This reviewer likes seeing old movies on the big screen.

We sometimes forget that’s how movies are meant to be seen. Cineplex has been doing it for awhile and now Carnival Cinemas is doing it too, showing seasonal classics like White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life last week.

Recycling old movies is a tradition at Disney and the 3D fad provides another excuse. Not sure the extra three bucks to see Monsters, Inc. in 3D is worth it, but the 2001 movie is certainly worth seeing again, or the first time for a new generation.

It’s hard to go wrong with the talented crew at Pixar. When you have talents like John Goodman (Sulley), Billy Crystal (Wazowski), Steve Buscemi (Randall Boggs) and Jennifer Tilly (Celia) doing the voices it becomes an instant classic.

The story, about the world of actually nice monsters that appear in closets and under the beds of kids at night, holds up well. It turns out there’s a whole monster world, Monstropolis, powered by the screams of frightened children: a world where the monsters are afraid of the children. When a child accidentally enters Monstropolis, where it turns out not all the monsters are nice, mayhem, and much humour, ensues.

While the animation is excellent, it’s dated from 2001, as the excellent short For the Birds shown with the main feature, proves. Animation techniques have moved on, but everyone will enjoy this Christmas present from Disney. Merry Christmas all.

Rating: five deer out of five

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Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buff.