Toy Story 2

Rating:
Summary: Even more for the whole family than the first one!
Review: My wife and kids (11 and13) actually kind of dragged me to see this one in the theater. Boy was I happy that they did! Toy Story 2 is really a great movie that had us all laughing a lot. It also provides for some very emotional moments (Jessie's song remembering her time as a favorite toy, among others). Many of the jokes refer to the first Toy Story, so it really helps if you know that one. What I personally liked best, though, has become a great "habit" with Pixar: The end trailors where the "stars" get to be their "own self": Here especially "Tour Guide Barbie" was a blast!

Enjoy... I can't wait for it to come out on DVD to once again enjoy the great graphics AND sound effects that so impressed me in the theater last week!

Rating:
Summary: Hillarious
Review: This is an excellent box set to have with both of the loveable Toy Story movies and the third disc which provides vast amount of information about how the concepts evolved for both movies.

"Toy Story" is an incredible tale which explores the thought of what your toys really did when you weren't looking. There are many loveable characters such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Woody was Andy's favorite toy until Buzz Lightyear was given to Andy as a birthday present. This story takes you on an adventure with Woody, Buzz and many other toys that everyone remembers having as kids as they fight together in the end and become buddies. This movie has many funny moments which adults and children alike will appreciate. It is such an amazing piece of art and creativity that you want to watch it over and over again and keep noticing more and more each time. If you loved the first movie and you thought that it couldn't be topped, there is "Toy Story 2". I actually liked this movie even better than the first. Woody mistakenly ends up in a box to be sold at a yard sale and is bought by a toy collector. You get to meet Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye the horse and Stinky Pete the prospector and learn more about Woody's background. And of course, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head and the rest of the toys go on an adventure to find and save Woody. This movie was hilarious and managed to tug at the heartstrings at the same time.

The third CD in the set, takes you on a tour by John Lasseter and other members of the creative team through the entire experience of developing these two wonderful movies. From the history, story ideas, designs, music and sound and deleted animation one gains a greater appreciation for what it took to make these movies reality. This DVD is set up that you choose your path through all of the categories and subcategories. Many of these areas are basically screens of text that you have to read, so they may be beyond the reading level of some little ones. But it is definately worth surfing through.

Overall this is a great box set and I would purchase it for adults and children alike.

Rating:
Summary: Five stars for the movies, one star for Disney
Review: Why must they stick to this archaic way of releasing their movies on video/DVD? I could understand discontinuing collector's or limited editions, but why discontinue entire movies? Well we all know the answer, I just hate to be jerked around like this. Disney is the largest movie company in the world but our enjoyment of their films is based around their idiotic release/discontinue schedule.
Well, with that unpleasantness out of the way, I must say Toy Story 2 is my favorite animated movie of all time and the Toy Story series is my favorite animated series (if you think about it, though, that's not saying a lot). Let's just do this in the order they came out.
Toy Story blew my mind, because the things they did in that movie (the first in particular) were so like me when I was a kid (at that age). Toy Story is sure enough my second favorite animated movie ever. It's funny, and colorful, and touching. I think all good kid's movies should have a sense of wonder, or delight, and it shouldn't be in either a cynical or naive way. They should show wonder in a way that can be found in the real world, which is a balance hard to find. The original Toy Story has all kinds of wonder and awe, both in positive and negative ways (some kids could be afraid of Sid but I bet they won't be able to stop looking at him). It's about finding your place in life, and what to do with what you've got. When Buzz happens upon a commercial for himself and then tries to fly through the window-well that is one of the most touching scenes in any movie I've seen. And the whole ending sequence is beautiful, from Buzz and Woody on the RC car going through traffic, or them being blasted from a rocket through the air. Not to mention it's filled with all kinds of toy-related jokes that any kid can relate to. I think it's safe to say it'll be looked back on like the very first full-length animated movie (it was Snow White, wasn't it?).
Toy Story 2 is nearly flawless. It has one of the craziest openings for a movie ever, and I love the way it can find a way to have characters with all kinds of motives. Al is driven by his greed, the Prospector is jaded but just wants to be loved, Jessie hasn't given up hope yet so is overjoyed when she can find a way to confirm her hopefulness. The movie uses the toys as a metaphor for growing up and moving on: or not. You can aspire for your dreams or you can realize you're happy with what you've got. Toy Story 2 is/was the last movie Disney made with Pixar before they got too smug and self-indulgent. They realized they had the power to stir emotions and awe (they also realized they could make a ton of money), but instead of giving us a sweet movie like Toy Story, we got the self-congragulatory Monsters Inc, with its obvious conflicted main character, and instead of a great secondary character like the Prospector, we got Boo. Finding Nemo was a step in the right direction, but in my opinion doesn't have the heart of the Toy Story movies.
I can actually think of one thing wrong with Toy Story 2, and that's that lame Sarah Mclachlan song. I'm not one of those people with a weird Randy Newman fascination, but his songs were so much better than that one Mclachlan song. I guess it's because the scene in which it's used is already so emotional, instead of Newman's weird but effective delivery we got Mclachlan hammering the point home with her yodeling. But I love that scene because it shows how the little girl grew up. Other than that, Toy Story 2 is great: funny and vibrant, even on my crusty old VHS tape.
I wish I had these movies on DVD. They spark wonder in me at my age just like they did when I first saw them. They have plenty of in-jokes and such but also have a timeless quality (and a strong sense of innocence). Five stars for the both of them, the best animated series of all time.

