I Review Every Toy Story Movie

[00:00:00]It's been 31 years since the release of the first Toy Story film. And that number is pretty interesting to me because it also happens to be the number of my age. UNK, maybe a little. But this cowboy is still running strong and so is the Toy Story franchise. With now the fifth movie getting released this week, I thought it's the perfect opportunity to go back and look at the first four Toy Story films, dive into the best and worst moments of them.

[00:00:29]Which one I think is the best film of the bunch, things I love that the franchise did, other areas I wish it explored more, but overall just celebrating the series cuz this is one of my favorite franchises of all time.

[00:00:40]And as I go through these, I'd love to know your guys' thoughts on each sequel, where you rank them, and whether you agree or disagree with any of the hot takes I'm about to give you. It's going to get spicy. But without further ado, let's go ahead and hit play. On the first Toy Story movie from 1995, >> so with the opening of the first Toy Story movie, we are introduced to probably one of the most important characters, Andy. We see him playing along with all the other toys and we also get to feel how creative he is making little boxes and drawing things up. Really building the world in his mind. Immediately what stands out to me when going back to watching the first Toy Story movie is you for sure notice the progression and the 31-year upgrade we have gotten with animation cuz Andy and Molly look absolutely horrifying.

[00:01:28]They are something of nightmares. And the fact that at one point this was a passable design for a lovable, friendly child. No, but that's just the human characters. When looking at the toys themselves, I mean, they still basically kind of look the same. Of course, the movies have added on more texture and detail as they've gone on, but overall, these are the familiar toys I love. And so, this premise that they've come up with, what do toys do when no one is around is an undeniably awesome idea.

[00:01:57]And to think this was like the first 3D animated movie. I was only a baby, so I wasn't in that theater sitting down to goooo gaga. But like I would love to know how mind-blowing it was to see all this animation done cuz theatrically in this same year, you had films like Pocahontas and the most goatated movie of all time, a Goofy Movie, 2D animated films. And really, Toy Story would be the beginning of the death of 2D animated movies. If you're getting a 2D animated movie in theater, best believe it's an anime and people showing up without wearing deodorant, that's the experience you're going with. Okay?

[00:02:33]You're either walking in a Toy Story where a kid's going to be crying or you're sitting next to McGee who hasn't showered in 5 days. I go watch animes in theaters, by the way, though. But back to the movie, we see the toys being in panic mode because it's Andy's birthday and that means birthday party. And back in the '9s, birthday party meant new toys. Unless it's your aunt Galinda who brought you socks and a shirt and then you understand why mom sometimes gives her the silent treatment. Makes sense, Mom. She should know I want a Buzz Lightyear, not Buzz Lightyear underwear.

[00:03:03]Which brings us into the story of this one.

[00:03:05]>> You got a friend in me.

[00:03:08]>> Andy is gifted a new high techch toy, a Buzz Lightyear, threatening the position of Woody being Andy's favorite toy.

[00:03:16]Pixar, I think, was really great about taking real world things and turning them into a story. I mean, a lot of these toys are actual popular toys that some people grew up with from like the Mr. Potato Head. Everybody had a dinosaur toy here and there with like a Rex, a piggy bank. But this transition from like cowboy old school toys into, you know, astronauts in the space age looking up at the stars and being fascinated with the solar system, I felt like they actually perfectly captured that with the introduction of Buzz Lightyear. What I remember most though, thinking as a kid and now that I think completely different as an adult. As a kid, I was like, I want a Buzz Light.

[00:03:51]Look at all the things it could do, the buttons, the laser, the wings, the helmet. And then as an adult watching this back, I'm like, no toy like that was available back then. And if it was, it was way out of my parents' pay range.

[00:04:06]In fact, I want to look up what the actual original Buzz Lightyear toy would do that they sold in promotion with this movie. It retailed for $45 back and they know I would have gotten a harsh no and a smack on the back of my head saying that. But one of the notable things is Buzz believes he's a real space ranger and he's landed on some foreign planet and that this kid's bedroom is part of his mission with Star Command to explore even though he still drops down and acts like a toy if a human comes around.

[00:04:37]Don't really explain that part, but you don't have to think too hard on it. It does make me wonder then, has every toy in this universe gone through that? Like did Woody when he first came to life back in the 50s, did he have like a couple month or day phase where he was like a cowboy.

[00:04:53]I'm going to shoot you and I'mma get on my horse and then I'm going to go to the saloon. It's just funny to think about for every single toy here, like especially with Rex being such a coward, there must have been a time where he wasn't, right? And he was just a big roaring dinosaur. Unless the explanation is because of how high tech Buzz is, he comes in with an internal programming that lets him think he is that. These are complex things we need answered in the Toy Story world. But now, let's talk about the villain of the movie.

[00:05:26]Now, I know the immediate answer and the go-to is Sid, who honestly being the villain and the mean kid who is like torturing and experimenting on toys.

[00:05:36]What a wild plot.

[00:05:39]>> Hit the dirt.

[00:05:43]>> Honestly, kind of dark, too. I remember actually being horrified of that sequence with all the other Frankenstein toys. Like, that is terrifying. But, you know, I would argue equally equally the other villain of this movie is your boy Woody. Yeah. Like watching back, you really do notice the remnants of the original version of Woody that they had in mind for this. Cuz as most people know, Woody and Buzz looked very different. Woody was like big and more wooden and Buzz was named Lunar Larry and much smaller. And honestly, it was a direction that would not have looked right or even have had the charm that you want from Toy Story. Woody was meant to be this big a-hole. And with how much I love Woody and he is my favorite character, I still feel a little bit of that essence when watching this movie that like Woody straight up tries to murder Buzz.

[00:06:41]Accident or not, that was kind of crazy.

[00:06:43]And even as the movie goes on and when he does find Buzz, he doesn't even care.

[00:06:47]He's like, "Oh, okay. You are safe."

[00:06:49]He's more worried about like, "Oh, the guys are going to like me again. I'll be fine. I won't be kicked out." just an insanely selfish character in the first movie, but I guess that is part of his arc, right? Well, looking at the best or my favorite moments from this, honestly, the pizza planet stuff, dude.

