Anyway. Since it's not within my nature to just let things lie (especially films and books) I am inclined to pick apart minutely this particular sequel. So those who haven't seen this movie and don't want to have it spoiled, here there be spoilers!!
The action didn't seem to ever STOP. After the story built up and the bad guys were revealed, there seemed to be a more or less constant chase scene/surprise thrown one after another at the audience. I liked the escape, but there were countless points where you'd THINK that they were home free and then something else would be tossed at them. Oy...slight mental overload there... XD
The bad guys, too, seemed a bit familiar. In both the second and third movies the bad guy turns out to be a seemingly 'kindly old well-meaning toy', with the only difference being that the BG in the third one has a whole gang working for him, while in the second one the BG worked more or less alone. The only real difference is the motive. (Also: didn't the conveyor belt action sequence look rather familiar to the conveyor belt sequence in the second movie? Different circumstances, but similar idea.)
Other than that, I loved practically everything else. I never quite realized how funny Woody's flailing run is; it looks like he's going to eat it at any moment. And it still astounds me how expressive and intricate and detailed computer animation is. After being in graphic design for just a year, having barely touched the tip of the iceberg, I can't help marveling at the time and effort that animation represents.
(Although computer animation is becoming a little too commonplace--I saw at least six commercials for upcoming animated films before the movie actually started. And only one looked like it had any promise/interest, storywise. *sigh* I lament the movie-making industry, I really do.)
Back to my review: while I still love the Toy Story movies, all three of them, I would have to say that the first and second remain my favorites. Maybe the third one will grow on me--who knows?
Perhaps the best part about it is a sense of closure: the toys aren't abandoned in the end, they're given to a child who will play with them and give them the attention they need (and by golly, was that end a tear-jerker--I cried like I haven't cried at a movie since 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir'. Which also has a happy/sad/amazing ending.).
But while bringing about that closure the story didn't 'suffer' so much as feel like an old familiar story that was being told in a slightly different fashion. So as of the writing of this review I have to give it four out of five--very good, but not quiiiiite on par with the first two (which unanimously get five out of five XD).
Your hostess,
The Fox