Maybe, I missed something. Maybe, I wasn't paying attention and walked into the wrong theater altogether. Or perhaps, I'm just heartless, but I simply don't get all the Toy Story 3 love. It wasn't the worst animated movie I've ever seen, but it certainly isn't anywhere near the best. "Mediocre" would be the word I'd most likely use to describe it. Or maybe "kind of boring". Oh, and "overrated". Ridiculously overrated.
I made the mistake of mentioning this at one of my parenting groups, and they were on me like a pack of rabid shrews in heat.
"How could you say that?"
"But it was so poignant! You just didn't understand it."
"That stupid dragon movie was too violent for kids. I can't believe you even let her watch it!"
And my favorite, "That's like spitting on my childhood!"
Ironically, the group happened to be the anti-plastic toy bitches. While plastic toys themselves are clearly the work of Satan, movies about plastic toys are undying praise worthy, and woe to she who disagrees! Spitting on her childhood? That is truly all shades of awesome. I mean, I know I have a tendency to get a little too involved in movies I took my kid to see, but that's a whole new level. I'm already the black sheep of that group (who are we kidding, I'm the black sheep of almost all of our groups) so rather than debate this further, I just wandered over to the calorie free, all organic snack table. Did you know some groups offer donuts? Yeah, I just learned that.
Anyway, the movie didn't grab me. I didn't feel any sort of attachment to the characters, which is the difference between me liking a movie and loving a movie. The kid grew up. So what? Pie's only 3 1/2 and I already donate at least a bag of her shit every month. I can't say I've ever gotten teary eyed over it. Even Pie didn't really get into the movie. It was hard to keep her still, and one could argue that it's her age, but it's not. If she likes the movie, she's perfectly still, face painted with amazement right until the end credits. The only movie that made her more fidgety was Yogi Bear. Yeah. I ended up leaving $8 poorer and a couple hours older with nothing else to show for it. Not even an excited kidlet.
The movie seemed like it was designed with one goal: Using nostalgia to make it seem better and more interesting than it was. And it looks like it worked. Not for me, but in general. To be fair, I haven't seen Toy Story 1 since I was kid, and I've never seen Toy Story 2. That could be why I didn't care about the characters and didn't have the investment in their fate that I was supposed to. Still, an excellent movie should be an excellent movie on it's own, not relying on 15 years of back story support beams to hold it up. Especially, if we're throwing the label of "best" at it. Toy Story 3 was not that movie.
I guess it's possible that it is just me, especially since almost everyone else seems to have seen something entirely different. I'm just going to say it, How to Train Your Dragon should have won. That's a fantastic movie. I didn't see the third movie, so I guess I can't really say, but I'm willing to bet it would fall in the middle.
And while I'm bitching, can I also add that I didn't even remember Toy Story 3 having a song? I don't care enough to go back and watch it again, so I'll just assume it simply wasn't all that memorable. I didn't leave Tangled (the first time) singing that song either, but I at least remembered there was one and that it was really cute. I haven't heard the other two songs, so I'll just assume that should have won, too.
Okay, I'm glad to have gotten that all out. Please let me know if I've spit on your childhood. It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one putting way too much thought into this.
You're spiiting on my children's childhood. j/k...but seriously though as I was reading the first part of your blog I was thinking to myself "she must not have seen the other two movies. There is no way she could think this after watching the other two movies 15 gajillion times the way I have". So yeah, I get that you weren't vested...that could be the only reason for your dispersion on such a sad movie.
ReplyDeleteBut the fact that the anti-plastic toy ladies love it, that is funny... :)
I am not sure if I can be your friend anymore :P.....Just joking!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU.
ReplyDeleteI was not impress by TS3 at all. You're right, all the character development came in the first two movies and then they didn't bother with it in the third movie in hopes that we all remember every detail of the others.
But How to Train Your Dragon was a really good movie. Bio-engineering needs to get on making me a dragon, like yesterday. I didn't see the Illusionist, but I liked Triplets of Belville and I have big love for Jacques Tati.
I think the deal with TS3 is the same as the deal with The Return of the King. The first two movies didn't win anything and the franchise was so good that they need to throw them a bone, even though the last film wasn't the best. But I've always thought the Oscars were more political than anything else and I will come up with a conspiracy theory for everything. (If you ever want to hear my rant about how no one loves Peter O'Toole, just let me know.)
And how can saying that spit on their childhood? They do realize that the movie came out last year, right?
I didn't like ts3. Now the originally one yes it's my fav, and Byron loves it. But honestly I just thought it was way to overrated.
ReplyDelete@akpeach--Yeah, the anti-plastic ladies left me scratching my head. I really wanted to point that out, but Pie really likes the kids in that group, and having social influences that aren't me is probably good for her. Sigh. That looks on their faces would have probably made my life.
ReplyDeleteI've considered watching all three movies at the same time, but then, if I still don't like it, I'll just feel like I wasted a bunch of time I could have spent watching something else.
@Canah-- D:
@Airplane--Having a dragon is another one of those things I spend way too much time thinking about. Can you imagine the possibilities!?
I do plan to check out The Illusionist, but haven't had a chance yet. Unfortunately, it always seems there are more movies I want to see than time to see them.
You're absolutely right about the Oscars, but it's still irritating to see an excellent movie get passed over in favor of a mediocre one. I really shouldn't be this bitter, but I am. I would like to hear your rant on the lack of love for Peter O'Toole--there's someone who really has gotten the short end of things.
The spitting on their childhood thing, well, I just keep the source in mind. Most of the stuff those ladies say makes no sense, and that's saying a lot coming from me. I just assume they can't separate TS3 from TS1 or 2, and appreciate the fact that even the stuffy broads from parent group over think this stuff.
@Kathryn--I don't remember the first one enough to say either way. Since I haven't felt the overwhelming urge to watch it again and again, I'll just assume I thought it was okay.