[00:07:07]I think the Toy Story world has some like pretty insane world building that kind of amounts to nothing. When I mean amounts to nothing, I just mean like I love how they create these original characters within the world. And Disney has tried, you know, branching off and making use of some of that world building like with Lightyear, the original cartoon show, and then the underwhelming missed opportunity movie they made years later with Chris Evans.

[00:07:33]That is just one section of it. Then you have Pizza Planet, which is just every kid's dream, right? This Chuck-E-Cheese but space themed with arcades, pizza, and little aliens, and the cool pizza planet truck. Like, yes, I I love all that imagery. I also loved how even then Toy Story was, you know, balancing in its humorous and its dark serious moments because the scene where Buzz sees his commercial and realizes he's a toy and then basically jumps to what could have honestly have been his death as a toy.

[00:08:12]I love that entire scene, the music, the sadness and depressing feeling in it. It works so well even in playback. One satisfying moment for sure is Woody actually scaring the crap out of Sid and coming to life.

[00:08:30]>> So play nice.

[00:08:32]>> Pretty smart move of them to also just get that out of the way in the first movie cuz I think if that scene had not occurred, we would just endlessly be asking the question movie after movie.

[00:08:43]This is it. This is finally when they're going to reveal themselves to humans.

[00:08:47]they're going to talk to them. But we got it out of the way in the first film.

[00:08:50]It happened and there wasn't much consequences to it. You know, they like deathly follow this rule of not being able to talk or interact with humans. I kind of hope we never fully go there in the Toy Story world where it just becomes no toys or sentient. But at the same time, like I said, I like that they got it out of the way in the first movie so we don't have to wonder about it for the rest. I really actually don't have many worst scenes to think about. Not to say that this movie is perfect and the best, but a lot of stuff I just don't like with the first movie I've already addressed. You know, Woody being a dick, the animation just looking so outdated with the human faces. So, let's honestly just look at some negative reviews and see why people would hate this movie. We got a onestar review here that says, "This movie creeped the crap out of younger me." That's fair. I I think we all had that experience as kids. One star because someone says toys simply cannot do this.

[00:09:40]Again, I can't argue with you there. One review here says, "Just men yelling and they weren't even hot." Excuse you. They weren't even hot. I'm cosplaying and my hotness just went up 10 points. Don't you talk about Woody and Buzz like that.

[00:09:55]But, you know, I will give it to her about the yelling cuz I forgot how animated and crazy Woody was in the first film. Just constantly yelling, >> "YOU ARE A TOY." LOOKING ALIEN where you stupid.

[00:10:12]>> I think even Tom Hanks has said in interviews, "Voicing Woody is so exhausting because Woody is a character that's constantly tense. Stop it talking." Like, "Oh, get out of here.

[00:10:21]We're toys." One star says, "Why the dog look like that?" Yeah, I guess that's true. I was saying it was mainly just the humans and the toys all look fine.

[00:10:29]That dog does look creepy as heck. He's got the face shaped like a pizza.

[00:10:34]Another one-star review here that says not enough nudity. All right, going to report this one and send that to the FBI.

[00:10:43]Let's watch Toy Story 2.

[00:10:52]So, with the opening of Toy Story 2, I think we have what is probably one of my favorite openings of the entire franchises. I just remember being in awe. It's a scene of Buzz Lightyear and honestly what the movie they made with Chris Evans should have been. Buzz landing on a strange planet, a bunch of Zerg bots, him lasering them about, going into this tunnel with the glow-in-the-dark edition. I don't remember that even being in the first movie, but I'm glad it's something they added on for the second one. Spikes chasing him and him fighting Z. Like, this is just awesome. It's I love it.

[00:11:25]>> Oh, no. No, NO, NO.

[00:11:27]>> OH, YOU ALMOST had it. Even if this was also a commercial or a product in promotion of the video game, the Toy Story 2 video game on the PlayStation one, boy, did I play the heck out of that. Never beat it, never finished it.

[00:11:40]I think I got like three levels in then it was way too hard for me. But my god, I have so many memories of that. And all of it was because of how awesome they made the video game look in this opening. You've got a friend in me.

[00:11:52]>> So, in the second movie, we are dealing with the fact of what happens to when a toy is broken or no longer wanted by their owner. This begins because when Andy is playing with Woody, he ends up accidentally tearing his arm. And this is right before he was about to go to camp where he always takes Woody. But in fear of ripping him any further, he decides to leave him behind and places him on the shelf where toys usually go to end up being forgotten. It's so crazy to think that this movie at one point was considered a straight to DVD sequel because Disney was just in that era, especially with their 2D films, of making the grand theatrical release and then releasing a straight to VHS version of a halfbaked sequel. I mean, it was just basically them saying, "We're not going to try as hard or spend as much money on another one." But thankfully, Pixar was like, "That's not how we do things." Cuz just like with the opening, this franchise proves there is still creative things you can do. Although it's set in a basically realistic world and we're following toys, that nightmare sequence that Woody has where Andy's just dropping him saying, >> "I don't want to play with you anymore."

[00:12:58]>> Visually awesome sequence, and I honestly quote it all the time with something I don't want anymore. or whether it's a piece of food, it's an old toy, something I'm about to throw away. You can catch me nine times out of 10 going, "I don't want to play with you anymore." Did it to my infant son the other day when he peed on me. Wife didn't like that. But as proof that being on that shelf isn't a good thing, when Andy's mom comes around trying to pick up toys for a garage sale, she grabs Wheezy. And I love this is where we start to see the progression of Woody. He's learned a lot from his days of hating and trying to murder Buzz cuz he's honestly living by the model of Vin Diesel. He believes in family.

[00:13:40]But this whole sequence is awesome. I love Woody hitching a ride on the dog.

[00:13:44]But in his pursuit, Woody accidentally gets found by a collector who is actually looking for a Woody toy. and although is told no that the toy is not for sale, he scams his way into taking it, leading Woody to get introduced to some new friends.

[00:14:01]Toy Story 2 is pretty crucial for the people they introduce cuz they are still relevant even up to the fifth movie, and that's Jesse and Bullseye. But I loved how their introduction wasn't just, hey, let's keep adding on toys and all these interesting things. I like how their introduction also gave us more lore into Woody himself. You know, the last movie we got to know about Buzz and through the little lines of Star Command and all that and even with the opening of two with Zurg, we get a real basic gist of his world building. But now seeing the insight into Woody, this was again fascinating to me because Woody was completely unaware that this was his upbringing or I guess his origin story.

