As I think I've mentioned here previously, animated features pretty much always put me to sleep. This is not a reflection of the films themselves (I don't think), just something weird about my movie-going make-up. Anyway, there was an exception over Thanksgiving, and I don't think it was entirely due to the hard kitchen chair I chose as an alternative to the comfy couch. I found
Toy Story 3 to be entertaining and it actually gave me something to think about (which I think may be one of the problems I normally have: these kinds of films, since they're aimed at least partly at kids, tend not to be very deep). What struck me about this movie is how much it reminded me of Frank Capra's classic
It's a Wonderful Life. Not in terms of plot exactly, but broader narrative themes. Each is based on the premise of characters being allowed the opportunity to see themselves immersed in a life different from the one they've known, and the alternative ends up being quite dark and disturbing before the characters are restored to more familiar circumstances. In the case of Capra's film, the Post World War II timing no doubt contributed to the sinister overtones, when a lot of people's lives had been turned upside down. To that end, is there any more scary shot from that era's Hollywood output to match the one where Jimmy Stewart is rejected by his mother in the alternate universe he's allowed to glimpse?
Considering its standing as a heartwarming holiday classic, and notwithstanding it's upbeat ending,
It's a Wonderful Life can be nightmare inducing. I think the same is true of
Toy Story 3, though it leavens the darkness with a bit more humor (maybe for the kids' benefit?)
. In the end, I didn't find it quite as rich or engrossing as the Capra flick, but the fact it sparked a comparison in my mind is definitely to its credit.
As I think I've mentioned here previously, animated features pretty much always put me to sleep. This is not a reflection of the films themselves (I don't think), just something weird about my movie-going make-up. Anyway, there was an exception over Thanksgiving, and I don't think it was entirely due to the hard kitchen chair I chose as an alternative to the comfy couch. I found Toy Story 3 to be entertaining and it actually gave me something to think about (which I think may be one of the problems I normally have: these kinds of films, since they're aimed at least partly at kids, tend not to be very deep). What struck me about this movie is how much it reminded me of Frank Capra's classic It's a Wonderful Life. Not in terms of plot exactly, but broader narrative themes. Each is based on the premise of characters being allowed the opportunity to see themselves immersed in a life different from the one they've known, and the alternative ends up being quite dark and disturbing before the characters are restored to more familiar circumstances. In the case of Capra's film, the Post World War II timing no doubt contributed to the sinister overtones, when a lot of people's lives had been turned upside down. To that end, is there any more scary shot from that era's Hollywood output to match the one where Jimmy Stewart is rejected by his mother in the alternate universe he's allowed to glimpse?
Considering its standing as a heartwarming holiday classic, and notwithstanding it's upbeat ending, It's a Wonderful Life can be nightmare inducing. I think the same is true of Toy Story 3, though it leavens the darkness with a bit more humor (maybe for the kids' benefit?). In the end, I didn't find it quite as rich or engrossing as the Capra flick, but the fact it sparked a comparison in my mind is definitely to its credit.
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