I guess if I was able to live in the excitement of Star Wars, that would supersede this... but I missed the original trilogy, and was too young to fully appreciate the return with Episode I. I guess I did catch Episode III at a decent time, but that was just ending something that I ha liked, not ending something that I had grown in time with.
Toy Story however, is my movie (not solely mine, but my generation... if my generation was more dwindled down to just the enthusiasts... generation sounds like too broad a term when considering that most of the people in mine, and surrounding generations are, for lack of a better term, dumb). I was 5 years old when the first Toy Story came out. I never saw it though. I saw the movie when it was released on VHS (and still own my original copy. No anniversary DVD will ever make me finally part with it). I loved it. The animation. The characters. The story. The excitement. The fun. It was spectacular. I couldn't get enough of it. I collected the toys, all of the happy meal prizes, the trading cards, all the good stuff. After it, there was the sudden emergence of more CGI animated movies: A Bugs Life, Antz. Whatever, none were is good as Toy Story (For the record though, I revisited A Bugs Life many years later after becoming a Pixar enthusiast to discover my hidden love for that movie... still like Toy Story more though). So when Toy Story 2 was announced. I was ecstatic.
This movie, my brother and I were actually treated to go see in theaters. I remember it even more because it was the very first movie my mom ever dropped us off to see together, and picked us up afterwards (okay, don't lie, as lame as it sounds now, your first bits of privilege in dependence as a child were awesome...). Wow. They struck gold... again. Everything I adored in the first film were back in a much bigger way. A larger plot filled with even deeper perils, improved graphics, deeper back stories and trials, and even more toys to love! It added so much more depth to the lives and adventures of toys.
And for years, these two Toy Story's filled my need of living toy adventures swimmingly. As I became more intelligent and cultured (lets face it... look back when you were a kid, and your first thought will be: 'wow, was I stupid or what?') I started paying closer attention to Pixar. There was a long drought where I didn't see any Pixar films in theaters. Monsters Inc came and went, Finding Nemo swam into the nations heart, The Incredibles showed us their their super human side, Cars took us on a face paced adventure, but I never went to go see any of them... Don't ask why, I was just dumb... I'd catch them on DVD or saw things like, "oh man, I really want to see that", but never do. It wasn't until Ratatouille that I finally got back into a theater seat to experience a Pixar masterpiece at work. And again, as I grew up, and my taste increased, I started to gain an immense respect for the company and its beautiful products. After that, I didn't miss a single movie. Wall-E. Up. Each movie topping the next (which, is like someone improving their grade starting at an A+ and moving up... The smartypants you almost hate to love).
And so we come to it. Pixar's latest film:
Toy
Story
3
It's an epic idea, in my head. Another Toy Story. It's like being given one more day with the deceased. It's scary, yet hauntingly beautiful.
It was first mentioned waaaaay back in 2004 that Disney (yes just Disney) would be making Toy Story 3 (the famed story of 'if you don't make it, we will'). And as much as I would love to see the worlds favorite toys in action again, I couldn't help picturing a semi-human Mikey Mouse repeatedly punching the child version of me in the fucking face. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when it was announced that Pixar and its vets would be taking over the helm of the project. Some, like Andrew, still cried foul saying things like, 'even if it is Pixar, they're still [practically] being forced to make the film'... but I didn't care. It was Pixar. I had learned the error of my ways and saw them as they were, which was a shining light of cinema. They heart, skill and style in every aspect of every film was meticulously processed until a certain level of perfection was reached. These people cared. They cared about film. They cared about integrity. They cared about their craft. These people at Pixar did not take mediocrity as a solution.
So I waited.
It was awhile
But Toy Story 3 has finally been released, and I can say with ever fiber of my being that I am fulfilled. I grew up with Andy and his toys. I am continually amazed with the first two films as they still stun me visually and contextually (yes, I saw the double feature in 3D). So now, we were to go full circle to cap off one of the biggest trilogies in film ever made (Overstatement? I think not).
~I'll try not to, but you know there'll be some spoilers from here~
My excitement for this film was immense, and only grew by the fact that it had a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and my friends and I were finally able to secure a midnight showing Friday morning (thanks Kiwi... never thought I'd actually want to see it at midnight that badly :/ ).
Finally, on to the movie itself:
PREMISE- Having been quite some time since the last Toy Story film, the story must follow accordingly. We are new met with a much older Andy (now 17) ready to depart off to the wide world of college. Having gone through the same jump and NOT given up on my toys (or even thought of it), I did hold a bit of a grudge against the teen pretty boy, but whatever, his mom's a milf. Anyways, he was face with the dilemma of what he should do with his toys before he leaves. His bratty little sister is all set to steal his room once he leaves, so he really does need to clear out, and even though the attic would seem like an obvious choice, it's still hard to accept change and so easily relocate the things you've loved for so long. And through a series of events very reminiscent of the beginnings of TS2, the toys come very close to being thrown away, then finally donated to local day care center. This particular daycare is run by a large pink bear who smells of strawberries. It's a paradise to a toy. They will always be played with and never be forgotten. However, bear is even, the toys are forced to be mauled by the little baby monsters, and that fucking baby doll strikes fear into all who look into its 1.5 eyes. So now the toys must stage a daring prison break to get back home.
