Monsters University-A Review with Spoilers, So Watch Out!

We went to see Monsters University on opening night with friends and our five year old Godson. Our theater was packed with families. That probably made this movie a better experience for me, you see, the animated short that started the movie off "The Blue Umbrella" was, as usual, amazing, and in fact, more touching than the actual movie itself! Our audience clapped after the short, they were really into it!

Monsters University started off strong and seemed to fade off quickly. I was waiting for some of the scenes to show up from the previews that were playing on TV, and none of them were in the movie. What a letdown! Maybe the movie would have been better if they had included the scene where Sully makes Mike into a disco ball? I don't know. Even though there were some laughs, I found myself wondering when the movie was going to end! What's wrong with me?

My expectations are high. That's the problem. Monsters Inc. has such heart, you really can't get the story out of your head. Remember Kitty? Who doesn't! There is nothing like that in this movie.

There is a multitude of characters, many of them laugh-out-loud funny. Some of them memorable. Some scenes are very cute. And at certain scary points of the movie, we could hear a kid saying, "I want to go home now!"

Our audience roared, screamed and growled, hmm, they must have gone to Scare School, like we did! I'm sure most of the audience really enjoyed the movie, and there were some great parts, but it's not a movie that you'd put in your DVD or Blu-ray collection.

Monsters University Vinylmation

This past weekend while at the Disney Store, becoming Scare School graduates, we decided to pick up a new Monsters University Vinylmation.

Characters from this set include known Monsters Inc. characters like Sulley, Mike Wazowski, and Randall Boggs, and our favorite, George Sanderson as well as new ones such as Archie the Scare Pig Art, Don Carlton, Scott "Squishy" Squibbles, and Johnny Worthington III.

We asked George Sanderson to pick one out for us. Preferably George Sanderson!

We got Randall Boggs. And here he is.

Hmm, he seems to be blending in with that background, let's move him to where we can see him more clearly.

I love the glasses!

Yes, Randall is a bad guy in Monsters Inc., but perhaps he is misunderstood. We'll have to see, when Monsters University comes out this weekend!

We are Graduates of Monsters University!

As anyone knows, when you attend school, the first thing you need is an ID and your class schedule, which is exactly what we received when the both of us attended Monsters University this weekend. We were allowed to pick our own "class photo" and we were required to choose a new and scary last name for ourselves. (Monster Classes are also held at random times during the week, especially when it looks like there are a lot of scary little monsters around, looking for schooling!)

 

Once everyone has been issued their ID cards, the fun begins. Our teacher was extremely well versed in monster training, working us through our paces, teaching us the tippy toe maneuver; screaming, roaring and growling, and a few other cool moves to scare friends, neighbors and class mates alike!

 

Here we all are trying to fill a canister with our roaring and screaming. It took us a while to fill it up, but as we're newbies, our instructor gave us a few goes at it. I wonder what the rest of the people in the mall walking by must have been thinking. I bet we scared them away! As you can see, we were a tough group.

At the end, since we all passed with flying colors, we were each given a school pennant and sent out into the world to do a little scaring. Boo!

Monsters U. Pin Promo at the Disney Store

The Disney Store is having a special offer right now as a promotion for the upcoming Monsters University. Buy any Monsters Inc. merchandise and get your choice of two pins for $5.00. I chose "George Sanderson," the monster who was contaminated by a human's sock. The cat you see in the background, he can't get enough of human socks, he hoards them, in fact. Watch out George!

 

 These two will probably work together to take over and create their very own sock empire. The cat has already been eying up George's sock! 

Look at that adorable sock! George doesn't even know it's there! Shh! Don't tell him, it will probably freak him out! Below is the pin that Nick picked out. Each week, a different Monster Fraternity or Sorority pin is being released. That is a great promotion. They also threw in a couple buttons.

 

Welcome home George, we're so happy you're here!

Disney Summer Movie Merchandise at the Disney Store

There are several movies we are really excited about coming from Disney in the next few months, and the Disney Store has some great merchandise to help build interest and our excitement!

Monsters University, the sequel to Monsters, Inc. is due out June 21st.

They have a virtual cornucopia of items including plush, clothing, backpacks, figurines,  and books!

The neatest thing however is the Monsters Assembly, where you get to build your own monster

You get to pick everything from body style to eyes, horns, arms and legs!

 The Lone Ranger comes out July 3rd, staring Armie Hammer, Helena Bonham Carter, and some guy named Johhny Depp.

There are a few items for this film including this Lone Ranger hat being worn by my lovely wife.

Last, we have the Cars spin off, Planes coming out on August 9th.
Lot's of action figures and play sets, as well as some nice clothing options.

 

Will you be seeing any or all of these this Summer?

Monsters University Storybook Deluxe App Review

Disney has just released the Monsters University Storybook Deluxe App for iPhone and iPad (more on specific requirements at the end of this review), in anticipation of the June 21st release of Pixar's Monsters University.

Please note, this animated and interactive storybook app is a retelling of the movie. I'm not going to be giving away any of the plot in this review, but, if you want to be completely surprised, you may want to wait until after the release of the movie to read the story. In the meantime, your children, or you, could enjoy the 5 scare games without spoiling any surprises.

The app gives you the opportunity to create your own Monsters University ID Badge and even "monsterify" the picture you choose.

You can choose Read-on-Your-Own, Listen-Along, and language options.

Throughout the storybook, look for yellow circles, and be sure to tap on them to hear actual voice clips and see animated illustrations.

ID badges are hidden in illustrations, and come in handy later, so if you see one, tap it. There are other interactive surprises throughout, so if you see something pop up, be sure to tap on it!

Animated clips from the film are also scattered through the book.

Now lets play.

Choose a character. These are where the ID badges I mentioned earlier in the review come into play.

 The 5 games are all variations on a theme.

You need to avoid the toxic human objects.

And make it to the simulated child and scare him!

Rewards are monster cards!

There are 2 modes of play, easy and hard. And it is HARD! In fact, I still haven't beaten even one of these advanced levels!

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, iPad (4th generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (4th generation), iPad mini and iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

I'd like to thank Disney for providing Disney Musings with this app for review.

 Now I have to get back to collecting trading cards!