Disney & Pixar's Toy Story 3 [DVD] [2010]

Toy Story 3 is the only time Disney have done a "second" sequel to any animated cinema release, underlining faith in their own ability to deliver first class entertainment when a safe 80 minute merchandising commercial could so easily have done. Released earlier in time zones where peak screenings don't clash with World Cup football, we get the third (and last?) thrilling instalment "they" said they wouldn't do.Pixar re-assemble the best animated character set there is including Woody's "original" partner Jesse from TS2. Also joining established favourites from TS1 is the re-emergence of the most dysfunctional cartoon player since Itchy and Scratchy - Sid from next door, now a late teens truck driver.The obligatory technology upgrade reflects the passage of time (can it really be 11 years?), but the gloss is carefully restrained to ensure the Toy "toons" retain the simplified charm we have come to love. I remain indifferent to the 3D option and simply suggest it's an alternative that is interesting to some but far from essential. Probably justifies a barrel of popcorn, but not upgrading your plasma.I won't spoil your enjoyment, so we keep the synopsis bikini-style i.e. brief and covering only essentials. We rejoin Andy aged 17 and heading for college, who after deciding to take Woody with him, sets up a misunderstanding leading to a "Great Escape" caper done the Toy Story way. Sunnyside Daycare centre cleverly morphs into a prison camp, hosted by the sweet'n'sinister "Lots-o-Huggin" Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty) later revealed as mad dictator. Our journey takes off gently before gathering pace with a Western flavour.We'll go on to meet Barbie's playmate, the fantastically oily Ken (think 2 parts Hasselhoff to 1 part Simon Cowell) as well as crusty old Brit-fart Mr. Pricklepants expertly brought to life by Timothy (twice Bond) Dalton. Whoopi Goldberg, meanwhile, may be under-used and almost overlooked as octopus Stretch alongside the myriad new faces sure to be appearing on a lunchbox near you shortly.The rules are kept simple - toys move exactly the way they do in YOUR child's palm. The hook is deep enough guarantee enchantment, but the parents price is paid with empty pockets for a full toy chest. Everything you see (humans apart) you can buy - in a Disney store of course. The story is straightforward and fleshed out with quality gags and set pieces for all levels. As always the humour is divided cunningly in two. Cute stuff and visual treats for tender tots, scalpel-sharp wit for their senior accompaniment, pulling punches just short of the "Family Guy" limit. Trust me when I say "your" cinema ticket won't be wasted. Try and resist the temptation to buy on DVD, just to watch over younger shoulders.The secret? Simply first class comic talent thinly disguised as a children's movie. Time and care has been lavished to ensure this is a genuinely interesting and durable experience for all.When the ending finally arrives, there a hint of a rounding of the tale to a final conclusion, but with the assured success of this third instalment, it would be a brave bet that says there won't be a fourth....eventually.

Pixar has always enabled the audience to directly attatch themselves to the characters and have a storyline that can really call back to personal experiences or even relate to somewhat. In the early 90's when the very monumental Toy Story was released, it catapulted animation to new heights! not only for it's revolutionary use of digital art, but to have a very strong connection with the audience, presenting 'toys' as a literal metaphor for life!Here we are almost two decades later and we have seen Toy Story 2 raise to new heights and many immitations on the plot or creativity. Here Toy Story 3 breaks the records and definitively brought the beloved characters we fell in love with in both films and takes them on their most deep adventure yet!The Toy Story films have that knack of always attatching themselves to people of ANY age, ANY upbringing, ANY race and ANY demographic. It spans all the generations and are each (including this cracking film!) absolute timeless pieces of art.Now, Toy Story 3 has been arguably THE movie event of 2010! not just in animation but for film in general. Audience's of the films when they premiered those years ago came back, new audiences came and saw it and it met with universal acclaim and new records being broken.The hype was built upon across 2008 and 2009 with storylines being scrapped and rumoured voice casts and characters etc. But it definitively all came into play with Toy Story 3,as not only does this film live up to they hype of the media, but also it surpasses many thoughts on where the direction of this film was going to go! It surpasses the heights of the previous two films and deeply connects with its audience from the iconic and comical opening sequence, through sequences of absolute TOP class direction and humour and that pure emotional en-richened sequences that pushed the boundaries on how much an animation can deliver.Only eve have The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? been animations that really emotionally pushed me, but Toy Story upped the stakes to new heights!Many reviewers have praised the film on here, and only I can do the same too! Toy Story 3 was absolutely well worth the wait, and it provides the ultimate sequel for a trilogy like no other film franchise has achieved, it ranks with the original! and definitively one of the most creative animated films of all time.The voice cast were on top form as always too! With Tom Hanks and Tim Allen back at their absolute finest as the iconic Woody and Buzz Lightyear. And favourites Mr & Mrs Potato Head, Rex, Slinky Dog, Spanky Hamm and of course Jessie the yodeling Cowgirl and Bullseye.The movie is an absolute treasure that reflects the journey of life itself at an introspective viewpoint, the first film delved into early life, the second explored the themes of growing up, while this third really reflects the later stages of life itself into the choices of 'adulthood' and retirement. And it really does hit home too.Honestly if this film doesn't get nominated at the Oscars For Best Motion Picture then the whole ceremony would be unworthy, just a wonderful display all the way through, my words are unworthy.QUALITY!