Toy Story 3, in my opinion has just completed one of the best trilogies ever made...and it's suitable for all ages and families. I'm pretty sure all Toy Story movies will be put on my kids' must-see watch list. I never thought that PIXAR is able to pull a 2nd sequel as good as the previous releases. I mean, the 3rd movie is really damn good. Storyline, check....Graphic, check....Cast check....Entertainment, check....Plot Twist, check....Surprises, check....Tear-jearking moment, check, hix hix hix.....They just have 'em all. For a zillion times already, never ever ever EVER underestimate PIXAR. They just keep on making remarkable movies, when all other studios should really LEARN from them, especially in this era of commercialism, zero creativity, and nonsense ideas.
It took 11 hours just to render this frame.
The whole storyline for Toy Story 3 has actually already pre-described from the Toy Story 2, with the notion that every boy/girl will eventually abandon their old toys once they are grown up. Andy is 17 now, and he's preparing to move out for college time. He still kept some of his beloved old toys, from Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, Jessie, Bullseye, Hamm, Rex, and Slinky Dog. However, what a pity that they are craving to be played again. Andy finally chooses Woody to keep him company, while others will be kept in the attic. Unfortunately, after some misunderstanding, the toys are mistakenly carried out from Andy's house, and they end up at some child day care. The toys think that this maybe a good start of a better new life, while Woody is trying hard to convince them to return to Andy. Apparently, the other toys at the child care, led by head honcho Lotso, are able to convince the Buzz and co. to stay back and enjoy to be played by the children. What they don't know that the place has become a prison, and they are trapped with the brutality of the children. Again, Woody jumps into the adventure of rescuing his friends, in the nick of time before Andy is checking out.
Apart from being the funniest of the series, this one also appears to be the darkest. The child daycare condition as a prison in disguise is a clever and bold move from PIXAR to freshen up the story. Suddenly it reminds me of the Shawshank Redemption which put Buzz and friends in Tim Robbins position, and Lotso as the mean warden. This new approach is just not making the movie more mature, but it adds up the emotional depth of the characters, and their friendship values. I was a bit concerned regarding the big number of the characters, but PIXAR (again) brilliantly put them all on the screen, and it works smoothly, and no one gets left behind. Most importantly, they are able to give 'heart' into each of toys. Once you go out from the cinema, all the toys left me a good remarks and impressions.
While all the old faces are given their equal portion (and each of them have their own 'best' moment). the new toys are not disappointing, even some of them are quite strong and influential for the story. By putting Lotso as the main villain, it gives a darker aura beneath the cuddly purple toy. Barbie and Ken (voiced over by brilliant Michael Keaton), as cheesy as you may think, are having their glorious moments on screen, compared to their direct-to-DVD craps. The rest are just too many to be covered, but rest assured, the have enriched the whole Toy Story Universe.
In some points, it is scary, even for kids, and on the ending, it is both sad and joyful (I'm not shy to admit that I had tears right in the end, but I guessed, I'm not alone who cried behind the 3D goggles). Overall, PIXAR has done it again, they crafted not just a very nice movie, but also closed up the perfect ending for the series. 10 years in the making shows the seriousness on not just making big bucks, but how to make a movie with appropriate script, animation, and character development. It is not an overstatement that this might be the best 3rd installment on board with Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, and perhaps best sequel if we compare it with Godfather Part II or Empire Strikes Back.
It's amazing that a movie based on toys can have so much drama and family values, and even real-life situation. It has underline the notion that we cannot go forward, solve problems, make choices, or even grow up without the help of friends. It has been the same concept and blueprint for most of the PIXAR movies, but somehow they can always adjust it well into different script.
Look closely, and you'll see a cameo from a famous Studio Ghibli character.
It has been a 15 years epic, and PIXAR is not slowing down a bit. After a dull and ludicrous summer, Toy Story 3 has lighten up the mood, by bringing a fresh air for the audiences, for us to enjoy what a movie should have been doing, to entertain us, and put the experience in our hearts and mind. It's a rare thing to say a movie with number '3' in it is a very very GOOD one.
My Rating : 10/10
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