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Not everything in Hollywood has to be gratuitous sex and violence. At least that's what Monsters Inc. proves to moviegoing audiences of all ages. Animated by the now-legendary Pixar, Monsters Inc. tells the story of the best "scare team", Mike and Sully, in "Monstropolis" the world that exists on the other side of every child's closet door when the lights go out at bedtime. Mike and Sully's job is relatively simple; to make sure that each child visited by them is made to scream in fright, since Monstropolis' power supply is dependant on children's screams of fright to power their homes, heat, cars and so forth.

Monsters Inc. shows kids that the monsters in their closets are just workers like people in this world, and that their being scared is just average, work-a-day employment for an industry for which they provide a raw material. The film does this in a fun way that many kids can relate to, much like seeing mom and dad go to the office every day, with co-workers, time off and a old fashioned, stuffed shirt boss.

Mike and Sully's day to day routine is disrupted, however, by an adorable, chubby cheeked little girl named "Boo"., who thinks that the large, blue haired Sully is an endless source of fun and entertainment, following him through her closet to the scare factory, making the hulking "scarer" tremble, since he has been led to believe that a child's touch is fatal to monsters. He soon learns the truth, and eventually risks all to save little Boo and return her to the human world with the aid of his co-worker, friend and assistant, Mike.

This movie has something for the adults and children who watch it. Numerous "hat tips" to familiar adult icons of the entertainment industry, such as Harry Hausen and even the comedian Gallagher are interjected with tounge in cheek humour, where the kids don't have to understand the references... it's just another locale or funny piece of eye-candy for them. The real value in this movie is in it's replayability for your kids. If you have the DVD or video, you no doubt have a child who has asked you to let them watch it again and again. I know mine has.... the thing is, you *want* them to watch it again. It shows a tenderness and caring between charachters in their situations that, under the surface, transcends any differences. It doesn't matter to Boo that Sully is a great, big fuzzy monster with horns on his head, it';s his actions that she watches and his gallantry on her behalf that binds her to him as they go through their adventure together. And perhaps there's a message in there for all of us, not just the kids...

Firstly, all of the Kitano movies I've seen, I've enjoyed immensely. When I saw Hana-bi (Fireworks), I was completely and utterly spellbound. Here was a lead charachter, exuding toughness and machismo, but then there was another side to him; a loving, caring side that gave of himself; for the injured friend and, ultimately, for the woman he loved, he would give everything. The most amazing thing, was that for such a strong charachter, he hardly ever uttered a word, which was utter brilliance. The strength of the charachter was brought to the fore by action and deed, the epitome of the notion that one's strength comes not from words but action. On the emotional side of the film, I can only say that when my wife and I sat down to watch this together, not knowing what to expect, at the end we were holding each other tightly and she had tears coursing down her cheeks. This movie satisfies both action and emotional needs of the viewer and superimposes it's varied themes in a seemless, interlocking fashion that doesn't leave the viewer wanting for either element.