Toy Story: Football Wrap-up : Natural Pics.




Lets take this review in easy stages: 1 'Give It Up ' for the Late  Steve Jobs. He made Pixar possible by financing the project; when it looked a very risky venture. From that early inception, the company has never sold the genre of animation short on quality and minute attention to detail. Its first film was " Toy Story" in 1995 and to date twenty one films have been made by Pixar.  Collaboration with Disney, who now own Pixar started in 2005. " Toy Story 2 " appeared in 1999 and the trilogy was completed in 2010 with " Toy Story 3"

2  Many people believe that the trilogy was equal to any made. It appeared to be  a finished project. Why then after nine years was Toy Story 4 made ? Was it a shameless exercise in bean-counting in the expectation of profits at the box-office ? Could it offer a new dimension for the toys? Yes it could.

3 This film moved the centre of stage from the children to the toys themselves. In doing so they mined deeper threads, posing to Woody and friends; what do we mean by existence and  re-evaluating their relationships with each other. In many ways the toys represent a perfect society  where there is a coalescence caring and supporting each other, without being at all judgemental. Repect and affection  are top of everyones agenda; leaving space for the individual  but with the safety of a  group umbrella if needed.

4 In the film, the girl child Bonnie attends her first day at kindergarten. Using a plastic fork, gum, pipe cleaners and buttons, Bonnie makes a simple model which she christens 'Forky'. This little 'chap' returns home with her and in the privacy of the toy cupboard, becomes animated. Bonnie  loves 'Forky' and Woody has his hands full trying to make the fork understand  he is loved and not  a worthless piece of trash, only fit for the waste bin and dustbin. The importance of self-worth  is therefore broached  in this movie.

5 So Toy Story 4  works on two levels: children will  respond to the adventures of the toys, which they have grown up with in the three preceding films; whilst adults will acknowledge the deeper tropes that the toys show us as they mature, and in some cases  even show an independance of spirit. This film remains with you long after leave the cinema.

6 Finally I must make mention of the wonderful, state of the art animation, the rain; dust and shadows are just some of the details which are rendered faithfully. I was was fortunate to see the film in 3D, which adds yet  another layer of realism. 

The sound and character voices are, as before superb. I loved the wry sense of humour that the animators ( all 400 of them) show from time to time. Like computer game programmers they leave " easter eggs " for the audience to notice after prolonged watching. For example I saw on a children's work board in the kindergarten, the four symbols from PlayStation 4- great stuff.

Because Pixar never put in unnecessary clutter, you may notice that the teaser -trailer ( see above)  has Joni Mitchell singing her song " Both Sides Now " (1969). Here is a verse from those lyrics:

"Oh but now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost but something's gained
In living every day  "


It points quietly to  a growth that the toys, like us will experiece as we live our lives out.
So there you have it; a five star classic that will astonish and amuse  audiences of all ages. Go see.


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Before the English League Football Season starts again in a few weeks time here are how my predictions finished for Season 2018/9:

Championship

My Predictions         Actual Finishing Order.

1 Aston Villa               5th

2 Swansea                 10th

3  Stoke                      16th

Swansea and Stoke never really showed. Villa redeemed themselves by beating Derby County 2-1 in the play-offs to gain promotion to the Premier League.

League 1 

1 Luton                     1st

2 Sunderland             5th

3 Plymouth                21st

Luton were strong throughout the season and worthy winners.  Sunderland lost the plot a little losing to Charlton Athletic in the play-off final. Promotion next season surely!
Plymouth just never got going. A season to forget.

League 2  


1 Lincoln                   1st

 2 MK Dons               3rd

3 Swindon                  13th

 Lincoln made relentless progress. They will make their mark next year in League 1. Dons kept going and made promotion. Swindon flattered to deceive. 


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D. and I recently visited Dyrham Park, near Bath,  a National Trust property.
The garden borders were in beautiful verdant order. See for yourself:






















All green with life, vitality and freshness.


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Finally, last Saturday ( 29/6 / '19) D. and I paid a visit to a Chinese Tea-Shop.," The August Moon" in Cheltenham.
It is a retail store,  which sells cups, ornaments and specialised Chinese tea, individually packed by the Proprietor.
She is pleased to show you the Chinese Tea Ceremony.


So we sat  down at an ancient wooden table and sipped in ceramic cups black oolong and this season's fresh green tea. A very civilised afternoon refreshment.

Wifi for now,
Ck.

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