Classic--Toy Story

or: One of the scariest movies I have ever seen.

One word to sum it up: Memor-iffic (in other words, brings back the memories).

Since Toy Story 3 is making it's way to the DVD shelves this week, I thought I would run through the series in sequence, just to bring out the little kid in me. I still tend to believe that you are never too old to watch animated films by Pixar or Dreamworks, because they have something for everything. They have that heart, pure comedy and that all-round enjoyment that you don't get from today's live action films. The unfortunate thing about the 1995 release of Toy Story is that we started to see a lot of computer generated animated features instead of the 2D classics that I so love. Anyway, every movie that comes out of Pixar proves to be amazing, and we have Toy Story to thank for that.

A little boy named Andy loves to be in his room, playing with his toys, especially his doll named Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks). But when Andy is not with the toys, they come to life. Woody believes that he has life (as a toy) good. However, he is worrying about Andy's family moving, and he also does not realize that Andy's mother gave him an action figure known as Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who does not believe that he is a toy, and quickly becomes Andy's new favorite toy. Woody, who is now consumed with jealousy, tries to get rid of Buzz. Then, both Woody and Buzz manage to get lost. They must find a way to get back to Andy before he moves without them, but they will have to pass through a ruthless toy killer, Sid Phillips

I still think that Toy Story is one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. Why? Because Sid Phillips is one demented kid, and I genuinely prayed for the safe return of Woody and Buzz to Andy. This just proves that Toy Story reminds me that I'm still a kid at heart. I could watch a proper horror movie that's R18 and not be scared, whereas I watch this G-rated animated flick and I still get really scared. Pixar made the most perfect kids film, but it's one that the adults can watch and still feel completely fulfilled by everything it achieves. That could be because the story takes something ordinary and makes it extraordinary: toys coming to life. Forget animals talking, that had been done before. Once the toys started talking, it kinda made me reflect back to my younger days when I had boxes filled with Barbies and play ponies. I used to try and make them come to life. But did they ever do that? Every kid used to think that, and that's why this movie works. Andy would do anything for his toys, but his toys would do more for him. Sometimes I have to wonder how my toys feel now that they have been locked up in the darkness of my closet for eternity.

I believe that Toy Story set the bar for future Pixar creations. They all seem to have this sort of formula: a strong message, taking ordinary things and making them extraordinary, a very low reliance on slapstick comedy, and they always have something for young and old. That formula works, and each time they come back at it, it never gets old. It's amazing that Pixar had improved on Toy Story, but then again, this movie will forever be one of the best. Toy Story truly is beyond great, and serves as the best reminder of my childhood (even if I was born the year it came out).


THE VERDICT: The most fun I could have in 77 minutes.

10/10