Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is the family movie of the year from Pixar studios  aka Disney in 3D and believe me it diserves this subtitle. Being  old-fashion in my movie tastes it doesn't mean that I can't enjoy a good  animation flick. I always liked cartoons and for almost a decade The Simpsons was my favorite TV show. I also love the classic Disney films lake Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland, and my all-time favorite: The Jungle Book. In my different quests to see films they often (sadly) are relegated to second class movies...

In 2010, there were so many animation films that I wouldn't list them all here. But of the two major that came out Shrek; The Final Chapter and Toy Story 3.  The latter one diserves the gold. And on every level. The story is  original, the graphics are amazing and the spirit of the first films in  there.The time lapse between the second and the third offering was much  profitable for the public and the creators.

The thing I liked the most about this film is that instead of  referencing and copying all of its predecessors it's mostly an original  picture. Mostly because, yes, it has some elements of the film grammar  you'll recognize, but still, it doesn't feel like a total pastiche of  popular films.

Toy Story 3 is a great finale to the films that put Pixar on the  map of major studios and moreover, it started the revolution of the  animated feature film in mainstream Cinema.

Recommendations: Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie, Duel

Toy Story 3 (2010)

RATING 8.5/10

BOTTOM LINE: “Toy Story 3” is just as good as its excellent predecessors, delivering an endearing and fun story despite being somewhat darker in tone to the previous two films.

THE GOOD: Animation studio Pixar has done it again with this third entry in the “Toy Story” franchise. This time out, the filmmakers have tackled the inevitable story of what happens to the toys once their owner has grown up and no longer wants to play with them. Through a series of unfortunate mishaps while Andy and his family are cleaning out his room in preparation for him going to college, Woody (Hanks), Buzz (Allen) and the toys end up being donated to a day care centre. Although seeming to be a great place for them to go where kids will play with them non-stop, the centre turns out to be a nightmare with toddlers that bash them around, and the centre unofficially run by the imposing teddy bear toy “Lotso” who rules the toys with an iron fist and ensures that only he and his clan get the ‘good’ children. Wanting to save his toy friends while simultaneously getting back to Andy, Woody sets out on a journey to break the toys out of the day care centre. The film hits a lot of comedic points, particularly with its jail break-esque sequence where the toys break out of the centre and Buzz’s subplot where he is re-set and his ‘Spanish’ mode is switched on. But as with all of Pixar’s films, and despite them being one hundred percent computer-animated, the strength of this film lies in its great characters, the moments they are given, and the emotional connection they generate. Aside from their interactions with each other, the toys also have their own moments, particularly Woody who ultimately makes an important decision at the end of the story on their fate which sees them in the arms of another child who will play with them the way they are meant to be. In the climax, there is an extended moment where you think the toys are going to be destroyed; it is a testament to the filmmakers here that you really feel on the edge of your seat, hoping they won’t get melted. “Toy Story 3” is a lot of fun with great characters and story; a worthy addition to an already great franchise.

/</gispan style="color: #ff0000;"/>/giTHE BAD: This is more of a muted rather than an out-right bad point; the film is surprisingly dark in some places, particularly as this is a film directed at children and has many comedic moments that directly contrast with it. The Lotso character is in essence gangster-like, and the filmmakers exploit this by having the requisite scenes to match. Lotso’s side kick in the baby toy is also a little unsettling (when you think of some of the doll horror films that have been made in the past!). The finale in particular is quite dramatic as the toys descend in to a fiery pit after ending up in landfill. Although these points do not take away from the film’s ability to entertain, they do make the experience of watching the film a bit heavier than the previous two films. As a result of this, the film does feel a bit slower in some points, whereas the previous two films were lighter and breezier to sit through.</span>

(Read Less...)

Todd Murphy <br />
http://www.allaboutmovies.net

Toy Story

Wonderful Movie 

test test

Toy Story 3 review

To Infinity, and beyond!

How  do Pixar do it? They seem to effortlessly cater for adults and kids  simultaneously whilst keeping the gag rate thick and fast, whilst moving  the story along and crafting the perfect fate for Andy and his Toys.
Its  been 15 years since we were first introduced to Buzz, Woody and the  gang, and another 11 since Toy Story 2. We can forgive Pixar for taking  so long however, since its clear they've been taking their time to craft  a masterclass in storytelling with a film that delights both adults and  children.
At the beginning of Toy Stoy 3 we learn Andy is 17 years  old now, and is ready to leave for college. His Toys haven't been played  with for years, so it comes to the time where he has to decide which  ones are going to be thrown in the trash, and which ones he is going to  take to donate.
There are many themes running through this film,  namely change, moving on, loyalty and 'sticking together as a family'.  And Woody's unwavering loyalty to Andy is heart wrenching; watch out for  a scene where Woody phones Andy from his Toy Chest.
Not all the toys  have returned by the way. We learn that Bo Peep was chucked away by  Andy long ago, as a few others. We're left with Buzz, Woody, Jessie,  Bullseye, Mr and Mrs Potato Head, Rex, the three 'Oooh' Aliens, Ham and  Slinky.


The  remaining toys end up being donated to Sunnyside day care centre, a  place where they're all excited to go since it looks so perfect, and, as  Rex points out, 'Woody, its nice, look the door has a rainbow on it!'.
But  Sunnyside is not as it seems. The name is ironic, certainly, as they  soon find out what it feels like to be violently played with by toddlers  from hell. And after a warm welcome from the purple, cuddly-looking  Lots-O'-Hugging Bear, they soon realise he is not as nice as they  initially thought.
Soon the toys are planning an escape from Sunnyside, in true prison break style, which conjures plenty of laughs.

