A re-release of Disney Pixar’s classic films, Toy Story and Toy Story 2, continue a popular trend of releasing movies in 3-D.
Artwork by Mia Nogueira
One plus two equals 3-D! For a limited time, Pixar is re-releasing both Toy Story movies in 3-D. If you love Toy Story, this double feature (two movies for the price of one) is something that should not be avoided.
As our society is advancing in technology, our movies are too. It seems every year, there are more and more films getting released in not only a regular format, but with a 3-D version, as well. The latest 3-D movie to be released happens to be a double feature of two Disney classics that are considered pioneers in computer animation, as one of them was the first computer animated movie ever made. In 1995, Disney created Pixar, a company that specializes in computer animation, and got to work on releasing what most call one of the greatest movies ever: Toy Story, and later in 1999, its sequel, Toy Story 2.
For those who never saw either Toy Story (shame on you), or maybe do not remember the plots so well, here they are in a nutshell. Toy Story begins in Andy’s room, where – after he is out of site – his favorite cowboy doll, Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks, The DaVinci Code), comes to life, as do all the toys. When Andy’s birthday rolls around, most toys fear that he will get a better, cooler toy. Woody, acting as the toy’s leader, tells them there is nothing to fear and they decide to listen in on Andy’s party. However, it is to Woody’s shock when one of Andy’s presents is a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen, Home Improvement), a high-tech “space ranger” who comes with a light-up laser, wings, and even his own cardboard spaceship. Following Andy to Pizza Planet, Buzz and Woody both compete to be Andy’s favorite toy, but they soon get found by Sid, Andy’s sadistic next door neighbor who makes Frankenstein-like monsters out of his toys. Toy Story is one of the best animated films ever because it not only has an original story, but many hilarious lines as well. One of these lines is when Woody aggressively comments on Buzz’s laser by saying, “It’s not a laser! It’s just a light bulb that blinks.”
While it is not as good as the first film, Toy Story 2 picks up where Toy Story left off. When Woody’s arm gets ripped, it forces Andy to leave him at home during his cowboy camp. While Andy is away, his mom decides to have a yard sale and searches Andy’s room for old toys. One of the toys that gets chosen, Wheezy, the penguin with the broken squeaker, happens to be an old friend of Woody’s. In setting off to rescue him, Woody gets “toynapped” by Al (Wayne Knight, Seinfeld), a bald and overweight collector who needs Woody to complete his collection of the Woody’s Roundup toys. It is back in Al’s apartment where Woody meets Jessie (Joan Cossack, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl) the yodeling cowgirl, Bulseye the horse, and “Stinky Pete” (Kelsey Grammer, Swing Vote), the prospector. Meanwhile, it is up to Buzz, Rex the dinosaur, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm the piggy bank, and Slinky Dog, to rescue Woody before the Woody’s Roundup gang gets shipped off to a museum in Tokyo, Japan.
The first major film (excluding documentaries) that was released in digital 3-D, The Polar Express, used the technique so well, it seemed as if most of the movie was “in your face” (such as the train ticket floating through the air). Even seeing the 3-D version of Journey to the Center of the Earth on DVD (with the polarized green and magenta glasses which do not give one the full 3-D experience), one would notice a lot of “in your face” action (dinosaurs, yo-yos, flares, etc.) 3-D. While the 3-D in the Toy Story/Toy Story 2 double feature did not deliver what I was expecting, it managed to provide something totally different. Instead of having things coming right at me (although it did have some, especially the opening sequence in Toy Story 2), the 3-D allowed me to feel as if I was in the movie.
While this double feature was originally playing for a limited two weeks, because it has made over $22 million, Pixar has decided to extend the showing for at least two more weeks. Regardless of how the 3-D effects are used, I highly recommend Toy Story and Toy Story 2 because although most have probably seen both movies, they have never seen them like this. Not only are both movies shown in 3-D, but the audience also gets some never-before-seen footage, including exclusive 3-D trailers for A Christmas Carol (with Jim Carrey), and Toy Story 3 (which gets released this coming summer). During intermission (which lasts about ten minutes), there is also Toy Story Trivia, which includes never before seen Toy Story scenes and history. I highly recommend this 3-D double feature because not only did I re-live the Toy Story experience; I did it by going “to infinity and beyond!”
Rating: ★★★★☆
