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"Let's
Hear It For The 'Toys'"
by Scott Mantz
"Toy Story 2"
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
Directed by John Lasseter
These days,
it seems like Hollywood produces more sequels than original films,
and it's not surprising that they end up as nothing more than pale
imitations of their predecessors. However, every once in a while
a sequel comes along that not only matches the quality of the original,
but surpasses it. Examples that immediately come to mind are "The
Godfather Part II", "The Empire Strikes Back", and "Star Trek II:
The Wrath of Khan". Well, you can add another film to that list.
"Toy Story 2", the sequel to the innovative 1995 smash from Disney
and Pixar, is a fun, brilliant, and excellent film that parents
will be able to enjoy just as much as their kids, if not more so.
It's that good!
This time around,
Woody (Tom Hanks) finds himself in the hands of an evil toy salesman
(Wayne Knight) who plans to fix him up and sell him off as part
of a valuable collection. While planning his escape, Woody realizes
he was the product of a classic Howdy Doody-style 50's TV show that
was canceled when the space race began. He meets his fellow toy
counterparts and must choose between spending eternity as part of
a stuffy collectors display or going back to his owner for his intended
purpose as a toy. It's up to Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and his
gang of misfits to save the day.
"Toy Story 2"
is a triumph on many levels. Like other films released this year,
it forces us to ask ourselves the purpose of our existence. Yes,
I know it's a kiddie flick, but that's the underlying message here.
As Woody's owner grows older, it's only a matter of time before
he outlives his usefulness and ends up baking in the sun at the
local flea market. Once that happens, what's his purpose in life?
What's a toy to do? Since we live in a time when toy collecting
is seen by many as a financial investment (just look at the value
of some of those 1977 "Star Wars" figures!), he has a choice. He
can either go back to his owner and be, well, a toy, or he can go
to the highest bidder and live out the rest of his days as a vintage
collectible.
As with the
original film, the other strong message here is about the importance
of friendship. In "Toy Story", Woody risked his neck, or should
I say, his stuffing, to save Buzz Lightyear. Now that Woody's in
trouble, it's up to Buzz to come to the rescue. All the toys band
together to overcome some pretty hair-raising obstacles to save
Woody. If you thought taking an elevator or crossing a busy street
was dangerous, imagine how it must be for these guys!
Even in their
voice-overs, it's obvious that the actors are having a good time--especially
Tom Hanks. After a string of very intense live action films, you
can hear the relief and liberation in his voice as he lets it all
hang out as Woody in all his "Yee-ha!" glory. One can only imagine
what he must have looked like in the sound room. As with before,
Tim Allen's voice matches Buzz Lightyear's commanding demeanor perfectly.
Even though he's mellowed a bit from the original, Buzz still comes
across like a legend in his own mind.
I was fortunate
to see "Toy Story 2" at Disney's own El Capitan Theater in the heart
of Hollywood. All I can say is, nobody does it better (sorry, Mr.
Bond!). For one thing, the stage play that preceded the film was
filled with all the vibrancy and good cheer you'd expect from Disney--especially
around Chrismastime. Also, the film was shown not from the standard
film projector, but a new state-of-the-art digital projector. The
clarity was truly remarkable! There were none of the spots, reel
breaks, or caught hairs you normally see in an ordinary film--just
a crisp, clear, and sharp picture. That, coupled with the amazing
detail in the characters, makes this a true pioneer for filmmaking
in the new millennium. Hey, with technology like this, who needs
actors?
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