CARS 2
Dir: John Lasseter. Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, John Turturro

Well knock me over with a feather – I never thought this would be so good! Cars was never considered one of Pixar's great films when compared to the likes of Toy Story or Finding Nemo. Yet despite its relative underdog status the obvious spin-off merchandising for a film about cars guarantees a sequel.
And the good news is that Cars 2 does the bizzo on all counts. It looks – predictably, I guess – ravishing, is furiously fast-paced and funny, and tells a whole different story. It opens up the potential for satire with an espionage conspiracy plot and a flurry of international locations. Michael Caine is a fine cast addition as Finn MacMissile, a souped-up James Bond supercar that also runs on and underwater, while Eddie Izzard has less to work with but is fun as a Branson-style eco-tycoon.
Pixar have always said that they only make sequels if they have a new story to tell and this is ample proof.
It zips along with such panache that it certainly requires a second viewing to pick up the plethora of subtle moments and details that pass in the blink of Lightning McQueen's headlights. Better than the first one? It may just be.

The Last Circus is a strange and rather brilliant Spanish film that showed earlier in the year at the Auckland Film Festival and won prizes at Venice. Set in a slightly surreal circus world it centres on ‘sad' clown Javier, first exploring childhood experiences during the Spanish Civil War before resuming when he joins the circus towards the end of the Franco years. A subsequent love/hate triangle develops with the circus' brutal ‘happy' clown and his abused wife. This is strong and striking filmmaking, with a touch of French director Jean-Pierre (Amelie) Jeunet's twisted
design sense.
The closest thing I can think of is another circus-set film Santa Sangre (even weirder), or possibly The Tin Drum, but the political subtext distinguishes this and a healthy cult future seems assured.