My track record for seeing the Disney Pixar movies in the theaters have not been great. The only Pixar movies I have seen in the movie theaters are, Finding Nemo (2003) The Incredibles(2004), and Up (2009). I have yet to see Ratatouille (2007) in its entirety. At least I own the Disney Pixar box set containing all the Disney Pixar movies up until Ratatouille. Before I went to see Toy Story 3, I watched both Toy Story (1995), and Toy story 2 (1999) in order to refresh my memory. I thought that both movies have great storytelling still holding up even until this day. I was very intrigued to what Disney Pixar will add to this successful franchise, and how will they present it on 3-d.
Toy Story 3 is by far the best movie of summer 2010, and this year. It had a compelling storylines which kept you interested the entire time you are in the movie theater. Nearly eleven years had passed since Toy Story 2, and in this installment, Andy who has not played with his toys for a long time is off to college, and the fate of the remaining toys including Woody, Buzz, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex, Jessie, Barbie, and Slinky Dog played by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, John Ratzeberger, Wallace Shawn, Joan Cusack, Jody Benson, and Blake Clark respectively is yet to be determined. Due to a mix-up the toys end up in Sunnyside Daycare where new toys are introduced including Lots-O-Huggin Bear, Ken, and Stretch played by Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, and Whoopi Goldberg respectively. All is not right in Sunnyside daycare leading to a quest for the Toys to return home before Andy goes off to college.
When it comes to storytelling in animation, nobody does it better than Pixar, something I learned from watching last year’s Up. I loved how they introduced and effectively resolved concepts as the film progressed. Concepts were resolved in ways that made sense leading to a very compelling film. There were no plot holes by the time the film finished. There were two times in which the audience in the theater erupted in applause, and the last fifteen minutes of the movie were a near tear jerker. I loved the subtle homage to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi that left me snickering; although not as overt in the way Toy Story 2 referenced Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
When it comes to visuals, it felt like you were watching a live action movie. The animation was stunningly crisp. 3-D enhanced the movie, not covered up for a weak Story line; hence Shrek Forever After. This movie would have the same effect in 2-d format, thus showing its strength.
There are lots of lessons to be learned from Toy Story 3, including rites of passage, the importance of letting go, and friendship. All of these are important aspects of growing up, something that all of us adults and parents have been through, and what children & teenagers are about to experience or are experiencing. Thank you Disney Pixar for a very satisfying end to a successful franchise. If you have any comments, e-mail me at espevi2003@hotmail.com.
Toy Story 3 movie grade = A
Here is a list of my top ten movies of 2010 based on the movies that I have seen in the theaters
| Name |
Release Date |
Grade |
- Toy Story 3
|
06/18/2010 |
A |
- Iron Man 2
|
05/07/2010 |
B+ |
- How To Train Your Dragon
|
05/26/2010 |
B+ |
- Alice in Wonderland
|
03/05/2010 |
B |
- Kick-Ass
|
04/16/2010 |
B |
- Shrek Forever After
|
05/21/2010 |
B |
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