The Prime of the Series: 'Toy Story 3'

This is one animated series that has remained entertaining and focused through the years.

"Toy Story 3" Poster

“Toy Story 3” opens in tragedy, as Buzz, Woody, and the gang are struggling to get Andy’s attention. They are disappointed when they realize that Andy has more important things to worry about, particularly college.

As Andy is sorting through his belongings, he decides to keep the beloved toys in the attic together. Everyone would be sticking together, except Woody, who would be going to college with Andy.

A mix up occurs and the toys accidentally end up as donations to a daycare, and Woody, attempting to rescue his friends, is separated from Andy.

The Toys Arriving at the Daycare

Let down and hurt from not getting chosen to go with Andy, Buzz, Jessie, and the others decide to embrace their new life at the daycare and are anticipating more play time than they’ve had in years.

After a clash with Jessie and Buzz, Woody turns toward home. On his journey back, he learns that the Sunnyside Daycare is a prison.

While Woody is making plans for a jailbreak, his friends are attempting escape. They make new friends who help them stand up against a toy mafia.

Attempting to Escape

Andy’s toys realize that they are supposed to be there for him, even when it gets tough. After Andy is reunited with his childhood toys and cherished friends, he begins to understand that he should give his toys to someone who can use them. He gives them to a girl at the day care, telling her, “Now, you gotta promise to take good care of these guys. They, mean, alot to me.”

The audience holds back tears as they watch a mature Andy say good-bye to the toys who helped him grow up.

Andy, Woody, Buzz

“Toy Story 3” is a phenomenal children’s film for parents and children alike.

This movie stars the voice talents of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack. The cast pulls the audience’s heart strings through the characters. The new characters which were added to this third film brought in comic relief, as well as tension.

A touching story of growing up, “Toy Story 3” is a sentimental family film. Of course, talking toys aren’t very realistic, but probably symbolic of parents letting their children “leave the nest”. However, there was some confusion for me at the conclusion of the movie because it seemed that the toys had finally decided on their loyalty to Andy, then Andy determines that he needs to let them go. “Toy Story 3” scores a 4.5 out of 5.

'Saving Private Ryan' Is As Real As It Gets

A movie about soldiers in World War II, “Saving Private Ryan” is so strikingly authentic that it made me tense. 

"Saving Private Ryan" advertiement

 Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat, the movie is about a group of soldiers who must find a specific soldier, Private Ryan, because his brothers have been killed in action. The United States government will not allow every son in a family to die fighting over seas, so Ryan must go home.

Soldiers on the Search for Private Ryan

The soldiers that are sent to search for James Ryan are under intense pressure from the realities of war and are on the edge of sanity. Traumatized by the deaths and battles they have seen, they struggle to stay motivated. 

 

Captain Miller is the mysterious, persistent leader of the team, and the main character in the story. His enthusiasm is disintegrating from all of the chilling experiences he has been through while he has been away from home.

Tom Hanks as Captain Miller

The soldiers don’t agree with the mission from the start, but they follow orders. Throughout the story, they realize the importance of this assignment and hope that, “Someday we might look back on this and decide that saving Private Ryan was the one decent thing we were able to pull out of this whole…mess. Like you said, Captain, maybe we do that, we all earn the right to go home.”

Captain Miller, Private Ryan, and Private Reiben

Leading Sergeant Horvath, Private Reiben, Private Jackson, and others, Miller is successful in finding Ryan; however, Ryan isn’t ready to leave his fellow comrades in distress. The team is forced to stay with Private Ryan as he helps his team follow through with their mission of guarding a bridge. 

Private James Francis Ryan makes it home safely, but with great cost; many members of Captain Miller’s unit die along the way.

Barry Pepper as Private Jackson

The acting is unparalleled, with stars such as Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, and Vin Diesel. 

  “Saving Private Ryan” is undeniably difficult to watch because of the battle scenes, but I believe that this is what distinguishes this movie from many other war movies. The film does not sugar-coat the tragedies of war. Absolutely a 5 out of 5.