"We're talking Lord of the Rings Mount Doom stuff here"
A  lot of the laughs come from Ken, whom Barbie falls in love with before  finding out he's one of the bad guys. His questionable sexuality and  obsession with clothes won't register with the children who see the  film, but the in-the-know adults will lap up his queenery.
The film  builds to a genuinley captivating climax- we're talking Lord of the  Rings Mount Doom stuff here-as we see the Toys struggle for survival.  And in what is the most poignant moment in the film, Woody and the gang  surrender themselves to what looks to be their fate in a scene that will  tear at the hearts and minds of even the most macho of men in the  cinema.
Oh, and watch this film in 3D, the extra dimension works particularly well with animated films such as this.
Toy Story 3 looks to be the last Toy Story film. As we say goodbye to some of  cinema's best loved characters, we hope, that in 15 years time, Pixar  will make just one more?

/</gibig/>/gi☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆10/10</big> <span> </span><span><span> </span> </span> <span> </span> <span> </span>
<div id="comments"><a name="comments"></a>
<h4></h4>
<div id="sidebar-right-1">
<div id="Followers1">
<div id="Followers1-wrapper">
<div style="margin-right: 2px;">
<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
        if (!window.google || !google.friendconnect) {
          document.write('<script type="text/javascript"' +
              'src="http://www.google.com/friendconnect/script/friendconnect.js">' +
              '</scr' + 'ipt>');
        }
      
// ]]></script>
<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
      if (!window.registeredBloggerCallbacks) {
        window.registeredBloggerCallbacks = true;

        

        
        gadgets.rpc.register('requestReload', function() {
          document.location.reload();
        });

        
        gadgets.rpc.register('requestSignOut', function(siteId) {
          
          google.friendconnect.container.openSocialSiteId = siteId;
          google.friendconnect.requestSignOut();
        });
      }
    
// ]]></script>
<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
    
    function registerGetBlogUrls() {
      gadgets.rpc.register('getBlogUrls', function() {
        var holder = {};
        
          
            
            
              holder.currentPost = "http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2363987191656266633/posts/default/8878360236593886611";
            
            
            
              holder.currentComments = "http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2363987191656266633/8878360236593886611/comments/default";
            
            holder.currentPostUrl = "";
            holder.currentPostId = 8878360236593886611
          
          
          
            holder.postFeed = "http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2363987191656266633/posts/default";
          
          
          
            holder.commentFeed = "http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2363987191656266633/comments/default";
          
          holder.currentBlogUrl = "http://thewiresayers.blogspot.com/";
          holder.currentBlogId = "2363987191656266633";
        
        return holder;
      });
    }
  
// ]]></script>
<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
  if (!window.registeredCommonBloggerCallbacks) {
    window.registeredCommonBloggerCallbacks = true;

    gadgets.rpc.register('resize_iframe', function(height) {
      var el = document.getElementById(this['f']);
      if (el) {
        el.style.height = height + 'px';
      }
    });

    
    gadgets.rpc.register('set_pref', function() {});

    registerGetBlogUrls();
  }
  
// ]]></script>
<div id="div-4hdza2jt8fa4" style="width: 100%; visibility: visible;">
<script type="text/javascript">// <![CDATA[// <![CDATA[
    var skin = {};
    skin['FACE_SIZE'] = '32';
    skin['HEIGHT'] = "260";
    skin['TITLE'] = "Followers";
    skin['BORDER_COLOR'] = "transparent";
    skin['ENDCAP_BG_COLOR'] = "transparent";
    skin['ENDCAP_TEXT_COLOR'] = "#333333";
    skin['ENDCAP_LINK_COLOR'] = "#1217a1";
    skin['ALTERNATE_BG_COLOR'] = "transparent";
    
    skin['CONTENT_BG_COLOR'] = "transparent";
    skin['CONTENT_LINK_COLOR'] = "#1217a1";
    skin['CONTENT_TEXT_COLOR'] = "#333333";
    skin['CONTENT_SECONDARY_LINK_COLOR'] = "#1217a1";
    skin['CONTENT_SECONDARY_TEXT_COLOR'] = "#777777";
    skin['CONTENT_HEADLINE_COLOR'] = "#000000";
    skin['FONT_FACE'] = "normal normal 14px \x27Trebuchet MS\x27, Trebuchet, sans-serif;";
    google.friendconnect.container.setParentUrl("/");
    google.friendconnect.container["renderMembersGadget"](
    {id: "div-4hdza2jt8fa4",
     height: 260,
    
    
    
     site: "16593042507116671152",
      
     locale: 'en_GB' },
     skin);
  
// ]]></script>
<span> <span>
</span> </span>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<!-- columns --> <!-- main -->

(Read Less...)

Recommendations: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009)

The toys are back and rock

Toy Story 3 was a delightful watch but I must say that Woody, Buzz Lightyear & gang had a better outing the last time round in Toy Story 2. Nevertheless Toy Story 3 is still a good watch so I would highly recommend it to all you Pixar fans.

Without giving too much of the plot away, Toy Story 3 tells the tale of what happens to the entire gang as Andy (the toys’ owner) turns 17 and is moving on to college. The story is both adult whilst at the same time still accessible to the kids. As with all their movies, the Pixar boys have crafted a fine tale that’s made for both young & old which is a testament to their ability as master story tellers.

I love toys and watching Toy Story 3 reminded me of all the good fun I had with my own collection of toys as a kid. My imagination was my only limit and Toy Story 3 made me think of all the fun I had in make-believe worlds made up of a smorgasboard of toys that came from all kinds of universes that I mashed into one.

The heart-warming part about Toy Story 3 for me was just being around kids and hearing the squeals of laughter that were elicited from them as the movie went on. Toy Story 3′s great but not that great in 3D. The movie’s on its final leg so if you still haven’t caught it yet go catch it; 2D screenings are limited so if you wanna save a few bucks try to catch that one instead of the disappointing 3D version.

I give Toy Story 3 a respectable 3 out of 5.

“To infinity & beyond!!!”

For more reviews and other ramblings visit my blog here.

