Firstly I'll talk about the animated short, Day and Night that was presented before the main feature and it is by far their most creative and innovative Pixar has done. The idea and concept is probably new and was executed very well as their combination of 3D and 2D animation were used to a highly clever and creative extent. Though the narrative is pretty straightforward, it is really a SURREAL experience. That is basically what you always get from Pixar and especially that is very special as the main feature.
One thing you will know if a film series is very special is if the series actually grows up with you. The first adventure may be small and simple and the characters you get to know and spend time with are straightforward and have simple ambitions. But as the series and adventures goes on, the characters you know are developed, matured and their ideals are not anymore black and white as their time together becomes more harder and challenging, even darker. One prime example is the Harry Potter series, where the characters grow up with the audience. And this series literally grows up with the audience who has seen the first film as kids, including me. The second Toy Story film could have serve as the series' ultimate ending, but Pixar seem to have one last story up their sleeves. And the timing couldn't be so right. This latest adventure of Woody and Buzz Lightyear is probably the finest and the best of the Toy Story series and even arguably the most darkest. Hell maybe of all Pixar movies.
I wonder if they have seen me in my 'freaky' phase...
The last time we see Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 2, they have
accepted that they'll be prepared when Andy grows up to the point he has outgrown them. That time has come. Andy is going to college and the toys are contemplating on what fate will been bestow upon them, either they'll be donated to a day-care center, be stored in the attic or will be thrown away to the dreaded landfill. After a huge mishap, the toys are accidentally donated to the day-care center where they are introduced to a community of new toys governed by Lotso, a stuffed, huggable teddy bear. With him offering them a place in the day-care center, which seems a happy eternal life, there is something smells awfully fishy about it. Is life in the day-care center paradise or prison?
This place seem like a wonderful, happy place to live out your life....
OR IS IT?!
Easily could have been a throwaway sequel that gives cheap rides and
flimsy plot to the audience, but Pixar, like how they saved Toy Story 2, takes its time to tell a consistent and important story and really takes advantage of the age and attachment of these characters. What I read from other reviewers and critics is that some of the important plotlines are heavily similar to the first two Toy Story. Sure it did borrowed a few elements like the "delusional Buzz Lightyear" again, but all these borrowed elements are really integral to the story instead of being a recycled gag. And unlike the Shrek movies, Toy Story 3 spares us of any throwaway modern pop-culture jokes that take two seconds of screen-time and their humor and jokes are clever, creative and very funny, even heart-felt as well. You know how funny Pixar is when you get introduced to Chuckles the Clown. There are some jokes that can be suggestive like the flamboyant lifestyle of Ken, but they are not insulting or cheap and continues on with the story.
You know I'm a
"good" person because I'm so cute and cuddly/wuddly...
The animation is a no-brainer when you consider the span between the
first two Toy Story to this. Its been 10 years through technological leaps-and-bounds and the film's animation is a huge improvement, while still retaining the classic and nostalgic feel and looks. While the core characters are greatly developed even further, there are bundles of new characters/toys that were given enough screen-time and to do their own clever shtick. None of them were lame and their part was either important or funny. Even though its a family animated film, the action was pretty outstanding and very much edge-of-your-seat. It ranges from cool blockbuster type action to down right dangerous and dark thrill-ride. And I couldn't tell enough of how much dark this film was, whether its shows characteristics of cruelty and brutality to signs of real danger and peril. It may scare the children, but not too often.
Is he or he is
not.... you know...?
But the heart of the film is the actual heart of the film.
Ultimately it is about love. About friendship. About loyalty. About life, loss and acceptance. A love between a child and its toys and the love between comrades and friends. The films are never hokey or manipulative when it comes to play these themes, they are genuine and important and taken with great care and respect. Especially to one significant scene (other than the ending) that just demonstrate how indeed these characters are not toys, but real people. It is one time in the entire Toy Story series that define them the most heroic, courageous and daresay BADASS toys you have ever met. And let's talk about the ending, which I won't spoil it for you. But I will warn you, it is damn emotional and the perfect book-end/epilogue to the series. It all comes full circle and it shows how special these characters are not just to Andy, but to everyone else who was once an innocent child in their life. It goes to show that these kinds of toys make your childhood extra special and you would have thank them for that.
