Toys

Going into this movie I had been to a few different sites for the average few of this movie, and on no occasion did I get a positive outcome. Then I saw this movie for myself and thought that there must be some mistake. But, I guess it's all just in the frame of mind you have. For the other's that have seen this movie and enjoyed it you are not alone in your opinion. Defend this movie will all your might, cause someone somewhere will not like it or understand it for that matter, and criticize you for it.

Today was the first time I've seen this movie, and thinking how people had at least given it positive marks for visuals I was wondering if it would live up to today's. I was amazed, the movie is beautiful in it's design and I can't picture any other actors more perfect for the part.

Overall I'm stunned at the negative reviews, I understand what people mean by not liking or understanding the plot, but that's the originality of it. I also understand other's negative reviews for the ending, even with the weird camera work. But, still that whole change in direction from the rest of the film is great.

See this movie, I'd say you won't regret it. Just get in that extra kooky frame of mind before hand. And have a great time courtesy of Zevo Toys.

8/10 -

I know several people who think this movie is horrible. I saw a contestant on "Jeopardy" who professed himself to be a movie expert who said that this movie was the worst of all time. I think that "Toys" is a masterpiece of surreal cinema, and I rank it among the greatest 100 movies ever made (My list, of course). The cast is amazing, and LL Cool J is great..I love people who don't like their food to touch! What are the detractors thinking? Maybe they are the morons! Toys RULES, especially the opening scene...I think that this movie's detractors need to view this movie again with open eyes, and see the amazing vision that this movie imparts. It is pure genius.

As a young child, Barry Levinson's 1992 film "Toys" was one of my favorite movies. At a young age I was fascinated by such a visually beautiful and surreal world that this mostly forgotten and seldom talked about film portrays. While the story of the film, which you can read about in the other reviews, is not the most well put together or best flowing story ever written, the witty comedy and especially the surrealism of it make up for this. Even Roger Ebert wrote in his review "Visually one of the most extraordinary films I've seen, a delight for the eyes, a bright new world."

While "Toys" was a box office flop and panned by critics, if you ask me, they failed to fully indulge themselves in the power of the film and it's special message about peace, joy, and innocence prevailing over war and evil.

If you are a fan of Salvador Dali's work or just a fan of surrealism in general, "Toys" is the perfect film for you. It's hard to think of another film with such vivid set designs that uses surrealism is such a creative and intelligent way. If you are just looking for a good comedy film to watch you might like "Toys" but this film is not for everyone. Approach the film with an open mind and I think you will either "Get It" or you won't.

Toys is a movie easily overlooked and dismissed as childish and nonsensical. Nothing could be further from the truth though, as it is a movie of surprising depth and style.

The first point that must be covered is the performance given by Robin Williams as Leslie Zevo. Although it is fraught with his almost trademark wackiness there is an underlying current of a man who is on the edge of coming into his own. The layers of the character he plays are subtly shown, as Leslie is a man who is strong, but unsure of his strength and covers that insecurity with comedy and whimsy.

The film is visually striking, a real art department tour de force, and is very much removed from any hint of the past at first glance. Looking deeper into the visuals however reveals the films deeper content of classic surrealist motifs, especially that of dismembered body parts and other parts separated from the whole. Partially assembled dolls, the parts of which come out of machines that are shaped as further separated body parts, are shown throughout. Alsatia lives in rooms within rooms that seem separated from the wholeness of houses, and indeed lives in a paper fold-out doll house herself, the reasons for which become quite apparent by the films end.

This aesthetic choice, combined with the toys vs. weapons juxtaposition makes the films textual purpose clear. Toys is a surrealist reaction to the end of the Cold War, in the very same vein as the original surrealists reactions to the end of the First World War. The film even makes several direct references to one of the surrealist masters, Rene Magrite, especially in the music video sequence. This places Toys in a very deep anti-war tradition, one that is expressed very openly in the entire premise of a General taking control of a toy company and turning it to military purpose.

Any who would dismiss this film as merely childish surely owe it to themselves to take another look at this surrealist masterpiece and lose themselves in the quirky visuals and creative world that is placed on screen.

I'm constantly amazed at how so many wannabe movie buffs can go ga-ga over something as romantic and unreal as Titanic and slam a film that has so many fine artistic points as this one. Well, as me auld Irish Mither used to say, "There's no counting for taste," I suppose but hey! This is a fine little film with a poignant theme, a fun fantasy frolic and some incredible artistic moments. Robin Williams is at his non-goofiest best in this medium. Indeed, his Leslie, the toymaker, is almost underplayed. Joan Cusack is, simply put, always worth the price of admission and then there's Michael Gambon and a glimpse of the late Donald O'Connor. LL Cool is relatively harmless in his role and does not distract from the pace of the film. Put it all together, it works, gang. Don't go in there expecting instant game-boy entertainment. Look. See. Drink in the colors. Smell the textures of contrasting materialistic profitism with creating bits of beauty that can be enjoyed by children of "all ages." Alas, I realize that is a lot to ask for from an audience, but, hey, you flunked on the firt go-round; now, see this one again and give it try.