Toy Story, PIXAR, and Triumph of American Originality

15 years ago, when Toy Story came out, the world was literally a different place. Clinton was President, Apple was floundering with the Powermac, and my age was still in the single digits. Now we have a new President, Apple is poised to take over the planet, and I'm in the double digits. But Woody and Buzza are still here and remain landmark cultural figures. Woody, a distinctly American cowboy, noble and true, exemplifies the American frontier spirit.  Buzz, a beacon of technology and innovation reminds us where our country and ourselves should always be headed: to infinity and beyond.

Of course, all credit here goes to PIXAR. Founded as small special effects house in 1979, the company has become a breeding ground for some of the most imaginative people on the planet. Starting with "Toy Story" every film they have put out has been original, heartfelt and enjoyable. Sure, lots of PIXAR haters will tell you that "Cars" is a weak spot, don't believe the hype, it's still great. 

But wait, TPG, what about the fact that Toy Story 3 is a sequel? Well there is a difference between a sequel to a film that wasn't original in the first place and one where a new story and characters need to be invented from scratch. It's not like people were complaining when J.K. Rowling made a sequel to her first Harry Potter book. And make no mistake, Pixar's story telling is on par with those great literary giants.

And that is what really counts, in a world of oil spills, wars, and cultural confusion, Pixar is exporting a crucial American product: stories. In a sea of remakes and reboots they are one of the only companies producing critically praised original content for the world. So welcome back Woody and Buzz, and props to Pixar for keeping the American storytelling spirit alive.

Disney Marvel Cross Over Possibilities

Today Disney announced that is buying Marvel Entertainment for 4 Billion dollars. When you consider the direction both of these companies are heading, this acquisition is very interesting. Marvel has been doing very well recently and their upcoming films including Thor (starring my main meng Chris Hemsworth) and Iron Man 2 look to continue their streak of quality films. Disney on the other hand, well, I don't think they are doing to bad either. So I must wonder, why this deal even happened. The reason:

CROSS OVER POTENTIAL

So here are some possibilities for Disney-Marvel cross over potential.

1. Mickey Mouse in Edgar Wright's "Ant Man"- He could play a zany mouse that gives Ant Man shit, but then becomes his friend and ally in the climax of the film.

2. Simba In The Avengers- He'd totally fit in, I mean he could even play Captain America.

3. Mulan Makes A Cameo In the Upcoming Wolverine Sequel- "I'll make a man out of you, bub"

4. Iron Man 2 Will Now Have Songs - Iron Man and War Machine will sing an updated bro-tastic machine gun driven version of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" while they dispatch countless threats with their shoulder mounted cannons.

5. Pixar + Marvel= Geek Fanboy Dream Come True.

Here is the trailer for the new Pixar flick : "Up." This looks to be a great blend of the wild imagination of Wall-E and the touching emotion of Toy Story. Actually, simply put, this is a Pixar flick so you know it's going to be great. I should note that the story reminds me of this real life daredevil who did something very similar. Check it out.

Favorite Movie: The Lion King (I'm proud of it too)

"The Lion King" is my favorite movie, and I'm not afraid to say it. If you are thinking I'm some sort of super wuss because my favorite film is a Disney film, I also like "The Godfather", but who cares they are basically the same movie. Let me break down why this movie is still the best.

1. Simple yet compelling story- The story follows the classic theme of facing one's destiny. This theme is everywhere in literature and films. Luke Skywalker, Michael Corleone, Batman, and my main man Simba all suffer setbacks and then rise up to meet their destiny.

2. Classic Animation- PIXAR is great, but there is something to be said about old school animation. It's like going to an art gallery and watching the paintings move inside their frames. PIXAR is just like watching a video game.

3. Hakuna Matata- In case you haven't realized it Timon & Pumba are the headiest characters in a Disney movie. They don't do anything except chill out and eat. They are the Cheech and Chong of Disney movies. They're just a bunch of bro's living the good life.

4. Lions- Tell me one reason why lions are not cool. This story would never have worked if it was the "The Deer King."