"Toy Story 3" (2010)
I don't know how Pixar does it.
How do you follow-up two of the most heralded movies of the last two decades? "Toy Story" is arguably one of the most influential films of all-time -- one that served as the catalyst for the rise of 3-D animated films. And then there's "Toy Story 2" which is quite possibly one of the greatest sequels ever crafted.
So with lofty expectations for "Toy Story 3" -- coming 11 years after the latest chapter in the franchise -- Pixar faced a heavy burden to deliver.
And boy, did they do so, without a laugh or tear to spare.
The toys of Sunnyside -- including a metrosexual Ken doll (Michael Keaton) -- are under the rule of Lotso Huggin' Bear (Ned Beatty), a seemingly friendly, huggable doll that smells of strawberries. When the toys discover that they'd rather return to Andy than stay and be terrorized by the children at the day care, they plan to escape, only to be halted by Lotso and his gang.
For your sake, I'll stop with a detailed plot synopsis there, but a "prison break" sequence leads up to a surprisingly dark and intense piece at a landfill before wrapping up with quite possibly the saddest 10 minutes of cinema you'll see this summer.
The first 75 percent of "Toy Story 3" suffices. "Toy Story 3" doesn't go into daring territory early -- the beautiful and melancholy first 30 minutes of "WALL-E" and the haunting montage 10 minutes in to "Up" aren't found here -- but once the film begins to wrap up, Pixar hits its strides and (likely) concludes the final chapters of the "Toy Story" franchise with a tearful and satisfying resolution.
Technically speaking, Lee Unkrich's direction is a little speedy, but in the end, it's all forgiven. Randy Newman delivers a score that's a tad forgettable, though franchise favorites "You've Got a Friend In Me" return, as well as some other memorable motifs from the franchise's other two entries.
And the animation. Oh, the animation. Never before has a 3-D animated film looked so brilliant. Not only do the colors pop (even in 3-D), but everything looks and feels exponentially more real than it did 15 years ago. Seeing "Toy Story 3" in 3-D certainly helps boost the immersion factor, but I suspect that even in 2-D, "Toy Story 3" will still dazzle your eyes.
Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and crew all see reprised voicework from the previous two films, though new characters, like Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) round out an impressive new cast, though Michael Keaton's Ken really steals the show.
While "Toy Story 3" might not be as revolutionary as its Pixar predecessors, it's certainly a fantastic cinematic experience sure to test your emotional range. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll find yourself as in love with these characters as you were when you were introduced to them in 1995.
A-
How do you follow-up two of the most heralded movies of the last two decades? "Toy Story" is arguably one of the most influential films of all-time -- one that served as the catalyst for the rise of 3-D animated films. And then there's "Toy Story 2" which is quite possibly one of the greatest sequels ever crafted.
So with lofty expectations for "Toy Story 3" -- coming 11 years after the latest chapter in the franchise -- Pixar faced a heavy burden to deliver.
And boy, did they do so, without a laugh or tear to spare.
"Toy Story 3" picks up with Andy (John Morris), the toys' owner, packing up and moving off to college. Andy must decide what to do with his toys, and after a catastrophic mix-up, Woody and the gang end up at Sunnyside Day Care.
For your sake, I'll stop with a detailed plot synopsis there, but a "prison break" sequence leads up to a surprisingly dark and intense piece at a landfill before wrapping up with quite possibly the saddest 10 minutes of cinema you'll see this summer.
The first 75 percent of "Toy Story 3" suffices. "Toy Story 3" doesn't go into daring territory early -- the beautiful and melancholy first 30 minutes of "WALL-E" and the haunting montage 10 minutes in to "Up" aren't found here -- but once the film begins to wrap up, Pixar hits its strides and (likely) concludes the final chapters of the "Toy Story" franchise with a tearful and satisfying resolution.
Technically speaking, Lee Unkrich's direction is a little speedy, but in the end, it's all forgiven. Randy Newman delivers a score that's a tad forgettable, though franchise favorites "You've Got a Friend In Me" return, as well as some other memorable motifs from the franchise's other two entries.
And the animation. Oh, the animation. Never before has a 3-D animated film looked so brilliant. Not only do the colors pop (even in 3-D), but everything looks and feels exponentially more real than it did 15 years ago. Seeing "Toy Story 3" in 3-D certainly helps boost the immersion factor, but I suspect that even in 2-D, "Toy Story 3" will still dazzle your eyes.
Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and crew all see reprised voicework from the previous two films, though new characters, like Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) round out an impressive new cast, though Michael Keaton's Ken really steals the show.
While "Toy Story 3" might not be as revolutionary as its Pixar predecessors, it's certainly a fantastic cinematic experience sure to test your emotional range. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll find yourself as in love with these characters as you were when you were introduced to them in 1995.
A-
I'm thrilled that you're back from the dead Alex. Please keep the blog alive!
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