What Dreams May Come (1998) (Movie Review)

Happy Easter 

My Top 10 Favorite “Green-Colored” Movies

 

  It’s March, the Saint Patrick’s Day season, and that means once again … I’ll be surrounded by my favorite color. 

It’s hard to explain the appeal, but I’ve always been drawn to the color green, and when you have a holiday that involves green decorations, and dressing in Green … I’ll always be there to celebrate. One of my favorite traditions around this time is watching movies that put me in the holiday mood, simply by how much green is utilized in the film. 

It can be green landscapes, green costumes, green decorations … even green skinned characters … as long as green is part of the films identity or visual appeal … I’ll be viewing it for Saint Patrick’s Day. As such, I thought it would be fun to stop and rank my own personal Top 10 Favorite movies to utilize the color Green, and how they visually get me in the mood for the holiday season. 

 

#10 “Ella Enchanted” (2004) 

Kicking off my list, we go on a walk-about in a fantasy setting … a setting comprised of rich green forests, and bright green dressed characters. While the titular lead Ella puts a good spotlight on the color blue, her traveling Elf companion and home of Elves certainly show off the green. 

No joke, the Elves featured in this film can rival Leprechauns in how they dress from head to toe in green. They’re also characterized for breaking into song and dance, save for our main Elf who goes on the journey with our titular heroine.  

 

#9 “Star Trek Nemesis” (2002) 

You wouldn’t go into a “Star Trek” movie expecting to see a whole lot of green … but if you just look at the poster for “Star Trek Nemesis”, it’s promising a lot of green imagery, and that’s what it delivers. Green ships, green energy beams, and green costumes. 

However, the main reason this film makes the list is its lengthy third act finale set in a quadrant of space that’s comprised of nothing but green gas clouds. In astronomy class, I was taught that there was a lot more color out there in space then you’d expect from looking up at the night sky … but I don’t think my teacher meant this much green.

 

#8 “The Secret of Kells” (2009) 

Rich with Irish Mythology, boasting a captivating atmosphere, and naturally … it’s as green as animated offerings get. I’ve seen the color utilized in animation before, but this film makes me feel like I’m swimming in the color … at least for the first two acts, before things get dark and red in the final act. 

Regardless, the film genuinely makes me feel like I’ve just been whisked away into this enchanting tale of Irish legends and lore. Visually, the film is also quite unique, beautifully drawn, and appropriately features green as the prominent color. 

 

#7 “Shrek” (2001) 

Yet another walk-about in a fantasy setting, except this setting is more than just the green forest surroundings … it’s also the company of a green skinned Ogre, a Princess in a Green Dress, and an appearance from the traditionally green suited Robin Hood. 

Even the title … you just can’t think of the title “Shrek” appearing in any other color but Green. It’s one of those cases in which you can walk in at any moment from this film and probably see Green somewhere in frame.   

 

#6 “House of Flying Daggers” (2004) 

In this Martial Arts Epic, the only thing more beautiful than the exquisitely staged fights and sequences are the colors on display. Naturally, since it’s on this list … it’s all the green on display that I’m highlighting. Like Holy Cow, the sequence in the green bamboo forest has got to be as green as set pieces get, complete with an ensemble of people dressed from head to toe in green. 

To reiterate, just about every color gets a moment to pop in this film, but when I think of a sequence that’s just wall to wall green … this film is one of the first that come to mind.  

 

#5 “Batman Forever” (1995) 

Of all the obvious Superheroes to be associated with the color … Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Green Hornet, and even the Incredible Hulk … you’d think Batman would be the last to make good use of the color in one of his movies. Well, when director Joel Schumacher helmed “Batman Forever”, he had a vision to bring color into his dark and gloomy word … and when The Riddler is your main villain, he brought a whole lot of Green with him. 

His bright green costume was just the start … he also utilized green lasers, green weapons, green packages, and even an island base that’s simply bathed in green lighting and green mist. In Batman long line-up of movies, this one can visually stand out in the group for featuring the greenest imagery. 