[00:14:37]It's that stuff where it's like I guess it really is Buzz's processing chip that gives him that pre-thought that he is a space ranger. And if Woody is even a toy from like the 50s and he's vintage and collectible now where he could end up in a museum, then where has Woody been all these years, cuz the first movie takes place in the '9s. So that means Woody had to have been in a box in some sort of thing until he was eventually gifted to Andy cuz makes it seem like Andy is Woody's first owner. And Woody doesn't talk much about old days or years ago.

[00:15:08]So, I don't that's my head cannon that maybe Woody was like Andy's grandpa's toy that he never opened until he finally gifted it to his grandkid. Who knows? But another angle of this I like is the owl character, the big chicken, who has the longest drive to work.

[00:15:23]>> I can't believe I have to drive all the way to work on a Saturday. All the way to work.

[00:15:32]>> I hate to be the one to admit it, you know. Not balding yet. Don't think I ever will. This hairline is impeccable.

[00:15:39]That Toy Story 5 Woody immaculate. But with that said, I have come to realize when watching Toy Story 2, I am Al. And many of us are. You know, there's articles that you can look up where kids aren't buying toys today. And the real people buying toys are the older generation. And it's a nostalgic thing for our youth. And it's also because we got big boy adult money. So, we want to buy the things we never could get as kids. And even looking at the toy industry, companies like Hasbro, Mattel, they all have these like adult lines that they sell a very poseable action figures, whether Marvel Legends or McFarland's with DC. All of us buy it, not to play with or to, you know, have little scenarios. We pose them. Some of us pose them, but it's so that they can sit on a shelf and we can look at them for two seconds and go, "Yeah, financially right choice." And so in that aspect, I feel like Toy Story 2 was a little ahead of its time in that department because a lot of us growing up who had watched Toy Story 2 as a kid are more likely to do what Woody, Jesse, Bullseye, and Stinky Pete were about to do and just become display pieces to be admired cuz they're vintage collectible.

[00:16:53]And also cuz I also fall asleep eating Doritos on the couch.

[00:17:00]But probably my favorite angle with this introduction of the newer characters is Jesse's backstory. Like she and herself was already a fun, energetic character.

[00:17:10]And I also love that they didn't immediately make her like Woody's love interest just cuz they happened to both be cowboys and from the same toy line, but they have a platonic friendship. And you know, Jesse really was preparing Woody for what was looking to be his eventual future. That's where like the gut punch of this movie comes in. And that beautiful, marvelous song. When somebody love me, everything was beautiful. Every hour spent together.

[00:17:43]What a tragic story. And it really put Woody in an early position to be like, you know, Andy's not going to be a kid forever. He's eventually going to let go of you. It happened to me, so why even delay the inevitable? It's just another moment of them tackling subjects seriously and not letting a lot of the humor bog it down. And I always just love Pixar for that. Makes these movies just feel so heartfelt. But where there is heart, there is also evil.

[00:18:11]Sure, you could say Al, the guy who stole a toy from a child, is the villain. But the surprise twist of the movie is that Stinky Pete, who is new in box up until a point, honestly, kind of a crazy twist. Mang was just hopping in and out of his box when he wanted to. I like him as the villain. I wouldn't say he's the most memorable for me, but I mean, he serves a purpose in the story.

[00:18:32]And I mean, later on, it was pretty crazy seeing him rip Woody's shoulder after he had gotten repaired and all that. Totally makes sense, though, because him being in a box, he never experienced the love of a child like Jesse did. Never got that compassion.

[00:18:47]And, you know, you could argue maybe that's the messaging to the child, one that's acting up and being bad. Maybe they just are still in their box metaphorically at home. Let them out of their box. The profound conversations we have here at 3C. But I guess on speaking of villains, there is a minor one in here that I thought was kind of cool, and that's Zurg. On the side quest where we're following Buzz and the toys to head off to rescue Woody, we do have a Zurg toy where we get a great reference to Star Wars.

[00:19:15]>> I'll never give in. You killed my father.

[00:19:18]>> No, Buzz. I am your father.

[00:19:21]>> No.

[00:19:23]and it's cute and it's funny, but I think it unfortunately set the seed for something I hated later down in the franchise, which leads us into So, starting off here with the worst, cuz not very many, but I do have some nitpicks. It is that introduction of bringing back the Star Command Buzz Lightyear. It's a cool idea. You know, just the idea of the toys exploring a toy store. That's a fun playground. And just the aisle of Buzz Lightyears is really cool. But Toy Story 2 really did start that trend and they kept it going movie to movie where we have to have a Buzz Lightyear that is going to act like if he's a Space Ranger. And again, I'm thinking now this is exclusively to Buzz Lightyear toys. I mean, you go down the aisle to the Barbie aisle, which hey yo, hey, I'm a toy now. Let me walk down that aisle. You know what I'm saying?

[00:20:12]Let me walk down that aisle. That and the anxiety little me had for when they're crossing traffic and that big cinder block almost kills Mr. Potato Head. I don't know about you, as a kid, I still remember being clenched up going, "Oh, it's about to happen." But when looking at the best parts of this movie, aside from the moments I already mentioned, I love the airport sequence.

[00:20:35]Like to this day, I know I'm an adult and it doesn't look that way, but when all the luggage and all the different conveyor belts and endless maze, like I I just love the way it look and it created for such a fun sequence with the toys. Speaking of anxiety high moments, the entire airplane taking off scene.

[00:20:52]That was really cool. Don't believe you know Bullseye could travel as fast as a plane, but whatever. It still worked for me and it had me on the edge of my seat when I was little. All this was also during the time when Pixar was still making bloopers. I love all the little bloopers they would have at the end of this. And it's something you don't even think about all that much when you're a kid. You're just like, "Oh, little funny scenes." But like, no, they had to animate these purposeful accidents to try and make it look genuine the way bloopers look in regular movies. Such a fun time in Pixar's history. But, I mean, we're all thinking what is by far the best scene in possibly the entire Toy Story franchise. Woody getting restored by the old man. Oh my. Please animate giant old man and fix me up the way they did.

