‘Toy Story 3’: Pixar wins again (4.5/5)

Toy Story 3

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
Directed by: Lee Unkrich
Rating: G
Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Be prepared to be taken “to infinity and beyond” once again.

Pixar has pulled off the impossible: Meeting (and exceeding) the challenge of concluding a beloved storyline.

I have no shame in admitting that I was heavily skeptical going into the latest Pixar production. I wondered how the minds behind such groundbreaking and adored films as “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” “Cars,” “Ratatouille,” “Wall•E” and “Up” could excuse this apparent slip of creativity.

But I am exorbitantly happy to say that in no way is “Toy Story 3” a mistake.

Many “kids” my age feel a certain ownership over Andy’s toys. (After all, I was only 9 when “Toy Story” came out in 1995!) Woody, Buzz and the gang were as much a part of our childhoods as they were his.

And in a hugely unanticipated way, this sense of investment is exactly what makes “Toy Story 3” spectacular.

While Andy is preparing to leave for college, he faces the heart-wrenching decision of what to do with his old toys. Through a series of mistakes and misunderstandings, rather than ending up in the attic, the whole gang finds themselves at Sunnyside Day Care.

There they are taken under the wing of Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear (who is animated so wonderfully you just want to pick him out of the screen and squeeze him). Lots-O’ turns the toys’ feelings of abandonment into joy as he explains that at the day care, they will always be played with and never be outgrown.

The ever-loyal Woody (Tom Hanks) insists that they belong to Andy and that it was a mistake that brought them to Sunnyside, but the other toys quickly fall in love with their new surroundings.

Woody sets out on his own to return to Andy and runs into a handful of others who inform him that Sunnyside is no place for a toy, a fact that Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie, Hamm, Rex, Slinky Dog, the Potato Heads and the rest soon discover.

“Toy Story 3” is full of hilarious antics, from Barbie and Ken to Buzz’s Spanish mode and the aliens’ continuing obsession with “the claw.” The script is wonderfully clever and overflowing with quotable lines. Director Lee Unkrich walks the fine line between heartwarming and corny with ease, never for a moment slipping into the “groan zone.”

Having watched (thousands of times) and loved the first two “Toy Stories” only made the third that much more meaningful. I felt a real connection with Andy’s poignant decision that transformed “Toy Story 3” from just another installment into a bittersweet conclusion (be sure to take some tissues; I certainly needed them).

Although this movie is absolutely appropriate for all ages and should be enjoyed by those 2 to 102, timid children may be frightened by a few of the new characters (namely a freaky baby doll and a terrifying cymbal monkey).

The 3-D aspect is a nice complement to the latest adventure (save the obnoxious glasses) and ties in nicely with the always impeccable animation of which Pixar is constantly capable. But if you have to wait for the film to come out on DVD, the loss of 3-D will not impede on this incredible film in the slightest.

Pixar has absolutely outdone itself again. “Toy Story 3” is a wonderful sendoff for our small, plastic friends and a loving gift from Pixar to its loyal audience. From beautiful animation to a captivating story, “Toy Story 3” is superb from beginning to end and is a lesson in the magic of moviemaking.

4.5 of 5 stars

‘A-Team’ better than expected (3.5/5)

The A-Team

Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, Sharlto Copley
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence throughout, language and smoking.
Running time: 1 hour, 57 minutes.

“The A-Team” was actually pretty exciting.

But that’s what you get for going in with low expectations.

I never watched the old TV show, but I know a lot of people who have, and, therefore, I know a lot of people who were dreading this movie.

Maybe you just need a clear perspective. Or, maybe, it simply wasn’t that bad.

Part of what makes “The A-Team” so watchable is the characters. Each member of the team is awesome in his own respects and brings his own charm to the screen.

Heading the crew is the aging but able John “Hannibal” Smith (Liam Neeson). Sadly, it’s difficult to watch Neeson without turning your thoughts to the tragic loss of his wife, Natasha Richardson, last March. But Neeson pulls through as the glue holding the team together.

Next is the handsome, winning Templeton “Faceman” Peck (Bradley Cooper), known more simply as “Face.” You may recognize Cooper as the devil-may-care leader of “The Hangover” gang.