 

#4 “Darby O' Gill and the Little People” (1959) 

This Disney classic has always been a favorite of mine to watch around Saint Patrick’s Day, and naturally, it shows off a lot of green imagery. Set in the enchanted landscape of Ireland, it’s got all the proper colors on display. Beyond that, we also have the presence of a ghostly green Banshee and a green suited Leprechaun King. The film overall is gorgeous to look at, with bright green landscapes, detailed sets, inventive practical effects, and some truly gorgeous map-paintings. 

For me, there’s a special appeal that comes from looking at map-painted backgrounds, and it’s absolutely a high mark in this film.

 

#3 “The Legend of Robin Hood” (1938) 

As alluded to earlier, Robin Hood made an icon out of his signature Lincoln Green attire … and no other movie showed off that green as brightly and as memorably as the original 1938 classic. Predating “The Wizard of Oz” by a year, this was one of the very first movies to be shot in Technicolor. 

As such, the colorful imagery leaps off the screen. Between both the costumes and the forest setting, this film is simply lush with green iconography. 

 

#2 “The Quiet Man” (1952) 

It was praised as one of the biggest hit Romance movies from the 50’s, and to this day is arguably the most famous movie to be set in Ireland … in fact, it has the distinction of being the first American Picture to be filmed in the lush green landscapes of Ireland. However, the color can’t be contained to the landscape alone, as it’s also prominently featured in the interior design, costume designs, and even the train station is a special tint of green. 

It goes without saying that the film is gorgeous to look at, with all the beautiful locations and green landscape of Ireland on full display. Cinematographers Winton C. Hoch and Archie Stout had an eye for details, and their work on the film won them the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

 

Before I reveal my number one favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

“Cover Girl”

“Flubber”

Disney's “The Princess and the Frog”

“Luck of the Irish”

“Green Lantern”  

 

#1 “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and “Wicked” (2024) 

When I think of a movie that perfectly utilizes the color Green, “The Wizard of Oz” has always been the first one to pop in my mind. From the Green skinned Wicked Witch of the West … to the Green Wizard … and of course Emerald City itself … which is just wall to wall Geen, with inhabitance that only dress in Green. 

It’s the most visually striking presentation of Green I can think of in a film, and it always felt like a fitting Saint Patrick’s Day movie as a result. Not to be overlooked is the 2024 musical spin-off “Wicked”, which put our Green skinned Witch in the lead role, introduced a tremendous Green Train, and delivered a show-stopping musical number “One Short Day in the Emerald City” … which was simply exploding with green décor, costumes and imagery. 

Simply put, when it comes to my favorite movies to utilize the color Green … both “The Wizard of Oz” and “Wicked” are my two personal favorites to visually get me in the mood to celebrate the All-Green holiday.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!       

Every Original Pixar Movie Ranked

Good old Pixar ... to this day, Pixar is regarded as one of the greatest ... if not the greatest children’s entertainment company of all time. While I personally have more fondness for Disney's classic hand drawn animation, I still can't dismiss the impact Pixar left on my childhood, as well as the impact it continues to leave on each new generation of kids. Thus, to celebrate their collected works, here's my own personal ranking of every original (non-sequel or spin-off) theatrically released Pixar movie. The list will be arranged from my absolute favorite on top, to the one I love least at the bottom, and to be clear, they’re simply arranged by my feelings on them, and not any objective merits. So, with all that said, here are all 20 animated Pixar movies ranked from favorite to least, and again … no sequels.  

 

#1 “Toy Story” (1995) 

It’s the first, and still most special to me of all the animated Pixar offerings. While technology has improved over the years, “Toy Story” is one of those special classics that has only gotten better with age. It’s a simple tale of a child’s playthings coming to life to fight for the most attention, and laced through that premise is terrific comedy, imagination, adventure, and even a touch of humanity. While the film will always be remembered for reinvigorating the world of animation, it’s the films humble characters, top notch writing, clever wit, and near flawless execution of a simple story that make it last through the ages … and my personal favorite of Pixar’s original animated treasures. 

