AHK Cinema · Movie Review
Toy Story 3
2010 Dir. Lee Unkrich 102 minBest for CEFR B2
In *Toy Story 3*, Woody and the gang face their biggest adventure yet as they deal with the prospect of being left behind. Will they find a way back to Andy?
Things You Didn't Know
6 hidden details
1
Original Story
The original story of *Toy Story* was inspired by a short film called *Tin Toy*, which was created by John Lasseter. This short film won an Academy Award and laid the groundwork for the *Toy Story* franchise. The success of *Tin Toy* led to the development of the first *Toy Story* film
2
Voice Acting
Tom Hanks, the voice of Woody, and Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz, recorded their lines separately. However, they did meet up to discuss their characters and the story. This collaboration helped to create a strong chemistry between the two lead characters
3
Animation Process
The animation process for *Toy Story 3* took around four years to complete. The film's animation team used a combination of traditional animation techniques and computer-generated imagery to bring the characters and story to life. The attention to detail and the use of cutting-edge technology helped to create a visually stunning film
4
Day Care Center
The day care center in *Toy Story 3* was inspired by a real-life day care center. The film's production team visited several day care centers to get a feel for the layout and the atmosphere. This research helped to create a realistic and believable setting for the story
5
New Characters
The film introduces several new characters, including Lotso, a teddy bear who becomes a central character in the story. Lotso was voiced by Ned Beatty, who brought a sense of depth and complexity to the character. The introduction of new characters helped to add fresh perspectives and storylines to the film
6
Awards and Nominations
Toy Story 3 was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Animated Feature, and Best Original Song. The film won the award for Best Animated Feature, which was a testament to its high quality and impact
The Takeaway
The takeaway from Toy Story 3 is that growing up and moving on can be difficult, but it's also a natural part of life. The film teaches viewers the importance of friendship, loyalty, and letting go. For English learners, I recommend watching the scene where the toys first arrive at the day care center with subtitles to get a feel for the different characters' personalities and vocabulary. This scene is not only entertaining but also provides valuable language practice
The Learning Pack
Watch this film. Speak better English by Sunday.
Vocabulary, idioms, cultural context, and one scene broken down for shadowing practice.
Vocabulary (16)
nefarious
earlywicked or evil
"The nefarious plan was to steal all the toys"
accidentally
middlehappening or done without intention
"The toys were left at the day care center accidentally"
band
middleto come together for a common purpose
"The toys must band together to escape"
escape
lateto get free from a place or situation
"The toys must escape from the day care center"
college
earlya school for higher education
"Andy is going to college"
day care center
middlea place where children are taken care of during the day
"The toys are left at a day care center"
prospect
earlya possibility or chance
"The toys face the prospect of being left behind"
emotional
middlerelating to feelings or emotions
"The film takes us on an emotional journey"
journey
latea long and often difficult process
"The toys go on a journey to return home"
memorable
lateworth remembering or notable
"The film has many memorable characters"
loyalty
middlethe state of being loyal
"The toys show loyalty to Andy"
letting go
lateto stop holding or keeping something
"Andy must let go of his childhood toys"
natural
lateexisting or occurring in nature
"Growing up is a natural part of life"
timeless
latelasting or remaining popular for a long time
"The film is a timeless classic"
appeal
latea quality that attracts or interests someone
"The film's appeal is its ability to entertain both children and adults"
stunning
lateextremely impressive or attractive
"The film's animation is stunning"
Idioms & Expressions
in a nutshell
a brief summary
used to describe the plot of the film
on the verge
close to something happening
used to describe the toys' situation
make the most of
to use something to its fullest potential
used to describe the toys' plan to escape
at stake
something important is being risked
used to describe the toys' situation
in the nick of time
just in time
used to describe the toys' escape
Cultural References
American college system
In the United States, college is a type of higher education institution that students attend after high school
day care centers
Day care centers are facilities that provide care for children during the day while their parents are at work
toys and games
The film features a variety of toys and games that are popular in American culture, such as Mr. Potato Head and Scrabble
childhood and growing up
The film explores themes of childhood and growing up, which are common in American culture
Scene Breakdown for Shadowing
around 00:42:00
Woody: 'We need to work together if we're going to escape.' Buzz: 'I'm with you, Woody.' Jessie: 'Me too.' Mr. Potato Head: 'Count me in.'
This scene is a great example of the toys working together to achieve a common goal. The vocabulary used is quite simple, making it accessible to English learners. The phrase 'work together' is a good example of an idiom that learners can practice using in context. To practice shadowing, learners can repeat the lines of the characters, focusing on the intonation and rhythm of the dialogue. This will help them improve their pronunciation and fluency
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