The rough and tough B.A. “Bad Attitude” Baracus (Quinton Jackson), and his over-the-top fear of flying, adds his own spice to the group. The UFC-fighting Jackson is certainly no Mr. T, but he’ll do.
(Spoiler alert: “Pity the fool” was never uttered, though B.A. did make it a point to call just about anything a “fool.”)

Rounding out the motley quartet is the certifiably insane helicopter pilot H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock (Sharlto Copley). Copley, who got his acting debut in last year’s “District 9,” is amazingly hilarious here. You’d never know he wasn’t a professional actor.

After a glimpse at the U.S. Army Special Forces team formation, you’re quickly ushered dozens of missions later to near-present-day Iraq.

Turns out some Saddam loyalists have gotten their hands on special plates that will allow them to counterfeit billions of dollars of U.S. currency.

The A-Team is ordered (covertly, of course) to get these plates before the loyalists can escape Baghdad with them.

But, inevitably, things go horribly, terribly wrong. And the members of the A-Team are framed for a crime they didn’t commit.

They also discover that the people truly responsible may be from their side of the Atlantic.

Complicating matters is the beautiful Captain Carissa Sosa (Jessica Biel), Face’s former girlfriend and a general subscriber to the “I blame the A-Team” philosophy,  the slippery CIA Agent Colonel Lynch (Patrick Wilson) and the shifty black operative leader Pike (Brian Bloom).

As Hannibal says, “Overkill is underrated,” a phrase that writer/director Joe Carnahan may have had taped over his glasses. Carnahan definitely went crazy with some of the action sequences, but they were all really, really fun to watch — take the thrilling plane shootout where the A-Team tries to escape with the aid of a tank falling thousands of feet from the air.

“The A-Team” is at its best during its lighthearted, humorous sequences. The few “tender” moments that there are (which are thankfully minimized) make you want to groan. Sorry, Jessica Biel, but Captain Sosa’s love affair with Face just never made a connection with me.

In my mere 23 years, I’ve noticed that America has quite the obsession with tales of government corruption and rogue vigilantes. Let us hope that no such heroics are needed. If they are, we can always call in the A-Team.

3.5 of 5 stars

‘Men Who Stare’ worth a look (3.5/5)

The Men Who Stare At Goats

Starring: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Goat
Directed by: Grant Heslov
Rating: R for language, some drug content and brief nudity.
Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes.

I’m a little behind on this one, but I swear, I’ve wanted to see “The Men Who Stare at Goats” since its November release.

I didn’t really know what to expect — something offbeat and quirky, certainly (I mean, just look at that title).

But perhaps the most shocking part for me is that it’s based in fact.

Obviously, I can’t vouch for the accuracy. But just the simple idea that any of this film is based in reality walks a fine line between hilarious and just plain scary.

Ewan McGregor stars as reporter Bob Wilton who is searching for the story that will make his career, and therefore his life, worthwhile.

But when Bob comes across Lyn Cassady (a prime George Clooney), he trips into something unexpected and unbelievable.

Lyn is part of a covert U.S. Army Special Forces operation (the “New Earth Army”) that trains psychic spies in an effort to fight wars with alternative combat tactics — or with the least amount of violence possible.

Among the force’s talents are “cloud bursting,” “remote viewing,” invisibility and the old stand-by, walking through walls (which is hilariously depicted at the very beginning and ending of the film).

Lyn also demonstrates the hilarious “star gazing” to Bob, a move that would make me severely uncomfortable to be riding in any kind of vehicle with Lyn behind the wheel.

During Lyn’s training, the New Earth Army is headed by Vietnam veteran Bill Django (a wonderful Jeff Bridges), a stereotypical “peace, love and long braids” hippie. Django hopes to be the “first superpower to create superpowers.”

Lyn’s aptitude causes a rivalry with fellow recruit Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), who attacks Lyn with a “death touch” (the scare behind the death touch is that it can take you out at any time — even 18 years later!)

Despite Larry Hooper, the New Earth Army is mostly a force of good, even calling themselves the Jedi (highly appropriate since Ewan McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the most recent three “Star Wars” films).

So when Lyn is taken to the Goat Lab, he finds himself at a fork.