 

#2 “Finding Nemo” (2003) 

While “Toy Story” is what got Pixar started … “Finding Nemo” is the reason it’s still going to this day, and why I’m still open to whatever new project they have to offer next. It’s an engaging narrative, with unforgettable characters, an infectiously captivating ocean setting, and a wholesome moral that speaks to both children and adults alike. The colors and especially the details of this ocean setting are still captivating all these years later, and even the hummer has aged well. This was also one of the first to have a really dramatic edge but balanced out with all the right seeds of heart and fun. I don’t even need to comment further, if you’ve seen the movie already, then you know just how great it is.

 

#3 “Inside Out” (2015) 

You know that little voice in your head that always tells you what to do in any given situation ... well, that’s an emotion, or more precisely, one of five distinct emotions that live in your imagination, and have creative influence on how you live each day. That’s the premise of Disney and Pixar’s 2015 motion picture “Inside Out”. From the moment I saw this movie, I felt it really had the makings of a classic, and has something to offer to younger audiences, older audiences, and especially the young at heart. Whenever Pixar flounders, a special quality film is right around the corner, and “Inside Out” for me was one of their best returns to form pictures. It was imaginative, colorful, innovative, touching, magical, and for lack of better words ... a truly emotional experience.  

 

#4 “Monsters, Inc.” (2001) 

Much like “Toy Story”, “Monster’s Inc.” is a treasured little gem from my youth and always manages to put me in a good mood. While the lack of drama and depth dose keep it from reaching the same heights as the “Toy Story” movies, it’s still very fun and creative. The characters are charming and memorable, the story is simple, yet very innovative, the villains are some of the absolute best that Pixar has to offer, and the climax is especially fun to watch. I love the jazzy music theme, I enjoy the world the film created, and it goes to show that Pixar can make a world full of monsters feel warm and inviting.   

 

#5 “Wall-E” (2008) 

I remember when this film first came out, I thought for sure that I was going to hate it, but to my surprise, it turned out of be a really good film, and one that understands the value of patience. The lead character Wall-E is so innocent, gentle and cute that it’s impossible not to like him. This is also a rare Pixar movie to feature a romantic relationship that genuinely touched me. It’s even more ironic that it’s a relationship between two robots, but that just shows how great the presentation is. The two lead characters are great, the visuals are stunning, the story is simple and fun, yet not without some moral subtext, and it’s just a genuine, unique little picture that’s easy to enjoy.

 

#6 “Coco” (2018) 

It's Mexico's Day of the dead, and a young boy is itching for music, even though it's going against his families wishes. Soon, he finds himself trapped in the land of the dead and is on a journey to find the secrets of his past lineage. Truthfully, “Coco” contains just about everything I love … it has insight into another cultures holiday, it talks about family ties, it has an imaginative setting, it has visual marvels, and for once, a Pixar movie has terrific songs that really stand out and give the film some character. It’s yet again a very emotional movie experience, and one that absolutely got me teary eyed by the end. Whenever I feel Pixar has gets too comfortable making sequels, “Coco” reminds me that they’ve still got the talent and means to provide both solid, and original family entertainment. 

 

#7 “Hoppers” (2026) 

A unique venture about a human girl, transferred into the body of a robot beaver, and goes off on a mission to bring animals back to their home before the humans bulldoze it down … and then it gets weird. It might just be the most outlandish and comedic offering from Pixar yet but still sustained by the same heart and soul of any of their classics. It’s an animated family film, unafraid to embrace outlandish mayhem and still feels wholesome in its delivery. Somehow, “Hoppers” was another return to form for the studio, while also feeling different from their other works.

 

#8 “The Incredibles” (2004) 

Of all the Pixar movies, “The Incredibles” is the one that I feel I should love more than I do, but make no mistake … I think this is one of the better Pixar offerings. From the perspective of a superhero comedy, this film was done very well, the characters were great, the action is awesome, the jokes are funny, and the story holds my interest. However, I will admit, the shifts in tone didn't always work for me, but regardless, it’s still a terrific film. Not one of my top Pixar favorites, but still a classic, and one that fits nicely in that box of good Pixar movies that I have fondness for.

