Now here’s the way to release a trio of classics, with the whole set, not only in Blu-ray but in 3D as well. The whole Toy Story trilogy comes to Blu-ray with Toy Story 1 & Toy Story 2 in a 4 Disc package and it’s newest Toy Story 3 in a 5 Disc package.
For the first time ever, I was able to see Toy Story in the new format and it is dazzling. Not only do you get the enhancement of the Blu-ray but also it’s even more eye-popping in 3D. And that goes for Toy Story 2 and 3 as well. The colorful toys are enriched using the blu-ray system and when Buzz Lightyear goes into orbit the first time it’s like being in the room with him.
Toy Story 1 is set in a world where toys come to life when people are not present. The movie opens in Andy’s room a youngster that adores Woody a talking cowboy with a pull string. Going everywhere with the toy, Woody is the leader of all the other toys in the room and their protector. But it’s Andy’s birthday and he’s about to get gifts putting Woody in a tizzy as to what new playthings will be added to his realm. When Andy gets superhero space action fighter Buzz Lightyear, the toy room starts seeing a rivalry for supremacy. It’s a comical adventure with action and surprises at every turn, one that’s at the top of my list of animated films for children.
Toy Story 2 finds Woody kidnapped by a toy collector putting the gang in a panic. Lead by Buzz Lightyear they leave the security of the toy room and go downtown to the kidnappers toy store to save him. When things get out of control involving a valuable Woody’s Roundup Collection, the toys pull off a death-defying rescue. It’s a companion story to the first and introduces new characters that live on in the third sequel to this never aging trilogy.
Toy Story 3 finds Andy grown and getting ready for college leaving the toys in a quandary on whether they will have a home. In an attempt to give them a good home they are taken to the Sunnyside Daycare Center where they meet many new toys that look worse for wear. When Andy finds the going rough he plans an escape. In this story we find the action more intriguing and suspenseful. It’s Andy and Buzz against a whole room filled with mismatched dolls, cars, and other toys that have been abused. I liked this one as an adult because it’s more edgy and has a lot of action. The movie is the all time DISNEY/PIXAR release with a worldwide box office of over a billion dollars and ranks 10th in all movies live action and animation for the United States.
Toy Story 1995 was nominated for three Oscars for music and story and was presented with an Oscar for Special Achievement. Toy Story 2 came out in 1999 and was nominated for and Oscar in the music category. But 2010’s Toy Story 3 won two Oscars including Best Animated Feature. It took the Oscar for best song “We Belong Together”. Even though it is an Animated movie it received nominations in both the Animation Best Picture and the overall Best Picture.
The main Voice Talent: Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Wallace Shawn (Rex), John Ratzenberger (Hamm) and Estelle Harris (Mrs. Potato Head) are superb in their voice roles. I especially like Joan Cusack as the feisty Jessie introduced in Toy Story 2 who hits on Woody to try starting a relationship. Her character provides a lot of laughs along with a few touching scenes.
Bonus features are many on each of the Toy Story sequels.
Toy Story 1 has Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: Blast Off, three Animated Studio Stories, Buzz Takes Manhattan, Deleted Scenes, and over 90 minutes more bonus.
Toy Story 2 has Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: International Space Station, three Animated Studio Stories, Pixar’s Zoetrope, Toy Box: Outtakes and Alternate Scenes, Deleted Scenes and more.
Toy Story 3 has “Day & Night” Theatrical Short, Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: The Science of Adventure, Toy Story Trivia Dash – Interactive Game, Cine-Explorer with Director Lee Unkrich and Producer Darla Anderson, Bonnie’s Playtime – a story roundtable with director Lee Unkrich, Paths to Pixar: Editorial, three Studio Stories, and more.
Now for you guys who keep writing me and asking for more technical features about what 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVDs have to offer, Disney has covered all bases as far as my needs being met. For those of you who wrote about lightness and darkness issues in the 3D Blu-ray format, again it’s up to your systems quality and room lighting for best 3D viewing.
For Viewing, all three films have the same aspect ratio where the 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray movie presentation fits the TV screen extremely well, especially if you have the 1080p HD system that translates into a 1.78:1. It fills the screen like you were in the movie theater for best viewing. Even the DVD in the package is set up as widescreen (1.78:1) for full effect on comparable equipment.
The audio for Toy Story 1&2 are identical for the Blu-ray 3D & Blu-ray = English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 DTS-HD, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish & French 5.1 Dolby Digital EX. Toy Story 3 comes in slightly different with a Blu-ray 3D = English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX. Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX. DVD = English 5.1 Dolby Digital EX, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital.
Toy Story is also available in a 3-Disc Blu-ray 3D Trilogy Set (includes a Blu-ray 3D copy of each of the three movies). So if you already have the DVDs of Toy Story then get ready for 3D Blu-ray and Blu-ray all in one box.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A trio of toddler family films that make the grade on home video. (A)
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
