TOY STORY 4 [2019] [3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray] [2019] [Region Free] [UK Release] A Beautiful Fourth-chapter in the Toy Story series!
PIXAR Animation Studios proudly presents the adventure of a lifetime! When Woody, Buzz Lightyear join Bonnie on a road trip with her new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky, the innocent little Forky’s hilarious antics launch Woody on a wild quest filled with unexpected new characters – and one long-lost friend! A soaring masterpiece stuffed with spectacular animation, humour and heart, “Toy Story 4 will blow you away” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Time).
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2020 Academy Awards, USA: Win: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Best Animated Feature Film for Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera. 2020 Academy Awards, USA: Nominations: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) for Randy Newman for the song “I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away.” 2020 BAFTA Awards, UK: Nominations: BAFTA Film Award: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Best Animated Featured Film for Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen. 2020 BAFTA Awards, UK: Nominations: BAFTA Children’s Award: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Feature Film for Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera and Mark Nielsen. 2020 Golden Globes, USA: Nominations: Golden Globe Award: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Best Animated Motion Picture. 2020 Grammy Awards, USA: Nominations: Grammy Award: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Best Song Written for Visual Media for Randy Newman (songwriter) for “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy” artist: Chris Stapleton.
FILM FACT No.2: ‘TOY STORY 4’ premiered in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on the 11th June, 2019, and was released in the United States on the 21st June, 2019. It grossed $1.073 billion worldwide, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2019 and is the highest-grossing film in the franchise, marginally surpassing ‘Toy Story 3.’ Like its predecessors, the film received acclaim from critics, with praise for its story, humour, emotional depth, musical score, animation, and vocal performances. The film was nominated for two awards at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning Best Animated Feature, and received numerous other accolades. Whilst ‘TOY STORY 4’ was initially expected to be the final film in the main Toy Story film series, a fifth instalment is in development. “It was important that it felt like ‘TOY STORY 4’ wasn't just another adventure. It had to have meaning to it, so that it left as important as the last one. I knew that there had to be a major change to Woody, and I used the fact that I was in this whole new position [as a first-time feature director] and the way I was feeling as inspiration for Woody being in a whole new room – a whole new position – as well. My questions and insecurity and not knowing quite how it was all going to develop were my inspiration.” — Director Josh Cooley.
Key Characters: Woody: Woody is a loyal toy who has been Andy's favourite toy since kindergarten. Woody is a smart, determined, and passionate man, and would do anything for his nearest and dearest friends.
Buzz Lightyear: Buzz Lightyear is depicted as a Space Ranger working under the authority of the Star Command. Because with his arrival in the original Toy Story created conflict with Andy’s favourite toy, Sheriff Woody, though this rivalry would eventually blossom into a lifelong friendship.
Bo Peep: Bo Peep is a character in the Toy Story franchise and a main character of the fourth film. She is a porcelain shepherdess figurine and Sheriff Woody's girlfriend in the films. Bo Peep and her sheep were originally adornments of Molly Davis’ bedside lamp.
Forky: Forky by his own admission, Forky is “trash.” While that’s not exactly true — Forky’s an arts-and-crafts project brought to life — Forky lacks the same purpose that drives the manufactured toys. But Woody is determined to help him realize that there’s no greater job than bringing Bonnie joy. Forky has a hard time accepting that idea, and when he tries to escape in the midst of Bonnie’s family road trip, Woody sets off to find him and bring him back before it’s too late.