 

#9 “Ratatouille” (2007) 

Here's one of many fine examples in which I was initially expecting to dislike a Pixar film, but it snuck up on me and left me smiling from ear to ear. When a rat and human chef work together to perfect their dish, they end up turning their restaurant into a smashing success. The characters are likable, the story is refreshingly simple, and the experience feels light as air. Also, I absolutely love this movies atmosphere, with its warm colors, and the setting of Pairs feels like a character in of itself. The ending is a real joy, and one of the best from Pixar’s roster. It's simply one of those movies that just gets a little better every time I watch it, and while not one of my absolute favorites, it’s still a gem in its own subtle way.

 

#10 “Brave” (2012) 

Arguably my biggest guilty pleasure of the Pixar line-up, as I know the quality isn’t on par with their best … but I still find it one of the most comforting, warts and all. Despite all its shortcomings, it's a film that fits comfortably in my wheelhouse of mystical fantasy and heroic princesses. I like that for once we have a movie centered around both the struggles and bonding between a mother and doubter. The lead princess is also a winning main character, with an awesome design, but it’s also a double edge sword, as she’s better than the movie as a whole. Admittedly, the execution was far from perfect, as it struggled to find the right direction, and tone, as more care and attention was clearly given to the environment rather than an engaging narrative. Still, there’s a lot to love, as the animation is stellar, the mystical atmosphere is effective, the music is really nice, and I do like the set-world of this movie … I just wish the plot was more interesting. All the same, I loved seeing Pixar tackle the fantasy adventure genre, even if the final product was a bit of a mess.

 

#11 “Soul” (2020) 

When a jazz performer suddenly meets his demise, his soul finds its way to a land where new souls are created, and he in turn forms a partnership with a soul that doesn’t want to be born. It leads into a crazy journey though the spirit world, soul swapping with bodies on earth, and maybe in the end … both these souls will discover their own special view on the meaning of life. In many respects, this film borrows from a number of movies that I’ve been conditioned to, like “Coco”, “Inside Out”, and obviously “It’s a Wonderful Life”. As such, the message really couldn’t leave as big an impact, as it’s already impacted me on other films and stories. Having said that, the execution of this movie is nearly flawless, with powerful vocal performances, inspired ideas, a brilliantly layered screenplay, and some of the best animation the studio has ever produced. Perhaps I’m just a little too familiar with its virtues to rank this film higher, but I know a great movie when I see one … and “Soul” is without question one of the studio’s most inspired, and humble offerings.  

 

#12 “A Bug’s Life” (1998) 

Following on the landmark event of “Toy Story”, and even the surprise enjoyment of DreamWorks “Ants”, “A Bugs Life” has always felt somewhat mediocre to me. The characters, while generally appealing, were just kind of average, the story was basic, and once again, I felt some of it got a little too intense for its own good. Still, looking back on this film as an adult, it certainly has its charms, most of the side characters are appealing, the film is bright and colorful, the musical score is one of the absolute best of the whole studio's offerings, and while it’s certainly not one of Pixar's greatest, it’s at least charming enough for repeat viewings, and it's grown on me over the years.

 

#13 “Elemental” (2023) 

Pixar returns to its wheelhouse of colorful creativity and imagination in the world of "Elemental" ... although, the freshness has lost some of its bight. Had this come out years earlier, like around 2009, the wonder and visual design of the film would have left more of a memorable impression. It's just a victim of being released in a time where the "wow factor" really isn't there anymore. Even the star cross lovers angle was a very familiar one, with the only new element literally being the elements on display. All that being said, "Elemental" still has a lot of merit in its production, themes and ideas, that it makes for a decent enough watch. It may not be on par with Pixar's best works, but I'll take this over a lesser sequel or spin-off, as it's at least trying to be something unique and special. For any long time Pixar fan, I'd say it's worth viewing, just don't set your expectations too high.

