A Story About Love

It's a story about love, between an ordinary child and his magic world, between unbiased caring and unconditional loyalties, between a stubborn leader and a company that support him. It's about not to give up any of your friends, to save those who used to hurt you, and to have a pure heart… when you still think bad people only show up in the movies, when you still believe in magic and that everything's possible, when you still expect Santa's coming during Christmas, when everything's always so new around you; you see beauty in everything, and you love them all.

When Toy Story first debuted in 1995, I was 6. Like most kids, it's not new to me the fact that toys can come to life. I used to have a giant box of lego blocks(well, everything seemed giant to me when I was little.)  which I could turn into anything I want- a parking skyscraper for my matchboxes and hotwheels, a station for Shinkansen, an 'office building' for my beloved power rangers.. And I was so into TMNT that my mom has to stop me from opening all the tunnel covers in my neighborhood. I was at the age to believe in everything I was told. I can never forget the day my uncle took me to see Toy Story, watching my dream come true on the big screen.

When the Toy Story 2 came out in 1999, unfortunately I was "too cool" to be moved by "kid's movie", sort of turning from Andy to Sid. During that time, all I cared about were dodgeball, fighting and pokemon. I couldn't see the value of my childhood memories (well, I was still in my childhood) until getting older.

People often like to compare the three sequels with one another; for me, first has become the classics, second is a filler (sorry), and the third  is a masterpiece--

1. From marketing's points of view, it's a movie about toys with universal senses of humor, meeting the needs of kids following their superstars, 3D fans looking for eye-candies, and those who just want a good laugh, and cry.

2. From moms' views, it teaches the children to cherish what they have, to share what they like, to care more about others' feelings, and to give to those who needs more than we do.

3. From academics' views, it reflects the hierarchy political system (the Animal Farm XD), reveals the sociology between leadership and peer pressure influences, and illustrates the philosophy to peacefully face death.

I haven't cried for a long time, but my tears almost fell off several times during the movie, even though I was laughing like an idiot just 10 minutes ago…

It's a story about love. Not a cliche kind of love we hear in the pop songs or people saying for certain purposes; it's the most original feel we naturally obtain throughout the childhood, a kind of self-healing skill we pick up to grow up, but yet can still keep a child's eye to see the beauty of everything.


p.s. In the end I was wondering why all the clouds look the same in the sky... and then this picture came into my mind-- it's Andy's Wallpaper! That's how the story starts 15 years ago, when Andy played the Sheriff Woody game, when every toys come into life and waiting to see the Christmas gifts... so I guess this is the end of the story =D