Toy Story

Watching Toy Story again for the first time several years felt like a reunion with friends that I didn't even know I missed. It's difficult to look at Toy Story and remember just how innovative this film actually was as the first CGI film though this most likely has to with the fact that even over ten years later, the story and characters are just as entertaining as they were then. Having the legacy of the first CGI film can only carry the movie so far and luckily the movie gets more right than it does wrong. When I remember that this was Pixar's first feature film, the storytelling becomes even more impressive than it already is. Prior to this, the studio was only accustomed to making short films and it's surprising that Toy Story doesn't feel like it's being stretched too thin. This is one of the things I love about this movie: every scene is either a cause or an effect. There's no self-indulgence or showing off. The plotting is tight and the characterizations are strong.

Its also impressive that big name actors like Tim Allen and Tom Hanks were able to get into their roles as opposed to most animated films where a celebrity voice presence seems to only exist for box office buzz. Allen and Hanks inject enough genuine acting to make these personalities real and the same goes for all the other characters who all make the best of their screen time. This is indicative of most of Pixar's movies: they treat their characters seriously enough to allow them to grow, creating personalities that are more believable than most of those found in live-action films. The only character that comes of as unlikable here is Mr. Potato head. He spends all of screen time putting Woody down and starts the revolt against him for Buzz's disappearance with little evidence other than Woody dislike for Buzz. I just really hated him for the most film and wanted to throw him in the trash. That's really the only complaint I could pick with this movie. Toy Story more than earns its status as an instant classic and I now I'm interested in reintroducing myself with it's sequel.