Is it really possible we don't have a thread devoted to these films yet? Hmmm.
Anyway, I just noticed that Disney is putting out a "10th anniversary" 2-disc edition of Toy Story in September. I am not sure whether I want to get this, as I already have the out-of-print 3-disc boxed set with the first two films, and I haven't a clue how many of the earlier set's extras (which covered both films) will be recycled on this set. Is Pixar still friendly enough with Disney to collaborate on brand-new extras? (I do know I avoided getting the re-issued collector's edition of A Bug's Life because it seemed to be identical to the earlier version, just with an extra thing or two, like a Finding Nemo trailer.)
Meanwhile, Jeff's blog links to Ain't It Cool's scoop on the Pixar-less Toy Story 3, which we discussed a fair bit in the 'the end of traditional animation?' thread.
Full Version: Toy Story
I added a poll (couldn't help myself).
We don't watch the first film much; the language is a bit strong (lots of yelled "IDIOTS" and insulting language). TS2 is a lot more fun.
We don't watch the first film much; the language is a bit strong (lots of yelled "IDIOTS" and insulting language). TS2 is a lot more fun.
Toy Story is an amazing achievement and an almost perfect film... but Toy Story 2 is to Toy Story as Empire Strikes Back is to Star Wars -- deeper, richer and more satisfying, going places that you could only go in a sequel standing on the back of a great film.
The first time I saw TS2, I thought it was a great adventure but (Jessie's song aside) had less heart than I remembered TS having. Now, having seen both films countless times, I don't know what I was thinking. TS2 has MORE heart than the original.
The first time I saw TS2, I thought it was a great adventure but (Jessie's song aside) had less heart than I remembered TS having. Now, having seen both films countless times, I don't know what I was thinking. TS2 has MORE heart than the original.
My three-year old (yay! he's three! When do the "terrible twos" end?) has seen TS2 but not TS, because we felt the earlier film was maybe too scary. Sid is frightening in a way that the Chicken Man isn't.
But TS2 is awesome. What a great film. Deep and rich and funny as all get out.
But TS2 is awesome. What a great film. Deep and rich and funny as all get out.
QUOTE(crimsonline @ Jun 17 2005, 07:34 AM)
My three-year old (yay! he's three! When do the "terrible twos" end?)
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My oldest is 34. I'll have to get back to you when I have a definitive answer.
(groans a prayer)
Those are fairly persuasive poll results! And I couldn't agree more. I liked Toy Story a lot. But I laughed, cried, and cheered the first time I saw Toy Story 2. It is a masterpiece.
Isn't it amazing to think that Toy Story 2 was originally meant to be one of those straight-to-video sequels?
I'm thrielled to hear about the anniversary issue of Toy Story. My boys have seen neither and would probably love them both. Yet, I spoke to an employee of the Disney store yesterday who told me that "The Toy Storyies just went into "the vault" and probably wouldn't be out for 8-10 years." Glad to hear he didn't know what he was talking about.
TS2 hits on some big emotional, almost metaphysical issues. I think it almost stumbled onto some very important ideas. And its always the "accidental power" that carries the most weight.
I still nearly weep whenever Cowgirl Jessie sings that song. 
Toy Story 2 is the better film, hands down.
Although a Pixar-less Toy Story 3 does not sound too appealing to me.
Toy Story 2 is the better film, hands down.Although a Pixar-less Toy Story 3 does not sound too appealing to me.
We watched TS2 this weekend; I was amazed again. A terrific movie.
Not for one moment does it bore or disappoint. The vocal performances are all great. It has more pop-culture references than a Tarantino film (Howdy Doody, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Frank Sinatra, Home Improvement, Forest Gump, Field of Dreams, etc.). I lost count.
One continuity problem: How could Woody have 'been' a laser-cut yo-yo? The Yo-yo is wrong! (It should have been plastic.)
Not for one moment does it bore or disappoint. The vocal performances are all great. It has more pop-culture references than a Tarantino film (Howdy Doody, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Frank Sinatra, Home Improvement, Forest Gump, Field of Dreams, etc.). I lost count.
One continuity problem: How could Woody have 'been' a laser-cut yo-yo? The Yo-yo is wrong! (It should have been plastic.)