Rating:
Summary: The best DVD set you can buy. Period.
Review: If you're an "extras" hound like me, "Toy Story & Toy Story 2 - The Ultimate Toy Box" is the promised land. Hands down the best goodies of any DVD to this date. Oh yeah, and you get two excellent movies too! :)

I won't spend time on the movies themselves, except to say that they're two of the most entertaining films ever made. Instead, let's focus on why to get the 3-DVD set instead of the 2-DVD set.

The third DVD is truly impressive. You'll find fully-animated deleted scenes; funny & interesting interviews with cast, crew, animators, etc.; an absolutly hysterical debate on "Who's the best character?" with Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and the whole cast; some very detailed explanations of the techniques used to create the movies; and so much more. I've spent over three hours on Disc 3 alone so far, and there's a lot more to go!

There are even cool hidden features. For example, on Disc 3 choose 'Toy Story 2.' Under the 'Story' section, choose 'Jesse's Song.' On the next screen that appears, press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control & you'll see a question mark. With the question mark highlighted, hit 'Enter' for a outtake with an introduction by the directors.

The sound & picture quality on all three discs are the best I've seen on DVD. Helps when the whole movie was CREATED digitally, eh? :)

All in all "The Ultimate Toy Box" is the best DVD set around, bar none. Well worth the extra money!

Rating:
Summary: The Best DVD Release EVER
Review: The Ultimate Toy Box is simply the single greatest DVD release ever. "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" are revolutionary in that they are among just a handful of full-length computer animated feature films, with the former being the first ever. The two Disney/Pixar collaborations are two of the most enjoyable films of any kind, animated or live-action. They possess many heartwarming qualities in the stories they tell. Themes of friendship, vulnerability, and accepting your place in life are timeless, and these themes work better in these two films which is just a bunch of computerized characters and sets than in just about every live action film. Now as good as simply owning both films together in a box set would be, Pixar is not happy to settle for just that. This DVD set is simply amazing.

The video quality of the two films (both direct digital transfers) seems to define the word "perfection". There are no imperfections on the movie at all. The Dolby 5.1 digital surround sound is enwrapping, but not overwhelming and again is the flawless suitable audio presentation for the films.

Beyond the movies, Pixar has included an endless supply of supplemental features to allow the viewer to follow the progress of the two films, from storyboards to character and set design to initial animation to lighting and shading to mixing all the elements together (voices, music, sound effects) for the final product.

On disc one ("Toy Story") included are 52 brief "Toy Story Treats" which are animated snippets which aired on Saturday mornings upon the original film's release. There is also a 3-minute multi-language reel which showcases the scene of Buzz's introduction to his counterparts in 30 different languages. Also included is the entire "Buzz Lightyear" commercial partially seen in the movie, two brief "on-set" interviews with Buzz and Woody, and an extensive look at the making-of the first entirely computer-animated film in "The Story Behind Toy Story".

We also are presented with Pixar's earlier computer work in two animated shorts: "Luxo Jr." (the studio's Oscar-nominated first short from 1986) (Disc 2) and "Tin Toy" (Oscar-winning 1988 short) (Disc 1). There are French 5.1 tracks for both movies in addition to a 5.1 surround track with the sound-effects only for both films. A track of audio commentary from the filmmakers appears for each films as well. In addition, the "Toy Story 2" disc contains the film's hilarious outtakes, a sneak peek at the upcoming Disney/Pixar collaboration "Monsters Inc."

Then there's an entire third disc devoted entirely to the supplemental features. The disc is separated into two separate sections for the two separate movies.

For "Toy Story" the extras cover the History of the film (original plans, early animation tests), the Story itself (storyboards, story reels), Music and Sound Design (featuring 7 original Randy Newman song demos, some of which make their way into the film in some way), the Publicity for the film (2 trailers, 4 TV ads, plus a bunch of poster art, print ads, and merchandising photos), the Computer Animation techniques, Deleted Animation (two scenes with introduction), Abandoned Concepts, and more.

