Toy Story 3

I'll write more on this later, but: I just (finally!) saw Toy Story 3.

Standard disclaimers: I'm a giant Pixar nerd, and the Toy Story franchise got it's claws into me at a young age. That said...this film is tied for the title of "best movie of the year". It's Pixar doing what they do best. There are believable, whole characters. The story is fun and adventurous and never too intense. The characters are great. The animation, of course, is fantastic. Did I mention that there are great, emotionally-accessible characters? And at the end, you get an ending so happy that - well, I'd say you'd have to be a terrifying monster to not find a Pixar ending heartwarming, but they made a movie about terrifying monsters and it had a heartwarming ending, so there you go.

Anyway - I saw the original Toy Story when it first came out in 1995 and loved it, and this movie concluded the saga in the absolute best possible way. I imagine it would stand up perfectly well on it's own, but as the conclusion to a story that first started when I was nine, it was perfect.

(And yes, it goes on the list of "Pixar films which, rather embarrassingly, have caused me to weep like a baby", up there with, well, Up. And Finding Nemo. and Monsters, Inc. And Wall-E. And Ratatouille. And the other Toy Story movies. Curse your emotional manipulation, Pixar!)

Ye olde bigge toppe

Growing up, one of my absolute favorite movies was Dumbo. It was one of the VHS cassettes I probably just about wore out (along with The Land Before Time, and an old recording of episodes of Winnie the Pooh). I was always totally freaked out by the pink elephant scene - which I'm pretty sure is justified because even as an adult my reaction is pretty much "Man, what the hell?"

Also as an adult - it's a great film. It's touching and the music is great and the animation! God, they don't make cartoons like they used to. And brief foray into LSD-induced nightmares aside, it strikes a great balance between silly fun and scary for the kids.

But.

So there's the obvious thing where all the crows sound stereotypically black and the uncomfortable part where the main crow? is named Jim Crow. So...yeah. But further? Early on there's that scene where the circus train pulls up and they're all setting up the tent, which is primarily set up by a bunch of "roustabouts", who are portrayed as decidedly dark figure lacking in any clear features, which is...well, okay it was made in 1941, and maybe it's a stylistic decision? It's during a rainstorm after all. And since it's a Disney movie they sing a fun little song. In which they describe themselves as happy-hearted roustabouts. Who never learned to read or write, who "slave until we're almost dead" (yeah), and don't know when they'll get paid, but it's fine because they'll just toss it away when it comes.

So...yeah. Great movie, but a little bit cringeworthy at points.

Pixar just keeps getting better and better

Today, in a moment of rain-induced impulse (I was on the bus already, might as well go across town), I took myself to see Up.

Now, I'm a sucker for well-made kids movies to begin with, and I adore Pixar. I think that Cars and A Bug's Life are cute and amusing, and also the only two movies to come from that studio which are not absolutely all-over wonderful. I have at least greatly enjoyed, if not absolutely loved, every film that Pixar has made, and with those two above exceptions, every Pixar movie has had at least a brief period as a favorite of the moment. With that said, I think Up is their finest work yet.

The beginning is, for a few moments, absolutely adorable, and then heartbreaking, as it walks you through a lifelong romance, right up to the end. Mr. Fredrickson is a wonderfuly flawed character who is completely and totally sympathetic; you automatically feel for him. The young intrepid Russell is adorable in his not-quite-adolescence; he took slightly longer to grow on me but you absolutely get there by the end. The other characters are absolutely spot-on, including and perhaps most so the dogs.

It goes without saying that the film is visually breathtaking. The nature scenes have just enough detail and just grab you in the right way. The cloud of balloons is also perfect. Pixar has done so well in avoiding trying to make their characters look real, so it's never creepy.

The story itself is pure Disney/Pixar: heartbreaking to just the right degree, able to unexpectedly summon both happy and sad tears but never too intense. At a few points I heard a mother sitting behind me needing to reassure her daughter (don't know the age) that whatever character was okay, so it's obviously a bit intense for some young kids, but none of the wee ones in the theater seemed totally overwhelmed. The end is poignant but again not too heavy, and overall the movie is remarkably sweet. The movie as a whole definitely works on different levels: I'm sure as an adult I got plenty more from it than the six year olds in the theater, and I'm sure that a parent or grandparent would get yet something more from it.

Overall, this is definitely Pixar's best movie yet, and that seems to be a popular opinion. It has something for all ages, and even if it didn't, it would still be worth watching just for the animation.

Save Mr. Rogers

PBS is intending to take Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood out of regular rotation, limiting it to one episode a week, on weekends.

I dare you to watch this and not feel just...cheated by this decision.


Or how about this one?


Or this?


Fred Rogers was probably one of, if not the most sincere, honest, loving man in television. He absolutely, truly believed in the sanctity of childhood, that absolutely every child was worthwhile and wonderful. He taught children that it was okay to feel however you felt, and that sometimes even your very own emotions are scary, but that's okay. He taught that there was a time and place for make-believe, but that the real world was just as interesting. He said over and over that there is someone who loves you and you are worthy of that love.

Mr. Rogers never talked down to children but also didn't treat them as miniature adults. He treated them with respect as people and tried to give the comfort and nurturing that children need. He didn't preach, or lecture, but engaged in dialogue through the TV, reaching out to kids in the most genuine way possible.

I remember being home sick from school one day in high school, maybe ninth or tenth grade. Both my parents were at work and I was alone in the house. I was lying on the futon downstairs and turned on the TV, and there was Mr. Rogers. He was just the same as he'd been when I was ten years younger - and he was every bit as comforting to watch.

To deprive a generation of children of that is just mean. In this world, we could all benefit from someone who was regularly there, every day, to say he likes you just the way you are, and things may be scary but it's okay to be scared. Children may need that more than ever right now. Why would we possibly want to take that away?

Oh dear

I'd forgotten how insanely sad the movie Dumbo is. Also, how downright creepy parts are.

And yes, I am watching Dumbo, and if you have a problem with that, I don't care. Hmph.