Seeing Old Movies in New Way: The Commentary

Christmas is the time of giving and receiving, and I did a bit of both. What I gave isn't that important. I could mention how my gifts are all practical yet thoughtful and fun, but I don't want to brag. Plus, this post is more about what I received.

The "Toy Story" Box Set

Specifically, it's about the trio of "Toy Story" Blu-Ray's I got. Now, I've seen all three films about as many times and as many ways as possible. In 3D, in 2D, on DVD, Sneak Previews, re-releases. Just about every format they've released the films in, I've seen it in. So, the Blu-Ray format was great, but I've seen the films so many times, I could act out just about every scene at this point. But, I had these new shiny discs in this fancy format, so I had to find a way to watch these classic, familiar films that would excite me. 

Now, I know I'm not the first to discover the new-fangled director's commentary bonus feature, yet I've found something new in something old.

Like I said, I've seen each of the "Toy Story" films enough to have memorized most of the lines from all three films. I'm not someone who typically likes to view a movie multiple times. So, when getting these new Blu-Ray copies of the movies, I decided to turn on the commentary for the first time and see what the people who made the films have to say about them. 

Well, it turns out they have quite a bit to say, and all of it is superbly fascinating. On the orignal "Toy Story," the commentary features not just the Director John Lasster, but also Co-Writer Andrew Stanton, Supervising Animator Pete Docter, Art Director Ralph Eggleston, Supervising Technical Director Bill Reeves and Producers Ralph Guggenheim and Bonnie Arnold. That may seem like one too many cooks in the kitchen, but the group makes it work. Having been the first feature length film from Pixar, its brightest minds worked on the film, and it's a real treat listening to them discuss the obstacles overcome to making the first full length computer animated film. Think of if we could watch "Snow White" with a commentary by Walt Disney. It's not the same, but it's close. 

With "Toy Story 2," the commentary is provided by Director John Lasseter, Co-Directors Lee Unkrich & Ash Bannon and Co-Writer Andrew Stanton, once again giving you insight from the top talent at Pixar. Since "Toy Story 2" was the studios third film, they often discuses the different computer models their recycled from "A Bug's Life" and the original "Toy Story." Pixar is also known for its easter eggs, many of which are pointed out in the commentary. 

"Toy Story 3" takes a different approach, leaving out Director Lee Unkrich, this time featuring Supervising Animator Bobby Podesta, Supervising Animator Mike Venturini, Production Designer

Bob Pauley,  Head of Story Jason Katz and Supervising Technical Director Guido Quaroni. And, with the Blu-Ray, it's on the Bonus Features disk, instead of accompanying the film on the feature disk. That took a couple of Google searches and a argument (Which I lost) with my mom to find out. After watching the first two films with relatively the same people talking about similar things, it was great getting a different perspective on how the film is made. Being the most modern Pixar film,  and having come 11ish years after "Toy Story 2," the advancements in technology have been tremendous, and there's really no one better to talk about that occurrence than the people so heavily involved. Despite being people who work in front of computers fulltime, they've all got a great sense of humor, and are a joy to listen to.

Overall, all three of the films have a very unique commentary, and all three are very enlightening. They probably aren't very interesting to someone who is only watching the films for the second or third time, but for a Pixar veteran, they're a great way to give new light to a classic film.  

Next up: The "WALL-E" Blu-Ray coming from Netfilx, so I can get the commentary on Blu-Ray without having to make my mom buy it. I can't wait!

Cars 2 and Pixar's Perfect Record

Prior to every Pixar movie's release, all the critics speculate on if that movie will put an end to Pixar's perfect 11-11 record. What Pixar has done is unprecedented, creating 11 films that have mass approval from both critics and normal folk like you and me, many of them simultaneously winning awards and breaking box office records. It's unparalleled in the film industry, and it's not something that can last.

Cars 2: 12 for 12?

I mean, it could last, I don't doubt Pixar one bit, but the way things are going on the business side, with Disney pushing for franchises like "Cars," "Toy Story" and "Monsters Inc." (which, all coincidentally, have very appealing merchandise), I don't know how much longer Pixar will be able to do the things they want to do.

Look at the second "Cars" film for example. Pixar was on track to release summer of 2012. Then Disney decided that they wanted the film a year earlier, forcing everyone at Pixar to try and speed up an extremely slow, tedious process. Pixar didn't get to do what they wanted to. It's not fact, but I would dare to say that Disney wanted the film a year earlier to build up hype for California Adventure's new Cars Land, set to open sometime in 2012.

Now, I know that Lasseter and Co. over in Emeryville have a strict standard of "If the stories not there, we won't make the movie." I doubted him a little with "Toy Story 3," just because, coming off such great original stories like "Up" and WALL-E," releasing a sequel seemed like Pixar was taking a break. I was dead wrong. But "Toy Story" has always been Pixar's flagship franchise. "Cars," not so much.

Disney has officially released a full length trailer for the new "Cars" film, and I'm not going to be a naysayer and say I didn't like it for the sake of my argument. It looked pretty good. It's got the classic characters of Mater and Lighting McQueen back, and the news ones, one of them an english James Bond style car voiced by Michael Caine.

Yet, as Pixar gets bigger and bigger, and Disney relies on them more heavily to be the one consistently good part of their film department, they will try to exert more control. There's no doubt Pixar's people know what they're doing, and will go one spinning cinematic perfection. It's just a countdown to when Disney's greed usurps Pixar's control and maims the golden goose.

