These 'Toys' aren't just for kids

It's hard to imagine there are many who haven't seen "Toy Story." Even though it was ten years ago that it first hit theaters, it has never really dropped out of sight. Maybe this is because it is credited as having raised the bar for cartoon movies with its 3D computer animation, or maybe "Toy Story" has staying power because it is just as pleasing to me now as it was when I was eleven years old, that is to say, it is truly a film for all ages. "Toy Story" manages not to sacrifice its appeal to one demographic for the other.\nBuilding on the suspicions long harbored or at least wishfully entertained by small children -- that toys are secretly alive -- "Toy Story" lets us into the world of one boy, Andy's bedroom, where Andy's old favorite toy, Woody the Cowboy, shows jealousy toward a new toy, space traveler Buzz Lightyear. This leads to an adventure that takes them away from Andy and his room, and into the perilous outside world. Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) displays a real and complex humanity, deeper than that of most Disney cartoon characters. Buzz, who goes through an identity crisis and manages to be both irritating and endearing, is perfectly voiced by Tim Allen. The cast of supporting toys are also quite good, especially the timid dinosaur Rex, voiced by Wallace Shaun. Songs in the film provided by Randy Newman are sentimental and warm. Some people might be intrigued to learn that one of writing credits goes to Joss Whedon (Creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" whose upcoming film "Serenity" is interestingly in light of "Toy Story," but also, perhaps tragically, about cowboy space travelers).\nI have seen special edition two-disc sets with more exciting packaging, but in all fairness, the box they come in is not deceptive as to the amount and quality of special features contained on the discs. There is some cool stuff: deleted scenes, mini-documentaries and storyboards. But some of it, like the "claw" game that comes on the second disc, feels a little desperate and filler-like. The question I ask of any DVD re-release is whether the new version is significantly better than the first, if it is worth it for someone who already owns the first version to buy the second or if re-releasing the film is purely a ploy to sucker people into buying something they already own. I fear this set is the latter. That said, I'm totally happy to now own the movie (for the first time) and if you have never seen "Toy Story" go out and get it right away, you won't be sorry.