Thursday 27 January 2011

Toy Story 3

*****
I’m a terrible sucker for hype. Should that be ‘victim of hype’? Either way, I’m forever going into a film with way-too-high expectations then being somewhat unfairly critical. Arriving extremely late to this party (viewed on DVD) it had an awful lot to live up to. Some serious plaudits have been showered on the film, most recently its inclusion in the not just Best Animated, but Best Film category in the Oscar nominations. Being a fan of the series, I was actually almost dreading the disappointment but… ah, joy... Toy Story 3 totally delivered. Those magicians at Pixar have taken all the magic ingredients of the first two films, added some new ones, sprinkled pixie dust on it and created something really wonderful.

All the gang are back for another adventure: that’s Woody, Buzz Lightyear etc and it’s just great to see them again after the 11 year hiatus between this and Toy Story 2. Andy, “their kid” is all grown up now, soon off to college, and tragically no longer plays with his poor neglected toys. They all end up in a children’s day care centre. Although nice at first, some sinister truths are soon revealed. I don’t wish to give too much away. (One can only assume if you rent Toy Story 3 you are an admirer of the series. Because of this I don’t want to spoil any of your fun by revealing too much.)

The story enthralled me with its perfect blend of comedy, action and pathos.  I was often on the edge of my seat, and laughed and cried in all the bits where I was supposed to. Yep, the tears really flowed down the cheeks of this hardened, cynical critic. I was truly transported – just as in early cinema outings to the likes of Bambi and Dumbo – and all by the animated spectacle of these already-fake, little pieces of plastic up on screen. Absurd I know, but that’s another magical thing about Pixar – they can make you feel young again.



5 comments:

  1. The Greatest film trilogy of all time? I would be hard pressed to name another series of three films that are so consistently excellent from beginning to end.
    This film also has one of the greatest scenes in animated film.(SPOILER ALERT) The plunge into the furnace had me on the edge of my seat and nearly in tears, the moment when the characters accept their fate and hold each others hands is some of the most mature cinema I have seen in ages. That they eventually escape did not cheapen it at all, and it was made all the better by the refusal to pay it all off with the typically glib comments that flood most animation and in fact most "blockbuster" movies. The fact that I care about characters made of computer code more than I do 95% of the other characters I have seen on film is to the credit of everyone at Pixar and an indictment of the majority of Hollywood tosh.

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  2. (SPOILERS AHEAD) Wasn't this just the same plot as part 2 but instead of Woody deciding to stay with the Round up gang it's the rest of them staying with in the kids home? Also that bit in the furnace just sucked of audience manipulation to me, and the fact that they got out just proved that. And poor Andy when he finally leaves the Toys at the end, sorry are we meant to care?

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  3. You heartless animal.

    May you be forced to watch Shrek sequel after Shrek sequel until your ears bleed from Donkey/Ogre fart joke exposure.

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  4. I know, I'm a terrible human being.

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  5. Do I need to have watched Toy Storys 1 through 2 before I go to this?.................oh.

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