Oscar Nominees 2010: Toy Story 3

I saw “Toy Story 3” on opening day. It’s a hard movie for me to write about, because it hit me emotionally exactly where John Lassetter and company intended it to. It’s for my generation and all of those since.
I’m going to offer a bit of a flash into my past. I had friends as a kid – sort of. I never really felt close to most of my friends. In my pre-kindergarten years, outside of my parents and grandparents, my pals were my toys. I had great adventures with them in my mind’s eye. It was truly the best of times, because I knew nothing better.
I remember giving up my toys at age 12. I say I gave them up loosely, because I still buy them. But I knew I had to change how they fit into my life if I was going to function in the world. It’s still a bittersweet memory, thinking about the realization hitting me that I had to leave these guys behind. Sure I could visit them, but I had to grow up.
This understanding is what Andy is faced with at the beginning of TS3. He’s about to leave for college, and his mom has decreed that he must decide the fate of Buzz, Woody, and the gang. You see that the boy is conflicted, and that the toys themselves are doing their best to adjust to the situation.
I’m going to purposely avoid plot detail. All I want to say is this: Everything ends. The only thing we can do is to try to find a way to reconcile that end, even if it’s a bittersweet reconciliation. If you have yet to see TS3, I recommend that you do. Fans of the first two will not be disappointed. TS3 will not win Best Picture, but it should win Best Animated Feature.

The GoaT Roundup: summer movies 2010

At the outset, this summer seemed like it would be
disappointing. Now that essentially all of the major films have
been released, I can safely say that such was not the case for
me…at least not like I had expected. Action movies on the whole
left much to be desired, but there were a few overall bright spots.
I’m going to move through my summer favorites chronologically. Iron
Man 2 – this sequel is less deep and meaningful than the original,
but tons of fun nonetheless. Downey again portrays a nearly perfect
Tony Stark, as the story begins to hint at his alcoholism. Sam
Rockwell is appropriately slimy as Stark’s business rival, and
Mickey Rourke is very good as whiplash. And Scarlett
Johansen…………………….what was I saying? Errr… Don
Cheadle slips into the role of Jim Rhodes with no issues. Samuel L.
Jackson is mildly annoying as Nick Fury. The climax is tense and
mindblowing, and the setup for the upcoming Avengers movie is not
subtle, but exciting to anyone who ever enjoyed reading a Marvel
comic. Toy Story 3 – Woody, Buzz, and friends are given a beautiful
swan song in this funny, clever, deeply sad, and incredibly
touching tale of toys whose owner has grown up. In parts inspired
by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, this movie is yet another
example of Pixar’s knack for delivering new variations on timeless
themes. Be ready for an emotional rollercoaster. Despicable Me – As
far as plots go, this one is fairly unique: a supervillain decides
to adopt three orphaned sisters in order to use them in his plot to
defeat his rival, but becomes unexpectedly attached to the girls
once they move in and get under his skin. Steve Carell is Gru, said
supervillain. Russell Brand is his assistant, Dr. Nefario. Neither
are recognizable, and both are quite hilarious in this unexpectedly
funny film that doesn’t add over-sentimental drivel and maintains
its light tone essentially throughout. Inception – My thoughts on
this movie are pretty clear. The interesting thing about this movie
is the polarizing effect it seems to have. People seem to really
get into it, or be lukewarm about it. It’s still my favorite this
summer, but only slightly ahead of… Scott Pilgrim vs. The World –
While this movie will not be for everyone, those who are of the
approriate era will appreciate the pop-culture pastiche that is
assembled here. Mostly a visually overcharged action movie, Scott
Pilgrim is also about getting comfortable in one’s own skin and
accepting oneself. Those who love Michael Cera will really enjoy
him here; those who hate him had best skip this one. Lots of
quotable moments and sharp supporting turns make this good film
great, along with a fun, overloaded soundtrack! Well, that’s it for
now. I’m hoping that the fall will bring some exciting
stuff…we’ll see!