Toy Story 3 - ****

Review: All I can say is wow. Pixar has done it again. They took an amazing franchise and made it even better. We have all grown up with Woody and Buzz and the rest of the gang and the wonderful filmmakers at Pixar have used this as a plot device to great effect. 

Just like the rest of us, Andy has grown up and has seemingly outgrown his toys. Andy will be on his way to college soon and it has come time for him to decide what to do with all his toys he has held on to over the years. Through a series of events Andy's toys find themselves donated to a day care center to be played with by all the kids there. 

This seems like a great new life for the toys. After not being played with for years by Andy this seems like a great gig. Be at the day care center where there is an endless amount of kids coming in to play with you, which is much better than being relegated to the attic. Seems like a great deal.

All seems well until they find out that Sunnyside day care is run by a militant unforgiving toy named Lotso who is intent on making the toys serve in the "Butterfly Room" where are they played with very rough by small toddlers. Lotso fed them the lines of how great it will be to have an endless line of kids to play with them, but didn't tell them what they have to go through for all this. Lotso has been burned in the past by his "kid" and was replaced. This has lead Lotso to brainwash all the toys into thinking that this is the best alternative. They can always be played with and they won't have to get attached so they can never get hurt.

This is where the plot takes a very mature turn and one that I didn't really think Pixar was going to do, but I am glad they did. The toys don't agree with what Lotso is doing and want to do it differently. As Lotso does not like this he incarcerates the toys. This naturally leads to the toys plotting their escape. I will stop with the plot details there as they are too good to give away here.

I wasn't sure about Toy Story 3 going in, it would be very easy for Pixar to give all of us the gags and everything the kids would want and this movie would still make a boatload of money. However, they did not go this route, instead, they chose to give us a more grown up plot that fits the audience that grew up with these characters. Everyone gets to a point in their life where you have to move on and leave parts of the past. Nobody likes to do this, nobody likes to give up with is familiar and what they know, but we all have to. That is what this movie is about, accepting the changing of the times and moving on. This is shown in a very powerful scenes where the toys accept their fate together...and I won't go into more details about it here. 

That is what this movie is all about. Accepting that you need to move on but realizing that as long you are with the people important to you that you can get through anything together and what is around the corner may be the start of something very good. A powerful message to be sure and one that makes this movie great and very much worth your time. Best movie of the summer so far.

(Read Less...)

Toy Story 3

Well, I guess I don't have to tell you guys this, but I will anyway...Pixar has done it again, for the 11th time.  Everyone working for Pixar Animation Studios should be extremely proud of "Toy Story 3," because it means they still have a perfect track record as far as everyone is concerned. "Toy Story 3" was directed by Lee Unkrich.  It was written  by Michael Ardnt, who also wrote "Little Miss Sunshine," so that's another reason you know you are in for a good time watching "Toy Story 3". It stars the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Laurie Metcalf, Jodi Benson, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Timothy Dalton, Richard Kind, Bonnie Hunt, Jeff Garlin and Whoopi Goldberg.

In 1995 Pixar introduced the world to talking toys in "Toy Story." In has been 15 years since then and 11 years since "Toy Story 2" was released.  The toys are back again for a whole new set of adventures and several new characters.  Now Andy is about to head off to college. Some of his toys have been sold since the first sequel.  Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and many of the original characters are wondering what will become of them, now that Andy has grown up.  They accidentally end up being donated to Sunnyside Daycare...which they will later find out is actually a quite ironic name for the place.  At first they think this is a great idea, because they will never be outgrown there, since new kids are always coming in.  However, they are completely wrong.  As it turns out one of the new characters, and one of the veterans at the daycare, Lots'-O-Huggin' Bear, was abandoned and forgotten by his kid.  This of course made him corrupt, since that apparently is possible with talking toys.  He leads the group of other toys at the daycare in making sure that Andy's toy's are abused by the younger children apparently incapable of handling toys in a civil fashion.  Lotso also won't let Woody, Buzz, et al, leave.  So once again they need to think of an elaborate escape plan.  At this point they are completely used to perilous situations. 

Take this time to reread the first section where I listed the cast.  That is proof that for "Toy Story 3," Pixar assembled the greatest voice cast in the history of the human race.  The cast is full of veterans of movies, television or both.  Each voice is so distinct and fits their respective characters so well.  All of these talented actors succeeded exceptionally well in bring these toys to life, by merely using their voices.  It must have been an incredible group of recording sessions during the production of this movie.  Of course Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are always wonderful and Don Rickles and Estelle Harris as the Potato Heads are one of the best casting choices ever in an animated movie...fact, and not merely my opinion.  This time around we get a great new batch of memorable characters including Lotso, played very well by Ned Beatty as the main villain in this film.  Other characters of mention include Michael Keaton as Barbie's counterpart, Ken and Timothy Dalton as a toy porcupine named Mr. Pricklepants.  I at least was highly amused by those two being cast.  I would love to comment more on this incredible cast, but I will spare you my rambling, even though that ship has probably sailed. 

Since this is not only a sequel, but a second sequel, "Toy Story 3" is not a great example of originality, this is in no way a negative comment, merely a fact of life.  In each of the installments some of the same topics are dealt with including Andy eventually growing up and what that means for his toys and the toys being involved in some dire circumstance leading to an escape plan being an order.  Each sequel to "Toy Story" was able to add new characters/cast members, think of more adventures for these characters to experience, and ultimately tell one big 15 year story.  "Toy Story 3" is the final chapter for these characters that we have known for over a decade and a darn good one at that.  It feels familiar, it being a sequel, but never feels stale.  Pixar manages to keep the plots fresh and many of the jokes successful, of course with a cast that includes people like Don Rickles, could we really expect anything less? "Toy Story 3" also has some great deja vu from the previous movies...years later those aliens are still obsessed with "the claw" and this time that fares pretty well for them.

"Toy Story 3" may be the most beautiful thing I have seen on the big screen or anywhere...ever...in my entire 19 years on this earth...or it may come second to "Wall-E."  "Toy Story," in 1995, and even now is considered a landmark film as far as animated movies are concerned and has the fantastic visuals to prove it.  Now it's 2010 and Pixar shows what 15 years of technical advancements can do.  We get a film that has characters and setting that are so brilliantly colored, perfectly textured, and just generally perfectly refined and natural looking.  I didn't know a dump could look so beautiful until the Pixar team animated the toys accidentally getting taken there and trying to escape an incinerator.  That's just one of numerous examples in this film that shows the visual brilliance that is Pixar.  If it's not Pixar, I almost always avoid it like the plague.  Absolutely no one but them can combine brilliant animation with brilliant storytelling, generally speaking. 


The magic that is Pixar is that they appeal to absolutely every age group, ever.  If you are a breathing human being you will find something to love about these films and "Toy Story 3" just follows suit.  So many emotions are explored in this film including laughter, sadness (although not quite as moving as the beginning and end of "Up" which was just incredible, by any movie standards).  If you don't like these movies at least a little, you may have no soul...from what I know about people...which is actually surprisingly little, but that is completely beside the point.   

Well I've talked about the story, the animation, the actors, and what I like to call "the magic that is Pixar," so I guess it's time to talk about Randy Newman.  I love him.  His voice is unique and he has scored all three "Toy Story" movies.  Whether there's a scene full of adventure, humor, or just sentimentality, his score always comes through for these movies.  And plus, "You've Got a Friend in Me" is just a wonderful song in general, and has got to be worth something. 

One final thing, Andy seems to be a little too attached to his toys...possibly a lot...or maybe he's just wicked sentimental.  And Mrs. Potato Head, who was missing an eye for the majority of the movie apparently could see what Andy was doing at his house while she and the toys were at the daycare.  That seemed to go beyond the realm of belief, I mean as far as talking toys go that is...That was a little weird. 

Each "Toy Story" film, as far as I am concerned is pretty close as far as quality goes...very consistent.  I like each sequel a little more than the last one and the new characters usually make it for me.  However, "Toy Story" will always be the one that started it all, the original, and a modern classic, but I think I liked "Toy Story 3" the most out of the three.  Between the new story and characters and the usual brilliant animation and storytelling it is just incredibly hard for me to resist.  I highly recommend it to everyone.  This is a weak summer for movies, and "Toy Story 3" is well worth you're money and time.  It is just so incredibly well made and great fun to watch.  I would also suggest seeing it in 2-D.  Although Pixar movies do look very good in 3-D it is still more expensive and slightly dulls the brilliant colors, because of the black tinted glasses.  And sorry I lied before, I definitely had more than one final thing to say. 4 stars!...Just see it...as long as you've got your wallet out.

-Joseph Sbrilli

Toy Story 3

Plot: Andy (John Morris) is heading off to college and his long time toys are headed for Sunnyside Day-Care Center.  At first it’s a welcome and exciting change, but the toys are soon abused and misused by the toddlers.  Led by Woody (Tom Hanks), the toys attempt to break out of day-care and head back for Andy’s house.

This may be the best Pixar movie I’ve ever seen.  The other two Toy Story films are very good movies, but this one transcends very good…it is truly a great film and so far the best of the year.  Whereas so many 3^rd films in a series fail horribly, this one outdoes its predecessors.  Kids will enjoy this just fine, but Toy Story 3 is made for adults, and especially those just entering adulthood.

What separates this from the other two movies is that they were solely focused on one character.  The first Toy Story primarily revolved around Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and his coming to terms with being nothing more than a toy.  The second Toy Story is about Woody and his desire to be special by being part of a collection to be gawked at in a museum.  Toy Story 3 is about these toys as a group.  We’ve always seen the camaraderie between the toys, but here it really hits home.  Andy their owner is leaving for college, and they don’t know what will happen to them.  But whatever decision is made, they vow to do it together.  The first act of this movie is very somber.  We all remember in the first film how there seemed to be hundreds and hundreds of toys.  When Toy Story 3 opens, it’s only a handful of toys left as they sit around in Andy’s dark and empty room as their last days are looming.  This is some dark stuff for a kid’s movie.

The movie is also just as funny as the others though.  Unlike the Shrek films, the characters are still fresh.  The 11 year gap between films was good for this series.  Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are as great as ever as Woody and Buzz.  My favorite character was always Rex the dinosaur (Wallace Shawn) and I liked him just as much as I did before.  They introduce a fantastic villain and really develop him with a clever and sad back story.  Michael Keaton also voices Ken (of Ken and Barbie fame) which was pretty damn funny.  My only real complaint with the characters is what they do with Buzz in the middle of the film.  They have this long running joke with his voice being switched to Spanish which just didn’t really work for me. 

Toy Story 3 uses a lot of the same tricks such as playing the environment against the toys’ size which is always fascinating to watch.  Because the movie is partially a prison break story, they really have a lot of fun with this.  Even if you’re not into the story, although I can’t imagine you wouldn’t be, you will be dazzled by the visuals, especially the first sequence of the film.

But the heart of the movie is in its last half hour.  I do not want to spoil anything, but the last action sequence was pretty emotional and heart pounding.  Although the end drags on a bit, I cannot think of a better way to end a trilogy.  It’s great for kids, but better for adults.  I’ve always enjoyed Pixar movies but I think they finally made a masterpiece with this one.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

(Read Less...)

Last updated: 2010-06-22 22:48:54 by danjewish

Pixar Perfection

This is the list of feature films that Pixar had released before this year:

• Toy Story (1995)
• A Bug's Life (1998)
• Toy Story 2 (1999)
• Monsters, Inc. (2001)
• Finding Nemo (2003)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Cars (2006)
• Ratatouille (2007)
• WALL-E (2008)
• Up (2009)

I've seen all but A Bug's Life. All of them range from good (Toy Story 2, Cars) to all-time great (WALL-E). The first 15 minutes of Up are simply tremendous, but the movie gets a little more childish after that. Finding Nemo and The Incredibles are both fantastic, but lack that art factor that keep them from being in that all-time category. So, WALL-E remains at the top and no other Pixar movie really belongs in the same breath.
 
Until this weekend.
 
When I first saw that they were making a third Toy Story movie, fifteen years after the first one, no less, I laughed. Hollywood has gotten so sequel crazy. Almost all of the big movies this year are sequels or remakes of some sort. Because of this lack of originality, box office numbers are awful. So Disney and Pixar are tacking on a third movie that had a pretty good, but not great, sequel. Can't be worthy. I should have had more faith.
 
Toy Story 3 uses the length of time between films to advance the time in its world. Andy, the boy who owns the toys, is getting ready to leave for college and has to clean his room. His mother makes him decide whether he wants to take the toys with him to college, put them in his attic, or throw them away. With this decision hanging over them, the toys have to come to grips once and for all with the fact that they are now useless to their owner, who will never play with them again. What follows brings on an onslaught of nostalgic soul-searching in the audience that leads to an ending that had every adult in the theater sobbing. I'm not really exaggerating -- my wife next to me was crying, I was crying, the guy in front of me was crying.
 
I'm not painting a fair picture of the movie because it's also really, really funny. As Pixar is often wont to do, they manage to mix physical humor that makes everyone laugh with sexual innuendo and other adult humor. There are a few parts that are seriously laugh-out-loud funny, including a sequence that deals with an evil cymbal-clashing monkey. There is even some adventure and a pretty exciting climax. Add in a few easy pop culture references and a few hidden ones (there's a great Return of the Jedi homage) and you end up with a movie that is very enjoyable to watch.
 
But the true greatness in a film is when it makes you feel something. WALL-E pulled the heartstrings with the space flight sequence and it made you think about our culture of consumerism. Toy Story 3 is great because it makes you examine how your life has changed since childhood and what that means to parents and children alike. One of the reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes that has contributed to the movie's 99% (!) rating (100% among the Top Critics) said that he was glad that there was the usual blooper reel during the credits because it meant he didn't have to immediately walk out into the lobby, wiping the tears out of his eyes. Toy Story 3 makes even critics feel something deeply. It's not art to the level of WALL-E, so it's not quite as great, but great it is.
 
It's been a rough year for movies. As far as I can remember, there are only three movies I've seen this year that I even really liked (I'm not counting Clash of the Titans which was purely through irony). My number three is Iron Man 2. Number two is Hot Tub Time Machine. Toy Story 3 is number one by miles upon light years. I don't think sequels, in general, are a pretty bad idea. Unless Pixar makes them, because Pixar just doesn't do bad.

Last updated: 2010-06-19 21:10:43 by Random_Babbles

Toy Story 3 Film Review

Andy is grown up and taking his “Woody” to college (like thousands of boys his age).  Bad Mommy Ultimatum forces him to decide the fate of the toys millions of adults have grown to love as much as their own kids.        
One Word Movie Review: GREAT

