Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

Pixar has done it again. Do they just keep getting better?

The Day & Night short that precedes the main feature is inventive and creative. It really makes you pay attention while being fully entertaining.

As for Toy Story 3, the only thing I wonder is if the kids get as much of the humor as we adults do because I and the adults around me were laughing and laughing.

The middle of the movie, however, is almost a flat-out action movie and I, let me tell you, was engaged. At one point, I so wanted to yell at the screen. It was scary and intense!

I saw this movie in 3D, and while it does not need to be seen that way, the technology did not detract from the viewing experience either. The main effect of the 3D is that the foregrounds and backgrounds are very distinct and separated.

It is the content of the movie that really makes it a winner. I could try and set up the plot for you, but really, trust Pixar and go see it. It’s really good.

If I Picked the Oscars 2011 (in order of my vote)

Best Picture:

• True Grit
• Black Swan
• Toy Story 3
• Inception
• Winter’s Bone
• The Social Network
• 127 Hours
• The Fighter
• The King’s Speech
• The Kids Are All Right

Animated Feature Film:

• Toy Story 3
• How to Train Your Dragon
• The Illusionist

Tags: Movies by Ms. SP
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Spoilers below.

This isn’t a typical Doctor Who episode, but I enjoyed it very much. I’m a sucker for history so the thought of being able to see what your own legacy will be is so very appealing to me, especially if the person being positively validated is Vincent van Gogh, who was never told by his own world how wonderful he really is.

This was an episode more about relationships than defeating the monster of the week. Rory’s gone, and the Doctor is trying to deal with that as well as how it should be (but is not) affecting Amy.

It’s not a comprehensive emotional resolution episode, but it starts the process. In the mean time, there is a very sympathetic Vincent van Gogh to get to know.

(sidebar: Monet’s haystacks is one of my art nemeses so I full out clapped my hands when this Van Gogh went ahead and disparaged them.)

Scientists and artists have speculated through the years that he didn’t experience the world like regular human beings. His powers of observation, they believe, were extraordinary.

I like the idea of taking that idea and using it as a story funnel. I like that Amy was nice to him and therefore she was more likeable in general.

This episode felt like the writer was a huge admirer of Van Gogh’s and used the opportunity of writing for a time travel show to tell Vincent just what the artist should have heard all along.

It was the moments in between the main plot line that really made the difference though. All the characters interacted with each other in ways more meaningful than just one liners and rude behavior.

Tags: TV by Ms. SP
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Here are my favorite reads for the week:

• I can get math concepts. Just tell me a story like this one: Dividing by Zero Blows up the Universe!
• When I read the directions on this math contest, I wasn’t sure what I would have done. The kids are impressive. I think I would have put “x+1,” which I’m not sure qualifies as a valid entry.
• I am so thankful that Jacob has the Doctor Who assignment over at TWoP. If I did’t get to read stuff like his Cold Blood recap, I would be missing out on so much.

Tags: Recommendations by Ms. SP
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