Voice Cast: Tom Hanks [Woody voice], Tim Allen [Buzz Lightyear voice], Annie Potts [Bo Peep voice], Tony Hale [Forky voice], Keegan-Michael Key [Ducky voice], Madeleine McGraw [Bonnie voice], Christina Hendricks [Gabby Gabby voice], Jordan Peele [Bunny voice], Keanu Reeves [Duke Caboom voice], Ally Maki [Giggle McDimples voice], Jay Hernandez [Bonnie's Dad voice], Lori Alan [Bonnie's Mom voice], Joan Cusack [Jessie voice], Bonnie Hunt [Dolly voice], Kristen Schaal [Trixie voice], Emily Davis [Billy / Goat / Gruff voice], Wallace Shawn [Rex voice], John Ratzenberger [Hamm voice], Blake Clark [Slinky Dog voice], June Squibb [Margaret the Store Owner voice], Carl Weathers [Combat Carls voice], Lila Sage Bromley [Harmony voice], Don Rickles [Mr. Potato Head voice] (archive sound), Jeff Garlin [Buttercup voice], Maliah Bargas-Good [Lost Girl voice], Jack McGraw [Young Andy voice], Juliana Sloan [Miss Wendy voice], Estelle Harris [Mrs. Potato Head voice], Laurie Metcalf [Andy's Mom voice], Steve Purcell [The Dummies voice], Mel Brooks [Melephant Brooks voice], Alan Oppenheimer [Old Timer voice], Carol Burnett [Chairol Burnett voice], Betty White [Bitey White voice], Carl Reinerm [Carl Reineroceros voice], Bill Hader [Axel the Carnie voice], Patricia Arquette [Harmony's Mom voice], Timothy Dalton [Mr. Pricklepants voice], Flea [Caboom TV Announcer voice], Melissa Villaseñor [Karen Beverly voice], Jeff Pidgeon [Aliens voice] and John Morris [Teenage Andy voice]
Director: Josh Cooley
Producers: Andrew Stanton, Denise Ream, Galyn Susman, Jonas Rivera, p.g.a., Katherine Sarafian, Lee Unkrich, Mark Nielsen, p.g.a., Pete Docter and Rosana Sullivan
Screenplay: Andrew Stanton (original story / screenplay), John Lasseter (original story), Josh Cooley (original story), Martin Hynes (original story), Rashida Jones (original story), Valerie LaPointe (original story), Stephany Folsom (original story / screenplay) and Will McCormack (original story)
Composer: Randy Newman (music composed and conducted)
Cinematography: Jean-Claude Kalache (Director of Photography) and Patrick Lin (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
3D Blu-ray Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Audio Description: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
François: 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus Audio
Deutsch: 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus Audio
3D Blu-ray Subtitles: English, François and Deutsch
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2D Blu-ray Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 5.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Audio Description: 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
Española: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround Audio
Czech: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Greek: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Català: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround Audio
2D Blu-ray Subtitles: English, Española, Czech and Greek
Running Time: 100 minutes
Region: Region Free
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures / PIXAR Animation Studios
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: TOY STORY 4 [2019] has the opening scene that recalls events from ‘Toy Story 2,’ and Woody sees Bo Peep [Annie Potts] being donated to a new child. Woody [Tom Hanks] ultimately stays with Andy [Jack McGraw], who eventually gives Woody to Bonnie [Madeleine McGraw] when he goes off to college. Bonnie does not play with Woody and Buzz Lightyear [Tim Allen] like Andy did, and even gives Jessie [Joan Cusack] Woody's sheriff's badge. Nevertheless, Woody wants to make sure Bonnie is happy on her first day at kindergarten, and sneaks into her backpack for a trip to school.
When Woody stows away in Bonnie’s backpack to make sure she has the comfort of a toy on her first day at kindergarten to bet orientated, Woody watches her make a new toy doll out of a plastic fork, pipe cleaners, and popsicle sticks and Bonnie names him Forky. But Forky is a kind of cheerful fatalist who keeps jumping into wastebaskets and trash receptacles and as such because, well, that’s where plastic forks end up.
As always, the plot involves around a rescue, and as always there’s a new nemesis that the toys have to outwit or defeat. This time it’s a doll named Gabby Gabby [Christina Hendricks] who, because she’s defective and lacks a pull-string voice box, has remained stuck on the antique store shelves for longer than she can remember. Any good villain needs a henchmen, and Gabby Gabby has a bunch of lookalike ventriloquist dummies and especially more Disney/PIXAR attention to detail and humour.
It’s those small touches that set the PIXAR studio apart from other animation production companies, and Disney/PIXAR continues to bring familiar worlds to life. In ‘TOY STORY 4’ the toys end up at a carnival fair ground, where animators can have lots of fun with the clichés and particulars of carnival life. But as with previous entries in the Toy Story franchise, there is a very emotional payoff as well.
