Despite magnified scrutiny from inevitable comparisons to its predecessor, Toy Story 2 is special. Characters have fresh depth, nuanced messages remain potent, and the plot successfully blends comedy with drama. It's debatable whether its execution matches Toy Story, but that standard speaks to this film's strength. Ultimately, it's remarkable what Toy Story 2 accomplishes without retreading. Woody is deepened, the world is expanded, Jessie's painful backstory redefined Pixar, Buzz's role reversal reinforces themes, and the villains are purposeful. All this differentiates Toy Story 2 while honoring the original. Since that's rare for sequels, Toy Story 2 is a true success.
Similarly, Toy Story 2 is technically great yet overshadowed. Its CGI is improved (especially during Woody's repair), but not as groundbreaking. The music is emotional, yet not as recognized. New character designs are fitting, but don't meet the genius of the originals. However, the uses of passing cuts, match cuts, symbolic sound, and visual surrealism are powerful. Still, despite Toy Story 2's clever humor and biting drama, its tone isn't definitively transcendent. Overall, these are nitpicks of an entertaining and meaningful film, but they're why it's sometimes unfairly dismissed. Nevertheless, Toy Story 2 is skillful and worthy of its lofty franchise.
Writing: 9/10
Direction: 8/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 10/10
Production Design: 9/10
Casting: 9/10
Effects: 9/10
Overall Score: 8.8/10
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