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  • Blade Runner (1982)

    Blade Runner (1982)

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    In 1968, acclaimed science-fiction novelist Philip K. Dick wrote and published Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Soon after, as is often the case in Hollywood, studios were looking to adapt the novel into a feature. At one point, Martin Scorsese was interested, but that fell through, and eventually a screenplay by Hampton Fancher was optioned. The script was offered to Ridley Scott, following the success of Alien, but he initially turned it down. He had been working on a film adaptation of Dune, but when that fell through, Scott reconsidered and accepted. David Peoples was hired to do rewrites, and Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Daryl Hannah were eventually cast. Various designers and artists were hired to help bring the futuristic look of the film to life. Despite some production problems and behind the scenes conflicts, 1982 saw the release of Scott’s sci-fi epic, Blade Runner.

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    Synopsis

    Set in a futuristic 2019, humanoid androids known as Replicants are outlawed after a group of them commit mass murder. A new type of officer known as a Blade Runner is assembled to “retire” these Replicants, essentially hunt them down. Once such Blade Runner is Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who’s taken out of retirement to track down some rogue Replicants. A man named Leon (Brion James) killed an agent during a test to see if he’s a Replicant or not. Deckard has to hunt down Leon and three others: Zhora (Joanna Cassidy), Pris (Daryl Hannah), and Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer). Meanwhile, Batty and the others are trying to find a way to expand their lifespan, which is initially four years. At the same time, Deckard becomes entangled in a romance with Rachael (Sean Young), a Replicant who believes she’s human. Deckard hunts down the rogue Replicants, all the while rediscovering his humanity.

     

    Review

    Blade Runner is one of those movies that’s been discussed so much, it’s hard to say anything new. That being said, this is easily one of the most well-made, influential, and excellent science-fiction films ever made. First off, as with many of his other films, Ridley Scott’s direction is phenomenal, effectively bringing the world to life. Casting wise, Harrison Ford is great as Deckard, mixing dry wit with a very sardonic attitude typical of film noir. Speaking of, Sean Young perfectly captures the look of a femme fatale and delivers a solid performance despite little experience. Rutger Hauer plays a compelling villain, who’s not only intense and terrifying, but even sympathetic, who simply wants to live. While his performance is great throughout, the moment that stands out as iconic is his speech reflecting on his memories. It’s probably one of the most quotable scenes of any movie ever.

    Darryl Hannah is good as Pris, and Joanna Cassidy is strong in her small but memorable role as Zhora. Also, though his role is small, Edward James Olmos is fantastic as fellow detective Gaff, who also has iconic lines. There’s also plenty of great characters actors who pop up, including M. Emmett Walsh, William Sanderson, and Brion James. Production-wise, Blade Runner is a sight to behold, with its incredible visuals that give beauty to such an ugly world. The score from composer Vangelis really adds to the mood, and the cinematography from the late Jordan Cronenweth is exquisite. If there are any complaints, the pacing can be slow at times, and the visuals tend to overshadow the story. Some may be turned off by how vague the movie is, but having everything explained would ruin the experience. Overall, Blade Runner is a science-fiction epic that deserves the long overdue acclaim.

    Side Note: when you watch Blade Runner, be sure it’s the Final Cut, which is the director’s preferred version.

     

    Buy Blade Runner on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2y6jJZx.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Blade Runner (1982)

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    This review is dedicated to the memory of legendary actor Rutger Hauer, who passed away on July 19, 2019, at the age of 75.

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  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

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    Quentin Tarantino is without a doubt one of the most acclaimed and influential filmmakers still working in the industry today. He first came onto the scene with the release of 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, which was an instant critical hit. This was followed by 1994’s Pulp Fiction, which was both a critical and commercial hit, earning him an Academy Award. His next film, 1997’s Jackie Brown, though a hit with critics, wasn’t as financially successful, so he took a break. He came back with the release of Kill Bill: Volume 1 in 2003 and Kill Bill: Volume 2 in 2004. Though 2007’s Grindhouse was a disappointment, he rebounded with 2009’s Inglorious Basterds and 2012’s Django Unchained, both winning Oscars. After the release of 2015’s The Hateful Eight, Tarantino cut ties to The Weinstein Company after the sexual abuse accusations. Cut to 2019, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is released.

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    Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an aging actor known mostly for being in TV Westerns who’s struggling to remain relevant. His stuntman/best friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) does his best to help him along and give him encouraging words. At the same time, actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) has just moved in with her husband Roman Polanski (Rafał Zawierucha). While Rick gets a job playing a villain on a new TV Western, Booth meets hippie chick Pussycat (Margaret Qualley). After giving her a ride to Spahn Movie Ranch, she asks him to stay, but Booth has his suspicions. Turns out this hippie commune is led by one Charles “Charlie” Manson (Damon Herriman), and they’ve been squatting there. Eventually, Rick gets an offer to shoot films in Italy, which he reluctantly agrees to despite their poor reputation. Eventually, these various subplots comes together in one insane climax of violence and death.

    Like many of Tarantino’s previous films, this is certainly one of the most well-made and well-crafted films in recent years. First off, the performances are phenomenal, especially DiCaprio, Pitt, and Robbie, the scenes between DiCaprio and Pitt a major highlight. Their scenes together feel like two people who’ve been lifelong friends, and they share some great banter between them. Other cast highlights include Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant, Bruce Dern, Zoe Bell, Dakota Fanning, and Luke Perry. Though many of these are nothing more than cameos, each one is given their moment to shine and they’re fantastic. Along with the cast, Tarantino’s writing is outstanding, once again feeling like natural conversations rather than written dialogue. Even in scenes where not much happens, the dialogue keeps you engaged and the actors deliver it pitch perfectly. Filmmaking-wise, the direction is on-point and perfectly captures a late 60s vibe.

    Admittedly, though there’s plenty to love here, there are some issues with the film, though mostly in the pacing. The first act starts off strong, but then much of the second act tends to drag things to a halt. While there’s still some entertaining scenes of DiCaprio struggling as an actor and Pitt cruising along, not much plotwise happens. Also, though Robbie delivers a great performance, she’s not given much to do and doesn’t factor into the plot much. Granted, many of Tarantino’s movies are known for having multiple subplots that eventually intersect into one another towards the end. Plus, it’s somewhat refreshing to have a movie that’s much slower and chill amongst the many bombastic blockbusters released today. Some may be put off by the slow pace and lack of a straightforward narrative, but others will enjoy it. Overall, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is another Tarantino gem.

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  • Crawl (2019)

    Crawl (2019)

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    I’ve talked about Sam Raimi before with my reviews of his Evil Dead trilogy, classics in their own right. While continuing to direct, Raimi and his producing partner, Rob Tapert, started the production company Ghost House Pictures in 2002. The company started producing mid-level budget horror films such as The Grudge, 30 Days Of Night, and Don’t Breathe. Around the same time, French filmmaker Alexandre Aja entered the scene in the horror film industry with 2003’s High Tension. He soon moved on to doing 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes, a remake of the Wes Craven original from 1976. Though he didn’t direct the sequel, he directed 2008’s Mirrors and 2010’s Piranha 3D, a remake of the 1978 original. Similar to Hills, Aja didn’t direct the sequel, but instead directed 2013’s Horns and 2016’s 9th Life of Louis Drax. Now, he and Ghost House have teamed up for 2019’s Crawl.

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    Haley Keller (Kaya Scodelario) is an aspiring swimmer at University of Florida struggling to succeed despite her best efforts. After a recent meet, she hears news of a Category 5 hurricane about to make its way to Florida. She gets a call from her sister Beth (Moryfydd Clark) that their estranged father is not returning their calls. Concerned about his health, Haley goes against the multiple warnings and goes further towards the hurricane to find her father. She finds her father (Barry Pepper) in their old house, but he’s trapped in the basement with a huge scar. Turns out the storm caused several large alligators to get loose, and they’ve taken up residence in the Keller’s house. With her father badly injured, Haley has to find a way to escape while surviving against the onslaught of alligators. Will they survive, or will the gators leave with full stomachs?

    On the surface, Crawl is nothing that hasn’t already been done before: people trapped somewhere with something attacking them. Hell, plenty of other movies have centered around killer alligators, such as Eaten Alive, Lake Placid, Alligator, and Primeval. However, what Crawl lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in its execution as everything in here works. First off, Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper are excellent as the two leads, Kaya especially giving it her all here. Though Pepper is immobile for most of it, he still has moments to shine and has great chemistry with Kaya. You really feel for these two, not just because of their situation, but because of the character development they’re given. It’s pretty standard stuff, i.e. family being separated, main character doubting their abilities, etc., but it’s very well done. It certainly helps that the two really elevate the material.

