Movie Review - Toy Story 5

Director: McKenna Harris, Andrew Stanton
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Drama
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Conan O’Brien, Greta Lee, Bonnie Hunt, Wallace Shawn, Kristen Schaal, Ernie Hudson, John Ratzenberger
 
Description: Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they’re introduced to electronics, a new threat to playtime.
 
Review: When Pixar announced that a fifth “Toy Story” film was in the works, the film world reacted with a healthy dose of skepticism. After the emotional and perfect farewell in the third installment, and the surprisingly strong epilogue in the fourth, it really seemed like the series had run its course. With “Toy Story 5”, however, directors Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris prove the opposite. The film manages to tackle relevant, modern themes without losing the nostalgic spirit of the franchise.

In “Toy Story 5”, Bonnie struggles with a universal modern problem: the allure of the digital screen. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are pushed into the background by tablets, smartphones, and high-tech VR headsets. When Bonnie’s favorite new gadget becomes infected with a malicious computer virus, her digital world is in danger of crashing. To save their child’s memories and happiness, the toys must literally travel into the digital world. There, they face an army of forgotten tech-toys and a glitchy, manipulative AI villain.

The greatest compliment “Toy Story 5” deserves is how cleverly it handles the concept of toys in today’s world. While the earlier films revolved around growing up and letting go, this installment tackles the struggle between tangible nostalgia and the all-powerful screen time. The transition to the digital world within the film brings a fresh dynamic. Pixar uses this scenario to showcase breathtaking animation techniques. The contrast between the warm, tactile textures of the classic toys and the neon-lit, sometimes eerily perfect digital environment are visually masterful.

As always, the humor is multi-layered. There are quick, physical jokes for younger viewers and sharp, satirical jabs at tech culture for adults. The introduction of outdated video game consoles and crashed software avatars, provides some hilarious moments. I especially loved Smarty Pants, voiced by Conan O’Brien. The reunion between Woody and Buzz remains the emotional anchor of the film.

“Toy Story 5” isn’t just another cash-grab, but a loving and much-needed reflection of what play means today.

Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Monsters Inc.

Director: Pete Doctor, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich
Genre: Animation/ Comedy/ Family/ Fantasy
Runtime: 92 minutes
Year: 2001
Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, Bonnie Hunt

Description: In order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.

Review: In Monstropolis monster live in all sizes, types and colors. They are like people, they are funny, friendly, hard-working and driven. The world of monsters also needs power and electricity. They get that energy from children’s screams from those who are frightened at night. The children are visited through a very special  system of closet doors at Monsters In., the largest scare factory of Monstropolis. The motto: We scare because we care. Top scarer is James P. Sullivan, Sully for short. A big, blue, fluffy horned monster with a heart of gold. His assistant, roommate and best friend is Mike Wazowski. He is enthusiastic, headstrong, short-tempered and has only one eye. Mike and Sully provide a record yield of energy. None of the fellow monsters can match them. This is to great frustration of the cynical chameleon Randall Boggs. Because he is jealous of their success, he does everything to come out on top.
When the little, curious human girl Boo accidentally sneaks into the monster world, it is the monsters who are shocked. They think humans are toxic and dangerous. one touch can be fatal. Sully and Mike are spooked too at first, but take Boo into protection. They are determined to return the girl to her bedroom, which isn’t as easy as it seems.
Still, to this day, “Monsters Inc. is my favorite film from Pixar. It’s a creative film, in terms of story and animation. Many monsters pass by, big, small, round, rectangular, many eyes, one eye, teeth, scales, fur, all the colors of the rainbow, you name it. The story is sweet, funny, exciting, action-packed. Perfect for the whole family.
Sully and Mike are voiced by John Goodman and Billy Crystal and they couldn’t have found anyone more perfect for those roles. Especially Crystal is hilarious as Mike, who also happens to be my favorite Pixar sidekick.
“Monsters Inc.” is, as I stated before, my favorite Pixar film. And the film entertains me every single time I watch it.

Rating: 5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Onward

Director: Dan Scanlon
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Fantasy/ Adventure
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Mel Rodriguez, Kyle Bornheimer, Lena Waithe, Ali Wong, Tracey Ullman, Wilmer Valderrama, John Ratzenberger

Description: Two elven brothers (Chris Pratt, Tom Holland) embarks on a quest to bring their father back one day.

