The serious side of toys; Pixar and Toy Story 3 bring it home
You have to really hand it to Pixar. They didn't just make a great movie with Toy Story 3; they made a statement about the importance of toys. Due to this movie, we have seen an outpouring of reviews, articles and even op-ed editorials in the New York Times, "The Toys Are Us" by David Hadju.
In these reviews and articles, we learn that grown men in the audience weep (yes, weep) unashamedly as they deal with the emotions of loss and love. Hadju, in his editorial, notes the powerful metaphor that these characters evidence in the self-less love of parents. Just as we put our toys away, we also pack our parents off to old age homes. A.O. Scott, in his review, "Voyage to the Bottom of the Day Care Center," had a different take. He also sees the movie as about love but it's the love that can be bought; the love between a child and a toy.
You may agree with Hadju, or Scott or have your own opinion. After all, as with any great movie, viewers will leave the theatre with their own unique take. To me, what is compelling in all of this is the reminder that toys don't just help us develop intellectually and mechanically, they help us develop emotionally as well.
Toys R Important!
Raju commented:
Excellent! I haven't seen this video in more than 20 years! And throughout that time I lyawas thought Cuddly Toy was his best hit. This hit was released around the same time Living Colour's Cult Of Personality became a hit. That same year, Terence Trent D'Arby made waves with his brand of neo- and retro-funk/rock/soul fusion. The next year came Lenny Kravitz, and the Black Rock Movement was on. No longer would black rock be limited to Prince, Tina and pop.
Christ commented:
Yeah, this review is kind of spot on in some areas. The movie didn't suck: it was way too well made for that; but the ekbnlat applause it has got across the media is totally unjustified. It was the worst of the 3 films, it was also unnecessary, the plot was a rehash, and the jokes were of the Shrek variety too knowing for kids, but not actually that funny either. Example? Okay, Barbie sees Ken (one looong, not very funny joke about his questionable sexuality thanks guys, I got it in the first take) and she says nice ascot . The gag is just there to make adults feel smug about hearing the word ass' successfully smuggled into a kid's movie. Hilarious. Only thing is, these guys are like the world's worst smugglers, because kids don't know what an ascot' is. They sure as hell know what an ass is, though, so the whole double entendre is a waste of time. I felt that this laziness is typical of many aspects of the movie. The first two were so good, I came out sorely disappointed. Oh, and by the way, those people who post comments like I can't believe you're so negative or why do you have to destroy a great movie etc. go to North Korea, because they'll love people like you there who can't stand anyone not having the same opinion as yourself or the majority. Just because someone doesn't like something, doesn't mean they're being negative. It might mean they're being honest. In any case, they are entitled to their opinion, and that goes even for people who say it sucked, an opinion I don't actually share.
MyPictureTeddyBear com commented:
Pixar definitely hit home with Toy Story 3, the appeal was there from the young ones in the audience to my husband and I laughing and tearing up at the moments of this movie! Toys are important, and some do last a lifetime
