Toy Story - They're Cool Toys!

 (1995's 'Toy Story 1') ★★★★☆

Walt Disney has always been our conscience, from those 2-D pictures before 'Toy Story' to those 3-Ds after. I've never before been to Disneyland to be honest (I don't plan to either), but I've been fascinated by their work with Pixar since 'Finding Nemo'. 'Toy Story' is Disney's first 3-D feature, world's first too, back in 1995. The story is interesting and funny for kids, and inspiring for adults. The characters are vivid and humorous. There're a lot of laughs there, especially the roller-coaster-ride experience in the last 10 minutes. Ha.... It's good!

Toys can talk and move round like us while their owner is absent. Kids should love this idea. You think kids would be scared if they saw their toys moving, dancing and talking? Only grownup kids would. Innocent kids like Andy's little sister would appreciate something like that anyhow. As for the adults, they would learn a good lesson about what a real friendship is supposed to be like, and why they'd better put aside their envy and doubts in this fast-changing world of differences, coz trust and understanding are the only way to get them out of danger and misery.

Wall-E, by the way, is another good computer-animated film from Disney. I wonder why some called it stupid and boring while it almost made me cry. Right, maybe they're adults and I'm still just a little kid inside. Phew, gotta grow up!

(1999's 'Toy Story 2') ★★★★☆

Last time, Woody saved Buzz Lightyear. This time, Buzz Lightyear is gonna save Woody from getting depressed about being abandoned. 'Toy Story 2' is still a lot of fun and excitement. The only shortcoming, I guess, is the final chase that seems a little bit too short and easy.

Toys can't last forever. They'll be abandoned sooner or later, coz their owner will grow up and things will change. That's the sadness of being a toy. That's how Jessie tries to persuade Woody to go to Japan with her, to be loved and adored again. Then Woody reflects, what's the point exactly of being a toy? It's to make children happy during the playtime, isn't it? He starts to realize the value of being just a toy. Maybe in the coming future, he'd also realize the drawback of 'never getting old'. I mean, the truth is, nothing stays the same forever. It's just that toys made of plastic can last much, much longer than us flesh and blood. Do you really wanna live for infinity and beyond? I don't think you'd be happy with that definitely.

Toy Story 3 is arriving this summer. Andy is now a grownup. Things are gonna be quite sad, don't you think? Well, I guess that's what makes us crazy about this series, isn't it? It makes us laugh this moment, and the next, you'd be picking up your conscience bit by bit.