[00:21:44]Thank you, old man. I feel great. It is such a satisfying great scene. anytime it comes up online, whether I'm scrolling or on YouTube, if I'm recommended that scene, I have to click on it and I have to let that moment just hit all the right satisfying senses of me. Amazing entry that I would argue maybe even better than the first.

[00:22:04]Improved on things in the world, build things out. I don't see what you could possibly say that's negative about this, but let's take a peek. One star. I like the old guy.

[00:22:14]Why does that make it one star? I'm genuinely struggling to find like actual reasonings or funny things people could say about not liking this movie. But, okay. Um, let's go into Toy Story 3.

[00:22:31]A whopping 11-year wait for the next Toy Story film getting released in 2010. And man, did they come out swinging. This is by far, no point in sugar coating it, the best Toy Story film that there ever was. I'm sure there's like a good list out there, but in terms of like the best third film in a series, I don't think anything beats Toy Story 3, this is a nearly perfect movie with almost no flaws. All heart, emotion, development, and what a satisfying ending to, you know, what we thought was going to be the end of the franchise. And to many people out there, it still is. This is the one I most vividly remember seeing in the theaters. The other two films, like I said, I was young and those were mainly VHS watches for me. On repeat though, a lot. However, with Toy Story 3, I remember being in the theater with my 3D glasses. A sophomore in high school already thinking about, you know, I'm going to graduate and go to college someday just like Andy. The minute, I tell you, the minute the opening of Toy Story 3 ended after we got the awesome sequence, a look into Andy's mind, all the crazy effects. I I like it. It's a good ending. But it's the moment that ends and we cut to Andy as a little kid, his mom videotaping him, and him just having fun. Bro, I was crying from that moment. I remember my 3D glasses fogging up and me going, "Oh my god, this movie is about to wreck me." Anybody else?

[00:24:07]Like just from that moment also got teary eye. I'd love to know. And as cool as it is, it to me it's mainly the 11-year upgrade in the Pixar animation and how they fixed some things, especially when it comes to like Andy's face. They kind of found a way to do similar face structures from the original movie without it looking as terrifying here. But I truly mean it in this opening. Like the movie does not hold back in giving you several gut punches. I was already tearing up and getting crying, seeing Andy grow up in his life and him eventually ending up as a teenager who's about to head off to college. But then we see this plan in place that the toys have created to get Andy to just open the treasure chest, which from the implication of the movie, Andy hasn't really opened his toy treasure chest in maybe years. They've stolen his cell phone, which is still a flip phone at this point. No iPhone, which is a little surprising cuz I think even I myself at that age in 2010, I had an iPhone by then. They came out in 2008. I guess they didn't think Andy was an iPhone guy yet. But back to the plan here. Like you feel the immediate desperation these toys have just for some affection by Andy. That moment where like Woody is basically on the other line with Andy. Hello.

[00:25:24]Hello.

[00:25:25]Anyone there?

[00:25:26]>> You can see it in the character. He wants to talk to Andy. He wants to say something. And even just hearing his whisper, it's like almost like a lost relative. It is like powerful stuff.

[00:25:38]Even Rex doesn't want to let go of the phone whenever he has Andy there. It's like so sad to think about, man. These toys, their purpose is no longer needed and now they're just collecting dust.

[00:25:50]But is that where the heartbreak and pain of Toy Story 3 ends? No. We do the classic Woody rounding up the toys, getting everyone together, and my god, there's almost no one led to as a huge parallel to the first movie with how many toys they were. The years have not been kind to Andy's room. And Mama Andy has been garage selling like crazy cuz there's only about seven to eight of them left. The look also on Woody's face when Bo Pete is mentioned. Bo Peep.

[00:26:20]Yeah, even even Bo, dude, 8 minutes into this movie and that's like five shots to the heart.

[00:26:30]Just Pixar said, "No, y'all waited 11 years for this. We're going to make it count."

[00:26:37]It truly is one of the most gut-wrenching installments, but okay, what's the story? You got a friend in me.

[00:26:44]>> So, with now all these years have gone by, Andy is getting ready to head off to college. They're cleaning out his room, putting his things together, and he's going to pack it up and leave. It appears he's deciding to take Woody to college with him, and that the rest of the toys will be placed up in the attic for storage with maybe the hopes that one day Andy comes back, has a kid, and maybe gifts it to them. But that is going to take years for that to maybe happen unless they are forgotten or just eventually sold off. And then here's to me where again I remember so vividly watching Toy Story 3 because as the movie is exploring options for what could happen to the toys, Woody going off to college with Andy, toys staying up in the attic, but then the introduction of Sunnyside, this daycare where the toys could possibly, you know, find new people to play with. Is that then where the story ends? they become toys at a daycare. I was like in my mind I'm watching the movie and thinking to myself, okay, what is the best option?

[00:27:42]Like Woody should always be with Andy.

[00:27:44]So yeah, but he's not going to play with him in college. And as soon as he brings some girl over and he sees he has a Woody doll. I don't think Andy's getting action. And like the attic is no place for the toys. Just collecting dust up there. Sure, they could have their own adventure and live amongst their fine, but they ultimately want to be played.

[00:28:00]That is what they yearn for as toys. So, I was like, "Okay, I guess the daycare is the best option." Leading us to meet some new friends.

[00:28:12]There's a lot of people introduced for this movie, probably the most so far in a Toy Story film cuz it's not just all the other toys that we get to meet in Sunnyside from Ken, which I just thought that was fun. Michael Keaton really played that character well, and I just love how annoyed he gets when they call him a girl's toy.

[00:28:29]>> What do you expect from a girl's toy?

[00:28:31]I'm not a girl's toy. I'm not. But I also get the introduction of a very important human character and that's little Bonnie. Which again, watching the movie, I had no idea that Bonnie would become the new owner. I just thought like she'd be a random kid in the story that was only used as a purpose to get from point A to point B for certain characters. Like she does pick up Woody and takes her to her home where again we meet future importing characters. And the end itself is such a fun scene because it's the first time Woody gets played by someone else. And he does acknowledge it's like the most fun he's had. And I guess that's where I also want to talk a little bit more about how complicated Woody became in this movie, but all for the better because some of his, you know, annoying tendencies from the first movie where he was maybe a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more commanding. It came out in this film, but not in a way where it bothered me or annoyed me like in the first film.