    Alexandre Aja’s direction is top notch, and he really knows how to establish suspense and tension all throughout. There were so many moments where I was genuinely nervous about what would happen and if the characters would survive. As expected, the alligators are mostly CGI, but it’s done convincingly enough and probably safer than using real alligators. Admittedly, this might be more of a nitpick, but there are some moments that make the characters seemingly invincible. Without spoiling anything, there are moments where Haley is bitten on the leg and arm by alligators, but she’s fine. Of course, she does have some scratches and limps, but an alligator biting down on you would do more damage. Still, Crawl is so well-done and entertaining that moments like that are forgivable and don’t ruin the overall quality. Overall, Crawl is a fun animal attack film with great acting, directing, and thrills.

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  • Midsommar (2019)

    Midsommar (2019)

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    Synopsis

    Dani (Florence Pugh) has just recently suffered a family tragedy, and looks to her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) for comfort. Unbeknownst to her, he has been talking with his friends about how he’s been wanting to end the relationship. He and his friends, Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren), Josh (William Jackson Harper), and Mark (Will Poulter) are planning a midsummer trip. Dani decides to tag along to help clear her mind, much to the chagrin of Christian and his friends. They travel to a small village in Sweden that Pelle grew up in to partake in their annual midsummer festival. At first, things seem peaceful and tranquil, if not slightly strange, but things soon take a turn for the worse. Some of the others try to leave the village, only to be met with opposition from the villagers. While Christian and friends have their suspicions, Dani comes to accept them.

     

    Review

    Hereditary was easily one of the best films of 2018, despite forgetting to include it on my best-of list. So naturally, when I heard the director of that had a new film coming out, I was sold right away. Having now seen Midsommar, I don’t think this is as good as Hereditary, but it’s still an impressive film. Acting-wise, everyone does a great job, particularly Florence Pugh, whose performance is mesmerizing. Not only is she instantly sympathetic, but she handles the more emotional scenes very well and even has some intensity. Much like his previous films, Ari clearly knows where to point the camera, as the film-making on display is exquisite. The cinematography and editing really help give Midsommar a sense of unease and disorientation, especially in the third act. On a technical level, this is easily one of the most well-made and impressive films of 2019 so far.

    However, like I said before, Midsommar has some issues that hold it back from being perfect, but still great nonetheless. For one, the opening of Dani’s family tragedy doesn’t really play into what happens later on, serving merely as setup. Granted, there are times throughout the film where Dani occasionally has visions of her family after their tragedy. While Hereditary did a great job at exploring how we deal with grief and tragedy, this doesn’t explore those themes. Instead, Midsommar explores themes of toxic masculinity and challenging societal norms, particularly in Dani’s relationship with Christian. Also, the very concept of Americans visiting a foreign land and bad things happening is a story we’ve already seen. While not necessarily a bad thing, because it’s a familiar story, you can more or less determine where it’s going. Overall, Midsommar is still an impressive and worthwhile sophomore film from Aster despite some flaws.

     

    Buy Midsommar on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Yzc52j.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Midsommar (2019)

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  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

    The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

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    In the 1970’s, screenwriter W.D. Richter was introduced to novelist Earl Mac Rauch, and the two began a working relationship. When Mac Rauch introduced a new character he created named Buckaroo Bandy, Richter became interested and had him develop it. At one point during the revisions, Mac Rauch changed the character’s name to Buckaroo Banzai, which was suggested by Richter. Years later, a finished treatment was shopped around to various studios before eventually being picked up by 20th Century Fox. With Richter as director, they manged to assemble a cast of notable character actors, who were all fully on board. They also hired some talented crew members, including cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth, though producers replaced him with Oscar-winner Fred J. Koenekamp. With a $12 million budget, Richter and company set out to bring this new character to life. In 1984, we got The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.

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    Synopsis

    Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) is a world-renowned scientist, neurosurgeon, and rock star, along with his team, the Hong Kong Cavaliers. He’s working on a device called the Oscillation Overthruster, which makes light speed travel possible, alongside Professor Hikita (Robert Ito). Meanwhile, Lord John Whorfin, an alien living in the body of Dr. Emilio Lizardo (John Lithgow) learns of Banzai’s discovery. He and his fellow aliens, the Red Lectroids, have been stuck on Earth trying to return to the 8th dimension. At the same time, the Black Lectroids are trying to stop the Red Lectroids from their goal of world domination. Soon, Whorfin and his goons kidnap Banzai’s love interest Penny Priddy (Ellen Barkin) and threaten her life for the Overthruster. It’s up to Banzai and his Cavaliers to stop the Red Lectroids, rescue Penny, and save the world. Just remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

     

    Review

    Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is a fun, unique, and entertaining film that fully deserves its cult classic status. It’s one of those movies where you can tell that everyone involved was having a great time while making it. Much like in RoboCop, Peter Weller makes Buckaroo Banzai his own and lends his natural charisma to the part. John Lithgow is delightfully over-the-top as the villainous John Whorfin, and his Red Lectroids, particularly Christopher Lloyd, have great banter. The Hong Kong Cavaliers consist of some great character actors, including Jeff Goldblum, Clancy Brown, Lewis Smith, and Pepe Serna. Each of them have their moments to shine and really feel like a team with a long history together. Ellen Barkin is fun as Penny Priddy, though she does come off as a bit of a damsel in distress. Everyone in the cast helps add to the overall sense of fun.

    For a first-time director, W.D. Richter does a great job and makes the film look bigger than its budget. The special effects, though minimal, have a delightfully weird look that helps Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension stand out. If there are any issues, nothing is really explained, and there isn’t much in the way of backstory or exposition. However, that actually works in its favor, as it’s more focused on delivering a fun story than dumping exposition. There’s a lot that’s hinted at, but never explored, mostly because they planned on a sequel that sadly never happened. But maybe, it’s better that we had one good, fun movie, instead of a good movie followed by lackluster sequels. This simply introduces this world and these characters, and just expects to go along for the ride. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is a ride worth going on.

     

    Buy The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48XIird.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

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  • Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

    Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

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    Even before the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Sony and Marvel were in talks to produce future installments in the series. Thankfully, the film was such a hit that a sequel was announced to be released in the summer of 2019. Unfortunately, this ruined any secrecy surrounding Marvel’s plans for Spider-Man given his fate in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Still, they forged on ahead, bringing back Homecoming’s director Jon Watts, as well as much of the original cast members. One new addition to the cast was Jake Gyllenhaal, who was originally supposed to replace Tobey Maguire for Spider-Man 2. Maguire suffered an injury while working on Seabiscuit, but he recovered and returned to play the friendly neighborhood web crawler. Fast forward to 2019, 15 years later, and Gyllenhaal finally gets to be in a Spider-Man movie. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at Spider-Man: Far From Home.

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    Synopsis

    After the events of Avengers: Endgame, those who were blipped out of existence have come back, trying to live normally. People are also trying to cope with the loss of many of the heroes who were lost during those events. One of those is Peter Parker (Tom Holland), who’s going on a class trip to Europe for the summer vacation. He has two major goals for the trip: confess his feelings to MJ (Zendaya) and avoid any superhero work. Unfortunately, that all changes when a giant water monster attacks Venice and a mysterious figure arrives to fight it. Peter is soon contacted by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who introduces him to this figure, Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal). Turns out the creature is one of many Elementals, and it’s up to Mysterio (Beck) and Spider-Man to stop them. Will they be able to stop the Elementals, and who is Mysterio?

     

    Review

    Given how good Tom Holland has been in the last few movies, it’s safe to say he’s the best Spider-Man. In Spider-Man: Far From Home, he’s really grown into his own and once again does a great job. Jake Gyllenhaal is easily the highlight of the film, stealing just about every scene he’s in with his immense charisma. While they have limited screen time, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Samuel L. Jackson, and Cobie Smulders also have their moments. Zendaya, who was a somewhat minor character before, is greatly expanded upon, and she has great chemistry with Holland. Though their romance seems somewhat out of nowhere given how it wasn’t hinted at before, it still works really well. What makes Spider-Man: Far From Home work is how it’s both a superhero movie and a high school movie. They really nail Spider-Man’s struggle between superheroics and having a normal life.

    Like any good superhero movie, the action sequences are fun to watch, especially in the film’s climax. Without giving too much away, there are some twists here and there with callbacks to previous films in the MCU. These callbacks really show just how far this franchise has come and serves as nice tie-ins for those films. If I do have any complaints, I’d say that the humor is 50/50, mostly working, but not always. There are plenty of funny moments to be had, but some moments seem somewhat forced or out of place. Granted, they don’t ruin the overall tone, but every so often, a joke will happen when it isn’t warranted. Even still, this takes everything that made Homecoming work, and further expands upon it, resulting in an overall better movie. Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home is another welcome addition to the MCU and its long history.

     

    Buy Spider-Man: Far From Home from Amazon: https://amzn.to/49nJvbo.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

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  • Toy Story 4 (2019)

    Toy Story 4 (2019)

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    With the release of Toy Story 3, Pixar had planned for that entry to be the finale to the franchise. In fact, Lee Unkrich, who directed the previous film, stated that they had no immediate plans for a fourth film. John Lasseter, the head of Pixar, further emphasized this point, until he, Lee, Andrew Stanton, and Pete Docter had ideas. Josh Cooley, the head of story on Inside Out, was hired to co-direct with Lasseter, but Lasseter willingly stepped down. Interestingly, Lasseter said in an interview with Variety, “we do not do any sequel because we want to print money.” When it came to doing voice-overs, both Tom Hanks and Tim Allen expressed how emotional and heartfelt the story was. While many of the original cast returned, sadly Don Rickles passed away in 2017, though they used previously recorded voice-overs. So, nine years later, we now have Toy Story 4.

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    Synopsis

    With Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw) as their new kid, our favorite toys couldn’t be any happier, except for Woody (Tom Hanks). While he’s happy to be one of Bonnie’s toys, he starts being played with less and less overtime. Things change when she has to go to kindergarten orientation, and Woody decides to join her and keep her safe. During Arts & Crafts, she creates a makeshift toy out of a spork, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, and googly eyes. She names it Forky (Tony Hale), and he immediately starts going to the trash can, believing that he’s trash. It’s now Woody’s job to make sure Forky is safe since he means so much to Bonnie despite his objections. During a road trip, Forky ends up jumping out the back window, and Woody goes after him and rescue him. Along the way, they meet friends old and new, starting a new adventure.

     

    Review

    When news of Toy Story 4 first surfaced, I was very skeptical, feeling that this all for the money. Fortunately, I’m happy to say that this is a phenomenal entry and one of the best animated films in years. First off, the animation is breathtaking, almost photorealistic at times, really showing just how far Pixar has come. Much of the returning cast, including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Wallace Shawn, and John Ratzenberger deliver solid performances. Though I was worried about him being annoying comic relief, I actually grew to love Forky as a new character. Another casting highlight are two plush toys named Ducky and Bunny, voiced respectively by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Also, Keanu Reeves voices a Canadian stunt toy called Duke Kaboom, who steals the show with his Canadian puns. There honestly is no false note when it comes to the cast assembled here.

    Toy Story 4’s central focus is the Woody and Forky’s relationship, similar to his relationship with Buzz in Toy Story. What makes it different is that Woody recognizes Forky’s importance and tries to help him rather than object to him. Another major plot element revolves around the return of Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and the romance with Woody from before. Not only is the romance sweet, but Bo Peep is greatly expanded upon, making her one of the biggest highlights. There is a somewhat central villain, a talking doll called Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks), but she becomes more sympathetic. This film deals with some pretty heavy themes, such as finding one’s worth, clinging to the past, and self discovery. Toy Story 4 appeals to adults and kids of all ages. Overall, whether or not it’s the last, Toy Story 4 is still a great time for the whole family.

     

    Buy Toy Story 4 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/484eCql.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Toy Story 4 (2019)

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  • Toy Story 3 (2010)

    Toy Story 3 (2010)

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    Following the massive success of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, Pixar was becoming a force to be reckoned with. Instead of producing another sequel right away, they created films such as Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and more. Around the same time, tensions between Disney and Pixar were worsening, a possible split between the two seeming likely. In 2004, Michael Eisner, then Disney chairman, started working on a third entry at his Circle 7 Animation studio. Eventually, the studio fell apart, and Disney acquired Pixar in 2006, John Lasseter named head of Pixar and Disney Animation. Though Circle 7 had a concept planned, Pixar decided to scrap their ideas and start fresh with their own concept. Unfortunately, many of the files they had for the original were unusable, so they had to start from scratch. After years of work, 2010 finally saw the release of Toy Story 3.

