Toy Story 3 (2010)

It's no surprise that Pixar animation studios pretty much has a monopoly on the world of animated films. Each year they release a film that is even more successful than the previous year and they don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Dare I say that Disney might of went down if it wasn't for Pixar. So when I heard stories about a third entry in the Toy Story series, honestly, I wasn't all that excited. Then I saw the teaser trailer and, still, no excitement. However, every one else seemed to be excited about it. Don't get me wrong, I did love the first two. I just didn't see a reason for a third one and when I saw the actual theatrical trailer I was underwhelmed.

Toy Story 3 is a film directed by Lee Unkrich and stars the voice talents of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Jodi Benson, John Morris, and Laurie Metcalf. This film picks up ten years after the last one and now sees Andy, 17, bound for college. This sort of creates a crisis for the toys because now their future is uncertain. They are donated to a daycare called Sunnyside with new adventures to have and presumably to start a new chapter in their lives. The idea of always having kids to play with them for years and years is very strong plot point and a very valid reason for these toys to want to be there. After realizing that Sunnyside isn't what it seems, Woody and Buzz, along with the other toys, plan an escape that results in one of the biggest adventures in Pixar's lineup of films. That's the plot in a nutshell in fear of giving too much away.

Much to my surprise, I was completely blown away by this film. This is a five star animated film in every respect and I have to say that it could be one of Pixar's BEST. I should've never doubted Pixar for a moment. It's very rare for an animated film to make me emote and that's exactly what happened here. I laughed, I nearly cried, and was on the edge of my seat in the film's final moments. It was like going to a reunion where you expect the worst but it turns out to be the best time you've had in a while with people you love. These characters have been with us for fifteen years and I fell in love with them all over again and was reminded of why I loved them so much to begin with. These characters are as timeless as the story that's being told here and it was fun to spend time with old friends.

I'm amazed at what Pixar has done here. Every little detail is accounted for and fleshed out. Completely authentic in it's approach, there's a scene near the beginning where we see home videos of Andy growing up as Randy Newman's classic song "You've Got A Friend In Me" plays on. Brilliance. Years have gone by so the toys have wear and tear on them and it's so authentic and so real, that you can't help but admire it. They've really done their homework and have crafted a story that is heartfelt and very human. The validity of the human condition in this animated film surpasses any live action film that I've seen lately and that is both great and sad. The emotions on their faces are priceless and real. It goes to show you that animated films have come a long way and they are now in position to challenge live action film. They even pushed the boundaries in this film and actually went to a VERY dark place that I didn't even expect. All I will tell you is that the scene I'm referring to, takes place in a landfill and it's the one scene that, when you see it, you'll see the most human moment in the entire film. The fact that the filmmakers weren't afraid to go to a dark place and took that risk was both gratifying and refreshing.

Another thing that Pixar has done here with Toy Story 3 is that they managed to seamlessly put us back into this world that they created fifteen years ago. The dialogue is sharper, better, and wittier than ever and the film manages to cater to the most general of audiences. Adults and kids alike will cherish this film. There were moments when I thought, wow, this is very well written and whoever wrote this deserves some sort of award. It's even more relevant than it was fifteen years ago when we were first charmed by Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and friends. There was even a new song recorded by Randy Newman entitled "We Belong Together" which strongly captures the whole theme of this new story.

I strongly recommend this film for any age group. The message it sends is as timeless as the characters themselves which is, you can always get by with a little help from your friends. Never have I seen an animated film, besides "Up", that manages to capture the human condition and challenges it's live action counterparts. It was endearing and heartfelt and will bring out the kid in all of you. Toy Story 3 is now playing in theaters everywhere and I have included a trailer just in case you've been in a cave for the past year.

9 (2009)

Animated films these days are just as, if not more, compelling as live action film and they are becoming more universal as far as age groups. Adults and kids alike can come together and make a film gross more than 200 million dollars worldwide. So when Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov ("Wanted") get on the animated train, it's just something that you go see period. Now the two producers are producing another animated film called "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". Now that sounds awesome!

"9" is a film directed by Shane Acker and stars the voice talents of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, Crispin Glover, and Martin Landau. This film is about 9, a rag doll in a post apocalyptic world holding the key to the future of humanity. After a war between humans and machines the world has been left with no human life. Now 9 fights, along with other numbered rag dolls, a huge machine called "Brain" to destroy the machines.

I have to say right off the bat that this is a very ambitious animated film. It has a very unique sense of style and Shane Acker really brings the vision to life in a very effective way. The animation is a wonder to behold and the design and look of this world is executed perfectly. However, I felt that this is a film that held back. It really didn't utilize the set up. This could've been a groundbreaking animated film, and it is to a certain degree, but it spends too much time worrying about the plot that it forgets it's external function. The world never fully comes to life. I did enjoy the film though. It reminded me of Don Bluth's animated films back in the day and how much I loved that aesthetic that most animated films don't have anymore. Don wasn't afraid to be dark and Shane is the same way. The eye candy is amazing. Especially on blu-ray. The effects are outstanding and the sound design is euphoric. For a home theater enthusiast like me, this is reference material.

The voice acting was as well as could be expected by a cast such as this. Most of the dialogue seemed repetitive at times but not enough to be annoying. By the end of the film you do sort of feel like you haven't seen enough. You feel almost like you have blue balls and you can't have an orgasm. I was really looking for that spark that would make this animated film different from the rest. It does have a difference but not enough to make me LOVE it.

I do highly recommend this film though. You have to see it to judge it for yourself. It's an original film and has everything going for it, but you may feel like you want more at the end. Netflix it and enjoy the eye candy.

UP (2009)

Pixar is a force to be reckoned with. I pity any other animation studio because Pixar knocks it out the park EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME...How do they do it? Who is working for them? No one really knows but it's definitely a team of the best in the business. Their stories are always so heartfelt and funny and adventurous and there's always layers of story that are just compelling.

"UP" is a film directed By Pete Doctor and co-directed by Bob Peterson. It stars the voice talents of Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, and Bob Peterson. The film is about an old man named Carl Fredrickson who flies his house to a spot where his late wife always wanted to go, paradise falls. It's the sweetest film I have seen in a long time and it's very rare for an animated film to make me emotional. He accidentally takes a young wilderness scout with him and they go on an adventure into the unknown. I have to say that when I first heard about "UP", all I knew is that a flying house and an old man were involved and I honestly didn't worry about the content because I knew that Pixar would deliver. This film was the second animated film behind "Beauty And The Beast" to ever be nominated for a best picture Oscar and it's well deserved. The film moved me in ways I never thought I could be moved. The first 15 minutes of the film alone nearly gave me a cavity because of how sweet it was. This is an adventure film for the ages and it takes you on a journey that you'll never forget. I can't really think of anything bad to say about this film but if you think a film about a flying house sounds ridiculous, you'll be proved wrong.

All of the characters are very endearing, Carl the old man, Russell the young wilderness explorer, Kevin the large flightless tropical bird, Dug the talking golden retriever, and many more. These are definitely characters that you'll remember and that's another thing that Pixar is really good at, memorable characters. The score sweeps you away with the house and everything about this film is on a grand scale. It's almost an animated epic mostly due in large part to the final act. As far as animation goes, this is the best of the best. I saw this on blu ray and in my opinion, whether you use blu ray or digital download, you should watch this in high definition. You will be stunned. If you're worried about the prices of blu ray, you can always rent or buy from Amazon.com. You can buy blu rays there between $5-$25 bucks used and you can new stuff too. Plus they are always having really good sales on them every week.

This is also a film that immerses you in sound. If you have surround sound, this will be a pleasure for you to watch. Especially if you have lossless audio receiver. Disney takes very good care of it's films and it's presentations and everything they do, they do it with care and quality. I highly recommend this film to anyone, whether you like animation or not. If you're not part of the HD revolution don't worry because Disney's standard definition DVD's are top of the line.