Huh. I voted for Toy Story 2 in the poll above, but a few days ago I came across this, from my top ten list for 1999 ...[indent]9. Toy Story 2 (dir. John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, and Lee Unkrich; G). Not quite as good as the first film, but in its exploration of abandonment and similarly dark issues, it's moving in a way the original was not. The love between the toys and their owners -- at least the more benevolent ones -- is a wonderful analogy for the love between God and his creations.[/indent]... and today I came across this OnFilm post from February 2000:[indent]Y'know, it was after I saw this film a second time that I realized why, exactly, it didn't rank as high as the first film in my estimation. (Well, apart from the stupid "I am your father" thing.) Woody the Cowboy grows as a character, yes, and the Joan Cusack and Kelsey Grammar characters amplify his concerns nicely, but Buzz Lightyear ... does he grow at all? Nope. His growth all took place in the first film (a fact underscored by the fact that the storytellers evidently felt the need to invent a *second* Buzz Lightyear character; the fact that *his* character development is tossed off in such a stale, old, cliched way is just salt in the wounds, for me). He's just a hero leading a rescue mission.[/indent]In truth, I have not seen either of these films in a long time, and I don't think I have ever seen them back-to-back, so I wonder what I would truly make of them now if I did.
QUOTE(Peter T Chattaway @ Jun 21 2005, 03:55 PM)
Disney announces five non-Pixar CGI cartoons in the works:[indent]Toy Story 3 ("The story follows Buzz Lightyear as he is recalled to Taiwan after a series of malfunctions. Learning of a productwide recall, all the toys in Andy's room, under Woody's leadership, head to Taiwan to save Buzz from doom")[/indent][right][snapback]71172[/snapback][/right]
AAG AAG AAG AAG AAG 
Is that Peter being funny or is that REALLY the 'pitch'? Who is being "quoted"?
QUOTE(Alan Thomas @ Jun 29 2005, 11:04 AM)
Is that Peter being funny or is that REALLY the 'pitch'? Who is being "quoted"?[right][snapback]72382[/snapback][/right]
Peter's blurb comes from the Yahoo news story his blog post is based on.
SDG wrote:
: AAG AAG AAG AAG AAG
Care to flesh that out, SDG?
Me, I'm thinking that this sequel ruins my whole "Toy Story = suburban" thesis (whereas Monsters, Inc. = urban, A Bug's Life = rural, Finding Nemo = journey, and The Incredibles = a suburbanization of an urban genre).
: AAG AAG AAG AAG AAG
Care to flesh that out, SDG?
Me, I'm thinking that this sequel ruins my whole "Toy Story = suburban" thesis (whereas Monsters, Inc. = urban, A Bug's Life = rural, Finding Nemo = journey, and The Incredibles = a suburbanization of an urban genre).
QUOTE(SDG @ Jun 29 2005, 11:37 AM)
QUOTE(Alan Thomas @ Jun 29 2005, 11:04 AM)
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Peter's blurb comes from the Yahoo news story his blog post is based on.[right][snapback]72394[/snapback][/right]
Thank you. I agree with the headbashing. This has Babe 2: Pig in the City written all over it.
Isn't there a defender of Babe; Pig in the City around here somewhere? Is if Jeff?
QUOTE(DanBuck @ Jun 29 2005, 12:44 PM)
Isn't there a defender of Babe; Pig in the City around here somewhere? Is if Jeff?[right][snapback]72416[/snapback][/right]
Actually, Pig in the City has a LOT of defenders on this board. However, Alan and I know better.
In my most recent print review -- where I gave alternative summer DVDs to the crappy choices we have in theaters -- I recommended B:PitC as "Alternative Big Budget Flop" (as it made back barely a quarter of its costs in the theater).
To be fair to SDG and other haters, there seems to be an inverse correlation between people's opinions on the original and their opinions on the sequel: Those who loved the first generally are eh to ugh on the second, and those who felt the original was okay at best (as I did) often go gaga over Pig in the City. And given how utterly different the two films are -- not only in visual style, but the second choosing set pieces over a consistent narrative -- I can understand SDG's and Alan's point of view, fully and utterly wrong though it is.
Dale
To be fair to SDG and other haters, there seems to be an inverse correlation between people's opinions on the original and their opinions on the sequel: Those who loved the first generally are eh to ugh on the second, and those who felt the original was okay at best (as I did) often go gaga over Pig in the City. And given how utterly different the two films are -- not only in visual style, but the second choosing set pieces over a consistent narrative -- I can understand SDG's and Alan's point of view, fully and utterly wrong though it is.
