Guess who’s back? Back again? PIXAR’s back…tell a friend!
All Slim Shady references aside, Pixar has once again entered the realm of public conscience with another stellar film. Now, you may be asking, “Brandon. When does Pixar ever make a bad film?” The answer? Never. Time and time again, Pixar has proven to be one of the most reliable studios in the movie-making business. Not only do they deliver with amazing visuals and rake in at the box office, all Pixar films are guaranteed to make you do one of two things: laugh until you cry, or flat-out cry. All of these hold true for Toy Story 3.
When the first inkling of Toy Story 3 came up in 2009, many wondered what the story would center around. Would Andy be grown up, or would he retain his age as a child? The thinkers at Pixar don’t disappoint – the movie begins with Andy, now 17, packing for college. WOAH! Where are the toys going to go?! Well, they end up at Sunnyside Day Care, donated by Andy’s mom. Sunnyside introduces us to several new characters, the most notable of which are Lots-O (voiced by Ned Beatty) and Ken (voiced by Micheal Keaton). Both add a flair to the movie that was much needed. Let’s face it – we’ve been familiar with the principal characters since the mid-1990s, and the new characters are welcome. Without spoiling the rest of the story, I will just say that the third film in the Toy Story franchise is probably the most entertaining of the trio.
Pixar’s visuals never fail to disappoint. They are the best in the business when it comes to 3D animation, and it shows in each of their films. Toy Story 3 is no exception. Several times, I had to do a double take, as I thought something was actually real. Little things like grass blowing in the wind, or a tortilla (you’ll see) flopping around look completely natural. What’s even more interesting is the time Pixar takes to perfect each frame of the movie. An article I read in Wired magazine mentioned that 3 frames of Toy Story 3 took approximately 27 hours to properly render. Not only do they spend over a DAY compiling seconds of footage, they also meet and discuss and view the frames, to determine what needs to be fixed. I saw the film in 3D as well. It wasn’t gimmicky, cheap 3D like some movies. But at the same time, it didn’t feel, at least to me, like it made any difference in viewing whatsoever. If you want to save some money, just see it in 2D – from my perspective, the extra money isn’t worth it. One more note – Toy Story 3 is the first film to feature Dolby Digital 7.1 Surround Sound. Not that I can tell the difference between the current 5.1 and 7.1, but the movie sounded great.
If you’re looking for a quality film to go see, pick Toy Story 3. Especially if you’re a 90s kid, and grew up with Buzz action figures like me. This movie will make you laugh. This movie will also make you cry (guilty!). But most importantly, this movie will instill the message that being a kid never really ends – it just depends on how you embrace that inner child that all of us truly have. Toy Story 3 succeeds in being one of the best films I’ve seen yet this year, and Pixar once again succeeds at blowing audiences away…to infinity, and beyond.
5/5 Reels
Platinum Squid Rating
You must be INSANE if you don’t plan on watching this movie!
Trailer:
