Toy Story is probably the greatest trilogy of all time. I can’t think of any series of films that hits so well, high and low notes, heartbreak, laughter, and tragedy. and most of all, respect for its audience. I saw Toy Story 3 twice this weekend, once in 3D and once in 2D. I enjoyed the 3D much more, but that maybe mostly b/c the sound seemed wrong at times in the 2D screening (too loud or too soft, perhaps they used the 3D dolby sound track by mistake?).
Regardless, Toy Story 3 was better than I could have imagined. AND THAT ENDING! I could watch the end of that movie over and over.
Ten points to you Tom for the comic, and 20 billion to Pixar. But we all know, the points don’t really matter. Its the fun that is had. 😉
“The Last Airbender? None of these movies inspire me like Toy Story 3 does. ”
Whaaaaaa…. I was really hoping to see your comedic take on The last Airbender, The original animated series on Nickelodeon was a masterpiece and has become something of a legendary animated series constantly referred to as one of the best. The amazing cast of characters and their portrayal,especially the way the psychotic 14 yr old villainess Azula was handled during season 2 and 3 by commanding loyalty through fear even from her friends.
The Last Airbender looks to be shaping up to a great film that remains true to its season 1 (Book 1: Water) animated counterpart, and I had really hoped you would have had a comic tied with its release.
Airbender was after my time, man. I didn’t grow up with it, so I have no affinity for it. And unlike Scott Pilgrim where I can (and am in the process of) read(ing) the books to get the flavor of things. I don’t have the time to commit to a sprawling, multi-arc story like Airbender.
Tom, I implore you to try it out. I didn’t grow up with it either, but it is such a fantastic show. I know it looks like a standard anime thing, that kept me from checking it out for the longest time because I usually dislike anime, but it’s very Miyazaki inspired and just so very, very good. It’s also child friendly.
You really should watch it, Tom. Yeah, you do have to invest time into, but it’s REALLY good. I’m 19, so it came out like 2 years too late for me to be interested in it..everytime I saw it on the TV, I would say “What a dumb show, ergh.” and change the channel. Somehow, just recently, curiosity got the better of me, and I’m so happy it did. Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably the best cartoon, WITH a storyline, I’ve ever seen in so long.
I highly recommend it..if you read the reviews for the cartoon on Amazon, you’d be surprised at the age range that watches it. So just rent the 1st season (or Netflix it, but I don’t know if they have it) and see exactly what the fuss is about.
I wasn’t initially interested in seeing Toy Story 3, thinking it would be a rehash of familiar plots and ruin the franchise (like why on earth are they doing this 11 years later?), but with all the positive comments i’ve read and heard I think we might go see it. We haven’t been to the movies since….X-Men Origins? Can it really be that long? Dang.
As for the comic – love the Sham-Wow comment! LOL. Vince is creepy but the product is great. Should catch all of Cami’s tears and whatever is left of Tom’s!
OK I lied, but I had to go back through all of the movies released since Origins to figure it out. We did see Alice in Wonderland. Clearly it made a profound and deep impression on me. /Sarcasm
I’m glad that you said “Bring Kleenex” and “It is a sublime love letter to fans…”. These are, basically, what I have been telling everyone about it. I almost cried throughout like the whole thing. I hate seeing great things come to a sure end. The thing about this film is simply this: It wraps up their story in the best way possible. Where the toys end up at the end of the film is the PERFECT way to end it. I’m glad that they made this movie. People like you and I needed this film so that we could know for sure that it ended right.
I saw Toy Story 3 with my Mom and Dad for Father’s Day, only because he wanted to see it. I felt this was a massive step back for Pixar, and was on pace to be bad. Something about it rang of creative stagnation.
I left thinking the exact opposite.
Toy Story 3 is Pixar’s Magnum Opus.
I have NEVER cried that hard in a film ever. I was WEEPING on my mother’s shoulder at the end(I’m 23 and not ashamed to admit that happened). The ending was perfect. The story was perfect. Characters, action, humor, it was the perfect film.
While The Incredibles is more enjoyable, and Finding Nemo is funnier, this is the better film from all film making perspectives.
Wall-E and Up have an intense emotional factor to them, but I believe they don’t hit on the same personal emotional level that the ending of this will to most people of my generation.
I have to say that I’m kind of over Toy Story… it’s been over 10 years since TS2, why come out with another one now? Besides, from reading a few reviews, it looks as though TS3 took the Shrek approach, going with mostly pop-culture-reference-type jokes. I’ll definitely wait for it to come out on Blu Ray… Not in a rush to see this one. And this, coming from a guy who owns pretty much all the Pixar movies on DVD or Blu Ray!
I’ve been anticipating The Last Airbender ever since last year when teaser came out. I’m hoping I can go see it this weekend.
