Toy Story (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) Reviews

 

What can I say?  I love 3D!  From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content.  I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite.  That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT.  I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky.  However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation.  These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves.  I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum.  My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released.   As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

 

 

 

 

TOY STORY 3D TRILOGY 

 

In 1995, Pixar forever changed the face of animation with its release of Toy Story. It was a film that had immeasurable impact on audiences and would be the first in a long strong of successful animated features from the Pixar company.  What makes the Toy Story films so successful is the emphasis on their stories as well as the emotional dynamics between the characters. Now 16 years later, Toy Story is still considered the greatest animated film ever made.  

 

Prior to the release of Toy Story 3 to theaters, Pixar decided they would attempt to bring the first two Toy Story films to 3D so that audiences could enjoy them as never before.  The entire process of converting those films to 3D took a total of 10 months, with the first 4 dedicated to bringing the films up to present technology.

 

 

 

TOY STORY 

  

Studio: Walt Disney

Product Release: November 1, 2011

Ratio: 1.78:1

Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital EX

Running Time: 81 Minutes

Rating: G

 

 

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 4

3D Separation: 4

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 0

 

This is the film that started it all, introducing us to young

Andy and his prized western doll Woody (Tom Hanks). 

The doll becomes Andy's best friend, that is, until on his

birthday he is given a very special present of a nifty-new

astronaut toy named Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), who

immediately steals the heart of the young boy. Our heroes

are joined by an expertly-voiced supporting cast of characters

that include smart-alecky Hamm (John Ratzenberger), a 

slinky dog aptly named Slink (Jim Varney), a petrified 

dinosaur named Rex (Wallace Shawn), and a caustic Mr.

Potato Head (Don Rickles). When Woody and Buzz suddenly

find themselves lost and in the hands of a vicious neighborly

kid named Sid, they learn to put their differences aside in an

effort to help each other escape and find their way back home.

 

 

The transfer, as would be expected, is immaculate.  In

fact, after 16 years, Toy Story looks as new as it did then.

In fact, one could very well say that this transfer stacks up

against the best the Blu-ray format has to offer with a stunningly

beautiful picture, bold and vivid colors, deep black levels and

the finest of detail -- all of which provide seemingly 3D quality

even without the glasses.  

 

So let's talk about Toy Story in 3D.  The skeptics out there 

will talk about how studios are simply upconverting their films

to 3D in order to tap a cash cow.  In fact, up until recently, the

process of upconverting 2D to 3D titles has been met with quite

a bit of criticism.  I can actually side with those critics as there

have been a few unconverted live-action films that I have reviewed

that look less than convincing.  That being said, Disney seems to

have struck oil with their attempts to bring 2D favorites into the new

dimensional format. Recent efforts such as The Lion King and

Beauty and the Beast are quite impressive with newly-added realism

that makes one feel they are watching these films fresh for the very

first time.

 

 

This is exactly the feeling I had watching Toy Story.  The film has

been opened up to an entirely different level that makes watching

it a totally new experience.  In fact, it's quite amazing to see this

animated masterpiece made even better by its sense of depth between

characters and foreground.  Though the process does create a cut-out

look, it also gives a much more natural feeling of space and realism

that wasn't there before. 

 

Though the film was not conceived for the 3D format, it's amazing

to see just how well the new dimensionality within the animation works.  

Take for instance the claw machine at the Pizza Planet.  Looking up from

the pile of toys at the giant claw makes it look more menacing than ever.  

A daring rescue in Sid's backyard with toys hiding among the foliage looks

more convincing than ever, as if originally drawn and placed with 3D in mind.  

Watch as Woody gives a speech from a Tinkertoy podium at the beginning

of the film and notice the correlation between the sizing of objects.   The

conversion comes off so perfectly that one would never think about watching

this film again in 2D.

 

Ghosting is not really an issue here.  There is just a hint of crosstalk in

some of the darker indoor scenes, particularly inside of Sid's bedroom.

 

No surprise that the 5.1 DTS-HD audio track is an amazement within

itself.  And though the film may not sport the same complexities of newer

mixes, the natural dynamics and fine placement of effects make this a

immersive experience.  I was quite pleased with the amount of bass that

is present in this mix, accenting the stomping and roars of Rex as well

as oncoming trucks and other vehicles.

 

Toy Story arrives in a 4-disc set which includes the 3D Blu-ray, 2D 

Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy discs.  The 3D disc includes 3D trailers

for Pixar's upcoming Planes and Brave.  The Blu-ray and DVD contain

extra features that include Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: Blast Off, three

Animation Studio Stories, Buzz Takes Manhattan, Deleted Scenes, and 

over 90 minutes more bonus.  All of this arrives in a lenticular cardboard

sleeve case.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

 

This is Toy Story like you have never seen it before!  And, really as 

far as I am concerned, you haven't really seen this film until you have

witnessed it in 3D.  Disney has done an outstanding job upconverting

old favorites, which should ultimately help convince the naysayers that 

there really is something to this format after all.

 

Trust me, once you see this film in 3D, 2D will just seem inferior. 

This is a must-purchase disc for anyone who savors this format as

much as I do.

 

Up Next.....Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 in 3D.....