'Toy Story 3', 'Shrek Forever After' headline summer kids flicks in 3-D

Once upon a time, summer family films were things to be endured, as parents either accompanied their children to less-than-sophisticated animated movies or dropped their teens off at horror flicks.

Now, everything from the most anticipated kiddie sequels ("Toy Story 3," "Shrek Forever After") to Fourth of July fireworks ("The Last Airbender") get eyeballs of every age thanks to 3-D. The old idea of objects jumping out of the screen isn't entirely gone.

But for every flying-at-you killer fish in "Piranha 3-D" or wild leap in "Step Up 3-D," there are examples of crisp visual elegance that'll draw viewers into the experience. "Despicable Me," for instance, will accentuate the space-age design of its nasty main character's world with sleek flourishes.

That's a nice touch, given that the technology's first cinematic bloom came during the Eisenhower era. And, as with last year's "Avatar" and "Up," there are always chances for real innovation. The glasses needed to make the effects possible can still seem like a distraction, yet even those have become cooler and more streamlined.

Ultimately, of course, it's the movie that matters. But 3-D can't be called a gimmick anymore.

Shrek Forever After (In theaters)

The monstrous ogre discovers what life would be like without him, courtesy of a spell from the nasty Rumpelstiltskin.

WHAT POPS?

The crisp look of Far Far Away Land was always these movies' least magical aspect, apparently taking the simplistic drawings in William Steig's original book as license to be bland. This fractured fairy tale's setting was too bright; now, however, the visuals have the depth to back up the characters. So the movie's flying witches have some zoom in their brooms, and a climactic battle in which Shrek and Princess Fiona wrestle a dragon is truly thrilling.

WORTH WEARING THE GLASSES?

Absolutely. In fact, this third sequel to the 2001 original initially faced franchise fatigue, but it's a distinct improvement over "Shrek" parts 2 and 3 (and has won a few weekends at the box office). Working in the 3-D format may have been the inspiration for more fun. It appears to have provided juice to the creative team, and even the veteran voice cast - Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz - sounds newly challenged. While parents appreciate the very human disgruntlement that leads to our ogre's lament, the visuals help kids click with the semi-sophisticated story. Its hero may be huge, but the movie doesn't talk down to little ones.

Toy Story 3 (June 18)

With Andy off to college, his neglected toys head for a day care center. But playtime is no picnic once a horde of new kids arrives.