Toy Story 3: Deserving of 2010 Best Picture Oscar

November has begun, which means many things for us Disney devotees. Christmas decorations will start to go up at Disneyland, Thanksgiving pins are up for trading, and a third thing that Disney doesn't usually participate in, Oscar Season, begins.

Now that Disney has shed its more art-influenced studio, Miramax, the Oscars has been something that the studio has little to do with. Anything distributed directly by the Disney studios–generally PG and G films centered around more child-centric themes–don't even register on the Academy's radar.

On the rare occasion, there's a nomination like Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow with Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." Or the 1991 Best Picture nomination for "Beauty and the Beast."

More often, Disney movies win the less glamourous technical awards. Though, during Walt's tenure, the studio won a gaggle of Golden nude men.

Recently, with the Best Picture category expanding to 10 nominees from five, Pixar films have been getting a little more attention from the Academy. Their shorts have won a number of Oscars, and their features have won the Best Animated Feature statues, but the big one has eluded them, despite their near-perfect record with the critics.

"WALL-E," with it's silent filme-esque opening 20 minutes, was by far one of the best pictures of 2008, but the bias The Academy has towards animated "children's films" left it out of the party. Also, many actors, who make up a large part of The Academy feel computer animation threatens their livelihood. Ahh, ignorance.

"Up" was nominated last year, but lost to "The Hurt Locker." Predicable: yes. Fair: nope.

This year though, according to the Financial Times, Disney is launching a huge Oscar campaign for "Toy Story 3." I find it a little ridiculous that you have to campaign for a film to win Best Picture, the best film should win because it's the best, but alas, that is the process.

I'm glad Disney has realized that Pixar is producing some the best films of our time, animated or live action. "WALL-E" and "Up" were both good enough to win Best Picture, and "Toy Story 3," with its dark, dramatic themes and tear-inducing ending, has all the elements of a Best Picture. Some have speculated that it could win the Oscar, not only because it's a great film, but because its two predecessors were also Oscar worthy, a body of work Oscar. If it wins, it will be the one of three sequels to win Best Picture. The others: "The Godfather: Part II", and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which won, most likely, for the Lord of the Rings body of work.

Maybe a high profile Oscar campaign will give the film the extra boost it needs. Hopefully The Academy will pull its head out of its live action behind and give the Best Picture Oscar to the film that is indeed Best Picture, no politics involved.

Out of "Toy Story 3," "WALL-E" and "UP," which film would you give the Best Picture Oscar to?

Visiting the Pixar Studios: the Best Part of Disney

Living in Northern California, it often feels like you're in the ugly step-child part of the state. Southern California has everything, from Hollywood, to beaches that aren't freezing cold, to Disneyland the the Disney Studios in Burbank.

Me with Luxo Jr. at the Pixar Studios. It was cheesy, but I wore
my Woody backpack and Disney family museum t-shirt. I had
to get into the spirit. 

Though the southern part of the state may have be flashier, the north doesn't lack in substance. We've got Apple's headquarters, the Disney Family Museum, and the best part of Disney's movie division, Pixar Studios in Emeryville, CA, just outside of Oakland. Step-child: maybe. Ugly: definitely not.

I was lucky enough this past August, through a friend of a friend who's now my friend, to get a tour of the parts of the Pixar studios that aren't off limits (AKA, everything that's not carpeted).

They were constructing a new building when I visited, so I didn't get to go through the glamourous front gates, but instead through the back. The first thing I saw when I got on the lot was a Tesla charging up. Pretty fancy.

I got my name tag, found a parking spot and made my way to the front doors of the studios. It was here I met my host, who pointed out to me the window of John Lasseter's office. I was window-star-struck, probably for the first time.

I was then taken into the building, which had a huge wide open hardwood-floored area. On the left and the right were the wings of the building where the people at Pixar got down to business, and where I was not allowed. I then went up the stairs to the second level, where concept art, models and various other things used to bring the ideas of Pixar's genius to the silver screen. It was striking to see the beautiful art, intricate models and complicated storyboards, most of them from the most recent release, Toy Story 3. I also caught a glimpse of Peter Sohn, the man who's face was Russel in Up's inspiration. The resemblance was glaringly apparent.

I was then shown the screening theater, where I have never seen a more vibrant picture and heard better sound, and I was only in there for a few minutes. It was then on to the hall of fame, where all the famous actors who have worked on the Pixar movies left their signature. Larry the Cable guy signs every time he visits.

After this, it was lunch time, where I had many delicious options to choose from. Pixar is known for its amazing chefs, and if that's not your thing, there's an always-open cereal bar. It's a big hit with the employees. Speaking of employees, all the interns were dressed up like 80's glam rock stars, adding to uniqueness of the experience.

Time for the gift shop, a small room filled with great, very affordable merchandise. I'm used to the high prices of Disneyland where the shirts are all $20, and that's a bargain. Here, I got 6 shirts, a couple of stickers and a handful of only-available-at-Pixar posters, all for around $60. The woman running the store and I struck up a quick friendship, as the atmosphere at the studios seems to breed friendliness.

My tour was over, and I had one last thing to do. Take a picture with the Luxo Jr. Statue.