Dale
QUOTE(M. Dale Prins @ Jun 29 2005, 01:59 PM)
In my most recent print review -- where I gave alternative summer DVDs to the crappy choices we have in theaters -- I recommended B:PitC as "Alternative Big Budget Flop" (as it made back barely a quarter of its costs in the theater).
To be fair to SDG and other haters, there seems to be an inverse correlation between people's opinions on the original and their opinions on the sequel: Those who loved the first generally are eh to ugh on the second, and those who felt the original was okay at best (as I did) often go gaga over Pig in the City. And given how utterly different the two films are -- not only in visual style, but the second choosing set pieces over a consistent narrative -- I can understand SDG's and Alan's point of view, fully and utterly wrong though it is.
Dale
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To be fair to SDG and other haters, there seems to be an inverse correlation between people's opinions on the original and their opinions on the sequel: Those who loved the first generally are eh to ugh on the second, and those who felt the original was okay at best (as I did) often go gaga over Pig in the City. And given how utterly different the two films are -- not only in visual style, but the second choosing set pieces over a consistent narrative -- I can understand SDG's and Alan's point of view, fully and utterly wrong though it is.
Dale
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There's our urban swine! I knew he was around here somewhere.
So I saw the 10th anniversary DVD in the store today. Does anybody know if there is a review out there that compares and contrasts the bonus features on this set with the bonus features that came in the now out-of-print "toy box" set? I'm still undecided as to whether or not I want to get this.
QUOTE(Peter T Chattaway @ Sep 8 2005, 04:20 PM)
So I saw the 10th anniversary DVD in the store today. Does anybody know if there is a review out there that compares and contrasts the bonus features on this set with the bonus features that came in the now out-of-print "toy box" set? I'm still undecided as to whether or not I want to get this.
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No, but I covered the new release in this week's DVD Round-up, where I noted that this edition contains several newly-filmed, never-before-seen documentaries about the making of the film and the legacy of the film. So it's definitely got some meaty stuff in it for Toy Story enthusiasts.
Well, that much I learned from reading the back of the box. But how "meaty" ARE these things? How long are they? How much of it is just recycled from earlier bonus features? Etc.
I received one of the discs (i think there are two) of the set from Netflix to see how my son would respond to it. He LOVES it. But as far as this disc goes the extra entitled "The Legacy" is only 10 minutes long and mostly has pixar and other industry folks (like George Lucas) citing why Toy Story was so revolutionary.
QUOTE(Peter T Chattaway @ Sep 8 2005, 05:44 PM)
Well, that much I learned from reading the back of the box. But how "meaty" ARE these things? How long are they? How much of it is just recycled from earlier bonus features? Etc.
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Here's a detailed review. Some stuff is recycled from the Ultimate Toy Box, but there are a few things that didn't make it to this release.
BTW - Toy Story 2 will be re-released in similar fashion on Dec. 26.
Clint M wrote:
: BTW - Toy Story 2 will be re-released in similar fashion on Dec. 26.
Oh, so they're not waiting for the 10th anniversary, then? (I guess we might not have new DVDs any more by then...)
I'll definitely wait and see if there's a "boxed set" or some such combo, then.
: BTW - Toy Story 2 will be re-released in similar fashion on Dec. 26.
Oh, so they're not waiting for the 10th anniversary, then? (I guess we might not have new DVDs any more by then...)
I'll definitely wait and see if there's a "boxed set" or some such combo, then.
Another vote for TS2 here
Matt
Matt
I voted for TS1, in part because of the issue which has been brought up before in this thread: it's just a little bit meaner, and IMHO that made it better. My little sibs have certainly seen it without being overly scared, and I felt that the strong villain made the movie that much more dramatic.
Plus, I must admit I don't really appreciate pop culture references that much. That may have hampered my appreciation of TS2.
Plus, I must admit I don't really appreciate pop culture references that much. That may have hampered my appreciation of TS2.
GreetingsEarthling wrote:
: Plus, I must admit I don't really appreciate pop culture references that much. That
: may have hampered my appreciation of TS2.
Yes, the "I am your father!" moment in TS2 is an especially low point!
