!!!May Contain SPOILERS!!!
So last night I had the privilege of attending a screening of Toy Story 3 with a Q&A with Michael Arndt (the screenwriter) afterward. It was the third time I've seen it, and it's still is just as great as the first time. I've dared to call it the perfect Part 3 to a trilogy. It made me so happy because the first two films are two of my favorites, and this did not disappoint. From the (BRILLIANT) opening sequence where they actualize what Andy's imagination and playtime would really be like for our toy characters (even using dialog from the opening play sequence from the first film), I knew this was going to be just as great as the other two films. What I did not anticipate was how emotional it is. That especially sucks if you're wearing 3D goggles. I can't recall another film outside of E.T. that pretty much forces you to cry at the end.
Why is it the perfect trilogy? Because it uses set ups and emotional cues from the first films. Had the first two never been made, this might be satisfying, but it wouldn't have the emotional wallop. Over 15 years we've grown up with these toys, they're devotion to their owner, Andy, and the odds they've gone through to maintain that.
On it's own though, Toy Story 3 could easily stand on its own. Because it's constructed like a strange Twilight Zone-esque break-out-of-prison flick. After realizing that Andy really has no use for them when he goes to college and falsely thinking he wants to throw them away, the toys in 3 think their problems will be solved by going to daycare, with the joy of playing with kids forever-and-ever. Woody of course, loyal to Andy to the very end, doesn't agree and decides he will return to Andy alone, since he was actually put in the "College" box. The rest think that they're in paridise, but boy do they get more than what they "bargain for". The toys at Sunnyside are so "friendly", and they're guided to play in the "Caterpillar Room", where they are then tortured by toddlers. "Andy never played with us like that!" Rex whines. But this realm of toys is under the sneaky dictatorship of Lots-O-Huggin' Bear. When Buzz tries to get the toys out, he is proceeded to be "switched" to his original settings and the rest of Andy's toys are now imprisoned. There's actually some humorous homages to the great Prison films like Shawshank Redepmtion. And Lots-O is an unflinching villain to the end, who gets his come-upance in fantastically cruel Promethian fashion.
Michael Ardnt, who came on board the film before his Oscar winning screenplay, Little Miss Sunshine, even went into production, said that writing with the Pixar think tank was a fantastic experience. They just believe in telling fantastic stories and the power of storytelling. They just liked and believed in his writing, and went with him. It's a shame the rest of Hollywood doesn't think like this. They can attempt to seek the best, but many times the settle for what's "easy". Pixar really views films the way great companies view their products. That everyone contributes to the whole to come up with the best thing possible. There's a reason that all of their 11 feature films have been hugely successful, often times one of the top 3 grossing films of the year. Last year, "Up" was even nominated for Best Picture. Many are saying Toy Story 3 will also.
Oh, one last interesting sidenote, Arndt also said that the character of Lots-O was actually concieved way back before Woody and Buzz, when the guys were just brainstorming what Toy Story would be about. Back then it was gonna just be set in a toy store!
Amazing how the process of conception to script to film to sequels! can be such an interesting journey.
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