Lightyear (stardate 2022)

[Anonymouswizard]

So I've just been to see this film, after a small kerfuffle with the automatic ticket sellers having nonfunctional keypads. From the moment I saw any promotion for it my only thoughts were 'this probably has atomic blasters and fishbowl helmets', which made it an easy sell.

Spoiler: Thoughts

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So to give a brief synopsis, Buzz screws up due to factors outside his control and decides that if he needs to throw away any chance at a normal life to fix it he will.

Through the events this leads to we get a story of failure, trying to make up for it, and knowing when to move on. This is explored through our dashing hero Buzz Lightyear and dastardly villain Zurg, with Buzz sacrificing his life with his friends in an attempt to allow everybody to return home, while Zurg uses crudely hacked together time travel technology in an attempt to undo the original mistake. Both have hero complexes, a lack of capacity to deal with failure, and a burning desire to make things better. By the end the film takes a stand, that when you make a mistake you should pick up and move on, and where a door is closed because of it you should seek a different path.

I'm not going into Zurg's identity. They could have done a lot better, but it works. I can also easily see this Zurg rising to become the Evil Emperor for any potential sequels.

Lightyear cares more about it's character arcs than it's plot or worldbuilding, the latter only exist to support the former. Buzz must overcome his mistrust of rookies and accept his own insecurities in order to save the day, and the entire film exists to set this up and pay it off.

Lightyear is at its best when it's being dramatic pulpy science fiction with a straight face. It's at its worst when it's trying to be comedic, and considering it did get some chuckles out of me that's not a bad thing. It's a well crafted film that I feel was made with a lot of heart, which I don't often say about big studio films.

Before going in I was going to give it a silly rating in four categories named after classic science fiction authors, but that doesn't tell you what you need to know.

This is good pulpy kids' science fiction, and just a lot of fun.

[t209]

So I've just been to see this film, after a small kerfuffle with the automatic ticket sellers having nonfunctional keypads. From the moment I saw any promotion for it my only thoughts were 'this probably has atomic blasters and fishbowl helmets', which made it an easy sell.

Spoiler: Thoughts

Show

So to give a brief synopsis, Buzz screws up due to factors outside his control and decides that if he needs to throw away any chance at a normal life to fix it he will.

Through the events this leads to we get a story of failure, trying to make up for it, and knowing when to move on. This is explored through our dashing hero Buzz Lightyear and dastardly villain Zurg, with Buzz sacrificing his life with his friends in an attempt to allow everybody to return home, while Zurg uses crudely hacked together time travel technology in an attempt to undo the original mistake. Both have hero complexes, a lack of capacity to deal with failure, and a burning desire to make things better. By the end the film takes a stand, that when you make a mistake you should pick up and move on, and where a door is closed because of it you should seek a different path.

I'm not going into Zurg's identity. They could have done a lot better, but it works. I can also easily see this Zurg rising to become the Evil Emperor for any potential sequels.

Lightyear cares more about it's character arcs than it's plot or worldbuilding, the latter only exist to support the former. Buzz must overcome his mistrust of rookies and accept his own insecurities in order to save the day, and the entire film exists to set this up and pay it off.

Lightyear is at its best when it's being dramatic pulpy science fiction with a straight face. It's at its worst when it's trying to be comedic, and considering it did get some chuckles out of me that's not a bad thing. It's a well crafted film that I feel was made with a lot of heart, which I don't often say about big studio films.

Before going in I was going to give it a silly rating in four categories named after classic science fiction authors, but that doesn't tell you what you need to know.

This is good pulpy kids' science fiction, and just a lot of fun.

Still a shame that Star Command fans dislike it.
I know different continuity, hopefully sequel or spin off should try to adopt Star Command idea (maybe meeting the Tangeans along with Mira).
Also metawise,

Spoiler: Movie spoiler but in meta

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The film was actually a movie-within-the-movie, which would be in 90's.
BUT a lesbian couple in "kid friendly" movie wouldn't fly well in 90's, at least in US and Asia. Those are usually R rated or PG-13.

[Anonymouswizard]

Still a shame that Star Command fans dislike it.
I know different continuity, hopefully sequel or spin off should try to adopt Star Command idea (maybe meeting the Tangeans along with Mira).
Also metawise,

Spoiler: Movie spoiler but in meta

Show

The film was actually a movie-within-the-movie, which would be in 90's.
BUT a lesbian couple in "kid friendly" movie wouldn't fly well in 90's, at least in US and Asia. Those are usually R rated or PG-13.

I might have lucked out due to only having seen the pilot for Star Command, I was never that attached to it.

Spoiler: Meta stuff

Show

That's pretty much the the reasons I think it might have worked better as 'the 2010s/2020s remake of Andy's favourite film).

