"This is isn't flying. This is falling with style." -- Buzz Lightyear
When I first started my list of 1001 Movies, I was all gung-ho to watch everything from the beginning of time. Then I realized that I would be watching silent movies for at least a year before I even got to the "talkies." I have nothing against silent films, but after watching The Birth of a Nation, I need to switch things up. So, I will be watching all 1001 Movies in random order.
The first full-length movie from Pixar, and also the first full-length computer animated movie, Toy Story still holds up after 15 years. This movie represents Walt Disney's original theory on how to make a great movie, have a great story and use great characters to tell it. Pixar didn't rely on Broadway-style musical numbers to express their characters' feelings. They used words, music and even facial expressions, which couldn't have been easy in fully computer-generated characters.
We all know the story, Woody is Andy's favorite toy, but when Andy gets a shiny new Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday, Woody's not necessarily at the top of the heap anymore. When Woody tries to hide Buzz behind the bed, he accidentally knocks him out the window and into the yard of Sid, the boy that tortures toys! It's now up to Woody to rescue Buzz, and along they way they both learn the meaning of true friendship. Awww.
Multiple viewings do not diminish this movie at all. There are so many in-jokes and subtlities that you might have missed the first time around. For example, I never realized that the toolbox on top of the milk crate that Woody is trapped under is a Binford, the same type of tools used on Tim Allen's show Home Improvement.
Recently released on Blu-ray™, and I should know since it was the last ad campaign I worked on, this is the perfect movie for the format. The picture is gorgeous and it's packed with hours of bonus features that delve into the making of this classic. A definite must-own.
Credits:
U.S. (Pixar Animation, Walt Disney) 81m Technicolor
Director: John Lasseter
Producer: Bonnie Arnold, Ralph Guggenheim
Screenplay: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Peter Docter, Joe Ranft, Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow
Music: Randy Newman
Cast (voices): Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts
Oscars: Special Achievement (John Lasseter)
Oscar Nominations: Best Original Screenplay, Best Music - Score, Best Music - Song ("You've Got A Friend In Me")
No comments:
Post a Comment