Toy Story 3 (2010)

Easily the best of the bunch. Great story, true to the original. Great animation. One forgets is a "cartoon". Great voices - talk about an all-star cast.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as the voices of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Joan Cusack is back as Jessie. Don Rickles and Estelle Harris as the Potato Heads. Wallace Shawn and John Ratzenberger Rex and Hamm. All the staples of of series.

We are treated however to some new fun surprises. Micheal Keaton and Jodi Benson as Ken and Barbie. Fabulous! And Ned Beatty as the strawberry scented Lotso. If you have not seen it yet, you don't know what you are missing.

John Morris returns as guy who has been the voice of Andy all these years.

You may know what you think is going to happen next, but you will not guess how. You may know what you think is going to happen in the end, but you are still surprised and pleased. At least I was, and I love when that happens.

Watch this with someone who has donated their favorite toys to a worthy new owner.

Absence of Malice (1981)

If you can get past the fashions and haircuts, this is a very smart movie. This is the story of a story. If you are student of journalistic ethics you will find this movie interesting. If you every wonder about the path a story in the news takes with it's twists and turns, this is an impressive peek behind the scenes.

Of course this is back in the day when newspapers were the forefront of investigative journalism so you'll have to imagine what that was like. Imagine also a story where doing the right things is conflicted with doing things right. This is a theme and a lesson that never gets old. Maybe it means now more than in 1981?

Paul Newman was subdued but brilliant as the son of dead gangster trying to outwit the FBI and a federal Justice Dept. task force, and a very nearly great newspaper reporter played by Sally Field. Other faces you will surely recognize are Bob Balaban, Melinda Dillon, and a very special cameo by Wilford Brimley.

This is a drama of a fairly high order. Pay attention to the details. Understand what is, and is not, happening. Enjoy the ride.

Watch this with someone who want to be a journalist, or a bureaucrat, when they grow up.