Toy Story 3.
I know I keep doing this when I come back and actually update, but I am trying to get back into LJ. Every new defriend I get for being inactive makes me sad so I wanna come back here. :[
But anyhoo, I saw Toy Story 3 last night.
I think everyone remembers when Toy Story first came out. It just changed everything. It made kids hide behind their doors and peek in on their toys for a glimpse of them coming to life. It made adults nostalgic. And it made everyone, both male and female, young and old, giggle and laugh. Toy Story 3 is so much more along the same vein as the first film, bringing you back to the magic without feeling like they're leaving the Toy Story world, like the second one did.
There is so much love woven in this film. Even in the film's most silly moments, you can tell the entire production team just loved what they got to do. Toy Story 3 is timeless. It is not necessary to plaster on pop culture joke after pop culture joke, as Toy Story 3 illustrates; what matters, in the end, are the characters, the story, and the connection the film makes with its audience. I saw someone on Facebook reply to someone else's status saying that they loved the movie and "felt bad for their old toys." If a movie, an animated movie, no less, can make a grown woman feel like they've abandoned their old toys like they were living, breathing characters, then the film transcends entertainment.
This film is not only pure entertainment, it's cinema at its best. It's perfection. There's great action pieces, fantastic dialogue, great character moments, and themes that really hit home. For anyone who was a youth when Toy Story came out, or saw it as a kid, then Toy Story 3 will be even more special. Woody and Buzz's kid, Andy, is grown up now, and leaving for college. Chances are, those who were kids then are adults now, and are struggling or have struggled with the same thing Andy does (though the film is not specifically about Andy): transition from child to adult. I am tearing up right now just thinking of it.
This film is not just about love and play and childhood, it's about growing up and moving on. It's about family, it's about the final gesture, and the film does this effortlessly without complicating things or taking away from the magic or the beautiful simplicities. It's a fun ride that leaves you with a wonderful kind of hurt in your heart and tears in your eyes.
The animation is spectacular, as always. The thing about 3D animation is that you can't ignore the principles of animation, even if your characters are realistic. That means you have to add squash and stretch, add more weight in certain moments and more movement, even if it isn't realistic. This is my huge peeve with video games, these days. But Toy Story 3 does fantastically in this, and also adding in small acting moments that are probably just detail to everyone else. I love the way Woody runs when he's trying to get to the curb to save his friends from being thrown out. Because he has no joints, he's floppy and runs awkwardly. I love the way Bonnie's mother stroked her daughter's hair when she hid behind her legs. I love the way the toddlers threw the toys around, and the names of each of the play rooms because you know you were in a pre-school or daycare just like that one. And I love that despite huge advances in technology, they didn't incorporate the use of really sophisticated textures (like Wall-E, for example). They just emulated the feel of the first film, and for once, I didn't feel like I was supposed to sit back and be wowed by the eye candy.
While we're talking about the animation, the short before the film is absolutely stunning. First of all, the incorporation of 2D animation really excited me on a base level. But the idea, first of all, is unique. Secondly, the blending of simplicity and complexity was incredible. What a simple theme - the differences between night and day - and yet, what complicated execution. The use of alpha layers and using the scenes inside the characters for sound effects just. Sometimes I worry after Wall-E that Pixar plans to weave pretentious, preachy themes into every film they produce, but the moral of the short was so very simple and, I feel, very genuine.
I recommend this movie to absolutely everyone. Though, for once, I encourage every adult, no matter the age, to see this.
But anyhoo, I saw Toy Story 3 last night.
I think everyone remembers when Toy Story first came out. It just changed everything. It made kids hide behind their doors and peek in on their toys for a glimpse of them coming to life. It made adults nostalgic. And it made everyone, both male and female, young and old, giggle and laugh. Toy Story 3 is so much more along the same vein as the first film, bringing you back to the magic without feeling like they're leaving the Toy Story world, like the second one did.
There is so much love woven in this film. Even in the film's most silly moments, you can tell the entire production team just loved what they got to do. Toy Story 3 is timeless. It is not necessary to plaster on pop culture joke after pop culture joke, as Toy Story 3 illustrates; what matters, in the end, are the characters, the story, and the connection the film makes with its audience. I saw someone on Facebook reply to someone else's status saying that they loved the movie and "felt bad for their old toys." If a movie, an animated movie, no less, can make a grown woman feel like they've abandoned their old toys like they were living, breathing characters, then the film transcends entertainment.
This film is not only pure entertainment, it's cinema at its best. It's perfection. There's great action pieces, fantastic dialogue, great character moments, and themes that really hit home. For anyone who was a youth when Toy Story came out, or saw it as a kid, then Toy Story 3 will be even more special. Woody and Buzz's kid, Andy, is grown up now, and leaving for college. Chances are, those who were kids then are adults now, and are struggling or have struggled with the same thing Andy does (though the film is not specifically about Andy): transition from child to adult. I am tearing up right now just thinking of it.
This film is not just about love and play and childhood, it's about growing up and moving on. It's about family, it's about the final gesture, and the film does this effortlessly without complicating things or taking away from the magic or the beautiful simplicities. It's a fun ride that leaves you with a wonderful kind of hurt in your heart and tears in your eyes.
The animation is spectacular, as always. The thing about 3D animation is that you can't ignore the principles of animation, even if your characters are realistic. That means you have to add squash and stretch, add more weight in certain moments and more movement, even if it isn't realistic. This is my huge peeve with video games, these days. But Toy Story 3 does fantastically in this, and also adding in small acting moments that are probably just detail to everyone else. I love the way Woody runs when he's trying to get to the curb to save his friends from being thrown out. Because he has no joints, he's floppy and runs awkwardly. I love the way Bonnie's mother stroked her daughter's hair when she hid behind her legs. I love the way the toddlers threw the toys around, and the names of each of the play rooms because you know you were in a pre-school or daycare just like that one. And I love that despite huge advances in technology, they didn't incorporate the use of really sophisticated textures (like Wall-E, for example). They just emulated the feel of the first film, and for once, I didn't feel like I was supposed to sit back and be wowed by the eye candy.
While we're talking about the animation, the short before the film is absolutely stunning. First of all, the incorporation of 2D animation really excited me on a base level. But the idea, first of all, is unique. Secondly, the blending of simplicity and complexity was incredible. What a simple theme - the differences between night and day - and yet, what complicated execution. The use of alpha layers and using the scenes inside the characters for sound effects just. Sometimes I worry after Wall-E that Pixar plans to weave pretentious, preachy themes into every film they produce, but the moral of the short was so very simple and, I feel, very genuine.
I recommend this movie to absolutely everyone. Though, for once, I encourage every adult, no matter the age, to see this.