From the Geek-Vault: A Whole Family of Supers! (“The Incredibles” Review)

Elastigirl: Settle down, are you kidding? I’m at the top of my game! I’m right up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so.

The superhero movie has been re-examined frequently in the last quarter century, and even more so in the last decade. The success of the X-Men and Spider-Man franchises helped to open the minds of filmmakers and film executives to other ways of telling stories that contain people or beings with unusual abilities. Writers and directors began to break away from any assumed template, and a new wave of creativity became present in the genre. Brad Bird’s “The Incredibles” is a fine example of such creativity.

The first thing we are shown is a collection of what appears to be vintage TV news interviews with “supers” (that’s how they’re known) Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson). Each super relates, in their own perception, the stresses of being a hero and of trying to hold onto their secret identity. This show of the characters’ humanity is at the very heart of “The Incredibles,” and it makes the movie that much more tangible.

After wedding Elastigirl, better known as Helen, Mr. Incredible is sued by a man whom he saved from a suicide attempt. While the public opinion of supers previous to this incident was highly favorable, the lawsuit sets off a firestorm of anti-super sentiment, the results of which remind me of the HUAC committee and Senator McCarthy. All supers are forced to retire and are relocated via a witness protection type of program that moves them to a place where they won’t be known for their heroic accomplishments, but rather will blend in to “ordinary” life. When we see Mr. Incredible, now just Bob Parr, 15 years later, he’s still struggling with this adjustment. He works for an insurance company, and an overly crooked one at that. He has put on a substantial amount of weight. He seems to be doing the bare minimum to get through each day. At home, he combs the newspaper for news of his old hero colleagues from what the supers now refer to as “the Glory Days.” One night a week, he slips out with his best friend Frozone (now just Lucius), and they listen to a police scanner in order to find crime to fight or people to save. Two of his three children, Violet (as in shrinking – she disappears) and Dashiell (Dash for short – guess why?) are blessed with powers but have no outlet to use them, and therefore feel frustrated. Helen is adamant about keeping the family below the super radar and maintaining their normal existence. But when, in the course of a single day, Bob loses his job and Mr. Incredible is offered paid hero work, things begin to look up for the once and future champion. Bob weaves a web of lies for Helen – he claims that he’s being sent to conferences by the insurance company – and finds a newfound, or perhaps rekindled, sense of purpose and importance. All is not as it seems, however, and when Bob runs into serious trouble at the hands of the villain Syndrome (Jason Lee), the rest of the family is forced into action in order to save their beloved patriarch.

Brad Bird has a way with characters, as evidenced by 1999’s “The Iron Giant.” In that movie he made a 50-foot tall robot from space as endearing as a small puppy. Here he has very specific ideas about who each member of the Parr clan is and what dynamic they bring to the family. Bob is a man in the throes of mid-life crisis; Helen is responsible for keeping the family running, both domestically and in making sure that Violet and Dash don’t kill each other. Violet is an indie-teen-angst type; Dash is an excitable kid whose love of sports has to be repressed to keep his powers, and the family’s cover, safe. Even baby Jack-Jack is full of personality. He’s a happy and well-behaved infant, although it would seem that he doesn’t have a power…

Bird has an affinity for 1950’s style nostalgia. While “The Incredibles” doesn’t have a defined era, a sense of late 50’s/early 60’s “mod” style is present in the designs of buildings, cars, wardrobes, hairstyles, and more. The color palette is fairly bright, which helps keep the mood a bit lighter when appropriate. The animation really pops in some of the action sequences and in certain effects. One of the remarkable things about this movie is Michael Giacchino’s stereotype-defying score. It’s the least likely superhero music, but the jazz-laden, squeal-trumpet-infested score is one of the best I have heard. It moves when it should, and it lightens up and steps aside when appropriate. It also makes the film feel like it belongs to a bygone time.

