1995 movieRating: 20/20 (Jen: 20/20; Abbey: 19/20)
Plot: Cowboy Woody is Andy's favorite toy. Andy goes everywhere and does everything with Woody--helps him stop antagonistic potato heads with diabolical schemes, throws him around, repeatedly smacks his groin on a stair railing. Woody and the other toys are happy. Until the threatening arrival of a new spaceman toy, Buzz Lightyear. Wait a second. The characters' names are Woody and Buzz? That seems kind of dirty.
Go ahead and try to argue with me that this isn't a 20/20. Go ahead. I dare you, readers. An impressive start to Pixar's reign of delight with terrific "new" animation (Jen and I saw this in the theater without the one child we had; I was mesmerized) and wonderful characters. The Pixar peeps hit a home run right away with a story that has their unique brand of humor and heart and creative spirit and depth. The often funny and exciting and occasionally touching and (surprisingly) human story's aided by a lively score from the ubiquitous Randy Newman. The voice talent, especially stars Tom Hanks and Tim Allen who were not Pixar's first choices, are great, adding real personalities to the characters. This is not my favorite Pixar movie, and when you've watched it over a thousand times (bad parents that we are, we let Dylan watch it over and over again after it came out on video), you notice some flaws, mostly continuity errors. For example, Andy must live in a tower or something because I'm pretty sure he's got windows on every wall in his room at some point in the movie. The "You're flying!" moment still gives me chills almost every time. Movie magic!
Note: If you care to read it, I do have an alternate "Andy is psychotic" reading of the movie. In it, the toys are of course not actually alive, Sid is actually Andy, Andy's mother is chopped up and stuffed in a toy box, and Pizza Planet is the cafeteria at an asylum.
One of the best, most entertaining animated movies ever made. It works because it doesnt matter that its animated, the story is top notch.
ReplyDeleteIn fact the animation helps the story, makes it more believable.
I give this a 19...eh, maybe a 20. Something in there.
I can and do like animated films...see?
Of course it's a 20. This was one of a handful of films I have seen in a theatre that I will never forget. It is a wonderfully original story, perfectly voiced, where the presentation was revolutionary. I think it is animation's high point, so far. I don't know if I buy your window charge, though. I'll watch for that next time I see this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the trivia. I didn't know Hanks and Allen weren't first choices. Who were?
After my "Up" experience, I will probably avoid alternate theories, no matter how amusing they may be.
I remembered seeing it on imdb's trivia page, but I wouldn't have been able to recall the names. Had to look it up again.
ReplyDeleteBilly Crystal turned down the chance to voice Buzz. He's fine as Mike in 'Monsters' but I'm glad he wasn't Buzz.
Pixar also wanted Jim Carrey to play Buzz with Paul Newman as Woody but apparently they were more expensive than Hanks/Allen.
And Bill Murray as Buzz? I'm can't wrap my head around that one...
And I was only joking about the Andy=psycho angle. Maybe...
I am repulsed by Pixar's aesthetics.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this.
Heh. I've never heard of anybody finding Pixar movies repulsive. Anyway, you liked the rat movie, right? And 'Up'...
ReplyDeleteI think the 'Toy Story' movies are appealing mostly to children and people who have children. I'm not sure you'd like it.
I saw this when it was new, but not since. I thought it was OK, but I wouldn't rate it as one of my favorites. I think my problem is that I'm too old school. I prefer drawn rather than computer animated. I can still remember the excitement in 1952 waiting for Peter Pan to be released.
ReplyDeleteI think that's Larst's problem, too. If it didn't have the great characterization, heart, and story to go along with the novelty of the animation, I'd agree with you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cory about the theater experience...it's a memorable one. Not that I find myself in a theater all that often though.