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    Years have gone by since the first two films, and Andy (John Morris) has grown up and going to college. He plans on taking Woody (Tom Hanks) with him to college, while taking the remaining toys up to the attic. His mother accidentally throws them in the garbage, so they escape, hop into her car, and hide in a box. Woody tries to convince them to stay, but the toys don’t believe him, so he goes along with them. They’re taken to Sunnyside Daycare, where they meet other donated toys, led by Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear aka Lotso (Ned Beatty). While the others are excited, Woody is skeptical and tries returning home, but is taken by young Bonnie (Emily Hahn). Meanwhile, the other toys are put in the toddler room, where they’re subjected to all sorts of rough play. They soon learn the truth about Lotso, and Woody must save them.

    Coming out eleven years after the previous entry, Toy Story 3 certainly had a lot to live up to. Luckily, this entry not only lives up to the first two, but it works as a standalone fantastic animated film. Given that so much time has passed between films, Pixar made major advancements in their animation, and it really shows. Even several years later, the animation still looks incredible, really showing how far they’ve come since Toy Story. Like before, the characters are what makes these films so memorable, and this one is no exception. Several of the original toys return, all doing a great job, and the new ones are more than a match. Much like Stinky Pete in Toy Story 2, Lotso initially comes off warm and welcoming, but quickly takes a turn. Ned Beatty does a great job going between these moods and is perfectly cast.

    Some minor characters from before, notably Mrs. Potato Head (Estelle Harris) and Barbie (Jodi Benson), are further expanded upon. The scenes between Barbie and Ken (Michael Keaton), in particular, provide some of the biggest laughs. Another stand-out gag is when Buzz (Tim Allen) accidentally gets set to Spanish and basically turns into Antonio Banderas. The climax is a mixture of suspenseful and exciting as the toys try to escape from Sunnyside. Once it gets towards the last act, there are some really emotional moments that will leave most audience members crying. Without going into spoilers, it’s a perfect metaphor for taking your childhood things and passing them onto a new generation. It’s a perfect way to cap off the overall story, while also leaving open opportunities for future installments. Overall, Toy Story 3 continues the legacy of the previous films and ranks as one of Pixar’s finest animated features.

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  • Toy Story 2 (1999)

    Toy Story 2 (1999)

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    Despite some production issues, the original Toy Story went on to become a massive critical and financial success. The film received three Oscar nominations for writing and music, and John Lasseter eventually received a Special Achievement Award. Naturally, Disney demanded a sequel, and originally wanted a direct-to-video sequel as they had recently done with their other properties. Around the same time, Pixar worked on A Bug’s Life, released in 1998 to similar critical and financial success. When Disney saw the initial animation, they were so impressed that they decided to have the sequel be released theatrical. Unfortunately, Pixar was not happy with how it was looking, so they decided to retool everything and enhance the quality. Since the release date couldn’t be moved, they had to complete the entire feature in nine months, which is unreal. Despite these issues, 1999 saw the release of the much anticipated Toy Story 2.

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    After a mishap gets his arm torn, Woody (Tom Hanks) is placed on the shelf, reigniting his fear of abandonment. When he sees a broken toy penguin named Wheezy (Joe Ranft) about to be sold, Woody goes to save him. Unfortunately, Woody gets snatched up by Al McWhiggin (Wayne Knight), rabid toy collector and owner of Al’s Toy Barn. Buzz (Tim Allen), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Slinky (Jim Varney), and Rex (Wallace Shawn) venture forth. Meanwhile, Al plans to sell Woody to a toy museum in Tokyo, alongside other toys from his line-up. These include the trusty steed Bullseye, cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack), and the ol’ timey prospector Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer). Though reluctant at first, Woody decides to join them because he doesn’t want to see them locked away in storage. It’s when his fellow toys come to his aid that the truth is revealed.