: Plus, I must admit I don't really appreciate pop culture references that much. That
: may have hampered my appreciation of TS2.
Yes, the "I am your father!" moment in TS2 is an especially low point!
: Yes, the "I am your father!" moment in TS2 is an especially low point!
That was one of the few which I actually got. That, and "Objects in rear-view mirror are closer than they appear." I did laugh at those, it's just that I had the feeling there was a whole subtext to the movie which I was missing.
That was one of the few which I actually got. That, and "Objects in rear-view mirror are closer than they appear." I did laugh at those, it's just that I had the feeling there was a whole subtext to the movie which I was missing.
The first fruit of the recent Disney-Pixar deal: Toy Story 3 has been CANCELED.
QUOTE(Peter T Chattaway @ Sep 11 2005, 03:32 PM) [snapback]83164[/snapback]
GreetingsEarthling wrote:
: Plus, I must admit I don't really appreciate pop culture references that much. That
: may have hampered my appreciation of TS2.
Yes, the "I am your father!" moment in TS2 is an especially low point!
the pop culture references do get tiresome, but TS2 has one of the best, most moving montages ever - Jessie's flashback about her time with Emily. It doesn't get better than that.
QUOTE(Josh Hurst @ Jan 26 2006, 12:18 PM) [snapback]98817[/snapback]
Thanks Pixar for bringing sobriety to a drunken giant. What's the lastest fast cash DVD? Bambi II was it?
jamesharrelson wrote:
: Thanks Pixar for bringing sobriety to a drunken giant. What's the lastest fast cash DVD? Bambi II was it?
Hmmm, do you mean to say that Disney will stop producing sequels, period, and not just sequels to Pixar films? That would certainly be an interesting development, given that there has been proven money in straight-to-video sequels to Disney classics.
Mind you, there were rumours a while ago that Circle 7 Productions, the branch that Disney set up to make Pixar sequels without Pixar, was never really meant to do anything; supposedly, it was just a bargaining ploy, a way of letting Pixar "know" that Disney was serious about pursuing sequels to these stories without Pixar's help:
: Thanks Pixar for bringing sobriety to a drunken giant. What's the lastest fast cash DVD? Bambi II was it?
Hmmm, do you mean to say that Disney will stop producing sequels, period, and not just sequels to Pixar films? That would certainly be an interesting development, given that there has been proven money in straight-to-video sequels to Disney classics.
Mind you, there were rumours a while ago that Circle 7 Productions, the branch that Disney set up to make Pixar sequels without Pixar, was never really meant to do anything; supposedly, it was just a bargaining ploy, a way of letting Pixar "know" that Disney was serious about pursuing sequels to these stories without Pixar's help:
Variety also reported that Disney CEO Bob Iger is keeping Pixar officials "in the loop about developments at Circle 7." However, longtime Disney watcher Jim Hill has expressed doubts about the underpinnings of Circle 7 almost from its inception, quoting a source last August as saying, "That studio is never going to produce a single frame of finished animation. It's all just a set-up to get Pixar back to the negotiating table." Hill pointed out that Circle 7 was set up so hastily that its name was plucked off the "street sign" on the Disney lot where it was given space -- across from the studios of Disney's local ABC-TV station, which uses the number 7 (its channel position) surrounded by a circle as its logo.So, on the one hand, this is a bigger story than "Disney cancels Toy Story 3" -- they've actually cancelled plans for OTHER Pixar sequels, too! -- but, on the other hand, this may be a smaller story than "Disney cancels Toy Story 3", since it's not clear that Disney ever really intended to make that movie anyway.
Oh, question: Has anyone here seen the bonus features on the new DVDs for Toy Story and Toy Story 2 that came out over the last few months, and if so, did they say ANYTHING about Toy Story 3?
This is the most metaphyscially baffling news ever. Is it bigger or smaller than itself? Maybe both.
Jim Hill's latest post:
Monday, September 17, 1979 is a day that lives in infamy. At least for the folks at Disney Feature Animation.Oh, BTW: Link to the thread on Toy Story 3.
You see, that was the day that Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy suddenly resigned from the Mouse House to form their own animation studio, Aurora. And over the four days, nine other animators would also depart from Disney for Bluth's new company. Which effectively gutted WDFA's recent rebuilding efforts.