Five STARS 
Toy Story 3 has been ten years in the making and well worth the wait, as the cycle of toy survival comes full circle in a satisfying, emotional ending which will leave parents who’ve watched the earlier versions choking back tears.  Having just completed my own garage sale for my son’s toys, I completely understand the dilemma of discarded toys taking up space and the need to recycle or remove them from their loving home.  We personify our toys all through our lives, naming and giving human traits to our cars, boats and sports equipment so the ongoing saga of Andy’s toys resonates with all ages.  Each toy has a unique character, purpose and hidden reservoir of strength and courage.  Now, with Toy Story 3, we see our favorite plastic people decide their future and reinforce the universal instinct of self-preservation.  Yes, no one deserves to be tossed onto the waste heap without one last fighting chance for meaning, purpose and recycling greatness.
There are two audiences out there for Toy Story 3, the new youngsters new to the characters and those parents who watched the first movies many times (and I do mean many times – I must have watched TS 1 & 2 at least 20 times each).  My son had no interest in this sequel, having moved on to satirical comedies and Michael Moore documentaries, but a new generation has the opportunity to re-discover the originals (recently re-issued in 3D) and enjoy this new adventure in toyland.
It is a joy to see Pixar Studios maintain the same intelligence, character-based story-telling and humor that made the first two movies so enjoyable.  Toy Story 3 is filmmaking of the highest quality, firing on all cylinders and setting the bar for other movies at “infinity and beyond”. 
The Story
The story reaches back to Andy as a child, through his imaginative play captured on video and realized through a fantasy opening sequence involving a train robbery, wrecked bridge, flying spaceship and hoards of swarming monkeys.  From there, we have the basic plot driver and ticking clock: the departure of Andy to college and Mommy Ultimatum’s directive to trash, donate or store his toys in the attic.  Although ignored for years, our favorite toys cling to the hope that Andy will keep them around and perhaps play with them again or, in a faint distant future, pass them on to his own kids sometime, somewhere, somehow.
Andy’s favorite is Woody and he decides to take him along to college (thus the subtle metaphor of every boy’s choice to take his woody to college) and leave the rest to long-term storage in the attic with the Xmas decorations (what fun!).  Woody is the cheerleader for togetherness and devotion to Andy, so when the inevitable mix-up occurs and the toys find themselves on the curb waiting for garbage pick-up, they are quick to abandon Andy.  They choose life in a day care over destruction, despite Woody’s pleas to trust Andy’s devotion to their ongoing happiness under his care and protection.
There wouldn’t be much of story if the day care was a happy place.  Don’t worry, it’s not.  It is run like a prison by a mean teddy bear that was abandoned by his owner and has taken twisted revenge on all toys, building up a hierarchy of privilege and punishment for all donations to the day care.   Woody escapes, leaving his friends behind (don’t worry, only momentarily) and the new Barbie character finds a Ken to dream over (yes, they WERE made for each other).
Between Ken and Barbie jokes, Buzz Lightyear re-booting back to his “defender of the galaxy” personality and horrible scenes of destruction from toddlers at play, Woody works his way back to his friends and organizes an elaborate break-out of the day care prison. 
The great escape is one long, logical series of daring stunts, leading to a final confrontation between Woody and the bad old teddy bear at the dump.  There are moments of bravery for each toy until their final unlikely rescue from incineration by what only can be termed as “alien intervention”.
By now, the average studio would have ended the movie with our heroes rescued and back home where they belonged but this is Pixar and they have a grander and quite touching resolution in mind.  Without giving anything away, the ending tears at your heart in surprising ways; Woody’s faith in Andy is confirmed, the gang stays together and the smartest toy in the world has to be this pull-string cowboy with a star on his chest.
The Genre
The CGI-animated family fantasy adventure genre is the core of Pixar’s strength, and although other studios try to compete, this genre is owned by one studio.  They deliver the whole package of humor and heart, imagination and empathy which no one else can match.  They don’t do fart jokes or endless references to R-rated action movies or craft tiresome and predictable stories. 
I wish there was more competition in this category.  Perhaps the Pixar magic is unique and now, as part of Disney, their universe will expand and inspire higher quality across Hollywood.  Others have tried and failed so far, but it is early yet.
One would hope the introduction of 3D doesn’t distract other studios from insisting on quality stories and emotional cores to their movies instead of fluffy plots and jokes about body functions.
Until then, go see every Pixar movie when it is released.  We need to support the best and Toy Story 3 is the latest evidence of a studio at the top of the heap.
The Overall Quality
Toy Story 3 delivers on all levels, from voice acting to visual delights, pace and intelligence of the script and story and deft musical cues which trigger emotional responses from audiences.  The comedy is character-based, from the morphing of Mr. Potato Head into Tortilla Head to Spanish Buzz Lightyear, El Magnifico with the ladies.  The logic of the toy world is maintained throughout, without stretching the capabilities of each toy yet building on what they can and cannot do.  The evil forces are tempered by a back story of abandonment and resolved with a fitting punishment without mean spirits or our heroes turning to the dark side. 
There are a few impossibilities - Andy lives in a magical neighborhood with twice-weekly curbside garbage pick-up – but these are minor slip-ups.  This world is as real as any other fantasy creation from Hollywood, where things become people and we accept them as extensions of our own experiences.  I recognize and respond to this world of living toys, although I wouldn’t want to actually live in it, especially when they start operating heavy machinery. 
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty and Michael Keaton all deliver vocal performances which capture their character’s motivations and attitudes.  Lee Unkrich directs with a sympathetic eye for the toy’s point of view and introduces enough dark moments to provide meaningful conflicts and anxiety as to the fate of our heroes. 
The greatest praise I reserve for this film’s respect of the audience which is evident in every frame of the movie.  Parents have to watch family movies and feel gratified when a few crumbs of smart dialogue or unexpected twists are inserted for their benefit.  This is not the case with Toy Story 3.  The entire movie works both at a child’s and adult’s level of intelligence and amusement.  Then, the film kicks into another gear with the ending and you know you’re seeing something really special.  Toys are not people, but then neither are dogs and cats or that old Mustang you drove in college.  Hollywood knows that’s not true.
Movie/Market Analysis
MarketBOB’s sentiment indicators, the GQS (Genre, Quality, Story) rate Toy Story 3 an emotional BULL.  This is a great escape, a search for meaning and a fable for the benefits of recycling.  It is great movie value for the entire family.  It confirms the faith we have in Hollywood to inspire and entertain at the same time.  It spans the whole growth of a child into an adult, treasuring the moments of play and adventure.  Perhaps Andy will go on to college and some sad version of Animal House, but his toys will remain pure and innocent, true to their purpose and ever vigilant to their one purpose in “life”.   
Craig Forgrave (MarketBOB)
For the latest reviews and analysis of movies and their impact on market psychology, go to www.marketbob.com. 
My new Report on the Investing Decades of Depression: The Lost Decades of the 1930's, 1970's and the 2000's is available as an ebook.  Check out a preview.  It traces 30 years of stock market declines and the movies audiences flocked to during these depressing years. 

(Read Less...)

Toy Story 3- A Resounding and Emotional Ending to a Truly Wonderful Trilogy About Friendship and the Power of the Imagination