Andre, I think you have the wrong impression about Toy Story 3. What reviews are you reading that say it is mostly pop culture references? Because that’s not something I noticed in the film AT ALL.
I understand your suspicion about them coming out with a third movie a decade after the last one. But I think you’ll regret it if you wait to see Toy Story 3 on Blu-ray. It really is a magnificent film. If you have any affinity for the characters – even a shred – you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Uh oh… you can’t quote using double brackets, it looks like! 🙁
Ebert review ends with: “This is a jolly, slapstick comedy, lacking the almost eerie humanity that infused the earlier “Toy Story” sagas, and happier with action and jokes than with characters and emotions.”
A few review extracts found on RT:
“A bona fide summer delight loaded with action, humor, nostalgia, a veritable blizzard of pop-culture references and general good vibes.”
“The gags are all of a piece, right up to the forlorn yet enchanting finale. ”
“At best, Toy Story 3 stands as a refinement of Toy Story 2, a movie which was an unnecessary sequel to begin with. ”
Maybe I don’t recall correctly, but I just don’t remember the original Toy Story, or the sequel, to rely on ‘gags’ or pop-culture references to convey emotions… I’ve always thought the main difference between movies like Shrek and those that Pixar makes is the overreliance on cheap gags, pop-culture references or instantly recognizable big-name voice actors.
Wow. And I thought Armond White was off base with his accusation that the film advocates consumerism.
If the film is making pop culture references at all, they aren’t the timely variety the Shrek movies tend to traffic in (references to Starbucks, Justin Timberlake, etc.) I don’t feel there is anything in Toy Story 3 that ties it to a specific time period apart from the time line it has established for itself.
I strongly disagree with Ebert’s assessment that Toy Story 3 is a “slapstick comedy” or light on character and emotion. Reading that makes me wonder what movie he was watching.
And while it can be argued that Toy Story 2 and 3 are unnecessary sequels, that doesn’t subtract from the truth that they are SUCCESSFUL sequels. By that, I do not mean monetarily, but artistically. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to think of a narrative arc in film spanning the length of time the Toy Story movies do that is even half as successful in promoting investment in the characters and plot development.
In other words, these films aren’t strictly about money like the Shrek movies seem to be. They’re about storytelling, real human emotions reflected in themes of abandonment, purpose and maturity. Unlike most movies, the Toy Story movies still have something to say.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be getting the Toy Story Trilogy Blu-Ray set when it comes out, but for whatever reason, I’m not in a huge hurry to see this new Pixar movie. Been there, done that kind of thing, I suppose. I was first in line to see both Wall-E and Up!, and thought they were both amongst my favorite 3-4 movies of their respective years, but this new Toy Story just doesn’t have the same effect.
A Pixar movie that deserves a is The Incredible; I think that’s probably my favorite Pixar movie ever. 🙂
Good gracious Tom, Old Yeller. Man, forget the onion, that movie is enough to drain all of my tears right now. I don’t think even the Shamwow could contain it all…
Though I enjoyed the film a lot, the overall tone of the flick kind of grated on me a bit. There’s this inescapable theme sadness and seperation that goes way beyond the adventures of getting home in the first two flicks. In this one, the plot to get home is basically an hour-long red herring, because no matter what, the home that have to go back to is basically empty. Andy is growing up and putting away childish things, and that breaks my heart to an extent, not because it’s touching, which it is, but because it’s also similar to saying that at a certain point adults should stop watching cartoons because they’re for kids. It’s antithetical to the charm and all ages wonder of Pixar. Granted, the ending that the film works to is nice, but it rings a little hollow to me because of the bond between Andy and the toys is essentially severed.
Also, what the hell was up with the thinning of the heard as far as the toys go? It felt super manipulative to have some of the characters absent in the flick, much in the same way Elizabeth Shue was written out fo the Karate Kid sequel to make it easier for Daniel to go to Okinawa. There were plot points in the film that would have worked perfect for the Army Men, and having Bo-Peep cut out makes it way to easy for Woody to feel abandoned. It just didn’t feel right.
I don’t know if the subtext of the film is “adults should stop watching cartoons.” I think Pixar did the right thing by framing the ending in the context of teaching the next generation the value of imaginative play.
I also don’t think it was completely off base that the toys had lost friends along the way. It’s realistic. But it also frames the story in a way that lets the audience know that Woody and the gang are living under the very real threat of obsolescence.
Toy Story is probably the greatest trilogy of all time. I can’t think of any series of films that hits so well, high and low notes, heartbreak, laughter, and tragedy. and most of all, respect for its audience. I saw Toy Story 3 twice this weekend, once in 3D and once in 2D. I enjoyed the 3D much more, but that maybe mostly b/c the sound seemed wrong at times in the 2D screening (too loud or too soft, perhaps they used the 3D dolby sound track by mistake?).
Regardless, Toy Story 3 was better than I could have imagined. AND THAT ENDING! I could watch the end of that movie over and over.
Ten points to you Tom for the comic, and 20 billion to Pixar. But we all know, the points don’t really matter. Its the fun that is had. 😉
The wallpaper is horrible and distracting in the comic and is espeically bad because it’s the sames colors as Tom’s shirt and hair.
It was the 70s, maaaaan. Everything clashed!
Hey, how about Night and Day? I’m 20 and I great up on Looney Toons and I’m confident this short was in the same league.
I’m looking forward to seeing Toy Story 3. Loved the first two. Might try to go see it this weekend while I’m at Cyphan.
“The Last Airbender? None of these movies inspire me like Toy Story 3 does. ”
Whaaaaaa…. I was really hoping to see your comedic take on The last Airbender, The original animated series on Nickelodeon was a masterpiece and has become something of a legendary animated series constantly referred to as one of the best. The amazing cast of characters and their portrayal,especially the way the psychotic 14 yr old villainess Azula was handled during season 2 and 3 by commanding loyalty through fear even from her friends.
The Last Airbender looks to be shaping up to a great film that remains true to its season 1 (Book 1: Water) animated counterpart, and I had really hoped you would have had a comic tied with its release.
Maybe this trailer might change your mind…
Airbender was after my time, man. I didn’t grow up with it, so I have no affinity for it. And unlike Scott Pilgrim where I can (and am in the process of) read(ing) the books to get the flavor of things. I don’t have the time to commit to a sprawling, multi-arc story like Airbender.
Tom, I implore you to try it out. I didn’t grow up with it either, but it is such a fantastic show. I know it looks like a standard anime thing, that kept me from checking it out for the longest time because I usually dislike anime, but it’s very Miyazaki inspired and just so very, very good. It’s also child friendly.
You really should watch it, Tom. Yeah, you do have to invest time into, but it’s REALLY good. I’m 19, so it came out like 2 years too late for me to be interested in it..everytime I saw it on the TV, I would say “What a dumb show, ergh.” and change the channel. Somehow, just recently, curiosity got the better of me, and I’m so happy it did. Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably the best cartoon, WITH a storyline, I’ve ever seen in so long.
I highly recommend it..if you read the reviews for the cartoon on Amazon, you’d be surprised at the age range that watches it. So just rent the 1st season (or Netflix it, but I don’t know if they have it) and see exactly what the fuss is about.
I wasn’t initially interested in seeing Toy Story 3, thinking it would be a rehash of familiar plots and ruin the franchise (like why on earth are they doing this 11 years later?), but with all the positive comments i’ve read and heard I think we might go see it. We haven’t been to the movies since….X-Men Origins? Can it really be that long? Dang.
As for the comic – love the Sham-Wow comment! LOL. Vince is creepy but the product is great. Should catch all of Cami’s tears and whatever is left of Tom’s!
OK I lied, but I had to go back through all of the movies released since Origins to figure it out. We did see Alice in Wonderland. Clearly it made a profound and deep impression on me. /Sarcasm
I’m glad that you said “Bring Kleenex” and “It is a sublime love letter to fans…”. These are, basically, what I have been telling everyone about it. I almost cried throughout like the whole thing. I hate seeing great things come to a sure end. The thing about this film is simply this: It wraps up their story in the best way possible. Where the toys end up at the end of the film is the PERFECT way to end it. I’m glad that they made this movie. People like you and I needed this film so that we could know for sure that it ended right.
I saw Toy Story 3 with my Mom and Dad for Father’s Day, only because he wanted to see it. I felt this was a massive step back for Pixar, and was on pace to be bad. Something about it rang of creative stagnation.
I left thinking the exact opposite.
Toy Story 3 is Pixar’s Magnum Opus.
I have NEVER cried that hard in a film ever. I was WEEPING on my mother’s shoulder at the end(I’m 23 and not ashamed to admit that happened). The ending was perfect. The story was perfect. Characters, action, humor, it was the perfect film.
While The Incredibles is more enjoyable, and Finding Nemo is funnier, this is the better film from all film making perspectives.
Wall-E and Up have an intense emotional factor to them, but I believe they don’t hit on the same personal emotional level that the ending of this will to most people of my generation.
I dunno, that’s my 2 bits.
I have to say that I’m kind of over Toy Story… it’s been over 10 years since TS2, why come out with another one now? Besides, from reading a few reviews, it looks as though TS3 took the Shrek approach, going with mostly pop-culture-reference-type jokes. I’ll definitely wait for it to come out on Blu Ray… Not in a rush to see this one. And this, coming from a guy who owns pretty much all the Pixar movies on DVD or Blu Ray!
I’ve been anticipating The Last Airbender ever since last year when teaser came out. I’m hoping I can go see it this weekend.
Andre, I think you have the wrong impression about Toy Story 3. What reviews are you reading that say it is mostly pop culture references? Because that’s not something I noticed in the film AT ALL.
I understand your suspicion about them coming out with a third movie a decade after the last one. But I think you’ll regret it if you wait to see Toy Story 3 on Blu-ray. It really is a magnificent film. If you have any affinity for the characters – even a shred – you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Uh oh… you can’t quote using double brackets, it looks like! 🙁
Ebert review ends with: “This is a jolly, slapstick comedy, lacking the almost eerie humanity that infused the earlier “Toy Story” sagas, and happier with action and jokes than with characters and emotions.”
A few review extracts found on RT:
“A bona fide summer delight loaded with action, humor, nostalgia, a veritable blizzard of pop-culture references and general good vibes.”
“The gags are all of a piece, right up to the forlorn yet enchanting finale. ”
“At best, Toy Story 3 stands as a refinement of Toy Story 2, a movie which was an unnecessary sequel to begin with. ”
Maybe I don’t recall correctly, but I just don’t remember the original Toy Story, or the sequel, to rely on ‘gags’ or pop-culture references to convey emotions… I’ve always thought the main difference between movies like Shrek and those that Pixar makes is the overreliance on cheap gags, pop-culture references or instantly recognizable big-name voice actors.
Wow. And I thought Armond White was off base with his accusation that the film advocates consumerism.
If the film is making pop culture references at all, they aren’t the timely variety the Shrek movies tend to traffic in (references to Starbucks, Justin Timberlake, etc.) I don’t feel there is anything in Toy Story 3 that ties it to a specific time period apart from the time line it has established for itself.
I strongly disagree with Ebert’s assessment that Toy Story 3 is a “slapstick comedy” or light on character and emotion. Reading that makes me wonder what movie he was watching.
And while it can be argued that Toy Story 2 and 3 are unnecessary sequels, that doesn’t subtract from the truth that they are SUCCESSFUL sequels. By that, I do not mean monetarily, but artistically. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to think of a narrative arc in film spanning the length of time the Toy Story movies do that is even half as successful in promoting investment in the characters and plot development.
In other words, these films aren’t strictly about money like the Shrek movies seem to be. They’re about storytelling, real human emotions reflected in themes of abandonment, purpose and maturity. Unlike most movies, the Toy Story movies still have something to say.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be getting the Toy Story Trilogy Blu-Ray set when it comes out, but for whatever reason, I’m not in a huge hurry to see this new Pixar movie. Been there, done that kind of thing, I suppose. I was first in line to see both Wall-E and Up!, and thought they were both amongst my favorite 3-4 movies of their respective years, but this new Toy Story just doesn’t have the same effect.
A Pixar movie that deserves a is The Incredible; I think that’s probably my favorite Pixar movie ever. 🙂
Good gracious Tom, Old Yeller. Man, forget the onion, that movie is enough to drain all of my tears right now. I don’t think even the Shamwow could contain it all…
Though I enjoyed the film a lot, the overall tone of the flick kind of grated on me a bit. There’s this inescapable theme sadness and seperation that goes way beyond the adventures of getting home in the first two flicks. In this one, the plot to get home is basically an hour-long red herring, because no matter what, the home that have to go back to is basically empty. Andy is growing up and putting away childish things, and that breaks my heart to an extent, not because it’s touching, which it is, but because it’s also similar to saying that at a certain point adults should stop watching cartoons because they’re for kids. It’s antithetical to the charm and all ages wonder of Pixar. Granted, the ending that the film works to is nice, but it rings a little hollow to me because of the bond between Andy and the toys is essentially severed.
Also, what the hell was up with the thinning of the heard as far as the toys go? It felt super manipulative to have some of the characters absent in the flick, much in the same way Elizabeth Shue was written out fo the Karate Kid sequel to make it easier for Daniel to go to Okinawa. There were plot points in the film that would have worked perfect for the Army Men, and having Bo-Peep cut out makes it way to easy for Woody to feel abandoned. It just didn’t feel right.
I don’t know if the subtext of the film is “adults should stop watching cartoons.” I think Pixar did the right thing by framing the ending in the context of teaching the next generation the value of imaginative play.
I also don’t think it was completely off base that the toys had lost friends along the way. It’s realistic. But it also frames the story in a way that lets the audience know that Woody and the gang are living under the very real threat of obsolescence.
I’ve been with my boyfriend 5 years and I’ve seen him cry twice… one of those times was Toy Story 3 and he was bawling.
BTW, my review: http://www.justplainsomething.com/2010/06/review-toy-story-3.html
Oh God, We had that EXACT wallpaper in my parents’ house when I was a kid. That sent shivers down my spine.