2, but for once I was glad that Pixar didn’t receive a nomination last year! Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss In Boots had more ‘emotional heart’, for me, imho. But Cars 2 was an absolute thrill-ride (pun intended) for me too, seing I’m a huge spy flick and car chase fan. Just that it doesn’t have artistic merit for me, in a sense.
…
Bobby Pontillas, one of my favourite artists whom I discovered when I read that he did the crew T-shirts for Rio, apparently worked on WIR too!
He and the legendary John Musker in fact created the caricatures of videogame characters we see on [spoil]Tappers’ wall[/spoil].
Here’s Pontilas’ post, with some of the art he drew. Mind-blowing stuff (my fave is of Zangief)!