The Movie
Man, Pixar gets it right. Way back in 1995, "The Biz" talked up the technical ramifications of Toy Story, the first feature-length movie animated entirely on computer, but only after a subsequent string of blockbusters did the bigger reason for the fledgling animation studios' success become clear: They employ some of the best writers in filmdom. And in a genre too often dissed and dismissed as being silly, or just for kids, director John Lasseter and his team managed to tell a tale that was, ironically, organic and real, full of relatable characters facing familiar problems.
Yes, most of these characters are made of plastic, but each has a unique personality, and a soul. Sheriff Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks, who had by this point won two Academy Awards) is young Andy's favorite plaything, perhaps even a role model, as the boy is growing up without a dad. And then one day, Buzz Lightyear arrives (actor/comedian Tim Allen shines as brightly as his co-star), shifting the balance of power, despite his vexing belief that he is a living, breathing, bona fide "space ranger," not merely an action figure representation thereof.
Conflicts arise, reality sets in, and when Buzz tells Woody "Come on, Sheriff: There's a kid over in that house who needs us" (one of my all-time favorite lines in cinema), what we're witnessing is the death of that part of Buzz who clings to the false dreams of star trekking and instead chooses to put a child's happiness first. He becomes a father. Too much pathos? You and your kids can just laugh at the witty dialogue, sight gags and bright colors.
The Picture
That being said, the digital animation is gorgeous, and smart: The technique tends to make all objects look like plastic, hence Lasseter's decision to go with Toy Story as his first feature. Fifteen years later I am still discovering details in the design and animation, and the nuances of the lighting in particular help this 1.78:1 image sing. Colors almost bring a tear to the eye, particularly the frequent choice of a sunset motif. The strength of the Blu-ray master also exposes some of the minor weaknesses--relative to Pixar's later films, that is--in areas such as motion or matching characters to their backgrounds. But potentially brutal elements such as the glows in and around the Dinoco gas station at night are soft and natural, without any hard digital ringing. As I'd hoped for, this high-def Toy Story is a stunner.
The Sound
The new DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation is aggressive in the way I secretly wish all movies were. Detail is effortlessly sustained in the rears, which are wonderfully lively throughout. Bass too is generously exploited, as when Rex attacks or all the toys stampede or Buzz bounces from object to object while "flying." The handful of explosions hits hard, and the prolonged, rumbly approach of the semi at the Dinoco remains an ideal test for the sensitivity of your subwoofer. Seemingly from moment to moment this combination of five active speakers and subwoofer conveys not just the contents of this full, busy world but the scale as well, while sonically establishing unusual environments like the inside of a toy box or a claw machine. This soundtrack kills.
The Extras
Disney/Pixar has managed to come up with a smattering of fun new supplements, all in high-definition. "Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: Blast Off" (three-and-a-half minutes) is a NASA educational clip utilizing the star voices and original music, as a toy Buzz tags along on a ride to the international space station. "Paths to Pixar - Artists" (five minutes) is a well-produced look at how several creators came to do what they do, while a trio of "Studio Stories" (roughly two minutes each) simply animates insider anecdotes recounted by employees.
"Buzz Takes Manhattan" chronicles the addition of a Buzz Lightyear balloon to the lineup in the Macy's parade, with Lasseter on one of the tow lines (two minutes). "Black Friday: The Toy Story You Never Saw " (seven-and-a-half minutes) is the sort of frank discussion of Hollywood-type headaches that is seldom shared, along with the notorious "really bad" reel that Pixar showed to Disney and met with doom and dread. The disc also includes a Pixar-themed "Maximize Your Home Theater!" calibration tool.
Over two hours of "Classic DVD Bonus Features" are here too, all in standard definition. The only thing that appears to be missing is The Claw interactive set-top game. The archival audio commentary is included, by director/co-writer John Lasseter, producers Ralph Guggenheim and Bonnie Arnold, co-writer/storyboard artist Andrew Stanton, co-writer/supervising animator Pete Docter (both of these co-writers have since directed multiple films and won their own Oscars), art director Ralph Eggleston and supervising technical director William Reeves.
Disc Two is a standard definition DVD copy of the movie with all of the new bonus features plus the archived audio commentary. I am a little disappointed however that Disney did not include a de rigueur Digital Copy: Pixar titles new (Wall-E, UP) and catalog (A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc.) typically include a computer/portable Digital Copy as well, a most welcome value-added feature.
Final Thoughts
No matter: The extras that do adorn this Toy Story, along with its audio and video standards par excellence, make this disc a must-add to any library of the best Blu-rays.
Special Offer: For a limited time, Amazon is offering an additional $10 discount if you buy both Toy Story and Toy Story 2 on Blu-ray at the same time ($39.98 total with free shipping for both films on Blu-ray Disc). Total is reflected in your shopping cart at checkout. You'll also get up to $8.50 in Movie Cash toward seeing Toy Story 3 in theaters for each disc you buy (Movie Cash code is inside the disc packaging).
Product Details
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