It must be
getting old for Pixar, being able to make not just good movies, but great and amazing movies one at each time. And its to the point that I really want to ask them "just make a mediocre movie just this once." We all know that something is magical in that fun little studio and brew up wonderful, brilliant things from your cauldron, so maybe be fair for the other animated studios. Let them shine instead of you just this once. But for now, we have to settle for them as being the greatest and most brilliant animation studio around if not ever and we have to thank them for bringing out the child within.
5 out of 5 stars
Since you're great at sequels, I WANT
AN INCREDIBLES SEQUEL!!!
I wonder if they have seen me in my 'freaky' phase...
The last time we see Woody and Buzz in Toy Story 2, they have
accepted that they'll be prepared when Andy grows up to the point he has outgrown them. That time has come. Andy is going to college and the toys are contemplating on what fate will been bestow upon them, either they'll be donated to a day-care center, be stored in the attic or will be thrown away to the dreaded landfill. After a huge mishap, the toys are accidentally donated to the day-care center where they are introduced to a community of new toys governed by Lotso, a stuffed, huggable teddy bear. With him offering them a place in the day-care center, which seems a happy eternal life, there is something smells awfully fishy about it. Is life in the day-care center paradise or prison?
This place seem like a wonderful, happy place to live out your life....
OR IS IT?!
Easily could have been a throwaway sequel that gives cheap rides and
flimsy plot to the audience, but Pixar, like how they saved Toy Story 2, takes its time to tell a consistent and important story and really takes advantage of the age and attachment of these characters. What I read from other reviewers and critics is that some of the important plotlines are heavily similar to the first two Toy Story. Sure it did borrowed a few elements like the "delusional Buzz Lightyear" again, but all these borrowed elements are really integral to the story instead of being a recycled gag. And unlike the Shrek movies, Toy Story 3 spares us of any throwaway modern pop-culture jokes that take two seconds of screen-time and their humor and jokes are clever, creative and very funny, even heart-felt as well. You know how funny Pixar is when you get introduced to Chuckles the Clown. There are some jokes that can be suggestive like the flamboyant lifestyle of Ken, but they are not insulting or cheap and continues on with the story.
You know I'm a
"good" person because I'm so cute and cuddly/wuddly...
The animation is a no-brainer when you consider the span between the
first two Toy Story to this. Its been 10 years through technological leaps-and-bounds and the film's animation is a huge improvement, while still retaining the classic and nostalgic feel and looks. While the core characters are greatly developed even further, there are bundles of new characters/toys that were given enough screen-time and to do their own clever shtick. None of them were lame and their part was either important or funny. Even though its a family animated film, the action was pretty outstanding and very much edge-of-your-seat. It ranges from cool blockbuster type action to down right dangerous and dark thrill-ride. And I couldn't tell enough of how much dark this film was, whether its shows characteristics of cruelty and brutality to signs of real danger and peril. It may scare the children, but not too often.
Is he or he is
not.... you know...?
But the heart of the film is the actual heart of the film.
Ultimately it is about love. About friendship. About loyalty. About life, loss and acceptance. A love between a child and its toys and the love between comrades and friends. The films are never hokey or manipulative when it comes to play these themes, they are genuine and important and taken with great care and respect. Especially to one significant scene (other than the ending) that just demonstrate how indeed these characters are not toys, but real people. It is one time in the entire Toy Story series that define them the most heroic, courageous and daresay BADASS toys you have ever met. And let's talk about the ending, which I won't spoil it for you. But I will warn you, it is damn emotional and the perfect book-end/epilogue to the series. It all comes full circle and it shows how special these characters are not just to Andy, but to everyone else who was once an innocent child in their life. It goes to show that these kinds of toys make your childhood extra special and you would have thank them for that.
It must be
getting old for Pixar, being able to make not just good movies, but great and amazing movies one at each time. And its to the point that I really want to ask them "just make a mediocre movie just this once." We all know that something is magical in that fun little studio and brew up wonderful, brilliant things from your cauldron, so maybe be fair for the other animated studios. Let them shine instead of you just this once. But for now, we have to settle for them as being the greatest and most brilliant animation studio around if not ever and we have to thank them for bringing out the child within.
5 out of 5 stars
Since you're great at sequels, I WANT
AN INCREDIBLES SEQUEL!!!
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