Toy Story (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ Blu-ray Packaging) (1995)

Toy Story (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ Blu-ray Packaging)

• Actors: Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles
• Format: AC-3, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English, Spanish, French
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Disney*Pixar
• DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
• Run Time: 80 minutes
  

There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces--we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys reawaken the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. --Doug Thomas