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Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D

*****

Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer

Director: John Lasseter

Rated: G

Showing: Southside Cinema - Friday 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 2:45/7:30pm; Monday to Thursday 7:30pm

Runtime: 180 minutes

Animation/family/comedy

Pixar give the classic Toy Story movies the 3D treatment to whet audiences' appetites for the third film in the franchise, due for release in June.

For the handful of people who haven't seen them, the movies follow a loveable band of toys that come to life when their young owner Andy isn't around.

They are led by cowboy Woody, who rules the roost until space ranger Buzz Lightyear arrives. Terrified of being usurped as Andy's favourite toy, Woody plots against Buzz - but when both are seperated from their owner, they must work together to get home and embark on a hilarious adventure.

In the sequel, Andy goes to cowboy camp and Woody is toynapped by ruthless collector Al McWhiggan.

It turns out Woody is a highly valuable collectible from a 50s TV show, Woody's Round-Up, and he and other prized toys from it are being sold to a Tokyo collector for a huge sum.

Without Woody, the others - Jessie the feisty cowgirl, Stinky Pete the Prospecter and the horse - will be left to rot in storage.

So when Buzz and his friends mount a rescue mission, Woody must decide whether to join them and go home or save his new pals from a miserable fate by going to Tokyo.

Toy Story was the first digitally enhanced CGI animated feature but the imaginative and captivating plot, cracking characters and great cast are what really make it shine brightly.

The movies are still a joy to watch thanks to their flawless animation and the 3D effects improve on that experience.

When Woody jumps out of a cardboard box, styrofoam packing pieces shower the audience.

In the famous scene where Buzz and Woody are on a remote controlled car, a firecracker on Buzz's back giving them extra speed, Woody's look of horror is inches from your own look of rapture.

Another cracking addition involves the toy soldiers when they spy on Andy's birthday party to report on his new toys. As they lower their walkie-talkie downstairs it practically hits you in the face.

But while the 3D is impressive, it's debateable if it can hold the attention of under-10s for the whopping three-hour runtime, especially when they have probably got the movies on DVD.

Watch if you liked: Toy Story, Finding Nemo.

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