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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2022 film Lightyear.
Story
This was a great concept. A movie about the real Buzz Lightyear. The character is the basis for the toy in Toy Story.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with this sort of story. People are expecting a movie about the cartoonish and silly character. This means that people who only care about Toy Story might be turned off by the science-fiction elements, while people who love science-fiction might be turned off by the the association with Toy Story.
That being said, this is an excellent adventure / science-fiction film with influence and nods to so many other great films.
Score: 1
Characters
The character of Buzz is only changed a little from the toy; his silliness is toned down, but he’s still brash, overconfident, and single-minded.
The rest of the cast, although not as fleshed out, are fun and have rewarding story arcs.
Score: 1
Dialogue
There are plenty of references to both Toy Story and classic Sci-Fi. With so much reference material, it could easily have been a quote fest that left people feeling like they missed something. The writers did a great job balancing the quotes and the original story. To a point that they’re great for those that know, but pass over other’s heads.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
I was in awe of the space scenes, and pretty much all the animation. Pixar ups their quality with every movie and I love it. Beyond the animation, the cinematography is fantastic and references so many other great movies. The shot of Zurg’s ship rising from the floor was just like Vader’s in A New Hope, the airlocks look just like those of 2001: A Space Odyssey, there were plenty of others too.
The music was epic and had just the right balance to be remarkable but not overpower the action.
Score: 1
Fun
The fun you get from this is definitely influenced by your expectations. If you’re expecting the tone and feel of Toy Story, you’ll be disappointed. I went in expecting cheesy sci-fi and was surprised by how much fun it was.
My five and three year old both loved it and sat through the whole thing without complaining. The rest of the family seemed to really love it too.
Score: 1
Overall
The movie is a retro sci-fi with all the best parts from the movies of the genre in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. It’s delightfully littered with Pixar and Sci-fi references and has a fun and heartwarming story.
Final Score: 5* Stars out of 5
*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.