What set’s ‘TOY STORY 4’ apart from the previous Toy Story franchise films are Woody’s character new long journey adventures. In the first film, he was the centre of attention with Andy and had to learn how to share the spotlight with Buzz Lightyear. Since then, Woody’s become somewhat of a selfless figure that will do whatever it takes to make his kid happy. But in this film, Woody learns an important lesson about taking time when necessary.
This movie would fail without recurring characters that viewers already love, and ‘TOY STORY 4’ hits all the right beats with just enough Woody, Buzz Lightyear and company to go around. This film feels like it is on a smaller scale than its predecessors, with a more compact world and smaller story, but this offshoot remains welcome entertainment. Like previous Toy Story film franchise and this fourth movie offers an easy blend of humour and emotions, and again proves that animated films can offer very affecting human drama and laugh out loud belly laughs. Voice acting is terrific; Tom Hanks, Annie Potts, Christina Hendricks and Tony Hale stand out.
I liked many things about ‘TOY STORY 4,’ except the fact that it came after ‘Toy Story 3’ that was such a perfect conclusion to the iconic trilogy that this feels like a tacked-on epilogue. I enjoyed very much the characters, I thought the story had some very clever moments, but I just would have preferred it if they would have changed a few minor details and made this movie occur between ‘Toy Story 2’ and ‘Toy Story 3.’ But most of all, I a very big fan of PIXAR studio and have been for two decades or more. Overall, it was a pretty decent movie, fun to watch and had some very nice emotional impact in certain scenes in ‘TOY STORY 4.’
‘TOY STORY 4’ is dedicated to the memory of Don Rickles [1926 – 2017] and thanks him for bringing your voice, humour and spirit to Toy Story, and we are eternally grateful, plus, also dedicated to the memory of Adam Burke [1971 – 2018] for being a gifted animator and friend to all, and we love you to infinity and beyond.
TOY STORY 4 MUSIC TRACK LIST
I CAN’T LET YOU THROW YOURSELF AWAY (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Randy Newman]
THE BALLAD OF THE LONESOME COWBOY (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Chris Stapleton]
YOUV’E GOT A FRIEND IN ME (Written by Randy Newman) [Performed by Randy Newman]
MIDNIGHT, THE STARS AND YOU (Written by Harry M. Woods, Jimmy Campbell and Reginald Connelly) [Performed by Ray Noble and His Orchestra with vocal by Al Bowlly]
DON’T KEEP ME WAITIN’ (Written by Ken Morrison) [Performed by The Wranglers Featuring Bonnie Guitar]
FOREVER TILT (Written by Jake Monaco) [Performed by Jake Monaco]
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467, 2nd movement (uncredited) (Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
BOOGIE JUICE (uncredited) (aka “San Francisco Beat”) (Music by Brian Bennett) [Plays when Duke Caboom is introduced]
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3D Blu-ray Image Quality – Walt Disney Pictures and PIXAR Animation Studios presents us ‘TOY STORY 4’ and the 1080p image is quite well rounded and very three dimensional in its appearance and this time the film is shown in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Movements are smooth, natural and carry no motion distortions of any kind. Colours are very strong and very pleasant to view. All primary colours are also very rich and strong with terrific saturation. So it is time to celebrate, and this is certainly a rare occurrence for Disney at this juncture. It looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL, too. It has good sharpness, and well saturated punchy colours. Details are quite strong and for my eyes, was an easy improvement over the standard Blu-ray disc.
3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – Walt Disney Pictures and PIXAR Animation Studios brings us ‘TOY STORY 4’ with a brilliant audio experience. The audio mix is a little interesting as the balance leans to favour the score and vocals more than the effects. Said effects, however, have some outstanding crispness, attention to detail depth that sound of the finest polish. The composed score of the film also sounds rather lovely, at times almost as if it is being played in front of you in your living room/viewing area. The bass in the Randy Newman songs/score bumps lovingly as other natural sound effects like doors shutting, things crashing or stomping and others give a traditional feeling thump. Vocals are loud, deep when the voice demands it and plenty crisp and at the forefront of the mix when it happens. The dialogue captured from the actors is well rounded and clean to hearing degrees of breath and mouth sounds for normal situations. So all in all, this audio experience is second to none, so well done Disney and PIXAR.
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3D Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Bonus: Maximize Your 3D Home Theater!: Get the most out of your home theater with the following simple tests. Use the left and right arrow keys to through each test. The first test should be performed without your 3D glasses, so please take them off if you haven’t already.
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2D Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Bo Rebooted [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [6:21] With this featurette, we get to meet and hear from “Team Bo” members discuss how they rebooted the adventurous Bo Peep character for ‘TOY STORY 4.’ As an added bonus, we get to view a few scenes from ‘TOY STORY 4.’ Contributors include: Valerie LaPonte [Story Supervisor], Mara MacMahon [Character Modelling and Articulation Artist], Becki Rocha Tower [Directing Animator], Tanja Krampfert [Character Modelling and Articulation Artist], Galyn Susman [Film Producer], Annie Potts [Voice of Bo Peep], Carrie Hobson [Story Artist], Laura Phillips [Shading Art Director] and Patty Kihm [Supervising Animator].
Special Feature: Toy Stories [2019] [1080p / 480i] [1.78:1 / 2.30:1 / 1.37:1] [5:38] With this featurette, we get to view the ‘TOY STORY 4’ cast and crew share their love of certain toys. As an added bonus, we get to view a few scenes from ‘TOY STORY 4.’ Contributors include: Josh Cooley [Director], Jeff Pidgeon [Story Artist], Mark Nielson [Producer], Bob Pauley [Production Designer], Tom Hanks [Voice of Woody], Ally Maki [Voice of Giggle Mc Dimples], Christina Hendricks [Voice of Gabby Gabby], Andrew Atteberry [Animator], Keabu Reeves [Voice of Duke Caboom], Rony Hale [Voice of Forky], Priscila de Borthole Vertamatti [Character Developer and Animator], Patrick Lin [Director of Photography – Layout] and Becki Rocha Tower [Directing Animator].
Special Feature: ‘TOY STORY 4’ Audio Commentary with Josh Cooley and Mark Nielsen [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [90:30] With this featurette, we get to hear from Director Josh Cooley and Producer, p.g.a. Mark Nielsen and are here to talk about the Disney/PIXAR animated movie ‘TOY STORY 4’ and as the film stars both of them introduce themselves and also say that they felt there was room for more story to tell and not to end Woody’s story and instead have a new adventure with a new family of toy characters, plus of course including the regular group of toy characters and the crew also felt it was very important to get everything right, and that these films are important to PIXAR studio and have lots of personal connections, and all of the crew cared about nothing more in making this movie worthy of a Toy Story movie. As we go through the audio commentary for ‘TOY STORY 4’ they both talk in general terms and also had lots ideas banded about to add to the storyline about the PIXAR animated movie that might of enhanced the movie, but of course a lot of the new ideas were never finally used and they also talk about certain key crew members that were involved with certain scenes in ‘TOY STORY 4’ who really enjoyed working on the magical PIXAR 2019 movie. As we get near the end of ‘TOY STORY 4,’ they say that it was a huge honour working on this 2019 animated movie, and one of them loved working on ‘Toy Story’ and ‘TOY STORY 4,’ and Josh Cooley says it was a great and huge honour to direct this 2019 animated movie and did not want to mess it up, and Mark Nielsen says he worked on ‘Toy Story 2’ with the modelling and shading, and that these characters have been part of his life for such a long time and he jumped at the chance to be part of this movie and to work on it and was also a great challenge, but also just the greatest of all honours to be working on the film with the Buzz Lightyear and Woody characters and these characters have been enthused in every character in every film we have made since, and they go back to the very start because they have such a special place in our heart, and it has just been a real honour to be part of this particular film, and we actually worked five years on this movie and Mark Nielsen says it was a great pleasure working with Josh Cooley and it was a great time as well, and especially working with you on ‘Cars’ as well as ‘UP’ and ‘Inside and Out,’ and that point this audio commentary comes to an end.
Special Feature: Let’s Ride With Ally Maki [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:41] With this featurette, we get to meet Ally Maki who was the voice of Giggle McDimple sim ‘TOY STORY 4, and learns all about PIXAR’s dialogue recording process from director Josh Cooley and his team, that also included Vince Caro [Recording Engineer], Valerie LaPointe [Head of Story Supervisor], Rachel Slansky [Script Supervisor], Jeff Stone [Assistant Editor], Vincent Salvano [Production Assistant] and Axel Geddes [Film Editor].
Special Feature: Woody & Buzz [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] 3:35] With this featurette, we take an in-depth look at their long term friendship between these two legendary characters and all of their amazing adventures together thorough the Toy Story franchise an now of course in the ‘TOY STORY 4’ movie where it really put their friendship to the test. Once again we get to view a few clips from ‘TOY STORY 4.’ Contributors include: Robert H. Russ [Supervising Animator], Jonas Rivera [Producer], Tom Hanks [Voice of Woody], Axel Geddes [Film Editor], Josh Cooley [Director], Tim Allen [Voice of Buzz Lightyear] and Mark Nielsen [Producer, p.g.a.].
Special Feature: Anatomy of a Scene: Playground [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.38:1 / 1.37:1] [9:31] With this featurette, we get to meet the PIXAR animators and artists discuss a “pivotal” scene in the ‘TOY STORY 4’ movie sitting in a screening room together and included Thomas Jordan [Sets Supervisor], Mariana Galindo [Character Tailoring and Simulation Lead], Steve Karski [Sets Supervisor] and Carrie Hobson [Story Artist]. We also get to meet behind-the-scene Jamie Williams [Sets Shading Artist] and Michael Yates [Story Artist].
Special Feature: Carnival Run [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:00] With this feature, we basically get to see Bo Peep’s skunk toy travelling around the fairground attractions.
Special Feature: View From The Roof [2019] [2.39:1] [1.78:1] [0:29] With this feature, we get to see the full panorama of the fun fair attractions from the roof of the ANTIQUE shop.
Special Feature: Toy Box [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1 / 1.78:1] [28:00] With this featurette, we get to view the following: Gabby Gabby and Her Gang; Forky; Duke Caboom; Ducky and Bunny, and Giggle and McDimples. We also get to meet Christina Hendricks [Voice of Gabby Gabby], Jonas Rivera [Producer], Valeria LaPointe [Story Supervisor], Bob Pauley [Production Designer], Scott Clark [Supervising Animator], Axel Geddes [Film Editor], Josh Cooley [Director], Tony Hale [Voice of Forky], Keanu Reeves [Voice of Duck Caboom], Keegan-Michael Key [Voice of Ducky], Jordan Pete [Voice of Bunny], Mark Nielsen [Producer] and Ally Maki [Voice of Giggle McDimples].
Special Feature: Deleted Scenes [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 2.39:1] [27:59] With this featurette, we get to the following: Introduction [Josh Cooley Director]; Scamming Playtime]; Bo Knows Hippos; Desperate Toys; Knock-Offs; Recruit Duke and She’s The One.
Special Feature: Carnival Prizes [2019] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:25] With this featurette, we get to meet some of the toys in ‘TOY STORY 4’ and they are Ducky and Bunny, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Duke Caboom, Bo Peep and her three sheep, Forky, Jessie and Pony, Rex and the Three eyed alien and we see them doing frantic silly animated routines.
Special Feature: Trailers: With this featurette, we get to view the following: BOOTH: Global Teaser in Spanish [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:39]; PLAYTIME: Global Trailer in English [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [2:29]; FREEDOM: Global Trailer in Russian [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:46] and PIXAR PEDIGREE: Exclusive for China [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:35]. Please Note: The teaser trailers for Spain and Russia, you get the white English subtitles at the bottom of the screen.
Special Feature: BONUS Previews: ‘ONWARD’ [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:41]; ‘FROZEN II’ [2019] [1080p] [2.39:1] [1:59] and DisneyLand Paris [2019] [1080p] [2.35:1] [0:30]
Finally, ‘TOY STORY 4’ [2019] is expanding on the beloved Toy Story animated universe, and ‘TOY STORY 4’ is a wonderful sequel filled with exciting sequences during every turn in the story. The beloved characters make the journey worth taking again. Woody and Buzz Lightyear re-ignite imagination in our hearts. This latest Toy Story franchise sequel and feels more contained and less grand than its predecessors, but still offers beautiful animation, dramatic storyline, humour and satisfying themes of growing up and staying relevant. The filmmaking is superb and the 3D is so impressive that the release becomes THE must own 3D title, and one that belongs on the top shelf of all 3D Blu-ray aficionados. Don't miss it. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
