'Toy Story' Narrowly Misses Perfect Trilogy Marks (Thanks, Armond White)
Thursday, 'Toy Story 3' had a shot at something special -- it stood to propel the three films into history, becoming the only trilogy rated 100 percent fresh across the board on
Rotten Tomatoes.
Friday, that hope was dashed. As
Roger Ebert and others predicted, notoriously contrary New York Press film critic Armond White dissed the third installment in Pixar's flagship franchise. White's
review deems the nearly universally acclaimed film "essentially a bored [sic] game that only the brainwashed will buy into" and posits the series is only fit for "non-thinking children and adults."
The other negative review (seriously, there were two) comes from a critic named Cole Smithey. His "news outlet"?
ColeSmithey.com, of course, where he dubs himself "The Smartest Film Critic in the World." No word on who he actually, y'know,
is, or why he sits alongside the likes of critics like Ebert, A.O. Scott, Peter Travers and Owen Gleiberman on the review-compiling website.
It's hard to ignore the fact that the two Scrooges' opinions fly in the face of much of the Internet and more than 150 critics on Rotten Tomatoes -- the consensus seems to be that the film is a stellar conclusion to a shining series.
"Maybe Smithey and White – a lifelong devil's advocate who has made a career out of railing against popular opinion – used their reviews more as a means of grabbing attention,"
Time magazine writes in a post titled 'Can 147 Critics Be Wrong? Meet the Two Pundits Who Trashed Toy Story 3.'
The
tally now stands at 155 fresh reviews and two rotten ones. Unfortunately, the pair of unsavory reviews keep 'Toy Story' from being the only trilogy of all time to receive perfect marks:
June 22 update: A third rotten review has rolled in, dipping the film's score to 98 percent with 167 positive reviews, three negative ones.
To turn off our journalistic objectivity device for a minute (what do you
mean, we turned that off for the headline and never looked back?!), we'd be remiss if we didn't point out Armond White dished a positive review to 'Jonah Hex,' an 80-minute feature film receiving a severe drubbing from critics (15 percent fresh on Rotten Tomates). White also suggested 'Transformers 2' as a superior alternative to 'Toy Story 3.'
White's chink in 'Toy Story's' armor was the final straw for some film fans -- a petition, '
Ban Armond White from RottenTomates.com,' has received nearly 2,000 signatures. The petition spotlights White's approval of films like 'Norbit' and 'Confessions of Shopaholic' and his poor reviews of critic- and fan-favorites 'The Dark Knight' and 'There Will Be Blood.'
"I am forced to conclude that White is, as charged, a troll," Ebert
wrote last summer.
Entertainment Weekly reports 'Toy Story 3' could earn as much as $120 million in its first weekend. Pixar's current opening weekend record is $70.5 million for 'The Incredibles.'
Read more: 'Surveying Cinema's Biggest Franchises,' in which PopEater's Jason Newman spotlights Pixar's 10-for-10 run with fans and critics.
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ROTFL!!! Is it that of a big deal...wait, these guys screwed the TS series' perfect ratings. Yes it is! At least it seemed like Smith ACTUALLY watched the movie..White (who HATES all good movies) is like, "Oh Hamm's the bad guy, and the movie is all about advertising." I bet Armond did not pay attention at all! Thanks Armond 4 once again ruining a perfectly made movie!
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The guy should indeed be banned. He has a horrible taste in film. How he holds a job as a film critic is beyond me. If you look up his reviews, you'd agree.
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so because he doesn't agree with the mentally bankrupt generation, he should be banned from reviewing movies? I saw that movie and i'll tell you right now, being someone who grew up on the toy story movies i was dissapointed. considering the hype that surrounded it i had high expectations, but of course once again they were dashed. just like with avatar. i applaud them for having the courage to state their opinion knowing that the majority of people would hate them for it. good job guys.
This is in reply to "xx Brat xx" who posted this tidbit in part: "so because he doesn't agree with the mentally bankrupt generation, he should be banned from reviewing movies?" My reply: Uh-huh. Your so called logic would work if he was occasionally giving a poor review to a good movie, not everyone will enjoy a film even if it is critically acclaimed. BUT, when someone is consistantly giving poor reviews to good films, and good reviews to poor films, such consensus given by people of ALL generations, not the one you describe with your title "mentally bankrupt" then obviously someone is trolling for attention, not truly posting reviews. Much as I suspect you might be "Brat". Well, you got a reply. I DO so hope you feel all better now, and your fragile eggshell ego was bolstered for a good minute or two.
Who cares what the critics think they don`t pay to watch a film,they get paid to watch a film.The fans made the movies break 1st week records of over a 100 million not the critics..Critics sucks and the movies was great ,that`s from a fan..
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I agree, i dont care about the critics. They usually get wrong anyay in my opinion. I loved all 3 movies and it is so nice to be able to take your kids to a movie that both generations can enjoy. Not every movie has to change the world or be the next Oscar "it" movie...sometimes it nice just to have some laughs and be entertained. Dang dont be so serious all the time..Now I am going to go see "Slice" or whaverer that trashy movie is
Humm, critics never liked John Wayne either. Yet he still today, 30+ years after his death, is still ranked in the top ten of movie stars. By the only people that matter, the public.
I agree with Jess; Armond doesn't change my opinion in the least. I loved this movie so much, it was worth the wait and not disappointing in the least. Great movie for the "mentally bankrupt" generation I'm a part of.
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Brat, firstly I want to say that I'm sorry Toy Story 3 has dissapointed you. I haven't had the chance to see it, but I remember the excitement the first one brought me, and I enjoyed the second one greatly, so I have high hopes for number 3, but because I have such high hopes there is a chance that I too may be a little dissapointed, but that isn't Disney/Pixar's fault-that's probably my own for holding Toy Story in such a special place, though I believe their creators hold it in a very special place as well
Armond White should not be applauded for speaking his mind, because he isn't- he is playing the role of devil's advocate, and he always does; giving movies that FANS and critics alike have agreed aren't worth their time or money. He isn't actually reviewing, he is only making problems where there need not be any, and causing some publicity for himself-saying that a truly horrible movie is actually a good movie is one thing, but going after a movie, that though it may have personally dissapointed you Brat, that is the end of a trilogy that was a part of a lot of people's childhood and tearing it apart like he did with no just cause other than his own entertainment is another. Maybe this time he has gone too far in playing the devils advocate.
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We can thank resident RT trolls A.W. and Cole S. for that. I know it's a movie but this is Pixar and I was hoping TS 3 would hold an epic 100 like 1 & 2 but it won't now. :(
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True, but it's still got a GREAT rating for a third film or for any film, really. And it actually had a 100% for a while with more reviews than the first Toy Story.
Toy Story was fabulous fun. Loved it. It was nice to see a really good movie for a change!!
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There's a very warm place in Hell for White. On the same weekend he destroys Toy Story 3, he loves Jonah Hex. Die, Troll.
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I still loved it even though it seemed to rip off "The Brave Little Toaster" My granddaughter pointed that out to me. There were the sad parts that made me cry and of course the silly parts (Ken's wardrobe) that made me smile and then the "Oh no we're lost again" parts that seemed too familiar. The bad toy who gets banished like Stinky Pete did..... But, all in all I was sad to see it end and like an old friends I am hoping to see the toys again. Maybe Andy will marry and reclaim his toys for his first child!
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If there is a sequel, I also think it will inlcude Andy getting married, and reclaiming the toys for his kids. I think it may also involve the toys going through the years with Bonnie. At any rate, I definitely look forward to what may be next.
Maybe Smithey and White should have taken their niece or nephews with them to see Toy Store 3. It may have brought about a different conclusion. I cannot trust these clowns for an accurate review. Sometimes, adults need to get in touch with their inner child. Make these two go to a Day Care Center!!
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Yeah! Take him to the Catepillar Room!!!!!
Well, to be honest I'm not surprised that Cole Smithey did something like this. His whole family has a history of doing attention getting actions like these.
His brother is the internet lolcow Christian Weston Chandler. He has a whole wikipedia devoted to him, which includes a page just for Cole Smithey. (cogsdev.org)
When you look at his past, it really is easy to see why he'd do something like this- he knows it'll get him the attention he wants.
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Why the hell do we have film critics anyway? It's all a matter of opinion. Just because you get paid to watch a movie and you say it sucks doesn't make it fact.
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Just saw TS 3 and gotta say it stunk. My wife and kids loved it, but it is basically brain dead. The first movie was engaging, the second less so, and this new one is formulaic schlock. Very difficult to get into the characters this time. Everything was superficial. A few laughs, but the whole thing had the feel of a put-on. The deus ex machina rescue from the incinerator was particularly galling. Amateur screenwriters are told never to do such a thing, but Hollywood does it with glee.
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