Toy Story 3 (2010)

 TOY STORY 3 (2010).
Directed by Lee Unkrich. Written by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich and Michael Arndt. Voiced by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Michael Keaton, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, John Ratzengerger, Laurie Metcalf, Timothy Dalton, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, R. Lee Ermey and Jeff Garlin.

Plot: Most of Andy's toys are back as Andy himself, now 17, prepares to leave for college, while they are mistakenly taken to a day-care center rather than his attic.

What do you call the sequel of a sequel, an animated feature for kids that doesn't pander to parents with double-entendre jokes or easy toilet humour, voiced by actors who haven't been given a challenging role in over a decade, that inspired a whole slew of theme park rides and is 11 years removed from the last installment of its series? Easy: one of the year's five best - and most touching - films, and the best Toy Story yet.

The animation itself is top-notch again, the characters are given so much life and are voiced so superbly that you get more attached to them than you would your standard live-action Hollywood underplayed and under-developped character. New characters are also introduced, and each of them is singular, has a personality of its own and is different from any character in the film series so far.

I don't want to give away too much of the storyline, but seriously, I didn't believe they would be able to come close to the other movies, let alone top them - and they did so by a clear margin. And it's not like the first two movies weren't stellar in their own way, either. This one is just far deeper and more captivating emotionally.

Perhaps the best Disney-related film of all time? Could very well be...

4.5/5

The Dukes Of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007)

THE DUKES OF HAZZARD: THE BEGINNING (2007).
Directed by Robert Berlinger. Written by Shane Morris. Starring April Scott, Jonathan Bennett, Randy Wayne, Willie Nelson, Sherilyn Fenn, Christopher McDonald, and Harland Williams.

Plot: Outlaw cousins Bo, Luke and Daisy Duke - from the 70s TV show and 2005 movie get the prequel treatment.

It's a wonder why this film went straight-to-video and didn't get a proper theatrical release, seeing as it has everything a Hollywood studio craves these days: it's a prequel, preserving a brand name that Warner Bros. believes is worth something, serves as a vehicle for a young up-and-coming actress/model (and, who knows, maybe eventually a singer?) in Jessica Alba-lookalike April Scott, stars two talented character actors playing the most cliché'd roles possible (Christopher McDonald and Sherilyn Fenn), a musician (and lone survivor of the first film, Willie Nelson) and a comedian known for his supporting roles in ensemble casts (Harland Williams).

Except Williams should be used in small, 30-second doses and not be relied upon to provide constant comic relief as the second-in-command stupid evildoer, especially considering he hasn't been asked - and therefore practiced - being in any type of leading role in over a decade, and comedy has evolved leaps since.

Additionally, it's hard to judge whether Jonathan Bennett and Randy Wayne are responsible for most of their jokes falling flat, or if screenwriter Shane Morris should be to blame for the too-obvious platitudes he came up with while watching reruns of terrible 60s shows and smoking pot in his parents' basement. I understand the stars of the show are the General Lee and Daisy Duke's shorts, but there are much better ways to use them than by focusing on ''the plot'' in which the clear villain is devising a plan that involves the one place you learn about in the first 15 minutes of the film that ''no one is allowed to go to''; Jesus Christ, that's not writing about a car and clothes, it's writing so the car and clothes can understand the fucking film. A toddler who can barely say the word ''mamma'' would understand this right off the bat - at least fill the rest with fun, humour, eye candy - something. Anything.

The movie's sole salvation comes from unexpected places: Joel Moore as Cooter is somewhat of a scene-stealer (as much of a scene as there can be to steal) and Gary Cole as the story's narrator, the voice fits perfectly. And a few models such as Scott and Trishelle Cannatella to relax your eyes while your brain attempts to convince you of your own death. And Fenn was her usual self in a role that was way too easy for her, but her name doesn't even appear on the back of the DVD - probably at her request. And I fully understand why.

1/5
Buy it here.