Simply Outstanding and Great Entertainment

Rating: 10/10 (19 June 2010)

I've watched the first two Toy Story movies many many times.
I had few expectations when my 17 year-old daughter asked if we could take the whole family to go see Toy Story 3 for her 17th birthday.
This would be my first 3D movie in a theater and that is my only complaint about the film. I don't think 3D added much to the movie. I moved my glasses up a number of times and scenes where the characters were close were in focus and so much clearer and brighter. I would like to see it again in 2D.
In Toy Story 3 Andy is 17 and getting ready to go to college so he is packing everything up including all the old familiar toys. He finally decides to store all the toys in the attic except for Woody which he puts in a box marked "College". This then is the premise of the story: Woody doesn't want to leave his friends; but they are not happy with the idea of being put in an attic and not being played with.
Through a very clever set of events they all end up at a day care center which turns out to be a living hell for newly arrived toys. A hell which they want to escape as they realize the importance of their loyalty to Andy which Woody helped them to understand.
There are some very dark scenes at the day care center and for those that grew up with the previous installments it's OK, but I don't think very young children will have an easy time with it and that also holds true for much of the dialog.
Also, while it would be very helpful to have see either Toy Story or Toy Story 2 or both, Toy Story 3 could stand on its own and could be very much appreciated by someone who hasn't seen the previous two.
There are some truly funny scenes; for me the Spanish Buzz Lightyear was just hilarious! Mr and Mrs Potato Head had relatively large roles and were great. I'm happy to say I was quite impressed with Don Rickles contribution.
The main reason I felt compelled to write a review is that as a 55 year old man the last thing I expected to happen was that I cried towards the end of the film. Toy Story 3 is a masterpiece in storytelling and 3D animation, but also it reaches emotional depths.
I saw this today in a packed Taiwanese theater of mostly Taiwanese adults who had to rely on subtitles and there was every evidence that they were enjoying it as much as I was.
I am very much looking forward to seeing it again. In 2D though.