About.com Rating
The Bottom Line
Despite stiff competition from stellar follow-ups like Aliens and The Godfather Part II, Toy Story 2 arguably remains the most entertaining and downright satisfying sequel ever made – which is all the more impressive when you consider that the film was only the third theatrical release from Pixar. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang return in an adventure that’s as exciting as it is touching, and there’s little doubt that this new high-definition release, armed with a flawless transfer and hours of supplemental material, proves an ideal complement to this absolutely superlative piece of work.
Pros
Cons
Description
Guide Review – 'Toy Story 2' Blu-ray Review
The Story
Toy Story 2 opens with Woody preparing for a weekend trip with Andy, though the toy cowboy finds himself left behind after Andy accidentally rips his arm. This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Woody’s problems go, however, as he soon finds himself kidnapped by a greedy toy collector – which inevitably prompts Buzz and several other toys to embark on a rescue mission.
The Bonus Features
As was the case with the Toy Story Blu-ray, the primary attraction here is an entertaining, consistently informative commentary track featuring filmmakers John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, Lee Unkrich, and Andrew Stanton.
The four men load the track with a number of fascinating tidbits relating to the film’s production, including the revelation that it took 70 hours to animate each frame in the complicated baggage-claim sequence near the end. (There’s also a funny bit in which Brannon reveals that he has the same license plate as villain Al McWhiggin, which has led to little kids throwing rocks at his car.)
The disc, which boasts a copy of the film on DVD, also includes a number of new bonus features created exclusively for this Blu-ray, although the set does come equipped with the supplemental materials that were present on previous releases (including several making-of documentaries, deleted scenes, and a demo of “When She Loved Me” sung by Randy Newman). Among the new bonus features, the highlights are a fascinating little featurette detailing how the entire movie was almost lost and a touching portrait of Pixar animator and storyboard artist Joe Ranft (who tragically died in a car crash a few years ago).
The copious extras and flawless 1080p transfer make this a no-brainer in terms of upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray.
The Bottom Line
Despite stiff competition from stellar follow-ups like Aliens and The Godfather Part II, Toy Story 2 arguably remains the most entertaining and downright satisfying sequel ever made – which is all the more impressive when you consider that the film was only the third theatrical release from Pixar. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang return in an adventure that’s as exciting as it is touching, and there’s little doubt that this new high-definition release, armed with a flawless transfer and hours of supplemental material, proves an ideal complement to this absolutely superlative piece of work.
Pros
- A fresh, innovative storyline that boasts several surprises
- Consistently hilarious jokes and gags
- Voice performances that remain a high point in the world of animation
Cons
- None worth noting
Description
- Featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, and John Ratzenberger
- Directed by John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, and Lee Unkrich
- Rated G for all audiences
- Blu-ray Release Date: March 23, 2010
Guide Review – 'Toy Story 2' Blu-ray Review
The Story
Toy Story 2 opens with Woody preparing for a weekend trip with Andy, though the toy cowboy finds himself left behind after Andy accidentally rips his arm. This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Woody’s problems go, however, as he soon finds himself kidnapped by a greedy toy collector – which inevitably prompts Buzz and several other toys to embark on a rescue mission.
The Bonus Features
As was the case with the Toy Story Blu-ray, the primary attraction here is an entertaining, consistently informative commentary track featuring filmmakers John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, Lee Unkrich, and Andrew Stanton.
The four men load the track with a number of fascinating tidbits relating to the film’s production, including the revelation that it took 70 hours to animate each frame in the complicated baggage-claim sequence near the end. (There’s also a funny bit in which Brannon reveals that he has the same license plate as villain Al McWhiggin, which has led to little kids throwing rocks at his car.)
The disc, which boasts a copy of the film on DVD, also includes a number of new bonus features created exclusively for this Blu-ray, although the set does come equipped with the supplemental materials that were present on previous releases (including several making-of documentaries, deleted scenes, and a demo of “When She Loved Me” sung by Randy Newman). Among the new bonus features, the highlights are a fascinating little featurette detailing how the entire movie was almost lost and a touching portrait of Pixar animator and storyboard artist Joe Ranft (who tragically died in a car crash a few years ago).
The copious extras and flawless 1080p transfer make this a no-brainer in terms of upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray.