Lightyear is a space-faring tale about accepting your limitations, and those of others.
Lightyear Synopsis
To infinity … and beyond!!! The catchphrase is world famous, but ever wonder what’s the full story behind it? What made Andy Davis fall in love so deeply with his space ranger toy too? Lightyear explains all.
Snappy Review
Lightyear is a movie that caters to very specific audiences, despite its seemingly universal appeal.
Most obvious are, of course, Pixar and Toy Story fans. Hand-in-hand with these are rugrats whose parents were themselves kids in the late 90s. I.E., the children of grown-up TS fans.
Beyond these are, how should I put it, viewers who celebrate, who embrace diversity? Whatever that word is supposed to mean.
I’m sorry, I know I should focus on the film and not the politics involved when writing a review. But with so much global controversy and Singapore’s NC16 rating, can I avoid mention? Tried as I did, I couldn’t forget these debates when watching the show yesterday at the soon-to-close The Cathay.
But about the movie proper. I feel it’s beautiful and lyrical, in the signature way that defines the best Pixar movies. As always, the studio doesn’t seek to impress you with loud, OTP visuals or slapstick gags, the allure lies in the silent details. The texture, the lighting, the quiet dusty desolation of that wild-west like planet, etc.
All characters have their identifying quirks too, which invites buckets of giggles every other minute. As a sci-fi story about obsession and redemption, the message is furthermore classic, unsurprising, but comforting. If any, the only shortcoming to me is that the end conflicts don’t quite reach the euphoric peaks one expects from a space opera adventure. Expansive as the confrontations are.
On that, my expectations could be reasonable. I acknowledge the show is more an examination of Buzz Lightyear’s weaknesses, not so much his might. Buzz’s flaws and his eventual acceptance of companionship could also be what made Andy Davis fall in love so deeply with the space ranger. The movie began with the objective of sharing how Andy came to love Buzz.
Coming back to the controversies, so all-important to some folks, I would put it as follows:
- Removing every lesbian reference in Lightyear would mean completely eradicating the most poignant sequence in the show. The segment that explains how Buzz was left behind in time, despite him physically moving forward.
- (1) said, even an amateur Youtuber like me can instantly think of various ways to replace the kissing scene. It’s clear that Disney was firm on their position.
- Could be overthinking this, no thanks to all the news coverage. I feel many other parts of the show subtly critique blind conformity. Vice versa, these bits celebrate individuality. Such positions are irredeemably offensive to some people, I guess.
- At the end of the day, if certain folks insist on believing a two-sec lesbian kiss in a sci-fi show with oversized vines and talking cats, is life-changing, so be it. Accepting their demands is embracing diversity too? As in, accepting the mental shortcomings of others? Anyhow, it long seems to me that such folks thrive on resentment, which is ironically similar to Buzz in this show. So perhaps we should feel pity instead of getting angry. Let’s not all be left behind in time.
Check out my other snappy movie reviews.