Whereas Monday, September 24, 1979 is a date that is not as well known to animation fans. Though it probably should be. Given that this was the very first day that 22-year-old John Lasseter -- a recent recruit from Cal Arts -- reported for work at the Mouse Factory."Here I was thrilled to be at Disney," recalled Lasseter," and everyone was moping around."You know, I had never heard that story before. But then again, there were literally dozens of stories that I'd never heard before in Michael Rubin's excellent "Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution" (Triad Publishing, October 2005), this thoroughly entertaining & informative history of Lucas's effort to revolutionize filmmaking.
[ snip ]
Given that it seems like everyone is making CG films these days, it's important to remember what a virtual impossibility computer animation seemed to be just thirty years ago. As Rubin recounts in "Droidmaker" :From time to time, Ed and Alvy (Ray Smith) would do the math on the back of a napkin over dinner ... If they had to buy the computer equipment in 1977, it might cost seventy-five billion dollars to make a movie, which, needless to say, was unrealistic. If Moore's Law continued to be a reliable metric -- and at the time this was unknown -- (that) $75 billion price would cut in half every eighteen months. In three years it might cost $15 billion; in nine years only $600 million. It would take about fifteen years before the price reached dollars that would be realistic for a movie -- $30 million.What's almost stunning about Catmull & Smith's prediction here is how absolutely on the money it was. For serious development of Pixar's first feature length animated film, "Toy Story," didn't actually [begin until] 1992. The very year that Ed & Alvy predicted that the cost of doing CG would finally reach a low enough point that Hollywood's moguls might then begin entertaining producing a project such as this.
[ snip ]
The Pixar TV special you never got to see, "A Tin Toy Christmas"
Of course, over time and much story development, Tinny would eventually morph into Buzz Lightyear and that ventriloquist dummy that he met in his travels would eventually become Woody. But back in 1991 ... "Toy Story" originally started out life as a super-sized edition of "A Tin Toy Christmas." . . .
Looking back on the way things eventually worked out, John Lasseter (in an interview with Karen Paik for "To Infinity and Beyond!") said:
"When I was at the Disney Studios ... Tim Burton had an office literally across the hall from me ... Both of us had this idea to do our short projects and then develop a feature idea that would use the techniques we were interested in. So for me, it's great that it was 'Nightmare Before Christmas' that opened the door for 'Toy Story' -- it kind of brought that old Disney connection full circle." . . .
Jim Hill Media, December 14
Of course, over time and much story development, Tinny would eventually morph into Buzz Lightyear and that ventriloquist dummy that he met in his travels would eventually become Woody. But back in 1991 ... "Toy Story" originally started out life as a super-sized edition of "A Tin Toy Christmas." . . .
Looking back on the way things eventually worked out, John Lasseter (in an interview with Karen Paik for "To Infinity and Beyond!") said:
"When I was at the Disney Studios ... Tim Burton had an office literally across the hall from me ... Both of us had this idea to do our short projects and then develop a feature idea that would use the techniques we were interested in. So for me, it's great that it was 'Nightmare Before Christmas' that opened the door for 'Toy Story' -- it kind of brought that old Disney connection full circle." . . .
Jim Hill Media, December 14
Press release:
QUOTE
Burbank, CA – January 24, 2008 - The Walt Disney Studios is taking the latest advances in digital 3-D technology “to infinity and beyond” with ambitious plans to debut new Disney Digital 3-D™ versions of Disney- Pixar’s “Toy Story” on October 2nd, 2009, and “Toy Story 2” on February 12th, 2010, it was announced by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. Both of these beloved animated features are being newly converted to 3-D in advance of the June 18th, 2010 release of Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story 3," which is being produced as a 3-D motion picture and will represent the state-of-the-art for the genre. Veteran Pixar filmmaker Lee Unkrich (co-director “Toy Story 2”) is directing.
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first two “Toy Story” films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.
Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “‘We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they’re going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful ‘Toy Story’ cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we’re excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere.”
Lasseter added, “The ‘Toy Story’ films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we’re so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With ‘Toy Story 3’ shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy’s room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way.”
In converting “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” to state-of-the-art 3-D films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital elements and rebuilding them in 3-D.
Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, “Toy Story” was the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar® nominations for Original Score, Original Song, and Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award “for the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film.” “Toy Story 2” was released in 1999, and reunited voice talents Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in their roles as Woody and Buzz. The film became one of the most popular animated features of all time, and received an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song.