ANIMATION- The best I've ever seen (although, let me say before I get too far, there was a trailer for Legends of the Guardians before the movie, and the visuals for that were captivating. Kudos on a non-Pixar animated film that wows me on every level visually). Simply put, animation and CG is one of those things that just sort of evolves. Ever new film, video game, tv show, commercial etc. etc. just get better graphic as time goes on. It's clear to see all around us. It's amazing, yet kinda scary (when are graphics gonna be 'as good as they can get'???). But aside from natural progression of the format, we see a rare treat of a deep knowledge in design. Almost every seen I was captivated by the well thought out placement and color of every light source. Every scene had a very detailed emotion that could be felt with out any dialog at all.
SCRIPT- I never thought the very plot of this movie would soar as high as it did. The opening scene starts you off with almost more adrenaline than you can handle. The internal references made place every fan in its heart, as well as itself in the heart of every fan. The plot itself is very dense and very deep stemming from a very simple idea: what do toys do once their owner has grown up? Sadly, we hear of the hardships suffered by this aging. Yard sales, attic, thrown away. Many good toys have lived their last, and are still missed by the remaining few. It's a complete shock to the system when you first hear that so many toys have been lost to time before the film even starts. The plucks at the chords of your heart start before you even knew it... So the film continues with perfect pacing as problems arise, both internal and external for both human, and plastic characters. And at the end of it all, we see very important messages dealing with love and loss. Our lives are built up of some many things that effect us. These toys that Andy has cherished all his life represent such a big piece of who he is. He will never lose that no matter how old he gets, and no matter how far he travels. But sometimes, we need to give things up. We need to move on. We need to find the strength to part with the material, and realize that despite, we will never lose the spiritual. It's a very powerful theme that elegantly plays out and will have you shedding tears at the meaning and innocence found in your own life. For a brief while you are taken to a place inside of you where nothing can hurt you. It's your own innocence starring you down, and you cry as you know we have all had to part with something. We have all dealt with a loss and that simple gesture of understanding means more than anything you may have ever witnessed. It's gives an amazing sense of release as we may let go everything that has been weighing us down.
whew... sorry, I got a bit caught up.
But beyond of the emotion, this movie is genuinely comical. I found myself laughing from start to finish. Even when there was no dialog at all characters euphemisms were enough to rise a chuckle out of me (think Mr. TortillaHead isn't funny? Think again). No big drawn out laughter, but enough to catch, and still progress with the movie.
ACTION- This category seems almost pointless to put, as I'm not making things like 'comedy' a category, but I just want to drive this point home. This movie is action packed. From the introductory sequence with run away trains and giant metal pig ships, this movie keeps you at the edge of your seat. The prison break sequences at daycare keep your fingers crossed as the toys follow elaborate plans with very small details. And the final scenes. The climax of the movie... Breathtaking. Never have I been so anxious sitting in a theater seat as I was at the end of TS3.
CHARACTERS- The final piece of note in this film, the characters. Now, aside from a few familiar faces, we see a return of our favorite plastic gang. All of whom are being voiced by those who voiced them 11 years ago. All except, Slinky Dog who's voice actor had died and been replaced. However, the new voice actor does an awesome job stepping up to the plate (even if I do think they cut a lot of speaking time for good 'ol slink because of it... maybe it's just me). The new faces we see fit into the mix quite well. All characters, as per Pixar's usual, fit their characters to the T (which is a HUGE pet-peeve of mine when it comes to all of these new fucking terrible cartoon shows and such...). And as well as being appropriately voiced, these new characters have well painted back stories, well thought out roles, and gorgeous designs. Among the new list of characters, I believed my favorites were the wise telephone car (who knew about life 'on the inside'), the not so cheerful (and comically obese) clown. And huzzah! Totoro makes a special appearance! Miyazaki. Respek.
At the end of it all, the movie was great. I honestly felt at home with it. I was witnessing my childhood being projected at me in three dimensions at one in the morning. It was like I had already seen and fallen in love with the movie. I give the movie a perfect 10 out of 10 and say that it did a fantastic job of bookending the series. I grew up with these toys and they gave me the best closure I could have asked for. It means so much to me the the good men and women did not disappoint me in the slightest. I wish I could meet the Pixar staff just so I could hug them. I wouldn't need to bother them asking for autographs, or waste much of their time nagging them with questions or comments, I just want hugs.