The core of this movie is really the notion of family and of coming together as a family in the face of a crisis. As clichéd as that might sound, it’s a skill that we all need at some point. The scenes of The Incredibles working together as a team hits my emotional soft spot every time. I really think that the idea of family being bigger than anything is the best thing that anyone – child or adult – can take away from this movie. It’s also a movie about admitting when you need help rather than taking on all of your burdens alone. When Bob realizes that he can’t do what he has to do alone and must rely on Helen and the kids, his vulnerability shines through, and therefore so does his humanity.

If you’ve been avoiding this movie, I encourage you to rent it. If you’re self-conscious about watching what you assume is a “kids’ movie” without a kid, I’ll rent one of my nephews out to you for a fee. In my estimation, this is the best superhero film that is not adapted from previously existing characters. I might even say it’s super.

Never too old for cartoons

As I write this, I’m watching some of the Superman short cartoons that were produced between 1941 and 1943. For anyone who loves either Superman or animation, these are a must. They were made with such style and care that even now they captivate with their unique style and remarkably fluid movement.

I’ve decided to take this time today to salute animation. People today dont seem to understand why a man who is almost thirty five would have such an affinity for animated things. Cartoons were always a big deal to me. Saturday mornings as a kid were more like church to me than actual church! Those were truly the days…sitting in my pajamas watching the tube for 6 hours or so, at some point consuming a delightfully oversugared cereal…I can almost taste the Captain Krunch! For me personally, the many versions of Super Friends that aired during these years were a huge favorite. How could they not be? Superman and Batman, fighting side by side? Yes, please!

Cartoon specials were a big event in my young life as well. Prime time visits from Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman were essential Christmas rituals, and Charlie Brown would usually turn up every holiday. Bugs Bunny was on for an hour every Saturday night, and in my early school years, I would run from the school bus to the house to watch Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo.

My mom introduced me to animated films by way of classic Disney. I began with Pinocchio. Everything about that movie was appealing to me. It’s still a favorite. I also distinctly remember loving Disney’s take on Robin Hood. The newer Disney captured my attention as well, most notably The Lion King. The first time I saw that incredible opening sequence will always be a highlight of my movie-going memories.

Then there’s Pixar. What can be said that isn’t already obvious? Pixar has always told stories with incredible care (no pun intended). The body of work that they have produced in less than 20 years of making animated features is of a higher quality than some movie studios amass in twice as much time! While I don’t love Cars or Ratatouille, every other movie that they have made would be in my top 100 movies of all time list. The Toy Story series, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, Up, Wall*E…all so lovingly crafted, entertaining, and moving. It probably goes without saying that I have a huge soft spot for The Incredibles. I’ll save the why’s of that one for a later post…

To backtrack just a bit…at the beginning of my senior year of high school, a momentous thing happened. Batman got his own cartoon. Not only that, it was BRILLIANT. The look was far removed from anything that had come before, and the animation was heavily influenced by the aforementioned Superman cartoons. The whole design of the show was dark and stylized, the cars and cityscapes nodding back to the 1930’s and 1940’s. The voice cast was comprised of real actors rather than voiceover artists. In spite of a crazy schedule over the next few years, I managed to catch every episode. A similar Superman series followed, as did a very good Justice League series. But neither had quite the impact on me as Batman. I mean, here were the comics I read, come to life! I love to go back and watch certain episodes. They don’t disappoint.

At the risk of being long winded, I must mention “The Iron Giant.” This is an animated movie that completely took me by surprise. The story has a strong parallel to E.T, but the actual message moves me in a spiritual way. You can’t help but root for the Giant when you watch this underappreciated gem. See it. Your kids may be bored but you will love it.

I guess the point I hope to make here is that I love the fact that animation can do anything that the imagination can dream. It offers you as a viewer an escape into a place that you couldn’t otherwise visit. Just this year so far, I’ve trained dragons, seen Andy off to college, and watched a super villain go soft over three little orphan girls. The beauty of it is that there will be more worlds to visit, yet I can go back to the ones I’ve already been to anytime I want to. I’m going to leave you now and re-join Superman as he takes out some Japanese/Nazi spies.