The Magic of a Toy Story

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Magic lingers within the confines of a movie theatre. Anything can happen. Love is lost and found, families deal with struggles, ridiculous events shape people’s lives, and various structures might explode. It’s incredible!

I love movies, if you haven’t figured that point out yet. I love selecting that perfect seat, settling in with a bag of popcorn and a Coke, and allowing the story to absorb me for a few hours. Luckily, for me, my husband enjoys the experience as much as I do.

This summer, we’ve checked out several of Hollywood’s contributions to the big screen. I won’t bore you with the details of each movie. I want to talk about my favorite from this summer.

I usually don’t expect much from a sequel, and even less if it’s the third in the series, but this summer’s Toy Story 3 challenged that opinion. I recommend this movie to everyone who has not seen it.

The idea of toys seeking their childhood friend in college-bound Andy broke my heart. I’ve watched my granddaughter play with some of my old toys this summer, thrilling over the places that her imagination takes her. The very toys that sparked my creativity years ago still have it! As do Woody, Buzz, and all of their playmates. They’re not fancy, based on today’s standards, but true imagination doesn’t need a lot of extras.

I challenge anyone to watch Toy Story 3 and NOT shed a tear or recall some of their own forgotten toys. I found myself wondering about a wind-up bartender that I had when I was five. He poured a drink, took a sip, and smoke came out of his ears. Now today that’s not an appropriate toy for a child, but I loved it! I guess he broke, because I know I never sent him to the curb for the trashman, the horrible fate that frightens the Toy Story 3 characters.

I won’t spoil the movie for those who have not seen it, but I will say that you might not look at your cast-off toys quite the same way again. It’s well worth the price of a movie ticket … and a bag of popcorn…and a drink… and maybe some Twizzlers! Just don’t forget the tissues.

Comments

Valerie said…
I guess my favorite toys were my Barbie dolls. Would have said my doll house but although I had the house, I never had "people" to go with it--made the house kind of useless. My Barbies weren't fashion mavens, but my "puppets." I played out all sorts of scenarios with Barbie, Ken, and Skipper. Sometimes they were even pioneers, riding across the plains in a shoe-box Conestoga. Never kicked my toys to the curb; they were passed on to my younger siblings, and played with some more.
August 18, 2010 at 6:51 AM
Lisa Pickens said…
We loved Toy Story 3. Even though all the kids are grown we still enjoy Disney. Bill, Andrea, Jessica and I went and saw it and the girls and I were all crying. Andrea and Jessica were ready to go home and play with their old toys and they are 26 and 21.
August 18, 2010 at 8:15 AM
Barbara V. Evers said…
Valerie, I never kicked any of my old toys to the curb either, but I'm sure someone did or else they wouldn't have disappeared over the years. When we moved, my Dad made us give away all of our Suzie Homemaker toys: stove, sink, refrigerator, etc. I'm glad they went to a child who would play with them, but I sometimes wish I had them still.
August 18, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Bob Strother said…
In a whole different tenor, we saw "Winter's Bone"--an independent film about a daughter's search for her meth-cooking father in the Ozarks. It was an excellent film, sometimes harsh, but great acting.
August 18, 2010 at 2:33 PM
Susan M. Boyer said…
A wind-up bartender?? I never had one of those! I wish I had one right now. :) We haven't seen a movie (in a theatre)all summer. I'm thinking that popcorn sounds awfully good. Maybe I'll see what's playing this weekend.
August 18, 2010 at 4:02 PM
Barbara V. Evers said…
Bob, sounds interesting. Haven't heard of that one yet. Might have to find it on DVD later.

Susan, yes, a bartender. He was really cute with a late 1800's style outfit, white hair, spectacles, and bright red cheeks. Very comedic in appearance.
August 18, 2010 at 7:11 PM
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