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The MPAA rated Toy Story G.

Do you know what the toys in your house are doing right now? If you've been blaming the kids for leaving those plastic soldiers lying around, you may see things differently after watching Toy Story.

Of all the playthings belonging to Andy (voice of John Morris), Woody (Tom Hanks) is the favorite. This special designation gives the confident, pull-string cowboy reign over the rest of the toys -- until the boy's birthday. On that fateful day Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) enters the ranks. The shiny, new, super spaceman rockets past Woody in popularity, sparking a feud between them. The feelings of jealousy eventually propel both action figures into Sid's (Erik von Detten) world, where the nasty, little next-door neighbor delights in torturing toys. Now Woody and Buzz must work together to get themselves back to their rightful, benevolent owner.

Historically, Disney's Toy Story is best known for its accomplishments as a pioneer of computer animation. (It was the first feature-length film made using this art form.) Working with Pixar (a company that has since become a household name), the staff presented an entire world that physically existed only in memory chips. But the reason why the movie is so fondly remembered has more to do with its quality of story than with its technological achievement.

Witty, charming, and ever so believable, the film portrays characters the audience can easily identify with. It is also full of out-of-the-toy-box humor, like the sight gag where Mr. Potatohead pulls off his eyes and holds them above his head so he can see over the crowd.

Only a couple of scenes, both involving Sid, may be frightening for young children. The rest of the audience will be entranced as they watch the toys, who learn confrontation is best solved through talking and understanding.

One of many enjoyable features to come from the Disney/Pixar collaboration, this G rated movie entertains adults and children alike while sharing messages about cooperation and accepting others.

Talk about the movie with your family...

Woody is usually a kind and thoughtful character. Why do you think he succumbs to his petty feelings of jealousy? What lessons do you learn as you watch his little moment of weakness escalate into a much larger situation?

Video alternatives...

Read up on the continuing adventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2, or check out our Toy Story II Nintendo video game review. The amazing spaceman from these films also stars in the 2D animated film (which eventually became a TV cartoon series) Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

DVD Notes...

Toy Story 10th Anniversary Edition DVD Release Date: 6 September 2005

Pulling this classic treasure out of the toy box for it's 10th anniversary, Disney/Pixar presents the beloved classic as a 2 disc set. The original film has been spit and polished, with a high bit-rate transfer and a newly remastered Dolby 5.1 EX track mix (done by seven-time Academy Award winner Gary Rydstrom).

The DVDs are also decked out with an assortment of bonus features. The Legacy of Toy Story interviews actors (Tim Allen and Tom Hanks), industry professionals (like George Lucas and Peter Jackson), film historians, and other celebrities about the impact of this first feature-length, computer animated film. (My favorite was astronaut Buzz Aldrin with his Buzz Lightyear doll.) The Making of Toy Story gives the movie's creators a chance to discuss their roles, while Filmmakers Reflect presents an introspective interview with Pixar's creative geniuses (this is particularly poignant in view of the death of Joe Ranft on Aug. 16, 2005).

Amongst the wealth of other tidbits are deleted scenes (most in the storyboarding stage), short clips starring the Toy Story cast, a game called The Claw, and a sneak peek at Cars, the studio's next highly anticipated animation. Parents should note some of the interviews contain mild profanities, and parts of the scrapped footage are a bit scarier than the sequences that made it into the finished product.

Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions, Toy Story: 10th Anniversary Edition also offers English French and Spanish language tracks.

Donna Gustafson

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