99. Toy Story

"I've set my laser from stun to kill" -Buzz Lightyear

I'm positive anyone who was born in the late eighties/early nineties saw this movie and loved it. If you didn't, you're either being lied to about your age or you were/are devoid of imagination. Not saying it to be mean, merely relaying the facts of life.

Phenomenal movie which ushered in the age of computer animated movies. Unfortunately it brought with it Fly Me to the Moon, Space Chimps, and several attempts to recreate human beings which always result in glossy, creepy eyeballs See Jane and the Dragon. Fortunately for us, Pixar knows what they are doing and created the bandwagon. See Wall-E, A Bug's Life Monsters Inc., The Incredibles...

Back to the actual movie and no more gushing on about how Pixar struck animation gold. For those who aren't into the kid movie circuit or have lived under a cinematic rock, it's the story of Woody, the cowboy doll. He has risen to the top of the toy ladder and is the favorite toy of his boy owner, Andy... that is... until Buzz Lightyear comes in and replaces the antiquated sheriff. This tears Woody up inside, especially since Buzz has no real attachment to Andy and believes that he is the only Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger of Star Command. In short, the story is filled to the brim with conflicts and that keeps it alive. Pixar goes the extra mile and by keeping it alive and funny, which is the best combo you could ask for in film. It is also one of the few to utilize the "squeak" sound effect perfectly.

This one was tough on my dad... he's not really one for musicals or anything animated over 30 minutes. When he did stay awake, he said he had never seen it... which...struck me as odd because it was one of those tapes I wore out as a kid. I had a Buzz action figure, a Woody doll and even Bo Peep with her conjoined sheep. Watching it now with some years behind me, it's easy to see how revolutionary it was and to compare how far the animation has come. To see actual developed characters... and to let yourself laugh for 5 minutes straight at the small things:

Next movie: Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_doodle_dandy