SiM Trailer: Toy Story 3

Disney & Pixar come together for another Hanks-Allen adventure

Director: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2)
Writers: Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine), Andrew Stanton (WALL-E)
Cast: Tom Hanks (Toy Story), Tim Allen (Toy Story 2), Joan Cusack (In & Out), Don Rickles (Casino), Wallace Shawn (The Incredibles), John Ratzenberger (Cheers), Estelle Harris (Seinfeld), Ned Beatty (Deliverance), Michael Keaton (Batman), Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid)
Distributors: Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar
Release Date: June 18, 2010

Synopsis: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the toy box gang are back again for the third film in the groundbreaking franchise that introduced the merger of Disney and premier computer animators Pixar 14 years earlier (1995's Toy Story). The third toy story is set around the characters' new adventures after their owner, Andy, drops them off at a daycare center, as he leaves for college. Part 3 will be shown in Disney Digital 3-D, but not for another 379 days!

Up-lifting!

Soaring alongside the Pixar greats

Once in a lifetime films comes along that are top notch, all ages, are worthy of multiple viewings. Pixar has released 10 films (including this one) and has, arguably Toy Story 1 and 2, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E and now Up, is fitting into that “once in a lifetime” movies. Incredibly every single film but one Pixar movie has a plus 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Cars is the only film that has a sub 90% rating with a respectable 75%. Up is directed by Pete Docter (Monster’s Inc), the film was also co-written with Bob Peterson (many voices in Pixar films) who received co-director credit and also voices one of the characters (Dug, the talking dog). Edward Asner (Elf) voices Carl Fredricksen, Jordan Nagai voices the young Wilderness Explorer Russell and Christopher Plummer (Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music!) as Charles F. Muntz.

As the city grows Carl is going to be forced from his house but decides to fulfill a promise to his deceased wife, Ellie, who imagined them moving their house on top of Paradise Falls. Carl uses thousands of helium filled balloons to make his house a makeshift aircraft. Unfortunately Russell was on the porch during take off and is now stuck helping Carl, much to Carl’s dismay.

A relatable character is one thing you can say Pixar films have lacked. Not to say toys, fish, monsters, superheroes and rats didn’t have some problems that we could all relate to but it just means so much more when it is an actual human. Be it that Carl or Russell reminds you of your grandfather, a friend or even yourself, the aspect that you could supplant yourself for one of them on this adventure has your attention more than an underwater fish adventure, monsters in the closet or a cooking rodent. The pure emotion that is given in the wordless opening summary of Carl and Ellie’s life is beautiful and sets the tone for the entire film.

Hilarity throughout the film is based off the banter (not laugh out loud funny but more subtle) between Carl and Russell but Dug and the rest of his talking canine companions really steal the show. Mainly a comedy, Up couldn’t decide if the sub plot should be drama (absent fathers) or an escapist fantasy, it alludes to both but doesn’t touch far enough to either to hurt the film.

Another thing most people don’t notice is the amazing sound effects that Pixar has used in all their films. The music used was one more great thing about the movie, I loved when they played the old-fashioned piano. The visual effects were fantastic like usual, the Disney Digital 3D experience was great and I can’t wait for more films to be released like this.

The film premiered by opening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival (the first animated film to do so) where Dug, the talking dog, won the award Palm Dog, for best canine performance. Unlike most Pixar films the animals really can’t talk except for the canines that have a collar that enables them to talk which were created by the character Charles F. Muntz.

I really enjoyed this film, while not to the level that I enjoyed Wall-E, I think this may be Pixar’s second best film. Always tugging at your emotions, only to make you smile and laugh, and feel triumphant once the journey is complete.

4 out of 5
Colin Enquist

Pixar Crosses the Border

Canadian division of animation company coming soon

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

Pixar Animated Studios has announced that it will build a CGI animation production company in Vancouver, B.C., the first branch for the groundbreaking movie company outside of California.

Based out of Emeryville, California, Pixar will hire upwards of 100 people for their latest "toon shop," which will set its focus on televsion series, short films, and direct-to-DVD movies, as well as toons for theme parks based around their established characters (ie Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story).

Pixar chose Vancouver for its close proximity to the "Sunshine state," as well as the appealing tax incentives, which has earned the city the nickname "Hollywood North."

Founded back in 1979 as the Graphics Group--a branch of Lucasfilm's Computer Division--Pixar didn't earn a name for itself until co-launching the Toy Story with Disney, in 1995. Since then the company has earned more than 20 Oscar Awards, and is responsible for titles like A Bug's Life (1998), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), and last year's WALL-E (pictured right).

Dylan Brown, who has served as supervising animator for features like Nemo and Ratatouille (2007), will join the Vancouver division as its creative director.