    Like I said in my review of Toy Story, I still enjoyed that film overall despite some very minor gripes. With Toy Story 2, not only are some of the original’s flaws corrected, but more is added to enhance it. While some of the animation is dated, it still holds up incredibly well, and further shows Pixar’s advances in technology. Much of the original cast returns and do similarly well, and the new cast also adds more to the story. One particularly heartbreaking moment is when we learn Jessie’s backstory, told in song, about her feeling abandoned by her owner. Joan Cusack perfectly balances being fun and jovial, while also showing vulnerability and emotion that makes her character feel alive. Kelsey Grammer does a similarly phenomenal job, adn Wayne Knight continues succeeding at playing a character you love to hate. At least he doesn’t die here like in Jurassic Park.

    Similar to the first film, the humor is once again on point, offering plenty of jokes for kids and adults. One highlight includes Buzz running into another Buzz that acts like he did at the beginning of the original. There’s also a fun parody of Star Wars that’s done between the other Buzz and Emperor Zurg (Andrew Stanton). Though it’s not necessarily a complaint, it was unfortunate that there weren’t many scenes between Woody and Buzz. However, the scenes between Woody, Jessie, and Stinky Pete more than make up for it, especially the more emotional moments. The music is also worth talking about, which is still good, especially the incredibly heartbreaking song “When She Loved Me”. I believe that this was the film where people started seeing how Pixar movies could tug at their heartstrings. Overall, Toy Story 2 improves what made the original fantastic and offers so much more.

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  • Toy Story (1995)

    Toy Story (1995)

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    Though a household name in animation today, Pixar had a very interesting history tied with Lucasfilm and Apple. Originally founded as the Graphics Group, George Lucas sold off the studio to Steve Jobs after Howard the Duck flopped. Around the same time, John Lasseter was working for Disney and became interested in computer animation after seeing Tron. After unsuccessfully campaigning for The Brave Little Toaster to be digitally animated, Lasseter was fired and helped found Pixar. Lasseter made the short film Tin Toy, which won the 1988 Oscar for Best Animated Short, which caught Disney’s attention. After a lengthy series of negotiations, Pixar agreed to work with Disney on a new fully computer animated feature. Along the way, there were rewrites, conflicts with the executives, and the entire production getting shut down at one point. In the end, the result of their hard work and perseverance became 1995’s Toy Story.

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    Synopsis

    Andy Davis (John Morris) is just a typical young kid with a vivid imagination and deep affection for his toys. Unbeknownst to him, his toys come alive when no one is around and even have their own makeshift community. Woody (Tom Hanks) is Andy’s favorite and leader of the other toys, but things change on Andy’s birthday. While the other toys are afraid of being replaced, Woody is confident than none of them, especially him, will be. That changes when they’re introduced to Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a toy that has sounds, lights up, and even wings. Woody’s greatest fear starts happening when Buzz becomes Andy’s new favorite, and he starts getting more attention from the toys. He tries to get rid of Buzz by knocking him out the window, but ends up also getting separated. It’s a race to return home before Andy moves away and forgets about them.

     

    Review

    Toy Story really helped define my childhood and was a major part of my life when I was growing up. I fell in love with the movie, and I enjoyed Pixar’s other movies, including the Toy Story sequels. As an adult, I still really enjoy the film, but there are a few issues I’ve noticed looking back. Before I get into that, let me discuss the positives, starting with the talented voice cast and their iconic characters. Hanks and Allen, both big stars at the time, do an incredible job that helps make their characters feel real. Other highlights include Don Rickles, John Ratzenberger, Jim Varney, Annie Potts, and Wallace Shawn, all giving their characters real personality. The story is also good, essentially being a road movie that moves at a brisk pace that never drags. The humor is on point, perfect for both kids and adults.

    Honestly, it’s a perfect movie all around, though my only real issue is with the animation, which is slightly mixed. Don’t get me wrong, for 1995, this is some impressive 3D animation that still holds up even 20+ years later. However, there are a few spots where the animation hasn’t aged well, particularly with the human characters and Sid’s dog. Also, some of the movements are a little jerky and don’t feel very natural, but much of that is excusable. Given the restraints they were under and the fact that this had never been done before, it still looks incredible. Also, while it’s easy to ridicule Randy Newman, the songs are incredible memorable, especially “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.” With great performances, memorable songs, and a fun story, Toy Story more than deserves its status as a classic. After this, Pixar went, pun intended, to infinity and beyond!

     

    Buy Toy Story on Amazon: https://amzn.to/477YJye.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Toy Story (1995)

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