Toy Story 3

[Biohazard]

Re: Toy Story 3

The story was, in large part, completely derivative of TOY STORY 2. The version Disney was rumored to be developing sans Pixar involvement -- Buzz being recalled to China and Woody and the gang going after him -- sounded more enjoyable than what ended up on screen.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I'd gladly take CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS over UP and DESPICABLE ME over TOY STORY 3.

And the fact CARS 2 is next up on the release slate does nothing to bolster my confidence.

Don't get me wrong -- I still love Pixar and have the utmost admiration for the company and it's people -- but lately I feel people are blindly falling in love with their films.

I could not possibly disagree with you more.

TS3 and Wall-E are undisputed masterpieces and among the greatest gifts the medium has ever bestowed upon us, and Up is no slouch, either. It's a fantastic film.

Pixar has, indeed, made some errors in the past (Ratatouille in part and Cars as a whole), but to say anything they've done recently is sub-par, even for their standards...you either took too much medication or not enough.

[TheKeenGuy]

Re: Toy Story 3

While there was a lot of originality brought to the film, I would agree that there were some derivative elements from the second film in some areas of TOY STORY 3, such as the Lotso character feeling a bit like a retread of the Old Prospector.

It's pretty much the only issue I had, and I still loved the film.

[KWhit]

Re: Toy Story 3

I know I'm in the minority here, but I'd gladly take CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS over UP and DESPICABLE ME over TOY STORY 3.

Minor spoilers of Up and TS3 below:




Can't say I agree with that at all. The montage of Carl and Ellie in the opening of Up was one of the most impactful, moving scenes that I've seen on film in years. The only comparable moments that come to mind are from Toy Story 3. The "goodbye" scene in the dump, and the ending with Andy, Bonnie, and the toys.

So much heart in those moments. Just so amazingly well set up and executed. I am constantly amazed at the level of quality Pixar produces with EVERY SINGLE FILM. How do they do it?

[MacG]

Re: Toy Story 3

Minor spoilers of Up and TS3 below:




Can't say I agree with that at all. The montage of Carl and Ellie in the opening of Up was one of the most impactful, moving scenes that I've seen on film in years. The only comparable moments that come to mind are from Toy Story 3. The "goodbye" scene in the dump, and the ending with Andy, Bonnie, and the toys.

So much heart in those moments. Just so amazingly well set up and executed. I am constantly amazed at the level of quality Pixar produces with EVERY SINGLE FILM. How do they do it?

WALL-E was a million times more moving and heart-wrenching than anything in UP or TS3.

[Writerperson12]

Re: Toy Story 3

I watch films like WALL-E and TS3 and also find them masterful, incredibly well done and entertaining. But, I have no desire to watch either a second time. None. For some reason I'd much rather rewatch a lot of films that I wouldn't rank as highly as those two.

[Pen]

Re: Toy Story 3

WALL-E was a million times more moving and heart-wrenching than anything in UP or TS3.

I dunno, I thought Wall-E was sweet and touching, but ultimately, everything turned out fine. In contrast, there were parts of UP that were brutal. That opening scene was so heartbreaking, I can't watch it again. Toy Story 3 was a little like that for me, but not to the same extent.

[KWhit]

Re: Toy Story 3

WALL-E was a million times more moving and heart-wrenching than anything in UP or TS3.

Don't get me wrong. I loved Wall-e too. From start to finish, it is probably my favorite Pixar movie. But as far as individual moments that moved me, I'd put the scene at the end between Wall-e and Eve right behind the ones I mentioned. I mean, we're talking about minor degrees of awesome here.



I absolutely love the work that Pixar does. They're the best storytellers in the business.

[KWhit]

Re: Toy Story 3

I watch films like WALL-E and TS3 and also find them masterful, incredibly well done and entertaining. But, I have no desire to watch either a second time. None. For some reason I'd much rather rewatch a lot of films that I wouldn't rank as highly as those two.