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker John Lasseter (director of the first two “Toy Story” films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) will personally oversee the creative side of the 3-D conversions for “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.
Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “‘We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they’re going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful ‘Toy Story’ cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way. John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we’re excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere.”
Lasseter added, “The ‘Toy Story’ films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we’re so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology. I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience. With ‘Toy Story 3’ shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy’s room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way.”
In converting “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” to state-of-the-art 3-D films, the technical team is retrieving all of the original digital elements and rebuilding them in 3-D.
Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, “Toy Story” was the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar® nominations for Original Score, Original Song, and Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award “for the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film.” “Toy Story 2” was released in 1999, and reunited voice talents Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, in their roles as Woody and Buzz. The film became one of the most popular animated features of all time, and received an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song.
Awesome news. I can't wait.
Hmmm, my twins will be 3 years and 8 months old when the refurbished Toy Story comes out, and almost exactly 4 years old when the refurbished Toy Story 2 comes out. Old enough? I guess I can introduce them to the DVDs first, somewhere down the road, and see how they respond to them... (The twins discovered Wallace & Gromit last Sunday when I took them to a different church than usual and some kids began watching it after the service; so I figured what the hey and played it for them here at home today, too. It's a little earlier than I was expecting, but I'm playing this by ear...)
QUOTE (Peter T Chattaway @ Jan 25 2008, 06:57 AM) 
Hmmm, my twins will be 3 years and 8 months old when the refurbished Toy Story comes out, and almost exactly 4 years old when the refurbished Toy Story 2 comes out. Old enough? I guess I can introduce them to the DVDs first, somewhere down the road, and see how they respond to them... (The twins discovered Wallace & Gromit last Sunday when I took them to a different church than usual and some kids began watching it after the service; so I figured what the hey and played it for them here at home today, too. It's a little earlier than I was expecting, but I'm playing this by ear...)
It was somewhere between 3 and 4 that my boys started watching more sophisticated animation and children's media. Interestingly, I had to learn that they were more fond of the familiar than the new. So we had to work hard to break a film into their rotation, but once we did, they could watch it a million times.
Luckily, this occured with NEMO a film that still isn't old after a million times. If it had happened with Shark Tale or, God forbid the Thomas the Tank Engine live action film with Alec Baldwin, I might just be instituionalized by now.
"I can go to Disney and be a director, or I can stay here and make history"
In honor of "Tin Toy" 's 20th anniversary, Jim Hill shares an excerpt from David A. Price's "The Pixar Touch" which talks about the creation of this Academy Award-winning short
Jim Hill Media, August 1
In honor of "Tin Toy" 's 20th anniversary, Jim Hill shares an excerpt from David A. Price's "The Pixar Touch" which talks about the creation of this Academy Award-winning short
Jim Hill Media, August 1
FWIW, the current versions of these two DVDs are being taken off the market at the end of January -- presumably in anticipation of their Blu-ray trilogy-pack re-issue in 2010.
I never got these discs -- I still have the 3-disc "toy box" set that came out eight years ago -- so I am wondering if there is anything new or unique about these 2-disc sets that I should be aware of, before they vanish from stores altogether.
I never got these discs -- I still have the 3-disc "toy box" set that came out eight years ago -- so I am wondering if there is anything new or unique about these 2-disc sets that I should be aware of, before they vanish from stores altogether.
Drawn together at Pixar
With an unbroken string of hits stretching from 1995's "Toy Story" to this summer's "Wall-E," you'd think Pixar had story development down to a science.
Not even close.
In fact, while Hollywood has long sought to turn instinct and experience into a replicable by-the-numbers process, Pixar continues to thrive by flying by the seat of its pants. Its filmmakers have come to believe creative chaos is one of the keys to the company's success -- and that the rest of the industry might just want to take a cue from some of the things they do differently. . . .
Rejecting high-concept moviemaking, Catmull argues that ideas are cheap but talent is priceless.
"We realized that if you take a good idea to mediocre team, they'll screw it up. And if you take a mediocre idea and give it to a good team, they'll either fix it or throw it out and do something else."
That's what happened on "Toy Story 2," which had to be re-boarded (think page-one rewrite) by John Lasseter just nine months before the hard release date after a lesser team had come up with a weak story. . . .