[00:29:24]It came out in a way where you understand again his desperation and his frustration. He feels a bit of guilt that Andy is willing to continue being with him and going off to college, but he wants his friends taken care of. And he does feel the attic is the best spot for them. But since we know Jesse has already gone through like a kid change, she tells him straight up. It's like, "We got to move on. Andy's moving on.

[00:29:46]>> Andy's moving on, Woody. It's time we did the same." that led to some great conflict in the group because the argument they had in Sunnyside. It's genuinely like a civil war moment where I just don't know whose side I'm on right there. And again, takes me back to I just did not see how they could possibly end this movie as it was happening. It had me so on the edge. And that's even before we talk about the villain of this movie, Lotso the Bear. I think easily the best villain of the entire franchise. My goodness, was this bear such an evil creature. They do the thing again where he's kind of a twist villain, at least for a portion of the movie. It's more early on. In fact, it's his whole group and the way Sunnyside is actually built, which another dark element. Pixar essentially turned the Sunnyside daycare into a concentration camp, a prison where you're locked in there. But I think it works so well in how they explain how inescapable Sunnyside is from all the different angles to try and get out the failed attempts from other toys. Really was such a great setting for this movie. The minions lot also has from like the baby that we talk about this franchise giving us nightmares. And now that they've gotten to a point where they can just create goodlooking human characters, toy characters, they purposely created a toy character to frighten the crap out of us. That moment where the baby is just looking at the moon sky, that's like something out of a horror movie, man. And I love it. Oh, yes. Speaking of dark moments, too, when they hold down Buzz and change his programming, it's the one time fine, I will accept you doing the star command, Buzz Lightyear phase again. Cuz at least this point in the story, it wasn't just used for comedic relief or to just throw some nonsense like Buzz became an enemy again, a very powerful one. and Lzo was able to manipulate him as a soldier using his own thought process and lore.

[00:31:48]Like again, that just makes Lotso such a great villain. But the other key to a great villain is a great backstory. Uh I loved Lzo's backstory and his turn to evil being a toy that was lost that was replaced. I think many of people have gone through that situation where kid loses a toy, parents don't know what to do, so they just buy another one. Even Lo having that like happen during the rain, bro. Like Pixar was cooking and basically making their Darth Vader right there. And again, I'm only getting to like the surface of the awful things Lotso does in this movie. He freaking beats up an old toy. A toy who at the beginning of the movie was like, "They'll never break me, kid. They'll be good. I They broke me, kid. Oh my god."

[00:32:29]This movie goes there, man. I'd be willing to say this is like the darkest Pixar movie if you really think about it. That freaking monkey.

[00:32:38]Oh, okay. I need to get into best and worst moments of this.

[00:32:45]I honestly almost have no worst m I mean the thing I will say is when they turned into Spanish bush. Sure it's funny and it's okay and it doesn't last that long in the movie but that's the kind of thing where it's like I don't love when they turn Buzz into this Star Command doofus just for comedic relief even if it's with a Spanish twist cavo. But okay in best moments I love the use of technology and how it's integrated in here. We're going to get a lot more of that with Toy Story 5, but it had been 11 years since the last movie.

[00:33:13]Technology had progressed a lot. Like I was just literally talking about how Andy needed to have some sort of smartphone and not a flip phone. I like the way they used computers and the toys searching stuff. The way Woody looked up an address on like Google Maps or whatever it was did not look like that was the first time he did that. He's done that before in the past. even with like one of the dinosaurs having like a chat with somebody online. Like even just thinking about that with the internet there probably is hidden web pages of toys just talking to each other. I can imagine you being a toy that like lost a part of yourself and you're on eBay or some forum going, "Hey, I'm a 1985 GI Joe. I lost a holster. Anybody know where I can get one? P.S. I'm a toy. Don't tell nobody."

[00:33:59]I don't know that that's just fun building in the world. So, I like their use of technology in that sense. Even outside of the toys, there's a moment with Andy's mom where she's standing in like Andy's empty room where I don't think that really hit me emotionally before, but like now that does being a new parent that that's going to happen to me someday. It was just such a sweet moment cuz it wasn't just Andy we were seeing grow up through the toys perspective. The mom had always been there, even if just in moments to get that scene of her just being sad, her kids going off, how much life has changed. Like I I just think again that's a beautiful magic Pixar moment.

[00:34:33]But let's get into the absolute two best scenes of this movie that like still gives me goosebumps and gets my tears going. I got to stop myself while I talk about it. The landfill scene. Uh that entire sequence like on the edge of my seat sweating bullets. So wondering where is this going? Very creative and fun place cuz there's just danger lurking in every corner. And like even the moment where after everything Woody still willing to help Lotso, not let him just die. And even after all that, Lo remains such an evil bear where he doesn't save them and doesn't push that button. It solidified him as the best villain and a character I will just always hate and is unredeemable to me.

[00:35:17]And I'm glad the ending he got being stuck to that Buck eating flies for the rest of his life. But it brings us into like the craziest moment in the franchise, man. Cuz I was just talking about I'm watching this movie for the first time going, I don't know how this is going to end. I don't know what the perfect ending is cuz every option I think about has a negative. Sunnyside is too rough of a place for the toys. Woody can't be separated and just go with Andy to college. The toys can't just live in the attic forever. How does this end? So when the possibility presented itself that these toys were about to be incinerated and they start looking at each other accepting their Oh my god, the tears. Dude, I I'm a grown man. This franchise gets to me, dude. If I made a list of most powerful moments in movie history, it's the look that these toys give each other, accepting death, holding each other side by side, and that wide shot of Woody just holding his friends, closing their eyes, willing to die, like stupid me, sophomore in high school. I was like, this might honestly be the best option. This could be the best way to end the franchise. Just all of them dying at the same time. And hopefully there's a toy heaven cuz I don't see any other way for this to go.

[00:36:35]I many of us have probably seen that prank video where I believe someone edited the movie to end that way and there's like a mom's reaction to like what? That's how it ends.

[00:36:53]>> Is that it?

[00:36:56]That's not it. That's the end.

[00:36:59]>> Yeah. Isn't that sad?