Review: Modern means of communication and technology have not only alienated us from each other, but also drive away magic. Where you used to be able to save yourself from dire situations with a spell or simply turn on a light, the modern generations no longer have any use for this. Why learn difficult spells by heart when you can simple switch on the light with a button? The Lightfoot brothers are very different. The youngest, Ian, goes along with his time, but the older tough Barley longs for old times with wizards, dragons and an ancient struggle for life and death.
It's been a while, since “Coco”, since Pixar released an original animated film that wasn’t a sequel. The world of “Onward” is a mishmash of folklore, legends and mythical creatures, but brought back to the suburban life we all know. The Lightfoots live with mother Laurel in a giant mushroom house, but the once gracious unicorns are the scum of the earth looting the trash cans. As it turns out, the once mysterious lion-like warrior Manticore doesn’t run a dangerous ominous pub at all, but is part of a commercial chain and has proclaimed herself as a brand.
“Onward” comes from the makers of “Monsters Inc.” (my favorite Pixar film) and its sequel. The comparisons between bizarre looking monsters and fabled creatures such as unicorns, elves, centaurs, trolls, dragons, cyclops and wizards are therefore obvious. Unlike series like “Shrek” that go all out to get as much as possible out of the extreme looks and characteristics of the characters, director Dan Scanlon keeps it remarkably modest. His screenplay relies much more on subtleties, such as the policeman with whom mother Lauren is dating and who smashes half the furniture with his big centaur but. It emphasizes the humanity of the characters and reduces the freak content.
Therefore, as with many Pixar productions, the world in which “Onward” is set is not its main asset, but merely a backdrop within which the story unfolds. Central to the story are the family ties. Ian and Barley lost their father at a young age and Ian in particular wants to know where he came from. When they accidentally discover a magic wand that can bring their father back, it is the earthly Ian who has the gift of making spells work. Bit of a shame that the magic stone needed for this fails and the brothers have to make do with only their father’s legs.
What follows is not only a quest for the only identical stone to get their father back, but also a quest for their true selves. Stripped of all the frills of magic and weird creatures, “Onward” is essentially a matter of finding identity. Ian is trying to connect with the popular boys and girls of the school and Barley is the rough-and-tumble type. The mission that follows isn’t just about defeating dragons and shaking off enemies, but is primarily about self-exploration. The fact that the magic is still in all of us is a nice additional thought.
Scanlon shows us a magical world, in which the ordinary is the most extraordinary. And vice versa: an ordinary world, in which the magic is the special. This approach works wonders. As is almost always the case with Pixar, each plot element has a clear function and nothing is forgotten or left out. Octavia Spencer in particular excels as the aforementioned Manticore who in turn has also forgotten what she stood for and has become a victim of consymer society.  
“Onward” is not up there with the best of the best, but it’s a movie Pixar can be proud of and I really enjoyed.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Wall-E

Director: Andrew Stanton
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Carlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Sigourney Weaver

Description: In the distant future, a small waster-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.  

Review: Before “Wall-E”, Pixar brought us “Ratatouille” and topped animation with visuals and substance. And “Wall-E” manages to stay at that level. In an ode to the science fiction genre, director Andrew Stanton takes the audience to a new world, yet also familiar. “Wall-E” also criticizes the modern lifestyle on certain aspects.
Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) is a small waste collecting robot in a far future. Seven hundred years earlier all people left Earth, which became so polluted it made living impossible. Wall-E was left behind and has been cleaning the planet ever since. He survived because of music from “Hello, Dolly”, his friendship with a cockroach, his hording hobby and repairing things. Wall-E’s life is shown in the first twenty minutes, which contains no dialogue whatsoever, at least not in spoken word. This makes “Wall-E” an unique Pixar animation.
One day Wall-E is visit by EVE, an advanced ‘female’ robot searching for any living organism on planet Earth. Wall-E falls in love and in a short time he becomes the most innocent and cute ‘stalker’ of the universe. EVE is focused on her mission, but eventually accepts Wall-E’s companionship. When Wall-E travels with EVE, he finds out what has become of mankind.
“Wall-E” is endearing and funny, but also has a more heavy theme. Where we are warned for the consequences of how dependent we are on technology these days. This messade isn’t forced on you though.
Of course the visuals are amazing, the humor is great and the entire film is so touching. The total film is entertaining for the entire family and is one of the most beautiful Pixar movie experiences.

Rating: 4,5/ 5