I have 2 young children, so I've been "forced" to watch all of these movies more than I normally would. And yet, I always find myself seeing something new and different in them, and never tire of them like I do the Shrek movies or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, etc.

[snwrist]

Re: Toy Story 3

WALL-E and TOY STORY 3 are incredible -- UP was good, but not quite at the same level. Of course, this is all my opinion.

[MacG]

Re: Toy Story 3

I dunno, I thought Wall-E was sweet and touching, but ultimately, everything turned out fine. In contrast, there were parts of UP that were brutal. That opening scene was so heartbreaking, I can't watch it again. Toy Story 3 was a little like that for me, but not to the same extent.

See, I disagree. Maybe I walked into UP in a mad mood or something, but the montage with Carl & Ellie did little to tug at my heartstrings. It was sad, sure, but having loved ones pass on is a part of life. She and Carl had their time together; it's not like she died prematurely or anything.

And nothing in TS3 evoked any real emotional response. Maybe that's an indication I'm slowly dying on the inside or something, but....

Wall-E, on the other hand, is just a sweet, lonely innocent who longs for friendship / companionship. He finally gets that in EVE only to have her shut down once she gets the plant...which Wall-E interprets as his having done something to hurt her.

And then to have EVE plucked back into the spaceship as Wall-E races to her...hell, I'm practically misting just thinking about it.

I fully admit I bring my own baggage to the table (as we all do) in the sense I had a lonely childhood growing up and always longed for a true friend, etc, etc, but I don't think there's anything Pixar can do to top the brilliance of WALL-E.

[Architeuthis Dux]

Re: Toy Story 3

No complaints about anything Pixar has done (although like everyone else I like some more than others).

I've heard some slagging on Cars, but I've watched it a bunch of times (I have a kid and a DVD player, whattya expect), and there's actually lots of good stuff in it.

I would say, though, that very near the top of my list of all-time favorite animated movies is the non-Pixar Kung Fu Panda. In any other year, that would have taken home the big bowling trophy.

Back to TS 3: Ken's fashion montage was hilarious. But I also loved the mini-episode of Lotso, Big Baby, and the clown on the road, like Depression-era tramps.

[Pen]

Re: Toy Story 3

See, I disagree. Maybe I walked into UP in a mad mood or something, but the montage with Carl & Ellie did little to tug at my heartstrings. It was sad, sure, but having loved ones pass on is a part of life. She and Carl had their time together; it's not like she died prematurely or anything.

What made it so wrenching for me isn't that she died. If that was all that was to it, then I'd agree. No big deal. It was the bit about wanting to have kids and not being able to do that. The scene where they found out and how they dealt with it was just a punch in the gut to me. I'm tearing up even thinking about it.

[Biohazard]

Re: Toy Story 3

I just saw CWACOM for the first time recently and I really liked it. Maybe two rewrites away from Pixar's lower standards, however. It's a standard craft beer in comparison to Pixar's trappist ale, really. There is no comparison, though I'll still consume both.

The part with everyone saying everyone's names at the end was brilliant, though.

[prescribe22]

Re: Toy Story 3

Finally caught this. Thought it was very entertaining, but for whatever reason, I lost a little interest in the Toy Story characters after the first movie. I loved the first movie. Thought it was watershed movie in Hollywood (mostly because of the technology) history, there's something slightly annoying about Woody and Buzz.

That said, it's definitely fun. Love some of the story choices. I thought the claw thing was pretty clever.

One thing I keep waiting to see with Pixar is the gnads to go BAMBI and deliver a really gut wrenching, bitter sweet catharsis.

They kill off the mother in Nemo and the wife in UP, but they happen in the first act. They don't lay the emotional smack down late. Their stories tend to deliver more emotion early, and then tie things up pretty happily-ever-after through a pretty straight forward catharsis.

I think the most powerful catharsis is one that comes tempered with a little heartache.

That's not always a great idea for kids films, but ET and BAMBI pulled it off.

Not saying they have to go full on OLD YELLER, but it would be nice to see them deliver a more emotionally charged resolution.