[00:37:00]>> But I kid you not, I seriously thought that that's maybe the way it should end, but it doesn't. And it's a great call back scene, >> which honestly the franchise is so underrated with their callbacks and the way they can bring back old jokes like that. And now that leads us into the final big best moment of this movie and what made it such a perfect ending. Andy deciding before he heads off to college, he's going to donate his favorite toys to somebody he knows is a creative, fun child, Bonnie. And it was such a smart way to like say goodbye to the characters cuz Andy picks them up one by one and says out loud what this toy meant to them growing up, what he thinks of them. And that must have just felt special for each one of those toys. Like I know we're following Woody and Buzz's story, but like I'm sure Rex felt great to hear Andy say this about him. This is Jesse, the roughest, toughest cowgirl in the whole West. Now, Slinky here is as loyal as any dog you could want. These little dudes are from a strange alien world, Pizza Planet. And again, Pixar knows how to layer these gut punches where it wasn't just that. He sees Woody is in the box when he's not supposed to be. And that small moment where like Bonnie's reaching for Woody, but he holds back. Another great magical moment of Andy realizing in that moment he can't take a toy to college. He has to let it go. Although, if that was me, I think I'm keeping my toys. Sorry, Bonnie. I'll snatch it from you, and if you cry, hey, you I just gave you 10 other free toys. Suck it up. I'll see you later, Mrs. Bonnie. But no, he he says his goodbye. And so brilliantly, Andy has one last play time with them.

[00:38:43]little cheesy, little corny, but it was the most beautiful way to end that story, end that chapter and have the toys waving at him goodbye. Like, look, I get it. I get why people are so mad they made a fourth movie because this is such an amazing ending to a trilogy.

[00:39:00]>> Thanks, guys.

[00:39:04]>> So long, partner. They not only nailed it and came up with the best case scenario and idea for where this could all go and in your mind you could just pretend that's just their life cycle.

[00:39:14]They stay with somebody, they grow up with them and then they're moved on to the next kid. You can just picture that in your head without you know what else they came up with. I get why people feel so protective and angry that there is now a fifth movie as this third film is just that good. I'd love to read what reasons people have for hating this movie. One star. I would never choose to watch this again. The pink bear lot haunts me in my dreams and the incinerator scene is the definition of trauma. Honestly, totally fair. I get that. One star here says, "This movie sucks. You guys are just fueled by nostalgia."

[00:39:51]Giant disagree. I I there's definitely nostalgic things about it, and it plays into nostalgia cuz it's all about a kid letting go of the past, but this like movie is undeniably amazing. One star says, "I effing hate slow-mo Mexican buzz." The moment where he's carrying Jesse at slow-mo. Hey, that's some aura he has. But I will agree with you.

[00:40:12]Mexican Buzz, it's all right. You I'm scrolling through this and a lot of these one-star reviews are people just mad the the traumatic nightmares this gave them. One star here. This movie used to give me nightmares. One star actually terrifying. One star traumatized me. I'm starting to realize a deeper reason why I love this franchise. so much. They're like subliminal messaged horror movies. I love horror. It's my favorite genre. And I guess looking back, there is a lot of low-key horrifying things in this series. But let's go in now to the most controversial Toy Story movie of them all, Toy Story 4.

[00:40:50]>> It's me and you, boy.

[00:40:52]>> So, coming out 9 years after Toy Story 3, I remember the development of this and just the hate it got from the moment it was announced. Toy Story 3 was such a perfect ending. People did not want that ruined and it felt like, you know, what is there left to be said? What could you do? And my god, Pixar went bold with their direction. Like I said, I'm totally understanding of why it's a hated film. And I think this will be the first one when we look at the negative reviews at the end. There will actually be valid opinions. But even though I can agree this is probably still the weakest entry in the franchise, having just rewatched it, this movie is severely overhated and I love so much about it where I think the highs outweigh the lows. So in the beginning of this, we actually are flashbacking to 9 years in the past back when the toys were still owned by Woody. He was young, not about to head off into college, and we are caught in the middle of an adventure where Andy was just playing outside and RC was left behind. Immediately, the thing I actually want to praise the most about Toy Story 4 is as of right now, I think it is the best looking Toy Story movie. I know some might feel differently and I won't argue against you if you feel that way with three, but I really like the ultra realistic almost cinematic look that they gave for just this rain sequence alone. Absolutely gorgeous. And we have a rain sequence from part three to compare it to and its use of lighting and shadows. Like I to me this is like the Amazing Spider-Man 2 of the franchise where it just visually was so on point. But once Woody saves RC, we are faced with another dilemma that somebody is here to pick up and buy Bo Pete, giving us the backstory that we were left wondering what did happen to Bo Pete in part three. Again, I kind of love how we were able to go back to that moment and something that was just a one-off line now gets explored in the opening of four, but it sets us up perfectly for the full circle moment that'll come by the end where Woody is trying to get B. Pete to come back into the house, that they can keep her hidden and she can be with her friends, but Bo Pete is aware it's her time to move on to the next kid. Molly doesn't need her anymore. She's done what she can and she even offers Woody the chance to come with her. It's honestly such a great scene. and your first time watching the movie. None of us, I don't think any of us expected the movie to end the way it did with him splitting up for the gang.

[00:43:18]So, this was just more of a sad moment that showed Woody has more love for his owner than he does, I guess, for himself to be happy with another person.

[00:43:27]Transitioning us into a little montage of what's happened over the years from going to Andy to Bonnie. And I think it's cute even revealing Bonnie's name under Woody's foot. And I I would say most people were happy with that opening. and the movie had not lost them yet. But quite immediately after the opening, things definitely got a little iffy.

[00:43:49]>> In this movie, we start to see Woody faced with a struggle. He is now in a home where he is not the favorite toy.

[00:43:57]Something that you could say was forthcoming since the first movie where he had that struggle with Buzz and he was almost being kicked out of the favorite toy spot until he got it back in part two and three. Still though, Woody does not give up on his owner and is constantly trying to make their lives happy and the best to where Woody even follows Bonnie to her first day in kindergarten where she is struggling to make friends since she's a little socially awkward and Woody as a good toy helps her make a new toy, Forky. Now, we'll talk about him more in a sec, but I think again this is the underrated brilliant part of Toy Story because all the other movies that we have gotten so far from part one to part three have always been kind of a cause and effect of how the toys can service their owner.

[00:44:44]And we have seen these toys put themselves in such harm's way involved in crazy scenarios just so at the end of the day their owners can remain happy.