 

#14 “Elio” (2025) 

Like the previously mentioned "Elemental", "Elio" came a decade too late, and is at the mercy of familiar narrative beats from other memorable animated offerings. That said, this film certainly captured the wonder and fascination missing from a number of recent family films and has a good heart at the center. Also, as a boy who grew up fantasizing about aliens and space adventures, this film certainly rekindled some childhood magic of mine. Visually, the film is quite dazzling, with details in every frame and colorful designs that pop. Lastly, the film isn't afraid to have fun with some creepy imagery and moments ... but a very fun creepy. All around, "Elio" doesn't quite soar with the absolute best of Pixar, but it's far from the bottom run, and it at least tried to bring back the magic of original Pixar content again. 

 

#15 “Up” (2009) 

I certainly admire “Up” for being a mature film with some very adult themes, but perhaps the film just feels a little too cynical to really win me over. I certainly don’t have any animosity for “Up”, I just didn’t feel that same magical balance between comedy and drama that I felt in films like “Finding Nemo” or “Toy Story 3”. When I first saw this movie, I kept saying to myself “I should be enjoying this”, but I just wasn’t. I think it’s simply a case of good material going a little too far for its own good. Having said all of that, this is still a very mature children's film, one that is absolutely worth viewing, especially for the opening 10 minutes, and if you were able to enjoy this from beginning to end, like any other Pixar film, then good for you, I really wish it worked like that for me.

 

#16 “Turning Red” (2022) 

For young teens going through big changes in their lives, you might find something you can relate to in this coming of age, family comedy/drama. Over on the East side of the world, a young, quirky teenager is torn between the adolescence of youth, and upholding her perfect image for her mother. During moments of intense stress, she manifests into a giant Panda/Fox beast, which suddenly gains her newfound attention at school. In the plus column, this film takes clear influence from Japanize Anime, and the love for the genre is all over the picture. The film is also generally a well-intended picture, albeit a little misguided, and the message could send mixed signals for some. For me, I felt it misses about as often as it hits, as it was challenging to get behind the emotions when I found every character got just a little irritating at times.    

 

#17 “Onward” (2020) 

Pixar seemed to take a page from DreamWorks, as this feature combined fantasy creatures with a contemporary setting, and a heavy lean on modern comedy. Beyond that, it’s also a film about family togetherness, as two brothers set off on a journey to bring back their missing father … at least his upper half. I’ll be honest, this movie did not grab my interest from the start, and I found it a mostly dull sit. However, the film thankfully redeemed itself with a smart, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying third act. The result is a movie that I found to be okay at best, the ending made it worthwhile, but the rest of the movie had me longing for Pixar when it was at its peak.

 

#18 “Cars” (2006) 

I always regarded this one as just a perfectly harmless and wholesome family film, but still average. I was mid-way through middle school at the time this premiered, and I really didn’t make any kind of nostalgic connection to it. It’s also a very predictable story, with kind of an odd premise, and in a very strange setting. It still has its moments, it has its morals, and it even has some fine animation, so take it for what it’s worth.  

 

#19 “Luca” (2021) 

When two fishy-creatures from the ocean arrive on shore, they take on the likeness of normal young boys, and with the help of a local friend aim to compete in a town race. Needless to say, it’s a very simple premise, but for fans of quiet walkabouts in a small community area, you may find some charming and pleasant moments in this film. I can't say the movie is a demanding experience, but there's plenty to like and enjoy if you choose to watch it. While “Luca” was a safe one and done experience for me, it certainly was worth diving into, just for a simple, and pleasant little diversion ... although I must admit, the experience is very forgettable by Pixar standards.

 

#20 “The Good Dinosaur” (2015) 

While the film accomplished some stunning photo realistic scenery, everything else unfortunately just feels … “meh”. If you’re familiar with tales revolving around either a boy and his pet, or creatures in a prehistoric environment trying to find a way home, then this film just goes through the motions with nothing new added. The characters are boring, the cartoony creature designs don’t match the real looking backgrounds, and the tone is way off. While past Pixar films have had mixed tones, this film just felt completely joyless to experience. It’s easily my personal least favorite non-sequel in Pixar’s roaster, and for a genuinely good film revolving around animated dinosaurs, I highly recommend sticking with “The Land Before Time” instead of this. 

Thanks for reading my Pixar countdown and continue to enjoy the movies you love!