Toy Story 3- A Sob Fest

Yesterday was the official last day of school. Kids were home by 10 am. They only went into school to pretty much say good-bye to everyone and pick up their reports cards. I think it's a waste of an effort to get up and dressed and on the bus. Couldn't they just have sent them home the day before with their report cards?

But, whatever. Not to brag, but my kids came home with raving reviews. They had straight A's all the way down. The teachers wrote wonderful little comments about how great and well behaved and talented they are. It was one of those moments where a tear snuck out and I sniffled a bit, so proud of my babies who are growing up so fast. Too fast.

To celebrate the end of a long school year and those glowing report cards, DH and I took them to the movies. We went to see Toy Story 3.

I'm pretty sure I have mentioned before that Toy Story is HUGE in our house. My son is OBSESSED with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, and all the other Toy Story Gang. He can sit and draw those characters for HOURS. And...(I'm gonna brag again)...he's really good at it too. He's a great cartoonist for his age. His dream is to work for Disney or Pixar or Nickelodeon. Maybe make his own line of comic books. Or his own cartoon show. Maybe his own cartoon movie.

So, we went to see Toy Story 3. And right from the beginning, the sappy Mom in me begins to start to climb up from my heart into my throat. Andy, the little boy who so much loved his Woody and Buzz, is all grown up. He's going to college.

And one day, my kids will be all grown up. Going to college. And this movie shows how much life keeps going forward. Keeps moving on. You are introduced to a montage of home videos of Andy, watching him as a child who's imagination with his beloved toys is his whole world. Capturing those moments in time.

Then, there he his. Taller than his Mom. He has a cell phone. A laptop. His Buzz Lightyear wallpapered walls are covered with posters and stickers. He even drives his own car.

We are told that some of the toys are no longer with Woody's gang. Lost or sold at yard sales. R.C. Wheezey. Bo Peep. My lump grew even bigger as I thought of the toys I had thrown out or sold because my kids were no longer interested in them. I thought of toys that I had as a child, only to outgrow them and toss them aside.

The movie goes on and it involves the toys accidentally going to a Day Care center and Andy looking for them. He had no intention of getting rid of them. He wanted to box them up. Put them in the attic. Only take Woody to college with him.

Of course, it's a kid's movie and hilarity ensues at the Day Care. There's an extremely intense scene towards the end that involves a pit of fire and the toys realizing that their time has come to an end. They bravely just try to be there for each other as they all hold hands.

This is where the lump in my throat somehow escaped. A small sob rushed passed my lips and I tried to suck it in with a huge sniffle. This only resulted in some woman turning around to glare at me. A heartless woman who was too busy Facebooking on her iPhone to see that this was more than a kid's movie. Too dumb to appreciate the artwork that went into this movie. (Sorry. It's just that it might be my son that is behind a movie like this one day.)

There are other scenes. Scenes that made me think of how fast my kids are growing up. Scenes that made tears run down my face.

But the thing that got me the most was Buster. Buster, the little puppy that came at the end of the first movie. Buster, the dog that became one of Woody's good pals in the second movie. In Toy Story 3, Woody whistles for Buster. And an elderly, obese, graying dog slowly walks into Andy's room. Even Buster was getting old. Crap, Buster was near death's door. I really had to struggle to keep the sobs in.

And it is all so true. You outgrow your toys. Your childhood pet dies. You just know that Andy is going to get that call one day at college. His Mom is going to be on the other end, telling him that Buster had to be put down. Then Andy is gonna be the downer that night at a kegger, drinking beer and slobbering and slurring about his beloved childhood dog. C'mon. We've all been there. No?

Poor Buster. His time is coming so soon. A lot sooner than those toys.

So, bottom line? I hated this movie. Hated that it made my stomach twist up in knots. Hated that it reminded me that my kids are going to grow up and grow out of things. Hated that my dogs are going to get old and fat and barely move and force us to make a decision.

I hated this beautiful, well written, well executed movie. And I am never, ever getting rid of my kids' toys. Especially my son's Woody and Buzz and my daughter's Jessie.

Happy Belated Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day. A day mostly spent BBQing Drunken Brats and steaks, making all different kinds of salads, and splashing around in the pool when it wasn't raining. A nice, relaxing day.

It also brings a memory to me of my first rated R movie. It was my father who took me to my first rated R movie. And to this day, it is one of his favorite stories to tell about the two of us.

I was only in third grade. Since both my parents worked and I was too young to be a latch-key kid, I went to a babysitter's apartment everyday. On this fateful day, my father happened to be home and decided to pick me up and take me and the babysitter's daughter to the movies.

We were supposed to see Muppets Take Manhattan. A good, clean, family, child friendly movie. When we walked up to the ticket booth, I was surprised to hear my Dad ask for three tickets to see Stripes.

"But, Dad!!" I gasped. "That's rated R!!"

My dad shushed me and purchased the tickets, then ushered us into the theater. I'm pretty sure as the idea of seeing a forbidden rated R movie dawned upon me, a big grin crept up on my face. I was so curious. Intrigued. A bit nervous yet excited. I felt like I was in on this huge plot...being let in on a forbidden secret of the adult world...breaking a law of some sort. It was so reckless!!!

I remember the excitement more than the movie itself. I vaguely remember something with Bill Murray, the Army, and an RV?? I just remember sitting up in the balcony (which was the smoking section of course!) and being just giddy and delighted that I was in a rated R movie. Something I just KNEW my mother would frown up!!

When the movie was over I have a very distant memory of my father taking me for pizza. I remember him taking the movie section of the newspaper out and pointing to an ad. Cute little puppets adorned the ad with the movie's show times underneath.

"If your mother asks, you tell her we saw Muppets Take Manhattan," he said sternly. He's German and Irish, so his stern look can be very scary to a child. I nodded with wide eyes as pulled the stringy mozzarella from my mouth.

And then we went home. And my mother looked over me and smiled.

"How was the movie?", she asked.

My father glared at me from behind her. I put on a big smile, took a deep breath, and then blurted out....

"Daddy took us to see Stripes and it was rated R!!!!!"

Sorry, Dad. Your German/Irish stern looks and glares might be scary, but I just couldn't lie to the devout Italian Catholic. She had God on her side!!

I'm pretty sure there was a lot of yelling and screaming. All coming from my mother as my father hung his head. I think it took about twenty years before my father ever trusted me again. Till this day he tells this story and tells everyone what a big mouth I have. But he tells the story with a chuckle and not a stern look.

When he tells the story he claims he had every intention of taking us to see Muppets Take Manhattan. He swears we were too late to the Muppet flick, so he took us to see Stripes. I think he just did not want to sit through two hours of singing sock puppets. To be honest....neither did I.

And My Winner Is....

This year there were more Oscar Best Picture Nominees than previous years. Ten in total. It has taken me months, but I finally got to watch all ten. I ended with watching the biggest, most anticipated one: AVATAR.

Ten really good movies. Ten movies and to only choose one as the best. This is a tough job. I would hate to be part of the Academy voting team. Too stressful. I don't know how one could declare just one of the ten as being the best of the best.

Avatar

The Blind Side

District 9

An Education

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

A Serious Man

Up

Up in the Air

I can definitely whittle the 10 down. I don't believe all 10 should have been nominated. I do recommend all of them for viewing, but not for best picture.

Up? It's an animated film. Granted, it is one of the best animated films I have seen in a long time. The story is just fantastic and I dare anyone to watch it without welling up. It truly is a beautiful movie. But...it was also nominated for best animated film. They should have just stuck with that or get rid of the animated category all together if they want to include them with the best pictures.

The Blind Side? Great movie. Great story best on real people. Sandra Bullock was really, really good in this role. But I also believe that this movie is kind of forgettable. It didn't blow me over.

Up In The Air? I'm not really sure why it was nominated. It was good. Very enjoyable. But like the Blind Side, I think over time you will forget it. It's not a movie that will stick with you forever. And a word of caution...don't watch it if you are a wee bit tired. It will put you to sleep. So, while the movie is enjoyable, make sure you have the head and the alertness to watch it. I'm speaking from experience.

A Serious Man? I thought this was a great movie. Better than Blind Side and Up in the Air. I thought the acting was great by the whole cast, mostly unknowns. I don't think I would forget this movie so easily. Maybe....maybe I would consider this for a nomination. But not a winner.

So, that leaves The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, Avatar, District 9, Precious, and An Education. These are my top picks out of the Best Picture nominations. But yet again, I have trouble picking just one winner. I would have to dissect each movie. Break it down.

The Hurt Locker won the Academy Award for Best Picture. I thought this movie was fantastic. Very simple but intense. Acting was great. Filming was great.

Precious was phenomenal. Perhaps one of the most talked about movies of the year. A small movie that left a big impact in my mind and heart. The lead was played by an unknown. And the well known were unrecognizable.

Inglorious Basterds is probably the guilty pleasure of my top six. Violent. Fun. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. Immature. So enjoyable in a way that only Quentin Tarantino can do.

An Education is perhaps one of my favorites. A simple yet complex movie. Great acting. Great writing. A great story. You know how it's going to turn out, but you can't help but root for it all work out differently. There's something about this movie that seems so familiar in a personal way. We all wanted to break away from the rules and regulations of school and parents. We all wanted to prove we were smarter than they would give us credit for. I really loved this movie.

District 9...I can't say enough good things about this one. I thought the lead actor was the best of the year. The special effects were outrageous. Action packed from beginning to end. Another small movie that came out of nowhere and blew us away. It left me wanting more.

Avatar. THE MOVIE that everyone was talking about. People went crazy for this movie. Like Star Wars crazy. People couldn't stop talking about it. Everyone was asking "Have you seen Avatar????" And I hadn't.

