Toy Story 2 (1999)

It occurred to me while watching that for those viewers who were between the ages of eight and twelve years old when the picture came out, that this film will resonate strongly in the nostalgia department once they achieve adulthood, just like my kid shows of the Fifties bring back so many warm memories of that time. Stuff like "The Roy Rogers Show", "Andy's Gang" and "Crusader Rabbit". Say, there was an Andy who became a TV friend even back then; that would have been Andy Devine, who also doubled as Roy Rogers' sidekick in a handful of B Westerns. This was a nice follow up to the original "Toy Story", and reinforced the idea of having a friend by being a friend. Cowboy Woody learned that there was a lot more to his legacy as a famous toy than he ever realized, but eventually figured out that there's even more value in being with friends and family than there ever would be as a top shelf collectible. I liked the new toys that showed up in this story, like Cowgirl Jessie and Penguin Wheezy, and it's too bad Stinky Pete turned out to be a villain, he reminded me a little of Warner Brothers' Yosemite Sam.In general, I'm not a big animated movie fan but there was something about this one that struck me in just the right way. I guess part of it is the nostalgia factor I mentioned earlier, along with the delightful color rendition and clever sight gags throughout the movie. When I get involved with these stories, I lose all sight of who's doing the voice animation and never even think about it. This one even threw in some 'bloopers' if you will to go with the after movie credits, another quirky idea that someone came up with that works to make the ending even more enjoyable.

All three Toy Story movies are wonderful. The second continues to feature the adventures of Woody and his sojourn in the greater world. Once he is kept home because of an arm "injury," he finds himself taken away (quite through an accident) and set to be placed in a toy museum. He gets wanderlust as he imagines himself immortal. But what is not there is his friend Andy who left him behind. Soon his friends come to "rescue" him because they see what is happening to him. They also come to realize that there is villainy afoot from a man who has a financial interest in him. What happens is that Woody must be rescued from himself as much as the bad guy. I thought the first movie was amazing, but the second is a worthy sequel.

I was honestly disappointed by Toy Story 2. It just kind of lost its charm here. I don't hate it, nor does it "suck". It's just not as good as the original. Toy Story 2 does have some shine in it however. I liked the return of Zurg, Barbie joins the film, and some of the jokes. I don't want to say I wasted my money...but I did. Oh yeah, and what the he'll ever happened to Molly? Did she die or something? Jessie and Bullseye are a perfect addition for Woody. I wonder if Buzz will get space brothers....No, the aliens don't count. I found out there was a Toy Story 3.....it could answer my questions but I'd rather skip it. Overall, I'd give Toy Story 2 a 6.0/10.

In Toy Story 2, Woody's conflict is described centrally. It means go back to home, or become the exhibit. Both ways include the way that he lives as toy. Such cross board sometimes occurs in our real life, though the world ( toy's imaginary world, or our real world) is different. Therefore, we can watch this film as if we were in Woody's situation. Moreover, he meets new friends and the friend's existence assists him to bother more, which way to take. Finally he decides to return to home, and this suggests the importance of friends. Going back to home means that Woody will live along Andy. And someday this life is going to end, because Andy will not play with toys forever. On the contrary, if Woody had gone to a museum, he can live as toy forever. But he chooses to live with Andy. One reason is of course he loves Andy, but there is another reason. He has friends at home, and if he did not have such friends, his choose might different from this film.