[00:44:54]But Toy Story 4 wants to explore the question, when is that enough? And when is it time for the toys to be happy? And so Toy Story 4 explores the question, when is it time for you to make sure you're happy? That's the aspects of Toy Story 4 I absolutely love because although Woody's not the favorite toy, he doesn't go back to his a-hole days or being rude. If anything, he's trying to overcorrect by being a little too involved, overprotective of Bonnie, especially when it came to taking care of Forky where he just goes to exhausting lengths because he knows how important Forky is to Bonnie. But it's in that moment where after he has rescued Forky in the street, right? And then he has that choice to go to Bonnie, get Forky to safety, or explore this light and lamp that reminds him of his old friend or love Bo Pete. That to me, I love little moments like that in part four. And I don't think there's anything wrong with Woody exploring his happiness and finding new purpose in himself. It's honestly such a cool concept that they got to explore here, but it does come with a couple of drawbacks because I think this also means we don't get much time to get to know or love Bonnie.

[00:46:12]Like, yeah, we get the little moment where she's shy and, you know, kind of scared in school, but I feel like that's such a surface level bare attempt to making her the beloved new owner of this toys. reason why I kind of understand why some people get so angry and almost hostile towards Bonnie because yeah, at the end of three she was like basically taking Woody out of the hands of Andy and now that she got him, she doesn't even play with him. He just ends up collecting dust in her closet. But it makes sense. She's a girl. She's going to go with the girl sheriff. We get more angry because we know these toys are sentient and have feelings. But I mean, Bonnie's like these just toys and she's having fun. But okay, let's put a pause on that and talk about some of the new friends we meet.

[00:46:55]Uh, I think the obviously the biggest one is Forky, which admittedly to me was slightly annoying just for how long they dragged out that trash joke. It's funny for a bit, but then it got to a point where I was like, "Okay, can we move on past this?" But as far as in the world of Toy Story, it was interesting the concept that a toy can just be brought to life like that. And really, in small doses, I think Forky is absolutely hilarious cuz he did have me chuckling a lot throughout the movie. probably some of the best new additions here. We have Bunny and Ducky who are voiced by Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Ke. I'm thinking this was from their Key and Peele days. They were really on a rise and high but arguably the funniest part and I mean when they're discussing how to get the keys from the old lady and each one of their example is just attacking her. One of them that goes all the way to following her home in her kitchen to her bedroom to then waking her up at night and the scream I love the crazy humor with Ducky and Bunny. Great stuff there. And well, although not a new friend, I do want to touch upon it. The return of Bo Peak, cuz it feels like Toy Story 4 almost reinvented her character, which might have been another reason people weren't fully on board with Toy Story 4 cuz they made her much more of an independent character of a character who can hold out on their own. And I mean, she had even already lost an arm that she tapes on, which also goes to compliment the awesome animation, cuz I never realized Bo Pete was a porcelain toy. I always thought she was like made of plastic or something. But this movie, given its much better upgraded, detailed animation, you can see the porcelain features. But I mean, just like Sarah Connor from like Terminator 1 to Terminator 2 and the change she goes through, I totally buy that with Bo Peach. She has now gone through several owners. She's been tossed aside, broken, and she spent a good amount of years wasting just sitting at an antique store with no one buying her. It's honestly lucky she didn't turn into a loto or a villain, but more just a toy who's decided that they're going to take care of themselves and nobody else. I mean, there's an arc here with Bo. Pete that Woody still teaches her that there is value and love in having an owner and that toys being with a kid is a mutually beneficial experience, even if maybe they've outgrown that experience. But the low-key really fun character that they introduce is Kiana Reeves as Duke Kaboom. And I loved his backstory where he was a gift on Christmas morning that was kind of exaggerated in his capabilities in the commercials and was then tossed aside immediately. It's little subsections and niches like that in the toy world that have happened to some kid before out there where they get something that they thought was going to be the coolest thing because of the exaggeratedness of commercials and they were so disappointed by the outcome. So, I thought that was just a cool backstory to give Duke Kaboom and even his moment in the very end where he shoots his shot into the hole, but then kaboom. I think that was the biggest laugh I had when that movie played. But look, I I've been doing a lot of defending and I do want to get into the things where it's like even these aspects of Toy Story 4, I don't know if I could defend as much. Bringing me into the villain.

[00:50:06]So, in the villain for this one, we have Gabby Gabby. She's the toy that kind of runs the antique shop with some horrifying, terrifying dummy dolls. Like I said, we've now noticed there is a hint of horror in every Toy Story movie that will traumatize some kid out there.

[00:50:21]These three dummies are it. All I get is goosebump vibes when I see them. But she's kind of been hiding herself in the store because she has a voice box that is broken. And she fears if a kid sees her with that, she'll never be accepted.

[00:50:34]This makes her all the more interested in Woody when he has his own voice box.

[00:50:39]Hey, I got a string, too. You see it?

[00:50:42]Pull it. Guess what I say?

[00:50:47]Hi. But she decides she desperately wants Woody's toy box and is going to hold Forky hostage, Bonnie's favorite needed toy, unless Woody gives that up.

[00:50:58]And look, okay, I don't think Gabby is the strongest villain. If anything, to me, she is the weakest villain. And even by the end of it, she ends up kind of, you know, becoming good, I guess, if you want to call it that. I like there's parts of her I like and understand the idea that you'd be rejected by a kid because you're broken and like you came out that way from the factory. So she again has never even experienced human love. Understandable. Good idea. But if I'm being honest with you, I hate hate when Woody gives up his toy box for her.

[00:51:29]I don't know why that pisses me off. I don't like that at all. And I think it kind of goes against the messaging that this movie brings. I was just talking about the beautiful part and the part I love most about Toy Story 4 is Woody coming to realize it's okay for me myself to find happiness and I don't have to put myself in such danger just for a kid's temporary enjoyment. I think that's a strong and powerful message.

[00:51:54]And I think all of that gets taken away when he does that exact same thing for Gabby. I love how the lengths Woody will go to to help another toy, to assist them, to get them out of harm's way. But I did feel like him taking that box out and giving it away was just as equal as him doing all the crazy stuff he was doing to protect Forky and to make Bonnie feel okay, even if Forky is just bringing temporary relief to Bonnie.

