06-19-2010, 04:55 PM
If you lived through the 90s, you probably know about the Toy Story films.
The original in 1995 was not only a landmark in animation but was also a darn great film, even beyond the audience of young children. From there, the magic that is Pixar began.
4 years later, Pixar did it again with its sequel. It not only respectfully and successfully followed the first film -- it also built on and developed from the themes established prior. And like the original, it was another great film with the same audience-reaching power.
11 years later, everyone has come to Toy Story 3. A second-sequel film, the '3' movie of the series, the latest edition that makes Toy Story a trilogy.
With the history of so-so '3' movies, can Pixar beat all odds and succeed in living up to the previous films and recreating the wonderful magic again?
Yes, indeed.
Brilliantly.
For those of you who watched the previous Toy Story films, the first 10 minutes alone is pure and wonderful nostalgia.
And then we proceed into with the story.
The premise this time: Andy is all grown up, heading off to college. What will become of the toys?
The answer: A lot, that makes you laugh, tear, and rejoice and wistfully remember your own childhood.
It deals with a theme of life that everyone on the planet has lived through at least one point in their lives -- growing up, moving on from childhood, and all the things that come along with it, from wistfully reminiscing and yearning for the past to preparing for the eventual and ultimate future that is the rest of your life. . . and the decisions that you make from it all.
This is the foundation of Pixar's Toy Story 3.
The incredible triumph that is Toy Story 3 can not be defined in the countless moments of the film -- and there are many, from significant to the Easter Eggs -- but if I were to start, I would immediately point to its story and the themes that explores.
Like Toy Story 2, the 3rd film builds and develops from the themes previously explored in the preceding film. However, what is absolutely amazing about Toy Story 3 is that it revisits all the themes that both Toy Story 2 and the original Toy Story explored and, bittersweet but best of all, brings them all to their eventual, heartfelt conclusion.
With all that said, Toy Story 3 is one of Pixar's most mature films to date and, by Pixar's stands, arguably its darkest. It even features what I believe to be the film villain of the year and, if I may be bold, one of the best film villains ever.
I don't entirely believe that the youngest and even the general and 'innocent' young viewers G-audience will be able to, ahem, process the darker moments of the film, never mind its scary elements (viewers know what they are!).
But ultimately, for them and everyone else, Toy Story 3 and the series itself are literal touchstones in our lives. We all have come-at-age at one point in our lives. The entire series and this latest and last installment is a heart-touching address and tribute to our lives.
To conclude?
Should be a candidate for film of the year? Definitely.
Should be nominated for the prestigious Best Picture at the Academy Awards? Absolutely.
Toy Story 3 is the best second-sequel, the best '3' movie of all time, making the entire series one of, if not the best trilogy of all time.
The original in 1995 was not only a landmark in animation but was also a darn great film, even beyond the audience of young children. From there, the magic that is Pixar began.
4 years later, Pixar did it again with its sequel. It not only respectfully and successfully followed the first film -- it also built on and developed from the themes established prior. And like the original, it was another great film with the same audience-reaching power.
11 years later, everyone has come to Toy Story 3. A second-sequel film, the '3' movie of the series, the latest edition that makes Toy Story a trilogy.
With the history of so-so '3' movies, can Pixar beat all odds and succeed in living up to the previous films and recreating the wonderful magic again?
Yes, indeed.
Brilliantly.
For those of you who watched the previous Toy Story films, the first 10 minutes alone is pure and wonderful nostalgia.
And then we proceed into with the story.
The premise this time: Andy is all grown up, heading off to college. What will become of the toys?
The answer: A lot, that makes you laugh, tear, and rejoice and wistfully remember your own childhood.
It deals with a theme of life that everyone on the planet has lived through at least one point in their lives -- growing up, moving on from childhood, and all the things that come along with it, from wistfully reminiscing and yearning for the past to preparing for the eventual and ultimate future that is the rest of your life. . . and the decisions that you make from it all.
This is the foundation of Pixar's Toy Story 3.
The incredible triumph that is Toy Story 3 can not be defined in the countless moments of the film -- and there are many, from significant to the Easter Eggs -- but if I were to start, I would immediately point to its story and the themes that explores.
Like Toy Story 2, the 3rd film builds and develops from the themes previously explored in the preceding film. However, what is absolutely amazing about Toy Story 3 is that it revisits all the themes that both Toy Story 2 and the original Toy Story explored and, bittersweet but best of all, brings them all to their eventual, heartfelt conclusion.
With all that said, Toy Story 3 is one of Pixar's most mature films to date and, by Pixar's stands, arguably its darkest. It even features what I believe to be the film villain of the year and, if I may be bold, one of the best film villains ever.
I don't entirely believe that the youngest and even the general and 'innocent' young viewers G-audience will be able to, ahem, process the darker moments of the film, never mind its scary elements (viewers know what they are!).
But ultimately, for them and everyone else, Toy Story 3 and the series itself are literal touchstones in our lives. We all have come-at-age at one point in our lives. The entire series and this latest and last installment is a heart-touching address and tribute to our lives.
To conclude?
Should be a candidate for film of the year? Definitely.
Should be nominated for the prestigious Best Picture at the Academy Awards? Absolutely.
Toy Story 3 is the best second-sequel, the best '3' movie of all time, making the entire series one of, if not the best trilogy of all time.