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There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces–we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call “movie magic,” and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys reawaken the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

The 10th anniversary edition of the landmark film repackages most of the extras found in the original Ultimate Toy Box set plus a few more. Two keen retrospectives are new, one with an assortment of talents including Roy Disney and Peter Jackson chiming in on the film’s impact. The other is a roundtable with Lasseter and three of the creators simply talking about the experiences without–thankfully–any cutaways to noisy film clips. There’s a load of other extras since the Ultimate Toy Box was one of the first and best DVD sets. Missing (besides the second film, which will be released separately) is the effects- and music-only tracks. Added is a whopping DTS soundtrack along with a remixed Dolby 5.1 track. The DVD has a higher transfer bit rate for a better picture, but only high-end enthusiasts will notice it. Since the film is a digital-to-digital transfer, both versions are eye-popping. A must-have set unless you have the Ultimate Toy Box.

Lasseter’s story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they’re not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy’s favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year–the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though–he believes he’s the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for “the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film.” In other words, the movie is great. –Doug Thomas

The Pixar Feature Films

Director: 
John Lasseter

VHS Tape: 
Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC

Company: Walt Disney Home Video 

(1996-10-30)

ISBN: 6304089767

List Price: $22.99
Amazon Price: $7.94

Used Price: $0.98

Set in the 22nd century, “Matrix” tells of a computer hacker (Reeves) who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth. The computers are powered by human beings…

Director: 
Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

VHS Tape: 
Closed-captioned, Collector’s Edition, Color, Dolby, Original recording reissued, Special Edition, NTSC

Company: Warner Home Video 

(1999-12-07)

ISBN: 0790742608

List Price: $6.98
Amazon Price: $0.72

Used Price: $0.01

Set Includes:
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Peacock’s Eye

VHS Tape: 
Box set, Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording remastered, THX, NTSC

Company: Paramount 

(1999-10-26)

ISBN: 0792158261

List Price: $24.98
Amazon Price: $15.99

Used Price: $4.34

Set Includes:
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Peacock’s Eye

VHS Tape: 
Box set, Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording remastered, THX, NTSC

Company: Paramount 

(1999-10-26)

ISBN: 0792158261

List Price: $24.98
Amazon Price: $15.99

Used Price: $4.34

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK takes children on a fantastic scholastic learning adventure. The same great songs you knew and loved as a kid are now available to a whole new generation. Each volume in this special collection features exclusive bonus programming of some of today’s hottest rock stars singing their favorite SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK! song. Learning multiplication tables is easy when you sing along with MULTIPLICATION ROCK. Songs include “My Hero, Zero”; “Elementary, My Dear” (multiplying by 2); “Three Is A Magic Number”; “The Four-Legged Zoo”; “Ready Or Not, Here I Come” (multiplying by 5); “I Got Six”; “Seven Sampson”; “Figure Eight”; “Naughty Number Nine”; “The Good Eleven”; and “Little Twelvetoes.”

Director: 
Tom Warburton

VHS Tape: 
Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC

Company: Walt Disney Video 

(1997-08-05)

ISBN: 1569494096

List Price: $14.99
Amazon Price: $14.99

Used Price: $6.08

This 1994, direct-to-video follow-up to Aladdin (it’s actually four episodes of the Aladdin television program, back-to-back) is a wash-out compared to the Robin Williams-driven animation feature that kicked off the franchise. The story partially involves the villainous Jafar’s parrot–Iago–trying to leave his master and befriend Aladdin and Jasmine. Williams is nowhere to be found, unfortunately; the genie’s voice is provided by Dan Castellaneta, and the difference shows. –Tom Keogh

Director: 
Toby Shelton, Alan Zaslove, Tad Stones

VHS Tape: 
Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC

Company: Walt Disney Home Video 

(1994-05-18)

ISBN: 6303036813

List Price: $19.99
Amazon Price: $2.29

Used Price: $0.01