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ShoWest: Alex's First Reaction to Seeing Pixar's Toy Story 3!

by Alex Billington
March 16, 2010

Early today in Las Vegas at the ShoWest convention, Disney showed the entirety of Pixar's Toy Story 3 to an audience of theater owners as a preview of their summer line-up (Prince of Persia screens on Thursday). I was lucky enough to attend and catch this very first showing of the movie and, as expected, it was another wonderful Pixar film. This is not a review, since the version we saw wasn't 100% finished, but I wanted to at least write up my initial reaction to the sequel to compliment other reaction write-ups on SlashFilm, Latino Review, and Cinema Blend. In brief, it's everything I was expecting, but not too much more beyond that.

Pixar has done a great job of keeping the actual storyline of Toy Story 3 a secret and for that reason, I'm not going to say much about it, but it is a very wild ride. It's actually a great story that has a few twists and turns and deviates from the norm quite a bit, but it's still as great as any other movie from Pixar. I did really enjoy it and have a fun time watching it, but that's really all there was, nothing more to make it extraordinary. It's a bit hard to say, because I love Pixar so much, but it felt like this lacked the same magic of Pixar movies of past (at least up until the ending). But if you love the Toy Story movies, you're going to love this one, too.

There are a whole bunch of new characters we got to meet along the way and it was great not only seeing old friends like Jessie, Hamm, and Bullseye again, but hearing all the new ones, too. Timothy Dalton voices one of the new characters, as do Whoopi Goldberg and Kristen Schaal. Jeff Garlin is in it briefly, too, and so is Richard Kind in a very small, but memorable role. For those who grew up with Toy Story over the years, it's such a wonderful return to that world and (since this is in the trailers) it's an emotional "hand off" as Andy is obviously going to college and can't keep the toys. The last 20 minutes were easily the best in the movie.

I had a great time, but I don't think this will become a new Pixar favorite for me. However, it is, without question, one summer movie you must see, especially if you're a fan of the wonderful Toy Story franchise.

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Reader Feedback - 15 Comments

Great to hear! Very excited to see this

Wes on Mar 16, 2010

Hi Alex! well I just reading your opinion ..and i want to see the movie.. I am not a huge pixar´s fan but comn this is a classic and you have to see it by yourself.. Great review.. i am not agree with some points but this is the magic about opinions...

Sakyo on Mar 16, 2010

I'm there.

Xerxex on Mar 16, 2010

No thanks.

People's Champ on Mar 17, 2010

I like Pixar so much?And I will see it in the theater,if it can be on in China

andy on Mar 17, 2010

Up is by far my favourite Pixar movie and Toy Story series.Great to hear that this movie is getting positive reviews .Looks like another classic from Pixar .Thanks man for early word on this movie will watch in 3d that's for sure.

joe_6285 on Mar 17, 2010

Alex you seem to be in two minds when doing this mini Review of Toy Story 3." You like it, but then you don't like it." which is it.

Cineprog on Mar 17, 2010

I just can't get myself excited about Toy Story. I've never been a fan of the franchise, and I've never understood why people love Toy Story so much when Pixar has made much better movies. I'm sure this will be a good movie, but I don't really expect to be wowed by it.

SkaOreo on Mar 17, 2010

Well i guess that means in a few years you'll be saying what a piece of crap this movie is and why are they making more. lol

Jimmy Love on Mar 17, 2010

Alex, once again...I live in Vegas...hook me up!!!! I got connections here son, I'll get you all the bitches and hoe's you want if you get me in to see Prince of Persia!

Cmurder on Mar 17, 2010

@ 7, it's called a conflicting opinion... not two minds haha. You can expect a movie to be amazing, and then when you watch it, you know it was good but it wasn't mindblowing or anything. That's exactly how I felt about Slumdog.

Alfredo on Mar 17, 2010

It kind of does seem like Alex is at conflict with himself here. He believes that it is a very good movie, as great as any other Pixar movie, yet it doesn't have the same magic and isn't one of his favorites. That's all fine, but a bit confusing. I can't wait till the film comes out officially so that I can make my own judgments about it. I guess I will end up loving Toy Story 3, because I LOVE the first two films (in my opinion, they're Pixar's golden standard for great films).

Chip on Mar 17, 2010

So in other words Alex you liked it but didn't love it. I'm sure once the film is completed and released in 3-D that it will shine like all the other Pixar films. There's not one Pixar film I didn't like, and yes I loved Cars.

last son on Mar 17, 2010

#7, #14, #15 - You guys pretty much figured it out already... It's hard to give a full opinion on this because it was an early unfinished cut. I really want to see this again once it's done, maybe I'll like it more, but for now, I just didn't love it. The more I think about it, I start to like it less and less, but I'm trying not to let that happen because it may have just been the half-finished cut. This isn't a review, it's just an initial reaction for now. I did really enjoy it at least and the last 20 minutes are brilliant, but it's definitely not as good as the last 3 Pixar movies - I'll say that much at least.

Alex Billington on Mar 18, 2010

I wish Disney\Pixar would stop reusing the same films and do a quality sequel to The Incredibles or Monster, Inc.

Mr. T on Mar 30, 2010

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