For "Toy Story 2", there is a lot of similar material but of course just for the sequel. The History section answers the question "Why a Sequel?", in addition to discussing the Development of the concepts, there are also sections on Music & Sound Design (including music videos and another Randy Newman song demo), Computer Animation, Deleted Animation, Abandoned Concepts, Story, The Toy Box (with information on "Woody's Roundup" and the fake memorabilia surrounding the show-within-a-movie), and Publicity (with trailers, TV ads, poster art, and character autographs). There is also a featurette on the talented voice cast, plus a segment on "Who's the Coolest Toy?". The biggest of the very minor complaints I have with the set is the lack of time-coding the supplemental features (for instance, when you start watching a featurette you have no idea how long it might be).

I could go on and on listing all the specifics of the supplemental features, but it's irrelevant. Let me just say that The Ultimate Toy Box is the ultimate presentation of two of the greatest films of all time. Through a slew of fascinating extras, unsurpassed audio and video quality, and two classic stories with human-like characters who just happen to be toys, The Ultimate Toy Box succeeds on every level possible.

You would be doing yourself a great disservice by passing up on the Ultimate Toy Box 3-Disc DVD set. Check it out, you certainly will not regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Two Toys Trek Through Terrific Toy Story Twice
Review: When released in Thanksgiving, 1995, "Toy Story" immediately won success among the masses, and charmed the hearts of children from all over the globe. When a new toy named Buzz Lightyear (Voiced by Tim Allen) arrives and replaces Woody (Voiced by Tom Hanks), arguments ensue, accidents occur, and adventures begin. The film has heart, warmth, and humor, the three best ingredients a film could possibly have. "Toy Story 2" takes off where the first film ends. And proves that sometimes sequals CAN be good, and sometimes even better than the original. When Woody is stolen by a Toy collector, he finds out that he's not only a collector's item, but that he's a member of the "Woody's Roundup Gang." New characers such as Jessie, (Voiced by Joan Cusack), Stinky Pete (Voiced by Kelsey Grammer) and "Emperor Zurg" are introduced, along with some of the funniest CLEAN jokes to come out of Hollywood in a long time. NOTE: Toy Story 2 is the last film by Jim Varney who Voiced the dog, "Slinky" in both Toy Story films. He passed away just last year from Lung Cancer, a few weeks after Toy Story 2 was released. Both films are masterfully directed by John Lasseter (who also directed "A Bug's life" and sevreral of the Early PIXAR Cartoons, which include: Tin Toy, Geri's Game, Luxo, Jr., and Knick-Knack) This three-disc set will include both films, presented in their correct (and ANIMORPHIC) aspect ratio of 1.78:1, (Thank you Disney!) as well as a Full-Frame transfer, which are both "DIRECT FROM THE DIGITAL SOURCE!" Also presnted are the original 5.1 Dolby Digital Soundtracks (Which are mixed to perfection by the masterful Gary Rydstrom, of "Star Wars" fame.) Finally, a third disc will be included which contains several hours worth of supplements such as trailers, cartoons, special previews, along with several types of behind-the-scenes footage, drawings and deleted scenes. (Not unlike the AWESOME "A Bug's Life" collector's edition, which is a neccesity to any fan of the movie, or computer animation) The Toy Story films combine, State-of-the-art computer animation, sound, multi-talented actors, heart, warmth, and comedy, all mixed together in the two best Children's films ever made! Why not purchase these films on the best format possible: DVD! All-in-all this is "The Ultimate Toy Box"! PS:Watch out for "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" coming to Video this August.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite up to the original's standards, but still fun
Review: It's time for Cowboy Camp and Sheriff Woody can't wait. This is the only time where he and Andy get to spend quality time alone together.

Then, Andy accidentally rips Woody's arm off at the last minute and he doesn't want to take a broken toy with him. Woody is shelved. By accident, he ends up in the family garage sale and is stolen by Al of Al's Toy Barn.

Al reunites Woody with Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl, Stinky Pete, the Prospector and his faithful horse. Now that the 'set' of Woody collectibles is complete, they're going to be sold to a children's museum in Japan.

Can Buzz Lightyear and the Gang from Andy's room save Woody before it's too late? And, does Woody want to be saved? There's a good time to be had watching and finding out.

Rating:
Summary: I like getting gouged
Review: Disney, thanks for putting this set in to the "vault". All you've managed to do is create a market of bootlegs, imports and scam artists. How about prosecuting some of the scum?

Thanks Disney.

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: Here is a sequel that equals its predecessor in sheer enjoyment. Wonderful new characters make the story fresh. Loved all the references to Star Wars. I will be one of the first to purchase the video when it comes out. Hope that this is only the first in a long line of sequels or possible television series.



Rating:
Summary: Just as good or better than the first.
Review: I purchased this DVD for my 4 year old daughter. She calls it "Jessie the yodeling cowgirl movie" . It is a very cute movie and all the characters are great. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the first one. Sequel's are not usually as good as the first but this movie is just as good, maybe better.