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Toy Story 2

In about six weeks or so, we’re all going to know if Toy Story 3 should also be on this list (I don’t even want to consider the possibility that it would be on the opposite list, dear readers). And, just as I was cautiously optimistic in 1999 when Toy Story 2 was released, I remain cautious about the third film in the Toy Story saga. When Toy Story 2 came out, it was at a critical juncture for Pixar, whose second film, A Bug’s Life, wasn’t as widely praised as the original Toy Story. Would a sequel turn Pixar into a slightly higher-class version of the direct-to-video sequels Disney chugged out on what seemed like a daily basis? Thankfully, no. The sequel picks up as Buzz Lightyear and Woody go on another adventure, thanks to a nefarious toy-store owner who wants to sell Woody, a cowboy doll that’s far rarer than anyone could’ve guessed.

It’s hard to explain in a few words why Toy Story 2 is spoken in the same breath as The Godfather: Part II, in terms of being as good as, if not better, than its predecessor. The film offers more than what Toy Story did: there’s plenty of humor, pathos, and action, but there’s also more adult emotion. Watch the flashback to Jessie the cowgirl doll’s life, set to the tune of a Randy Newman-penned song sung by Sarah McLachlan and tell me you don’t get a little sad. Do this, and admit that you have no heart. When you’re a kid, you may not understand why the scene works so well, but once you grow up and have abandoned toys of your own, seeing this sequence may compound your guilt. You’ve been as guilty as Jessie’s owner. This is what Pixar does best: relates a story about talking, walking toys to humans who know that toys can’t do either. I’m skeptical about Toy Story 3, but I’m ready to see it.

The Dark Knight

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, I’ve heard it all before. There needs to be a moratorium on A-Lists mentioning The Dark Knight, right? I always try, but let’s be honest: The Dark Knight was an event movie and it did not disappoint. Before Avatar came along, it was not only the fastest-selling Blu-ray disc, but it was one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and remains the highest-grossing film of all time not directed by James Cameron. And, come July 20th, 2012 (that would be the date when the next Batman film is released, so mark your calendars), there will be another potential event movie that doesn’t disappoint. So what was it about The Dark Knight that everyone was so primed for? Batman Begins was a successful film, but it wasn’t nearly so big as Dark Knight would be.

Of course, the far-too-early death of co-star Heath Ledger raised the film’s profile, if to a morbid degree. But even before Ledger passed away, the mere thought of Batman once again facing off with The Joker was enough to stoke even the most basic Batman fan. People like me may not know much about the famous Batman graphic novel The Killing Joke (okay, I obviously know its title and plot), but we know what it means when Batman has to go mano a mano against this laughing villain. The early teasers and six-minute IMAX preview only fueled the fire. The fact that the movie ended up being an instant classic (in my opinion, of course) has only helped make this film something more than the basic summer movie.

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