Although not as groundbreaking as the original, it is still worth watching due to its excellent characters.

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2010)

9.1
The original Toy Story was a special release for many reasons. First of all, it was the first full length CGI film. Secondly, it was the first Disney movie to break the mold. In fact, it wasn't even a Disney movie, but it sure had the production values and the overall quality of one. The original Toy Story came together really well, and when you look back, it's easy to see its place in animated film history. 14 years later, Pixar is releasing Toy Story 3, making the series a trilogy. Was this needed? Or was this just a check that needs to be cashed?
The answer I think, is both. 11 years is a long time to wait for another Toy Story sequel, the second one having been released in 1999. Still, I feel that this movie was released just to make another Toy Story movie. To date, Pixar has no other sequels. Sure, Toy Story is what made them famous, and it has a special place in their and our hearts, but did we really need another one?
Thankfully, Toy Story 3 is actually really good. Of course, you didn't expect it to be bad, but being the third entry in the series one might have been suspecting a weaker film. The nostalgia is handled well, with the plot being that Andy is now growing up and on his way to college. Most of the people who saw the first movie in theaters are now either on their way to college or in college. A lot of the people who will see Toy Story 3 are the ones who saw the first one back when it was released.
Once again, the characters (although already established) and voice acting, or digital acting, is excellent in Toy Story 3. Easily the strength of the movie, the characters drive the movie home. There is basically no other reason to watch the movie. The plot itself isn't that great, and some of the new characters aren't that great either. The bear, while a good character, is just a nuisance on-screen. Ken is a welcome addition and both him and Barbie take up a lot of screen time, but he isn't exactly original. The other toys are completely forgettable. The only one that is a pleasure to watch is the monkey.
Still, Pixar's crisp humor is still intact. One of the pillars of the first film, the animation and visual quality, is not exactly this film's strongest suit. It's great, but it isn't as impressive as most other Pixar films were at the time of their release. The 3D effect is not necessary, but it was the most comfortable 3D experience I've had yet. Visually, just like Up!, it seems that Pixar has decided to put every single basic and bright color on the screen at once. Like if we were in a candy shop. Uh...
Toy Story 3 was made for the fans. And by fans I mean, those of us who saw the original when it came out, and are now college age. Once again, it's a tight production with excellent (despite old) characters and great voice acting. The plot isn't great, and honestly the movie itself isn't as good as everyone else says. Once the nostalgia is over, you may be able to see it for what it truly is. Still, it's worth revisiting and definitely one of the better animated films of recent time.