In which I discuss Pixar.

The people at Pixar are geniuses. It's as simple as that.

I have been on a Disney movie and Pixar movie kick lately (I've watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Finding Nemo, and Up since Christmas). Go ahead and laugh if you must: I love good animated movies.

And I have a serious attachment to Pixar movies. I guess it makes sense...the first Pixar movie, "Toy Story," was released four years after I was born. I sort of grew up with these films. We had a Woody toy and a Buzz Lightyear toy (which the children my mom keeps now play with :). "Finding Nemo" was the first DVD I ever got, the same Christmas that I got a DVD player. But then there's the fact that Pixar can't seem to make a bad film. With all of the very forgettable animated movies that are being released, Pixar movies stand out. They're clever and hilarious. They're clean. They include good values and usually involve great stories.

And have you ever seen behind-the-scenes features with the Pixar crew? I love watching DVD special features that show the people who work for Pixar, because they seem so fun and quirky. They went from working in an old warehouse to having a beautiful new studio built for them. They ride scooters around the studio. They host paper airplane contests. They decorate their offices with themes. It is so obvious that they love what they do and they work at a film until they feel it's the absolute best they can do.

So, with all this self-professed love for Pixar, I am ashamed to admit that I still haven't seen "WALL-E" and I hadn't seen "Toy Story 3" until today. I got the first "Toy Story" movie for Christmas, and when I saw how great the prices were for the 2nd and 3rd ones on Amazon, I ordered them. Note that this was before the new year, so I didn't break my resolution about buying movies! :) My package came today, and I just made an evening of it and watched the second and third one.

"Toy Story 3" was amazing. I found the whole daycare plot hilarious. Since I've been in the early childhood education program, I've spent a lot of time in child care centers, and I can completely relate to the abuse that toddlers give their toys. :)

And can I just say that I had a bad feeling about that Lotso from the beginning. It was probably because I had just watched "Toy Story 2" and was feeling suspicious towards friendly grandpa-type characters, but oh well. :) The voice casting in these movies is perfect. And they are my heroes for the fact that they went looking for the guy who did Andy's voice in the first two movies and got him to finish it up in this one. I loved Spanish Buzz and the whole Barbie/Ken thing (even though I have been harboring a serious dislike for Barbie dolls since I've "grown up").

The end was perfect. I won't say anything (though I'm sure most of the world has seen this movie by now), but at one point, I thought I was going to be really disappointed with it. But I wasn't. Everything fell into place perfectly and I loved it. And can I mention another awesome fact about Pixar? They make great sequels. That is a very rare talent (I'm sorry, Pirates of the Caribbean and Shrek). And I hear that there's going to be a Monsters, Inc. 2 in 2012? I can't wait!

My favorite Pixar movie is "Monsters, Inc." My least favorite is probably "Cars" or "Ratatouille," but those are still very good. How do you guys feel about Pixar?

Until next time,