Until last night. I finally got to watch this movie that people swore would take home the Oscar. Avatar. The movie with the blue aliens.

Avatar. The movie that had been told before time and time again. Pocahontas. Ferngully. The true-life story of the Native Americans minus the happy ever after ending. It's all the same story. But Avatar takes it to a whole new level.

It's Sci-Fi. It's a visual piece of delicious eye candy. It has the heroes and villains. It has the love story. The under dog. It has a whole lot of good movie making. But, the story is old. The acting wasn't the greatest. So, based on the special effects and imagination...yes, this movie deserves a nomination. It is going to stick with us for a long, long time. It's going down in movie history.

But Avatar lacked the superb acting the other nominees had. Anyone could have played anyone of those roles and it still would have been blockbuster hit. It lacked originality in the story. I have heard that every story is just a story we have been told before, just reworked and told differently. I believe that. But Avatar is just too similar.

Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed the movie. Really, really, REALLY enjoyed it. I plan on buying it because the filming and the whole Pandora and it's inhabitants are great. The movie has a great message too. So, I'm not entirely mocking Avatar. I recommend it. I INSIST that people should see it.

But Avatar is not my winner. Nor is The Hurt Locker.

So, after much thinking...I managed to pick my top three.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

An Education

And my Winner is....

District 9

Great story. Great acting. Great action. And sorry Avatar, but the special effects were tons better too.

A Bittersweet Ending

I have an emotional attachment to Shrek. So, of course, we had to see the newest sequel, even if it was in 3D, which is getting overplayed. Anyway, yesterday we saw Shrek Forever After....or Shrek The Final Chapter...not sure which one is the true title as I have seen it advertised under both.

Is it the Final Chapter? Or will it be Forever After, meaning we will forever be bombarded with Shrek sequels. I mean, let's face it: Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas aren't doing much of anything else these days. Are they really willing to give up the Shrek/Donkey/Puss in Boots franchise?

My emotional attachment with Shrek has began with my daughter. Shrek is the first real movie that she became attached to. The first movie that she recognized the characters and fell in love with them. The first movie that she became obsessed with and had to watch it every single day for about a good six months or so.

She was barely two years old. I'll never forget the first time she asked to watch Shrek. She pointed to the tv. I can still hear her tiny, cute, impossibly adorable little baby voice as she asked "Fruck?"

And I became immediately discombobulated. I asked her to repeat herself and she did as she innocently pointed to the tv.

"Fruck?"

I went into a new mom state of panic. Was I going to be one of those trashy moms whose kid curses up a storm in Walmart?? What have I done? I really did not think she was listening when I stubbed my toe or when I dropped a glass or anytime that curse slipped through my truck driver mouth.

"Fruck?"

I grabbed the toddler by the shoulders and begged her to tell me what she was trying to tell me. She could not be cursing. She could not be dropping the F-bomb already. She was barely two!!

Then, she gave me a clue. A second word.

"Doan-keeeee"

Ahh! Donkey!! Shrek! I laughed and knew this was one of those little baby and mommy moments that would be embedded in my memory forever.

Of course I put on the Shrek movie and patiently tried to teach her the whole "SHR" sound so she would say his name properly. She was a smart cookie. She still is. She caught on quickly. And so, my relationship with Shrek and his gang began.

For my daughter's second birthday, we took her to see Shrek 2. I even decorated her cupcakes with little Shrek figures. When she was in Pre-K, Shrek 3 came out. I made 25 Shrek cupcakes (minus his ears because that was where my patience wore out) for 23 very loud pre-schoolers for her fifth birthday.

We were way to ecstatic over the whole Shrek Christmas Special (Shrek the Halls) and continue to look forward to it ever year. My son became trapped into our Shrek obsession. At one time he owned a Shrek stuffie that was bigger than him.

Last year, we took the kids to their first Broadway play. I wanted to see The Little Mermaid before it closed down. My kids and husband outvoted me. We went to see Shrek. A big green ogre out trumped a pretty red headed fish.

But, it was the perfect experience for my kids' first Broadway experience. Their eyes were glued to the stage the whole time. As a HUGE Broadway fan myself, I was enjoying every moment of watching my kids enjoy their experience of Broadway.

So, of course we had to see Shrek 4. It was not as good as the first two. But better than Shrek 3. ( I can't even remember Shrek 3. Was the plot that bad?) And since they claim this is the last Shrek movie, the ending was sad. Of course they all live Happy Ever After...but to know that this is the end for Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Puss...it's just sad.

Watch the credits. They take you on a little journey from the very beginning of the Shrek epic. As the end credits roll, they show images from when we were first introduced to this crazy, lovable, green monster who would forever go down in movie history as one of America's favorite animated characters that is NOT Disney.

And I looked over at my eight year old, her 3D glasses too big for her head as she stared at the screen. And I wondered what happened to the little toddler? When was Fruck replaced with The Black Eyed Peas?

At least I still have that memory. I can still hear that tiny little voice. And I smile.

"Fruck"