Toy Story 3 - Decisions, Decisions...  
| Wow, it's been such a long time since Toy Story first came out. I would have been only 8 or 9 then so these characters have stuck with me through the years. Loyal to the end, right? With Toy Story 3, I think this trilogy has run it's course and shown us all they can. I beg Pixar to not return to this series and to let it rest, "let it go" if you will (follow your own advice). I do however, believe that Toy Story 3 is the best of the bunch.
Andy is getting ready to go off to college, so what is a boy to do with all his toys that he cherished so much? I'm sure that is a question that plagues many teens every year. As the film suggests - do you throw them out, do you put them in the attic (or basement) or donate them to a daycare? So many choices! Toy Story 3 grapples with these very decisions and so begins the toys adventures. I don't want to give much of the film away because even by seeing the trailer, you already know too much.
Before I get on to the actual film though, the usual short that plays before any Pixar film deserves a special mention. This time it is called Day and Night and its unlike any other short I've seen from Pixar. It's insanely creative and amazingly well done. Make sure you are there on time to see this short!
After Toy Story 3 ended, I had this sudden urge to bring out my toys from childhood and give them another go around. I know exactly where they are and now I feel bad for leaving them there for so long, unattended and probably gaining weight from lack of exercise. The film is about many things, one of which is letting go. As you grow older, you don't need certain things (that oh-so-comfortable blanky that gives you comfort, the bottle that soothes or, or even the training wheels that help you glide down the street without your parent holding on), and that's exactly what Toy Story 3 tells us. Andy is likely never going to play with these toys again, so what is the point in keeping them locked up somewhere when some other kid could give them just as much love. I will have to give some serious thought to my own toys now.
The film is also about friendship and loyalty. I will admit that I was getting annoyed with Woody and his constant "we have to get back to Andy" attitude after the toys were dropped off at the daycare. Just like Andy needs to let go, so to do the toys. At least the toys stuck together, right to the end. This culminated with a very powerful scene towards the end as they all realize their fate. The scene was perfect. You will easily identify the scene once you see it. The more emotional people may need a tissue or two. If there is one thing that Pixar excels at more then other animation studios, it's their uncanny ability to give non human characters a human touch. I dare you not to feel like these inanimate toys are actual people.
The animation was superb - so crisp and so clean. Pixar has come a long way since their start in 1995 and it's nice to see them pushing themselves. The voice acting was top notch as usual. And as I mentioned earlier, I actually thought that Toy Story 3 was the best of the bunch. I enjoyed the story more and I found it to be the funniest of the three. The story was more relatable then ever and much more clever in its telling. I loved the use of daycare items to advance the story. Much of the humor draws from the previous films with numerous references throughout (ie. the "clawwwwww"). Spanish Buzz was quite the hilarious treat too. It isn't necessary to be familiar with the first two films, but it would certainly help with a lot of the jokes. Quite a bit will go over kids heads but there is more then enough there for them to still enjoy it.
Toy Story 3 is without a doubt the best movie of the year so far. In a year riddled with utter crap, it clearly stands above the rest - although it would easily glide to (or near) the top of any given year. This is not a movie to be missed whether you are young or old. I think the film ended perfectly closing the door on these characters. I honestly believe that there is nothing else to tell of their story.
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