Category Archives: Pixar Films

Pixar Films

Toy Story

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Original release date: November 22, 1995. It premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on November 19.

Rating: G

Length: 1 hour, 22 minutes

Background:

For many of us, it seems like Buzz and Woody have always been in our lives. However, for those that were alive before 1995, there was a time before “Toy Story.” (1995 was also the first year that the Internet was readily available to the public thanks to AOL and Prodigy, so 1995 was good to us.)

The story of “Toy Story” goes all the way back to the 1988 Pixar short “Tin Toy,” produced by John Lasseter, then a Pixar visionary and now a disgraced former Pixar visionary. John produced “Tin Toy,” which grabbed the attention of the Academy Awards by being the first computer-animated short to win the Best Animated Short Form award.

“Tin Toy” caught the attention of Disney, encouraging them to bring Lasseter back into the company (he was fired years before following a failed pitch). This brought Disney and Pixar together for the first time, a relationship which would be complicated.

Part of the complications came early, with Disney not liking the scripts John and the Pixar team were bringing them. It was noted that all of the toys seemed mean-spirited, and that’s not what they were going for.

There was more argument over the music, as Disney wanted it to be a… well, Disney movie with singing characters. Pixar? No. They met in the middle, using background songs by Randy Newman instead of having singing characters.

Well, the movie eventually did get released and didn’t do so well.

No, it did great. It began a phenom of a series, a world of characters and merchandising, and launched Pixar to new levels. On its opening weekend, it brought in 29 million dollars, with a worldwide run that would end at $404 million. Decent!

That includes a 2009 3D rerelease – back when the big 3D boom was happening and everything got rereleased in 3D – that brought in $41 million.

It won a special achievement Academy Award as well as a slew of Annie Awards. It spawned the Toy Story Cinematic Universe, with three sequels, multiple shorts, theme park attractions across the world, and roughly 500 gazillion toys.

A movie-based game was released for the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Game Boy and PC with a racer game released for the PlayStation.

Casting was strong, with Tim Allen and Tom Hanks starring as Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

Review:

Well, the feature character in the film is named Andy. It’s a fine name for a character and really makes him the star of the movie.

Okay, fine. Andy is a child who owns toys, like every other child. His favorite is a vintage cowboy named Woody, complete with “ANDY” written on his foot.

However, Andy has no idea that his toys come to life when he and other humans aren’t around. This includes a motley crew including nervous dinosaur Rex, snarky Mr. Potato Head and a whole crew of Green Army Men.

The Army Men come in quickly as they spy on – and report back to Woody via walkie-talkie – possible new toys in Andy’s birthday presents. They miss the big one though, however he will definitely introduce himself shortly after.

Buzz Lightyear himself joins the crew, however unlike the others he believes he is a real space ranger. This leads to hijinks as well as a little eventual jealousy.

As the story goes on, it becomes a rescue mission as Buzz gets lost/kidnapped. I don’t want to spoil anything, but… they make three more movies so it probably turns out okay.

“Toy Story” is one of those movies that everyone loves. We all know the world of the toys, can hear the music in their head, and can likely quote ten different quotes from it.

The movie looks great in HD though it’s a far cry from the more recent movies. The toys still look a little weird, color is off at times, and the humans are less human-looking than they will be in future movies. However it is still beautiful, the music is fantastic, and the story is great.

Extras:

Toy Story Clip (29s) – Yep, it’s a clip.

Disney as Told By Emoji: Toy Story (4m) – As they have for many other movies, Disney has made emoji-fied stories of their movies for little social media videos. I’m not sure if we need one for Toy Story since literally everybody has seen it, but here we are.

Deleted Scenes: Alternate Opening – Buzz Show (2m), Alternate Opening – Shootout (1m), Eastern Gate (3m), Rain (1m), and Woody’s Nightmare (1m) – These are all worth it. Not only do they give you a “what could have been” story, but they include storyboards which are cool to see.

Should you watch it?

Let’s be real. You already HAVE watched it. But yes, watch it. It’s the Pixar movie of all Pixar movies and required viewing to be a human being.

Pixar Films

Up

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Original release date: May 29, 2009.

Rating: PG

Length: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Background:

Adventure is out there! That’s the story of “Up,” one of many Pixar films designed to make you laugh and cry.

Development began in 2004 under awesome director Pete Docter, who also directed “Monsters, Inc.” and several other emotion-grabbing Pixar movies including the upcoming “Soul.” He was joined by music director Michael Giacchino, the mind behind the music of “The Incredibles.” The deck was stacked early, friends.

The cast didn’t feature a lot of big names, but Ed Asner took on the starring role as the voice of Carl Fredrickson. Ed is the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards largely due to his time on the “Mary Tyler Moore Show,” but today’s generations might best know him as Santa in “Elf.”

Unlike many of the Pixar films before it, there wasn’t much merchandise for “Up” outside of stuffed animals. The marketing machine that churned out thousands of toys of “Toy Story” and “Cars” couldn’t quite find the marketing hook for the old man movie.

The movie did well, earning $293 million in North American box office tickets and $735 million worldwide.

In the land of the critics, it performed remarkably. It was only the second animated film in history to be nominated for Best Picture – the big prize – at the Academy Awards, following in the footsteps of “Beauty & the Beast.” It didn’t win the big one, but it did win Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.

Among many other awards, it brought home two Annie Awards, two Grammy Awards, a Teen Choice Award and a sea of others.

As most games of its time did, “Up” spawned a video game of the same name. I don’t remember it and can’t even imagine what it would be like, but it hit the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, PSP, and even Apple’s App Store.

Review:

The story of “Up” is a tale of love and adventure. As the film starts with the tune “Married Life,” those who have seen it prepare the waterworks. Those who haven’t are in for it.

We meet the childhood version of Carol Fredrickson, who meets a rambunctious redhead named Ellie. They grow together in love and begin working towards her dream of living on top of Paradise Falls. As life happens, the piggy bank instead gets spent on other things. They never reach the goal as Ellie dies and we all cry. If you don’t cry, you have no heart.

The film moves to present day and crotchety old man Carl, still living in the house he and Ellie grew in marriage in. However, the town as grown up around him, with his little house being the only resemblance of a neighborhood left surrounded by large buildings.

We meet Russell, an eager Wilderness Explorer trying to earn his last badge by helping Carl. Carl, naturally as an old cranky man does, says no.

Carl loses his house in a court battle, with the courts declaring he needs to move to a retirement home. Carl handles this in his own way, unleashing a barrage of helium balloons that fly his house up – hey, that’s the movie title! – and away. Little does Carl know, however, that Russell was on the porch. Air balloon house, party of two!

The story goes on as they crash land far earlier than their target, meet a great talking dog named Russell, several less-great talking dogs, and a giant female bird named Kevin. For storyline purposes, they also meet Charles Muntz, a historic explorer who doesn’t quite end up the hero he’s thought to be. Shock!

It’s a great movie that will alternate you between laughing and on the edge of your seat. This is one of those movies that make you appreciate the HD, as you can see the individual balloons.

Extras:

“Up Trailer” – a two minute trailer. Just watch the movie.

“Alternate Scene: Married Life” – This four minute clip includes an early storyboard draft of the opening sequence.

“Disney As Told by Emoji: Up” – The “Told by Emoji” series has covered many Disney movies as a way to seem hip (doesn’t work) and promote the Emoji Blitz phone game (works).

“Russell: Wilderness Explorer” – This nine minute feature introduces Russell, his real-life inspiration, and his young voice actor.

Should you watch it?

A million times yes, watch it. It’s one of the best of the best Pixar movies.