I mean, I like that the only relationship is a gay one, but you're right. There's a reason I mistakenly thought I was cis-het when younger.

[t209]

So back to the topic about movie,

Spoiler: Movie spoiler

Show

Consdering the shortfall, I am wondering if they would ever attempt to link Star Command ideas to sequels.
Like Rangers meeting Tangeans, or even Little Greenman.
Maybe founding Galactic Alliance after Buzz making contact with them.

[DaOldeWolf]

Still a shame that Star Command fans dislike it.
I know different continuity, hopefully sequel or spin off should try to adopt Star Command idea (maybe meeting the Tangeans along with Mira).
Also metawise,

Spoiler: Movie spoiler but in meta

Show

The film was actually a movie-within-the-movie, which would be in 90's.
BUT a lesbian couple in "kid friendly" movie wouldn't fly well in 90's, at least in US and Asia. Those are usually R rated or PG-13.

I never saw Star Command but the film definitely contradicts established lore from the toy story movies. I wonder why they try to sell the idea that this is the film Andy went to see when it's so different to everything shown in the other films. This would have benefit from not being burdened with canon.

[Anonymouswizard]

So back to the topic about movie,

Spoiler: Movie spoiler

Show

Consdering the shortfall, I am wondering if they would ever attempt to link Star Command ideas to sequels.
Like Rangers meeting Tangeans, or even Little Greenman.
Maybe founding Galactic Alliance after Buzz making contact with them.

Spoiler

Show

LGMs I'm all for, although they'd likely be in a different, less psychic form. Tangeans feel a little too unrealistic for what the film is going for, but maybe if they removed or replaced the ghosting. The Galactic Alliance is hinted at as a possibility by the ending, although it requires removing the 'no FTL' rule the movie uses.

Mostly Lightyear is a completely different beast to Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. It's somewhat more grounded and almost runs on a 'no intelligent aliens' rule. I suspect film two will be 'the Space Rangers and Zurg at war' and three 'finding allies to end the war and form the Galactic Alliance'.

I never saw Star Command but the film definitely contradicts established lore from the toy story movies. I wonder why they try to sell the idea that this is the film Andy went to see when it's so different to everything shown in the other films. This would have benefit from not being burdened with canon.

Beyond

Spoiler

Show

Zurg being Buzz Prime instead of his dad and/or a robot

I'm trying to remember what lore you mean. Although the Buzz in the original film is, IIRC, still meant to be based more on the Star Command spinoff cartoon rather than the film.

[t209]

Anyone here watch Gunbuster?
Kinda like Lightyear but as Top Gun mixed with Mecha and Action Girl.
For some reason, wanted to compare if it did better.

[GloatingSwine]

Anyone here watch Gunbuster?
Kinda like Lightyear but as Top Gun mixed with Mecha and Action Girl.
For some reason, wanted to compare if it did better.

I suspect the emotional weight of Lightyear is somewhat muted by the knowledge that the main character is a toy, a child's plaything.

It's not really happening even within its own diagesis, it's a movie within a movie about a character whose introductory arc otherwise is having to learn that all the serious space ranger stuff it rests on never happened and doesn't matter.

[DaOldeWolf]

Spoiler

Show

LGMs I'm all for, although they'd likely be in a different, less psychic form. Tangeans feel a little too unrealistic for what the film is going for, but maybe if they removed or replaced the ghosting. The Galactic Alliance is hinted at as a possibility by the ending, although it requires removing the 'no FTL' rule the movie uses.

Mostly Lightyear is a completely different beast to Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. It's somewhat more grounded and almost runs on a 'no intelligent aliens' rule. I suspect film two will be 'the Space Rangers and Zurg at war' and three 'finding allies to end the war and form the Galactic Alliance'.

Beyond

Spoiler

Show

Zurg being Buzz Prime instead of his dad and/or a robot

I'm trying to remember what lore you mean. Although the Buzz in the original film is, IIRC, still meant to be based more on the Star Command spinoff cartoon rather than the film.

The one from the back of the box he came in.

[runeghost]

I know I'm dating myself, but I keep reading "Star Command", and I keep thinking of this:

[Squire Doodad]

Still a shame that Star Command fans dislike it.
I know different continuity, hopefully sequel or spin off should try to adopt Star Command idea (maybe meeting the Tangeans along with Mira).
Also metawise,

Spoiler: Movie spoiler but in meta

Show

The film was actually a movie-within-the-movie, which would be in 90's.
BUT a lesbian couple in "kid friendly" movie wouldn't fly well in 90's, at least in US and Asia. Those are usually R rated or PG-13.

Spoiler

Show

People are deciding that this means the Toy Story universe is much more progressive than the IRL one and it's beautiful
In general I do feel like "this is the 201X remake of the movie" would have be a bit more self-consistent but it's not that big an issue imo.