Pixar’s ground-breaking Toy Story saga concludes this summer with Toy Story 3, reuniting audiences with some of Disney’s (and cinema’s) most memorable characters. Here’s the breakdown:
Andy is headed to college and Buzz Lightyear, Woody and the rest of the gang wonder what will become of them. Deciding that life at a local daycare center is better than retirement in the attic, the toys head to Sunnyside, where they meet Lotso, the seemingly friendly leader of the ragtag group of daycare toys. But not all is as it seems, and Woody must team up with new and old friends alike to save his family and return to Andy.
The Monkey: Pixar’s number one asset is their writers. As poor box office numbers plague such visually stimulating movies as Jonah Hex and The A-Team, it is becoming increasingly clear that a good story will not only please audiences, but studio execs as well. The characterization is solid, the plot is familiar, yet refreshing enough to avoid feeling overdone. And Pixar knows their audience. Sure, a new generation of kids will enjoy this third foray into the world of talking toys, but the true fanbase for the Toy Story franchise is 20-somethings, who themselves were kids when the original film debuted in 1995. With this in mind, Toy Story 3 kept the humor family-friendly while managing to appeal to the original fans (once again, Mr. Potato Head has some belly-laugh-inducing moments).
Seeing the movie in 3D did little for me, other than giving me the opportunity to see the movie in digital projection. The crystal clear image threw Pixar’s quality animation style into sharp contrast with similarly animated fare.
The new characters that were introduced (while numerous) were memorable, especially Lotso and Ken. And Lotso’s turn as the film’s villain was more fleshed out and better written than Toy Story 2’s Stinky Pete the Prospector.
The ending of the movie was satisfying, bringing a wonderful film to a wonderful conclusion.
The Weasel: There were a lot of new characters, almost too many. Not only was there a whole new cast of toys at Sunnyside, but another group was introduced, a collection of toys owned by daycare attendee, Bonnie. It was this latter group that was more intriguing, and I wish the film had spent more time acquainting the audience with the likes of Mr. Pricklepants, Trixie and Buttercup. Perhaps we’ll see more of these characters sometime in the future…?
At times, the peril the toys found themselves in bordered on ridiculous, going as far as a descent into a veritable hell (in the form of a garbage incinerator). But just when it seemed too much, the filmmakers pulled back, splashing in some humor and charm.
Yet another success for Pixar and another enjoyable move-going experience. Sure to be a contender for Best Animated Film at next year’s Oscars, Toy Story 3 is certainly deserving of a nomination; however, the previously released How to Train Your Dragon could be well deserving of the top honor.
4.5 Death Stars out of 5
What do you think? Was Toy Story 3 a fitting ending to the series? Do you think we’ll see more Toy Story films in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Rising star Katherine Heigl teams up with Twitter savant Ashton Kutcher in this year’s married-couple-turn-out-to-be-spies summer movie, Killers (see Mr. & Mrs. Smith, True Lies, etc.). Here’s the breakdown:
Jen (Heigl) meets Spencer (Kutcher) while on vacation with her parents in France. They hit it off and end up marrying. Little does Jen know, however, that Spencer is an ex-assassin. And when Spencer’s old boss contacts him for one last job, Jen and Spencer are thrown into a world they don’t recognize, where they can trust no one – where neighbors, friends and coworkers turn out to be trained killers, gunning for blood.
The Monkey: At first, the premise seemed very over-done. But Killers quickly made its own mark on the romantic comedy/action genre. The opening scenes in France were wonderfully shot and the little screen time dedicated to Jen and Spencer’s initial romance was well executed and believable.
The movie really took off once the “killers” started coming out of the woodwork – and this was the movie’s strongest aspect. Not knowing which characters were genuine, which were actually planted assassins, added tension and suspense, without which, the movie would have suffered.
The action pieces were not only original, but exciting and surprisingly brutal (making Killers more palatable to the masculine-inclined, who might be worried about the chick-flickiness of the movie). From a dueling car/truck shootout to a through-the-dry-wall office fight, Killers mixed humor, romance, action and violence in perfect amounts, never over-saturating the audience.
The fact that Kutcher toned down his usually over-the-top antics helped contribute to this balance. Killers is essentially Heigl’s movie – Jen drove the emotional connection with the audience and delivered a healthy portion of the humor (as did her parents, played expertly by Catherine O’Hara and Tom Selleck). Kutcher focused more on the action and physicality of Killers – in a move to distance himself from his comic past and enter into a future of action flicks? Perhaps, but regardless of his motives, it was a nice change.
As a last comment: Tom Selleck was stellar as the suspicious father. His subtle humor and hooded glances were priceless and helped elevate Killers’ cast above mediocrity. I hope Hollywood takes notice and sends more work his way.
The Weasel: The end of the movie unraveled so quickly, it almost went unnoticed. Without revealing spoilers, a myriad of questions were left unanswered, an incredibly high body count was left unjustified and a tacked on ending scene felt like it belonged in Meet the Fockers. It’s as if the writers couldn’t find a way to wrap things up…so they didn’t.
An otherwise extremely enjoyable summer movie, tarnished by a dismal ending.
3.5 Death Stars out of 5
What do you think? Did Killers meet your expectations? Did you enjoy the toned-down Ashton Kutcher? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
My first Comicon was a rousing success! I wasn’t able to attend the Thursday night preview or Friday, but I definitely made up for lost time on Saturday and Sunday.
Got to the Convention Center around 9 o’clock on Saturday, picked up my weekend passes and stood in line (which, by the time 10 o’clock hit, was wrapped around the building) for the Exhibition Hall. There were three main areas: the smaller breakout rooms (for panels and such), the South Hall (for big events like Stan Lee, etc.) and the Exhibition Hall, where all the vendors and autograph signing tables were set up.
Bombarded with crazy costumed fans, boxes overflowing with comics, massive art prints on easels, racks of action figures…it was a bit overwhelming. I headed over to the autograph signing tables to catch a glimpse of John Schneider (The Dukes of Hazzard, Smallville), James Marsters (Buffy, Smallville), Daniel Logan (Boba Fett, Attack of the Clones) and Ray Park (Darth Maul, The Phantom Menace, G.I. Joe, X-Men). I decided to purchase a photograph with Daniel and Ray, which I think turned out awesome, and was a way better deal than getting their individual autographs. They were both super friendly and seemed genuinely excited to be meeting with fans.
Me with Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett) & Ray Park (Darth Maul)
There was a designated Star Wars area toward the back of the Hall; so, naturally, that’s where I headed. A large tent bore the banners of five fan groups: the ISO Girls, the Mandalorian Mercs, the 501st Legion, the Rebel Legion and the R2-D2 Builders. It’s always great to see these truly devoted fans out in force for events – and as ever, their costumes and armor rocked! The R2-D2 Builders really outdid themselves with two fully functional R2-D2s, complete with sounds, lights, movement, even a working periscope!
As a Star Wars action figure collector, I found some great deals on some figures I’d been looking for and even went on the hunt for the 6 part comic miniseries Superman: Man of Steel (after all, don’t you need to get a comic at Comicon?). Over the course of the two days, we found 5 of the 6…still looking for part 5!
John Schneider
I caught the John Schneider panel later that afternoon. He talked a bit about The Dukes of Hazzard, how he turned down a cameo in the 2005 reboot film and how the “awful” movie killed any chance of a successful remake, but most people were there to hear about his time as Jonathan Kent on Smallville. He expressed fond memories of working on the show and working with Tom Welling. For the most part, the audience asked great questions and John shared some nice behind-the-scenes tidbits. He even shared his ideal ending for Smallville:
“Clark would be looking into a mirror, contemplating some hard decision…then you’d see my hands fasten the [Superman] cape around his shoulders…and the camera would pan back and you’d see my reflection in the mirror and I’d say, ‘It’s ok, son.’ And that would be it. But that will never happen.”
The audience applauded, and frankly, I think the idea’s not half bad!
Sunday
While Saturday was spent mostly in the Exhibition Hall, Sunday was full of exciting panels and talkback sessions in the smaller rooms. Since I already had my passes, there was no waiting in line, so I didn’t show up until around 10:45, catching the tail end of the “Sci-Fi and Social Media” panel (seemed fitting, as I’m a sci-fi fan and work with social media for a living!).
Michael A. Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole, of Star Wars: X-Wing fame, was sitting on the “Sci-Fi and Social Media” panel. While there was little said that wasn’t already known to me, it was interesting to hear it all from a writer’s perspective: when to respond to comments, when not to, how to handle personal matters online, etc. If nothing else, it encouraged me to get back to writing and continue my blogging efforts!
Later, I sat in on Michael’s “Star Wars Expanded Universe” panel. I really enjoyed getting some more insight into the X-Wing novels and I, Jedi, especially the behind-the-scenes politics with editors and Lucasfilm. I hadn’t thought about it, but it’s been a decade since his last Star Wars title, after his supposed Dark Tide trilogy was cut short due to conflicts with the editor. It’s a shame, because Stackpole’s books are some of my favorites!
I asked him if/when they decide to kill off Wedge Antilles or Corran Horn (two characters that feature prominently in the X-Wing series, the latter of which was created by Stackpole), would he want the job. He said he would kill off Corran if invited to do so, but he wouldn’t want to kill off Wedge. He chuckled at this, probably aniticpating the negative fan reaction that comes with killing off major characters. Some asked if he’d be ok if someone else killed Corran (similar to when Karen Traviss killed Zahn’s creation and fan favorite, Mara Jade). Stackpole said he’d be sad, but he’d given Corran the arc he wanted and would be ok if that was it. Side Note: Stackpole said Zahn was not consulted at all about Mara’s death and found out only days prior to Sacrifice’s release…ouch!
Michael also discussed his wish that they would have kept Anakin Solo alive (thus his prominence in the Dark Tide duology). Alas, they killed him anyway, a waste in Stackpole’s eyes.
I was able to get a picture with Michael and had him sign my oft-read copy of I, Jedi.
Me and Michael A. Stackpole
Ray Park & Daniel Logan
The “Darth Maul vs. Boba Fett” panel was a lot of fun. Both Ray Park and Daniel Logan were enthusiastic and were more than happy to answer fans’ questions.
Daniel talked about his early acting career, doing commercials in his home country of New Zealand. He later told a humorous story about his U.S. citizenship process. His agent had told him it might take months to complete all the paperwork. Included in his application was a handwritten “recommendation” letter from George Lucas himself. A day after the paperwork was submitted, Daniel got a call from his agent, informing him that he had already been approved! Daniel said he is convinced there was a Star Wars fan working in the immigration office. While a funny story, I found it even more hilarious due to all the immigration controversy happening in Arizona – I wonder if Daniel was aware of any of it!
Ray talked a lot about his martial arts background and how he doesn’t mind taking on the heavily made-up or masked roles (Darth Maul, Toad, Snake Eyes) as long as he can show off his martial arts skills. He admitted that he still makes his own sound effects on set, saying, “When I stop enjoying it and stop being Peter Pan, then I’ll stop acting.”
A bit later he made a little kid’s dream come true by calling him up on stage, toy lightsaber and all, and staged a lightsaber fight! Getting to fight Darth Maul at Comicon? A memory that kid will never forget.
Coming to an End…
I knew I wanted some art, so when I found Tom Hodges (artist for The Clone Wars online webcomics) doing $10 commissioned sketches, I was psyched! In under a minute, he turned out a kick-ass Slave Leia and an awesome Superman! Definitely going in a frame!
I didn’t pay to go and meet Stan Lee, but was able to snap a few photos from afar!
As the Exhibition Hall cleared out, Phoenix Comicon 2010 was drawing to an end. I’m glad I went, glad I got to meet some awesome people, see some crazy things and walk away with some unforgettable souvenirs and memories. Will definitely be going next year!
Congrats to the men and women who put on this great event – I’m sure it was a beast. And thanks to all the artists, writers, actors and celebs who took time out of their busy schedules to share some love with the fans – it wouldn’t have been the same without you!
Did you go to this year’s Phoenix Comicon? Share your favorite Comicon story in the comments!
With all the buzz around Jake Gyllenhaal’s abs in the new Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie, you’d think the box office numbers would be more forgiving. Unfortunately for Jake (and his abs), Prince of Persia underperformed miserably this weekend, raking in a measly $30 million. With numbers like that (and lackluster word of mouth) it’s doubtful that Prince of Persia will become Disney’s new Pirates of the Caribbean replacement franchise. Here’s the breakdown:
Dastan, orphan-turned-prince, is framed for his father’s murder and hunted by his brother and uncle. In his attempt to clear his name, he teams up with the mysterious and beautiful Princess Tamina and discovers she is hiding a secret that could change the course of history forever. Tamina is the guardian of the Sands of Time and the mystical dagger that controls them – with the press of a button, the wielder of the dagger can go back in time. Dastan must stop evil forces from harnessing this awesome power, saving the world and proving his innocence in the process.
The Monkey: As with most Bruckheimer productions, Prince of Persia delivers on the action and the wonderful visuals. With bustling street bazaars, glittering domes and exotic costumes, the movie felt epic.
Despite a relatively formulaic plot, there were moments of originality, namely a comedic interlude involving an ostrich race, the deadly fighting style of the Hassansins and the dagger’s time travelling special effects.
Gemma Arterton’s Tamina was forced to be the narrator, constantly explaining all the finer plot points and mystical aspects of the movie; yet she managed to keep the audience from growing bored and looked stunning in every frame (although I much preferred her in Clash of the Titans). Alfred Molina was a pleasant surprise, playing the scumbag-with-a-heart-of-gold character with gusto. Unfortunately, he was underutilized.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Parkour scenes added something new to otherwise routine fight sequences, and acted as a nice nod to the movie’s video game origins.
The Weasel: As with most Bruckheimer productions, Prince of Persia leaves audiences feeling empty. Great special effects, decent actors, visually exciting, humor, romance, action…sitting in the theatre, it seems like the movie is delivering everything necessary for a great night at the movies. But as the credits roll, you realize it was empty. Part of the problem is the target audience. Being a Disney production, the movie has to appeal to a younger market (how else are they going to sell shelves of toys?). But Prince of Persia rides an uncomfortable line between kid-friendly film and adult-oriented action movie. And without a comparable Jack Sparrow character from Pirates of the Caribbean or the cleverness of National Treasure, Prince of Persia’s franchise potential is limited. After all, a movie can’t be supported by abs alone.
The plot wasn’t complicated or dark enough to be taken completely seriously (although the movie itself took itself far too seriously), and it wasn’t light-hearted enough to be seen as a family-friendly action-adventure. The result is Prince of Persia gets lost in the middle somewhere, easily forgotten.
The plot is painfully predictable; the audience continues watching in hopes there might be a twist, or, at the very least, an entertaining action sequence that will distract them from the trite storyline. The biggest cheat, however, came with the movie’s finale. SPOILERS: Dastan goes back in time, to the beginning of the film to keep the entire movie from happening in the first place. Aside from the fact that this gives cutthroat reviewers the perfect set-up for “I wish the viewer could have done the same thing” or “The audience should have been given the same opportunity” jokes, this particular plot device slaps the viewer across the face, saying, “Thanks for sitting through this movie for two hours, but guess what, you didn’t need to, because nothing that you just saw actually happened!” Hmmm…not the best message to leave your audience with. Plus, Dastan traveled back right AFTER the opening battle – why couldn’t he have traveled just a few hours earlier, sparing countless lives? Seems a bit callous.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was a visually entertaining movie and a fun way to kill a couple hours. Unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations, which is too bad, because, if handled differently, it could have been the start to a great franchise. But with the way things are looking at the box office, I doubt there will be any sequels.
2 Death Stars out of 5
What do you think? Did Prince of Persia do the source material justice? Do you think the movie has franchise potential? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Pixar’s ground-breaking Toy Story saga concludes this summer with Toy Story 3, reuniting audiences with some of Disney’s (and cinema’s) most memorable characters. Here’s the breakdown:
Rising star Katherine Heigl teams up with Twitter savant Ashton Kutcher in this year’s married-couple-turn-out-to-be-spies summer movie, Killers (see Mr. & Mrs. Smith, True Lies, etc.). Here’s the breakdown:
With all the buzz around Jake Gyllenhaal’s abs in the new Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie, you’d think the box office numbers would be more forgiving. Unfortunately for Jake (and his abs), Prince of Persia underperformed miserably this weekend, 
Pop Goes the Culture 