When the animation studio Pixar announced they were making a third installment of the beloved Toy Story series there was certainly a feel of a pure business decision meant to put work into a film that they knew would make money. It seemed too safe and therefore the product, meaning the story, could suffer in the end making only an enjoyable film without the depth and message that the previous two films possessed. However, Toy Story 3 is everything but a cheap business move and embraces a truly remarkable and genuine examination into the darker themes of coming to terms with the ending of one’s purpose. Without the slightest bit of hesitation or reluctance, Pixar launches the remaining toys from Andy’s room into a world where they must come to terms with the finite of life and where friendship holds and is needed approaching the inevitable. There used to be a time when family films actually had realistic subject matter, such as Bambi’s mother dying or the evil that was Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. Now Pixar continues the tradition of forcing people to come to terms with the tough aspects of life and doing it in a relatable and potently emotional fashion. Toy Story has always made our toys to be more than just materialistic items but rather keys to our imaginations, and Pixar astoundingly finishes the series in such a way that it will pull at even the coldest of heartstrings.
            In the sequel to Toy Story, Woody (Tom Hanks) had his challenge of pondering his own finite existence as to being a valid toy for his owner Andy. The decision was that being with his fellow toys, his friends, and seeing Andy grow up was well worth becoming obsolete in the end. In the beginning of Toy Story 3 the day has come where Andy is going off to college and hasn’t played with his toys in many years, not that there are many left to play with. Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the rest of the gang make a decision to be donated to a daycare after they are almost mistakenly thrown out by Andy’s mom. Knowing full well that it was a mistake, Woody goes along with the other toys to try and convince them that being Andy’s toys is all that matters. Jessie (Joan Cusack), due to her fears of being abandoned again, convinces the rest of the skeptical gang into staying at the daycare, where a seemingly nice hug bear named Lotso (Ned Beatty) manages the toys placement in the daycare. Andy’s toys are all placed in the younger children’s room where they are continuously abused, mangled, and torn apart (sometimes literally) realizing the only sound option is to escape once they know that Lotso runs a corrupt system of toy placement. Woody and the gang proceed to devise a plan of escape and most of the film is set around the execution of the plan. What is so intriguing and honest about Toy Story 3 is the dark tones and surprisingly shocking imagery that could be a little unsettling for kids, let alone sensible adults. But the true strength is putting these characters that we’ve already come to love and putting them into a desperate situation where coming to grips with their mortality is at the center of their development. This alone makes Toy Story 3 a gripping and truly emotional film that transcends simple enjoyment by allowing Pixar to do what they do best, and that is to contemplate something about the human condition.
            The heavy subject matter of purpose and mortality are certainly explored here in Toy Story 3, and it isn’t for the light of heart. Sure there are those moments of humor and the quirkiness of the characters does shine, but there is a profound use of dark imagery centering on the antagonists in the film that could be unsettling. Also the situations that confront the familiar toys are darker and the motivations behind the villains are more psychologically driven based on what has affected them before. Pixar has done a great deal of preparation for this third installment of the series and an expectation where the characters couldn’t develop or be challenged anymore is proven exceptionally wrong here. The outstanding writing team at Pixar didn’t hold back and provided a resurgence of family films to confront realities that should be addressed to children and adults instead of what Dreamworks has to offer, which is just unreflective nonsense. The ending to Toy Story 3 is by far one of the most satisfying ends to a trilogy that could ever have been conceived, and the emotion that it conjures up is overwhelming. Make sure to bring tissues as the film makes you confront the characters fears, challenges, realizations, and bittersweet conclusions in a way that filmmaking was supposed to do.
            Of course the success of the film’s message is always aided by character delivery, and while the familiar voices are here and don’t lag in any way like they do in the Shrek series, the new ones add to the atmosphere in much the same way it was done in Toy Story 2. Ned Beatty is excellent as Lotso, who possesses a damaged quality to his intentions and becomes the antagonist that you are so satisfied to see get what’s coming to him. A select few voices here and there spice up some of the scenes, such as “Curb Your Enthusiasm” regular Jeff Garner as a Unicorn and Richard Kind as the Bookworm. However, it’s Michael Keaton who steals the show as Ken, the doll who was destined for Barbie. The hilarious sequences of trying on clothes to the great voice delivery bring our expectations of a metro sexual Ken to life in a highly enjoyable fashion. Of course, the regulars such as Don Rickles, John Ratzenberger, and Wallace Shawn continue to provide a great use of their recognizable voices and personalities. And Adam Sandler film veteran Blake Clark does indeed fit well in replacing the late Jim Varney in the role as Slinky Dog, which there is practically no voice variation that can be noticed in the end. Allowing these talented and relatively unknown actors bring depth and personality to the characters that have been incredibly thought out in the writing process proves that Pixar not only knows how to deliver crystal clear animation but also knows what makes a great character that helps relate the intended message.
            Toy Story 3 could have been a desperate attempt from Pixar to rush out a product that was intended to just make money rather than develop another original idea, but its evident here that money wasn’t at all behind the decision to make this emotional ending to the trilogy. The inevitable day of coming to terms with your finite role, whether it be with a job, purpose, or life, is something all people will eventually have to confront. Pixar has a no holds barred approach to subject matter that can be confronted in family films and in doing so they never disappoint due to this honesty to storytelling. It’s truly a wonder in modern Hollywood that Pixar has been so critically and populously celebrated, but they are here to show us that artistic entertainment isn’t at all an oxymoron. Toy Story 3 is everything you’re expecting it to be and much more, making the experience incredibly emotional and genuinely reflective.

Recommendations: Red Riding, Fish Tank , Mystery Team

Toy Story 3

You can find all of my review at http://tomclift.blogspot.com

Genre: Children’s Adventure, Comedy
Director: Lee Unkrich
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beaty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris
Running Time: 103 minutes (plus trailers)

“What are you going to do with these old toys?”

Setting the standard not just for kids films but for films in general, the collaborators over at Pixar Animation Studios – including John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Brad Bird and Lee Unkrich – have been responsible for some of the most creative, entertaining and moving motion pictures of all time, including several favourites that will forever define the childhoods of my entire generation. Fifteen years after they first burst onto the scene with an ingenious story of a cowboy doll jealous of a brand new action figure, Pixar has returned once more to the franchise that made them great; to the series that first launched Buzz Lightyear and his wonderful slogan into the stratosphere of the popular consciousness. And it should come as no surprise to anyone that with Toy Story 3, they have managed once more to reach infinity, and beyond.

This film sees the return of one of the big screens all time classic duos: Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), along with the rest of Andy’s Toys including Hamm, Rex, Barbie and Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head. But just as time has been moving in our world, so too has it been moving in theirs, and with Andy off to college, the gang find themselves unintentionally donated to Sunnyside Daycare Centre where they encounter a whole horde of new toys including Chunk, Big Baby, and of course Ken the Ken-doll. Unfortunately, what at first seems like a blessed new life soon turns into a nightmare, with Andy’s toys forced by the centres evil ruler, Lotso the Lots O’ Huggin’ Bear, to do hard time with the toddlers. With only a few days before Andy departs, the gang must find a way to escape from their playtime prison and make it back home to their owner.