Variety, September 19
With an unbroken string of hits stretching from 1995's "Toy Story" to this summer's "Wall-E," you'd think Pixar had story development down to a science.
Not even close.
In fact, while Hollywood has long sought to turn instinct and experience into a replicable by-the-numbers process, Pixar continues to thrive by flying by the seat of its pants. Its filmmakers have come to believe creative chaos is one of the keys to the company's success -- and that the rest of the industry might just want to take a cue from some of the things they do differently. . . .
Rejecting high-concept moviemaking, Catmull argues that ideas are cheap but talent is priceless.
"We realized that if you take a good idea to mediocre team, they'll screw it up. And if you take a mediocre idea and give it to a good team, they'll either fix it or throw it out and do something else."
That's what happened on "Toy Story 2," which had to be re-boarded (think page-one rewrite) by John Lasseter just nine months before the hard release date after a lesser team had come up with a weak story. . . .
Variety, September 19
Just watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2 back to back, again, and am newly convinced of the surpassing greatness of Toy Story 2 -- not that Toy Story isn't great too. All of the characterizations are subtler, richer and more engaging in the sequel. Jesse's heartbreaking song is incomparably more affecting than Buzz's "sailing no more" revelation, and the toy's dilemma, if I can put it that way, is presented with far more depth and power.
Fun trivia: On this viewing I noticed that each Toy Story movie includes an homage to a climactic effect from a Hitchcock film -- an effect in each case involving light bulbs.
Specifically, Toy Story riffs Psycho's climactic swinging light-bulb / shadow effect (Sid has a similar hanging light bulb in his room which he knocks swinging when he goes to strap Buzz to the rocket), while Toy Story 2 riffs Rear Window's defensive camera-flash barrage (Woody's friends use camera flashes in the airport luggage conveyor-belt room to dazzle Stinky Pete as the latter is attacking Woody).
The connections can be pressed a bit further. Toy Story's swinging light-bulb effect highlights Sid's status as a juvenile "psycho" in the making (I wouldn't be surprised if Norman Bates started off torturing toys ... and his little sister), and Sid's room is his chamber of horrors, much like Norman's cellar, where he keeps his disturbingly mutilated playthings.
Similarly, Toy Story 2's camera-flash barrage is used against a murderous, calculating, white-haired, heavy-set aggressor previously hiding behind a facade of respectability, now openly attacking a lanky, maimed opponent whose damage is in this case to the arm rather than the legs. Sheriff Woody is of course voiced by Tom Hanks, who has a kind of Jimmy Stewart everyman quality. Additionally, Buzz toppling over the edge of the conveyor belt moments earlier sort of echoes Jimmy Stewart dropping from the window.
So, hm. Are there any other climactic Hitchcock light-bulb effects Pixar could use for Toy Story 3?
Fun trivia: On this viewing I noticed that each Toy Story movie includes an homage to a climactic effect from a Hitchcock film -- an effect in each case involving light bulbs.
Specifically, Toy Story riffs Psycho's climactic swinging light-bulb / shadow effect (Sid has a similar hanging light bulb in his room which he knocks swinging when he goes to strap Buzz to the rocket), while Toy Story 2 riffs Rear Window's defensive camera-flash barrage (Woody's friends use camera flashes in the airport luggage conveyor-belt room to dazzle Stinky Pete as the latter is attacking Woody).
The connections can be pressed a bit further. Toy Story's swinging light-bulb effect highlights Sid's status as a juvenile "psycho" in the making (I wouldn't be surprised if Norman Bates started off torturing toys ... and his little sister), and Sid's room is his chamber of horrors, much like Norman's cellar, where he keeps his disturbingly mutilated playthings.
Similarly, Toy Story 2's camera-flash barrage is used against a murderous, calculating, white-haired, heavy-set aggressor previously hiding behind a facade of respectability, now openly attacking a lanky, maimed opponent whose damage is in this case to the arm rather than the legs. Sheriff Woody is of course voiced by Tom Hanks, who has a kind of Jimmy Stewart everyman quality. Additionally, Buzz toppling over the edge of the conveyor belt moments earlier sort of echoes Jimmy Stewart dropping from the window.
So, hm. Are there any other climactic Hitchcock light-bulb effects Pixar could use for Toy Story 3?
Man, I like the way you think, SDG.
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