Toy Story 3

I took the kids to see Toy Story 3 (2D) this afternoon. Steven had read a book of the story, and had already fallen in love with the teddy bear that is the story's bad guy. He already spent half of his birthday gift cards on a talking stuffy of the bear--and I've been trying ever since to reduce the "smells like strawberries" smell they sprayed on him (mildly successful--a combination of him sitting on a fan overnight and putting him on a rack in the drier for an hour and a half.)

Surprisingly, the movie has a lot in common with "The Great Escape", as the toys try to break out a preschool.

The end of the movie was very sweet, and quite sad. Andy gives his toys away to a little girl, plays with her and them one last time, then says good-bye and heads off for college.

It does put me in mind of a comment I read after "Up" came out: when did Pixar stop making movies for kids? The comment meant that movies like "Up", "Ratatoille", and "Cars" are aimed far more at adults than kids. They have a wistful and melancholy feel that is strange in a kids film. "Toy Story 3" has that same feeling. The movie was about faith and friendship, loyalty and change. Not exactly kid-friendly.

I was in tears for about the last 15-20 minutes of the film, starting when Andy's mom walks into his stripped down room (it becomes his sister's room after he leaves for college) and breaks down in tears, I was lost. We also see the bad guy get his comeuppance, which had Steven in tears as well. Despite the fact that the evil teddy nearly caused all of Andy's toys to be incinerated, Steven didn't think his punishment fit the crime: in the end the bear was lashed to the front grille of a garbage truck.

Elizabeth thought the first movie was best, but Steven liked this one.

I thought it was very good, and more moving than a lot of live-action movies.