[00:52:22]It's just two extremes that work against each other. But it goes again to show how awesome of a character Woody has become and how much he's grown from the first movie. I don't know. It pisses me off. Maybe because I'm so protective of Woody. I'm like, "No, I want you to still have a voice box." Your iconic lines of >> there's a snake in my boot.

[00:52:39]>> I want to hear that forever, Woody. So, I guess that's why it kind of made me happy that whenever Gabby gets the toy box and then she finally interacts with the kid she's been having an eye on, the kid does not want her.

[00:52:50]>> You can take it home if you want.

[00:52:55]Hey, what what's the cash at for that little girl? I need to send her a hundred bucks. Thank you. Next time, can you step on Gabby, too? But now, let's get into the best and worst moments.

[00:53:07]Starting off with the worst, cuz I want to end on a good note with the best.

[00:53:10]Least favorite thing that they do that they could have honestly avoided and done something better is what they do with Buzz. because this is kind of one of the only times they don't do the Star Command space ranger thing where we introduce another Buzz Lightyear or Buzz himself gets reprogrammed and believes he's working for Star Command. So instead, they just dumb him down when I'm like, "Okay, Buzz was maybe a little dumb when he believed he was a real space ranger, but after the second movie, Buzz became very capable, a lot smarter, skilled. Sure, he has his funny moments here and there, but he was never labbotomized. And this thing that he does where he's like talking to Woody and he's like, "Who do you think the voice in your head is?" I'm like, "What?

[00:53:53]Buzz has never been this stupid. What are you doing?" And so, although it's a little fun to have him, you know, use his little voice commands as like actions to help him out in situations. I honestly hated that. And I wish they did something slightly different for Buzz cuz like now that we're going into Toy Story 5 and the franchise is willing to put other characters other than Woody as the main character like with Jesse in Toy Story 5. I'd love there to be a Buzz Lightyear centered movie and I will not be happy following Buzz if he is acting this dumb the entire time. I know there was canceled ideas of other Toy Story sequel where like Buzz was defective and was going to go to a toy factory and all this stuff, but it makes me so sad that probably because of the box office bomb that was Lightyear, Pixar and Disney are never going to make a Toy Story movie where Buzz is the lead. Although, I'm willing to bet he's probably the biggest selling toy item out of all the Toy Story characters. So, that's one thing I like, yeah, I I can't argue. I do hate that. And that's really it cuz I already talked about the Gabby voice box moment and Forky sometimes overusing the trash joke. So looking at the best moments, I really love that scene where all the lights in the antique store come up and while Bo Pete is looking at them, admiring Woody is just looking at Bo Pete because to him that's the most beautiful thing he's seeing. It's like really laying the seeds for the ending of the movie. And heck, I guess it's just that cuz that is the ultimate highlight is the end of the film. Yeah, I'm going to put it in the best category. And anyone disagrees, come fight this cowboy. I get the divisiveness and the anger one can feel by having the toys be separated. But man, again, it's like just Woody is allowed to be happy. He's done so much for the toys, his owners. I think he deserves this ending and to end up with Bo Pete where his purpose is now to help lost toys find new owners. Like what they do there with Gabby Gabby, which is another best moment where she helps a kid in need who is lost. Like that's a sentimental, sweet, emotional moment. If Woody is doing nothing but that to other kids out in the world and helping toys along the way, it is the best use of everything Woody has learned and become over the course of these films. The goodbye here is also so sentimental because although now we know with five it's not forever it is still something sad to witness especially when they parallel it to the beginning of the movie with you know Woody holding on to the cardboard box seeing an open spot that B left he's faced with that again like I to me it's just brilliant stuff I know it doesn't work for everybody but to me the movie sings so severely overhated man I kind of hoping whenever they come out with another Toy Story.

[00:56:32]They do something as crazy as this. As long as thematically and character-wise it makes sense, I am happy that Pixar and Toy Story are willing to make crazy changes like this. So, heck, on that note of people that hate this, let's read those reviews cuz it'll be the first time in this review where the reviews will genuinely be so angry for actual reasons other than to be funny.

[00:56:54]One star just says, "I effing hate you."

[00:56:57]Starting off strong. kind of a lengthy one, but I want a genuine negative thought on this saying, "A character who's defined by his loyalty abandons his family and friends for a girlfriend.

[00:57:07]A character who was at best a little naive is turned into a bumbling moron."

[00:57:11]Okay, I'll give you that one. A side character we've come to love just hang out in an RV so new and far less interesting characters can hog up the spotlight. Someone with a disability changes themselves for the approval of others. And the film validates this decision. Okay, you know what? You're bringing up more valid points than I thought. I thought I was going to own you. Okay. Uh, okay. Keep reading, Chris. Toy Story 4 is entertaining on a surface level, and its animation is amazing, but it's insulting as a fan of the Toy Story series. Its changes to the characters and the series themes are for the worst, and it fails to properly develop the bold choice that it goes for. I can only imagine what direction Toy Story 5 is going to go. Wow, man.

[00:57:53]You know what? Honestly, totally understand that feeling. And like there was a lot of things I was agreeing with you. You know, the bumbling that they did with Buzz. I so agree with you on, you know, Woody giving up his voice box to the other character. But I really don't see it as Woody abandoning his family for a girlfriend. I think there is merit in finding your purpose and happiness. And there is something okay with your family accepting that and being okay, especially since, you know, you're leaving Bonnie in good, capable hands with Buzz, Jesse, and the gang.

[00:58:23]Another great point though I didn't get to bring up is yeah there's so many toys and characters now we don't get to spend time with the old ones we loved and Toy Story 3 really was the last remnant of that we don't get much with Rex Ham Linky all these other ones these characters are now reduced to one lines here and there and that is a bummer I don't know I can't be the only one that doesn't hate Toy Story 4 I really would love to you know more Toy Story 4 lovers out there to let me know. Either way though still happy with this franchise chucking along having already seen five review up on the channel. This is one of the best film franchises and in seven ten years can't wait to see what they do with part six. Let me know your guys' opinions on this franchise. But anything and everything, be sure and like, subscribe, follow me on Twitter 3C films or on Tik Tok at 3CLImsilms. But as always, I'm 3C Woody. Take care, cowboy.