My Movie Review on Toy Story 3 · 6:05pm Nov 2nd, 2019
My 75th film review? Already?
Gosh, the reviewing element in my brain has definitely been in overdrive. I don't know how I can even stop myself.
But, enough about that.
Today, I'll be making my 75th film analysis, and my 1st to be part of my "Thanksgiving Treat" to you all, on "Toy Story 3".
Here's the summary of it:
With Andy being a grown up now and preparing himself for college, the last of his toys find themselves desperate to be played with again after so long and don't know what the future has in store for them. The only one who believes Andy still cares for them and must have a reason for keeping them is Woody.
However, everything suddenly changes when the toys are mistakenly taken to a Daycare Center, which seems to hold an opportunity for them to be played with forever. Until they discover the tyrannical atmosphere of their new home, with the ringleader being a strawberry-scented teddy bear named Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (Lotso for short).
Will they be able to leave the center alive? Or will they be doomed to stay in their apparent prison forever?
I remembered learning about this film's existence an awfully long time ago. As a matter of fact, I even went to a theater to see it when it originally came out.
Even today, this film is something that I classify with this very term:
TOTAL AWESOMENESS!!!
The direction by Lee Unkrich, the story by him, John Lasseter, and Andrew Stanton, and the screenplay by Michael Arndt, were all extremely compelling.
When it comes to making a great film, Unkrich seriously does not mess around. He did more than make this another excellent Pixar film and Toy Story sequel. Aided by the creativity of the story and screenplay, Unkrich was able to make this movie bigger and deeper beyond compare, possibly even more than Pixar films before it.
The amount of emotion that the film had was something that I found to be greater than the first and second film. So many times, I couldn't help but note how things often ranged from dramatic and depressing, to light-hearted and joyful. The compelling thing about it, most of all, was that everything was perfectly balanced and well-worked to where one could almost compare it to that of an accomplished orchestra. The most soul-tugging of moments was that of the film's grand finale, which was powerful enough to cause someone to cry.
The only thing that really concerns me is that some moments in the film, mainly the junkyard scenes, and the parts where Lotso becomes angry, may prove to be too intense for the youngest of viewers. The reason I'm saying this is because, in the moments I mentioned, my 5 and 3 year old nieces either got scared or cried. But, if anyone truly thinks that this movie is something they can see with their youngest of family members, I highly recommend some parental comforting for them just in case.
Moving on from that, though, the humor in the film was as sharp and fun as ever. So many times, I couldn't help but find myself on the verge of laughing, especially at the parts where Buzz was in Spanish mode. To me, Spanish Buzz was the funniest element of the film. The best part about the comedy was that it helped the film and the audience be relieved of the dramatic tension.
Another thing I couldn't help but note about the film...was its themes. Its themes about trust, self-worth, and faith, which is particularly shown through the characters. It was especially relatable to that of humans and their relationship with Jesus, only unlike toy owners, Jesus never changes.
Andy's toys, by the way, were as awesome and distinct as ever, and they were portrayed perfectly by their vocal performers. Blake Clark, might I add, did a phenomenal job at filling in for the late Jim Varney as the voice of Slinky.
To me, Andy's toys represent the Christians who become particularly conflicted and filled with doubt towards God. God, in the film's case, being Andy. Outside of Woody, the toys started to think they're no longer of any worth to Andy, so they decide it was time for them to stay at the Daycare Center to feel like they're worth something again. It's a great reflection for people who turn to something other than Jesus.
Woody, among all of Andy's toys, represents the Christians whose faith and trust in Jesus remains strong and unbroken no matter how much doubt enters his mind and no matter what someone else says. In this case, even though Andy grew up, Woody believed that there must've been a reason for why Andy kept him and the others for so long, and that they really mean a lot to him. Tom Hanks, by the way, did an awesome job portraying Woody in this sequel, perhaps even giving his best performance as the character yet.
The new characters were additionally pretty excellent, with each performer playing them fitting their parts like a glove.
The biggest standout of the new characters, in my opinion, was definitely Lotso. Among other things about him, he was not only an excellent and fully-realized villain, he was also a perfect representation of certain people in particular: Atheists. Especially the ones who once believed in Jesus, but later don't.
Having been broken by the fact that his previous owner, Daisy, replaced him with another bear just like him, Lotso became someone who was cruel and mean. He fed off of his own anger and hatred towards his owner, and took them out on every other toy who dared to cause him to get cross. He lied to himself and to others, preaching that toys are worthless trash in the eyes of their owners. Additionally, he grew a desire to be in control of anything and everything, especially himself and the lives and minds of all other toys. All in all, Lotso represents exactly what a Jesus-hater is and what they're like. Ned Beatty likewise did a phenomenal job portraying the character, bringing in excellent personality, unpredictability, and emotion to the film's antagonist.
The animation of this movie, to change the subject, was astounding. The franchise's ability to grow and be larger than ever before animation-wise apparently knew no bounds. And while it does have its feeling of nostalgia, it also tries to not be too much of that. The junkyard moments were the parts that I found to be particularly powerful in that regard.
Finally, Randy Newman's work as composer for this film was as amazing as ever. His work here is perhaps even his best yet, because throughout this movie...there was a resonance and heart in the music that was powerful enough to grab onto your emotions. He did a great job at making the music even bigger than his work in the previous Toy Story films too, that's for sure.
In conclusion, "Toy Story 3" is an amazingly powerful and magnificent film, thanks to the amazing creativity and talent put into it, and for even having themes that relate so well to Christianity. It's the best installment I've seen of the franchise yet, and a great conclusion to Woody and friends's story with Andy.
So, I rate "Toy Story 3" a solid five out of five stars. I can't wait to see "Toy Story 4" soon.
My parents still can't watch this movie without tearing up. :)
This film is, in my opinion, one of Pixar's best.
I'm sad to say that I have yet to watch the whole movie.
This was a great film.
I agree fullheartedly with what you've stated in this review.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this review, and to have seen your thoughts on what you think of the film?
What did you guys think of what I found the themes of the film to be?
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I remember you saying that you haven’t gotten yourself completely into the Toy Story films as of yet.
Did my reviews at least get you interested in seeing them? Especially now that you’re older?
I mean, to give it any other score would be sacrelige.
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You agree that the film is amazing?
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I started getting more into them as I got older definitely. I really wanted to see this movie too, but I just never really found the time.
Toy story 4 is truly a miracle. It adds a unique chapter even after 3's picture perfect ending.
I enjoyed Toy Story 3 since when I was younger and I even saw that in theaters.
Toy Story 4 is my least favorite in the series, but I thought it was okay.
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I wouldn't argue that Lotso is a comment on Anti-Christians, but more those who have lost faith in what they used to hold dear in general. It sort of reminds me of how Cinch is portrayed in the story Vanishing Act; both are twisted, bitter characters because of what they have lost.