Now for the obvious part: I adored Toy Story 3. Of course I did. Along with new films by Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan or the Coen Brothers, movies from Pixar will always be amongst my most anticipated films of any given year, and each year my inflated expectations will somehow be exceeded. In the case of Toy Story 3, the bar was raised even before the movie had properly begun; as is customary with all Pixar releases, the movie was preceded by a short film, one that perfectly demonstrated the originality of the entire creative team. Blending 2D and 3D animation ingeniously, the five minute cartoon entitled Day & Night is wonderful in both conception and execution; funny, intelligent and incredibly adorable, and like many of the best Pixar creations in recent times, it is largely dialogue free. Although Toy Story 3 isn’t quite my favourite Pixar feature, Day & Night is definitely my favourite of their shorts.

From there, the movie opens with a gloriously animated fantasy sequence that takes you inside the depths of a child’s imagination. This brilliant sequence pays homage to the opening of the original whilst simultaneously having you in stitches. And the laughs never stop coming; Toy Story 3 probably won’t be celebrated to quite the same degree as other recent Pixar fares such as WALL-E or Up, as for most of its run time it is predominately concerned with the simple task of making you laugh. But that is in no way a complaint, because from the moment Barbie first lays eyes on Ken to the extended jail break sequence, this movie is unwaveringly hilarious, so much so that there is a serious danger of this review turning into me simply listing the gags that made me laugh the hardest.

But in my opinion, the true joy of this film is not in any one individual joke. Instead it is in feelings of nostalgia and childlike wonder, the same that you might feel when after many years you find an old toy of your own and see that it is exactly how you left it.  It has been fifteen years since Toy Story, and ten since Toy Story 2. For my generation, these were the years in which we grew up. But for all that may have happened to you over that time, I guarantee this series will still be able make you smile. And just because the trilogy is finally over, it doesn’t mean we have to say goodbye. Just as we will read them Harry Potter books, these are some of the first films we will show to our own children. And in doing so, we will introduce an entirely new generation of moviegoers to some of the world’s most beloved toys.

Rating: 10/10

(Read Less...)

Recommendations: Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Toy Story 3

Genre: Children’s Adventure, Comedy
Director: Lee Unkrich
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beaty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris
Running Time: 103 minutes (plus trailers)

“What are you going to do with these old toys?”

Setting the standard not just for kids films but for films in general, the collaborators over at Pixar Animation Studios – including John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Brad Bird and Lee Unkrich – have been responsible for some of the most creative, entertaining and moving motion pictures of all time, including several favourites that will forever define the childhoods of my entire generation. Fifteen years after they first burst onto the scene with an ingenious story of a cowboy doll jealous of a brand new action figure, Pixar has returned once more to the franchise that made them great; to the series that first launched Buzz Lightyear and his wonderful slogan into the stratosphere of the popular consciousness. And it should come as no surprise to anyone that with Toy Story 3, they have managed once more to reach infinity, and beyond.

This film sees the return of one of the big screens all time classic duos: Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), along with the rest of Andy’s Toys including Hamm, Rex, Barbie and Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head. But just as time has been moving in our world, so too has it been moving in theirs, and with Andy off to college, the gang find themselves unintentionally donated to Sunnyside Daycare Centre where they encounter a whole horde of new toys including Chunk, Big Baby, and of course Ken the Ken-doll. Unfortunately, what at first seems like a blessed new life soon turns into a nightmare, with Andy’s toys forced by the centres evil ruler, Lotso the Lots O’ Huggin’ Bear, to do hard time with the toddlers. With only a few days before Andy departs, the gang must find a way to escape from their playtime prison and make it back home to their owner.

Now for the obvious part: I adored Toy Story 3. Of course I did. Along with new films by Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan or the Coen Brothers, movies from Pixar will always be amongst my most anticipated films of any given year, and each year my inflated expectations will somehow be exceeded. In the case of Toy Story 3, the bar was raised even before the movie had properly begun; as is customary with all Pixar releases, the movie was preceded by a short film, one that perfectly demonstrated the originality of the entire creative team. Blending 2D and 3D animation ingeniously, the five minute cartoon entitled Day & Night is wonderful in both conception and execution; funny, intelligent and incredibly adorable, and like many of the best Pixar creations in recent times, it is largely dialogue free. Although Toy Story 3 isn’t quite my favourite Pixar feature, Day & Night is definitely my favourite of their shorts.

From there, the movie opens with a gloriously animated fantasy sequence that takes you inside the depths of a child’s imagination. This brilliant sequence pays homage to the opening of the original whilst simultaneously having you in stitches. And the laughs never stop coming; Toy Story 3 probably won’t be celebrated to quite the same degree as other recent Pixar fares such as WALL-E or Up, as for most of its run time it is predominately concerned with the simple task of making you laugh. But that is in no way a complaint, because from the moment Barbie first lays eyes on Ken to the extended jail break sequence, this movie is unwaveringly hilarious, so much so that there is a serious danger of this review turning into me simply listing the gags that made me laugh the hardest.

But in my opinion, the true joy of this film is not in any one individual joke. Instead it is in feelings of nostalgia and childlike wonder, the same that you might feel when after many years you find an old toy of your own and see that it is exactly how you left it.  It has been fifteen years since Toy Story, and ten since Toy Story 2. For my generation, these were the years in which we grew up. But for all that may have happened to you over that time, I guarantee this series will still be able make you smile. And just because the trilogy is finally over, it doesn’t mean we have to say goodbye. Just as we will read them Harry Potter books, these are some of the first films we will show to our own children. And in doing so, we will introduce an entirely new generation of moviegoers to some of the world’s most beloved toys.

Rating: 10/10

Recommendations: Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire