WARNING SPOILERS
WARNING
WARNING
Okay, with the warning out of the way. Let us start with the easy bit. What did I think? I loved it. but I recently talked to someone who didn't and it got me to thinking how do I explain, qualify my experience.
What works: The characterization. Woody has a fairly simple character arc. But it is done and explained simple enough for kids to understand, and complex enough that adults will look and find it genuine and believable. There is then the Jesse and Buzz Lightyear who have an interwoven storyarc. They have a very subtle love story and it works well for what takes place. The more overt story is that Buzz is brainwashed about halfway(maybe sooner) and in a very mechanical means. This is solved just as mechanically but with comedical side effects. Buzz takes some emotional turns and it is quite effective. This is one of the weak points where Jesse doesn't get a strong story arc here. Her's is much more downplayed which is strange because it isn't even as if this movie is being misogynistic. I point next to Ken and Barbie's story which is quite fun. It takes two very different characters who are surfacely shallow but as you get closer you see that both have secret undersides and aren't as shallow as they first appear. Barbie in particular is played as a strong willed female type. Lots-o-Hug Bear and the Baby also get developed as new characters and emotionally gripping backstories.
Next up is theme. This movies biggest theme is letting go and moving onto to new things. But it says it in a way that kids and adults can both understand and enjoy the message. It pitches that new areas of life are both scary and wondrous and that as you move on you don't have to forget about the past. It is filled with hope and treats change as a new adventure to learn but that ultimately it isn't as scary as they might be. And this is a lesson that both the toys and Andy will learn.
The voice acting work is fantastic here. All of the actors really show some depth, and even cameos like Timothy Dalton managed to show off their skills here.
This is of course a Pixar movie, and so writing, directing, and visuals are all top notch. There is some paticularly amazing work visually in the opening sequence and the short film that preceeds our story.
Without a doubt this film is strong, perhaps the strongest of the year(but that remains to be seen). I would like the world to enjoy this film.
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