The goats are the Army’s test subjects — atomic bombs, field dressings, wounds, etc. So when the Army wants to see what the New Earth Army can bring to the table, Lyn, being the top of the class, is taken to the lab.

His mission? To cause the goat’s heart to stop simply by staring at it.

“What had that goat ever done to me? It’s completely against the way of the Jedi,” Lyn says. “But some dark part of me wanted to see if I could do it.”

“The Men Who Stare At Goats” is one of those films that gives you faith in humanity. It sees the weirdness going on in the world and is a lens for laughter. A film like “Goats” could quickly turn conspiratorial or melodramatic, but instead leads you down the path of self-discovery, hope and enlightenment.

“Goats” encourages fresh possibilities and thinking outside the box. It examines the scope of human potential and the reach of the mind. As Lyn says to Bob Wilton, “Find out what your destiny is, and the river will carry you.”

Rather than being a criticism of the Army and of war, “Goats” is surprisingly upbeat and inspirational. It follows the stories of lost, confused men as they try to make a difference in their worlds and shows that unconventional methods can lead to lofty results.

“Goats” isn’t the best movie you’ll see, but it’ll make you laugh and may just leave you feeling a little light-hearted (and who couldn’t use that these days?).

If you rent the DVD, be sure to check out the special featurette “Psychic Spies” to get the “true” account of the New Earth Army.

3.5 of 5 stars

Gilliam stretches ‘Imaginarium’ (3/5)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Starring: Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Rating: PG-13 for violent images, some sensuality, language and smoking.
Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Terry Gilliam does not make things easy for his audience (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” anyone?). You have to work at watching his films. “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” is no different.

Gilliam’s visionary scope is at its best here. But when the burden of accessibility is put on the viewer, the visual splendor can be overlooked.

“Parnassus” is the kind of film that may require multiple viewings. But with an over-two-hour running time, if it doesn’t grab you the first time, you won’t feel motivated to watch it again.

The title character, Doctor Parnassus (Christopher Plummer), has made a deal with the devil, Mr. Nick (musician Tom Waits). The contract? Immortality for the ownership of any child Parnassus sires at the child’s 16th birthday. Unlucky Valentina (a wonderful Lily Cole) becomes the object of attention as her fateful age draws near.

Parnassus and Valentina are part of a traveling troupe that encourages story and the use of imagination (with the help of a very special mirror). Completing their motley ensemble is the youthful Anton (Andrew Garfield) and the impertinent Percy (a hilarious Verne Troyer).

After another unsuccessful venture into the depths of London, the group comes upon a man hanging from a bridge and rescues him. It is Tony (Heath Ledger), a man claiming amnesia but who is actually harboring a dark past. Much to Anton’s dismay, Tony and Valentina are quickly drawn to each other and Tony joins Parnassus’ traveling troupe, promising bigger audiences and a richer payout.

Regretting his previous agreement, Parnassus agrees to a wager — if he can win over five souls to the power of good and imagination before Mr. Nick can claim five souls to impulse and want, Parnassus can win back the claim to his daughter.

Tony discovers that by inviting people into the mirror he can sway their decision toward Parnassus in the hopes of saving Valentina. Each trip into the mirror is a foray into another person’s very visual imagination and gives the audience a dip into Gilliam’s rich creativity.

Sadly, I don’t think “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” would have the same undercurrent of viewers without Heath Ledger’s tragic death in the midst of shooting the film. To account for the loss of Ledger, actors Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell agreed to each take on the role of Tony during the character’s trips into the mirror. The actors all pooled the money they made from “Parnassus” and donated it to Ledger’s young daughter, now 5-year-old Matilda.

“Parnassus” will entrance some and bore others. Though this film is desperately in need of a second viewing by its audience, I’m not sure I would watch it again. Gilliam’s movies require you to suspend all belief and allow yourself to be immersed in his vision. It’s hard to connect with a movie touting freedom of imagination when Gilliam’s is so overpowering. However, all of the actors’ performances are very worthy of watching (especially Ledger and Troyer). If you’re prepared to hang up your own mind for a time and allow Gilliam to take you over, “Parnassus” may just be a movie for you.

3 of 5 stars