Toy Story 4 Critique Lecture Notes (How Toy Story 4 Destroyed Everything by T1meless V1rtue's Analysis Part 1-5)

Jul 13, 2024

Toy Story 4 Critique Lecture Notes (How Toy Story 4 Destroyed Everything by T1meless V1rtue's Analysis Part 1-5)

Introduction

  • Main Claim: The video argues that Toy Story 4 fundamentally undermines and destroys the characters and themes established in the original Toy Story trilogy.
  • Position: The author despises Toy Story 4 and provides extensive reasoning to support this view.
  • Structure: The video is divided into major sections dissecting the plot, characters, internal logic, and thematic messaging of Toy Story 4.
  • Tone: Passionate, critical, and exhaustive in analysis.

Opening Acknowledgement

  • Acknowledges Audience's Familiarity: Thanks the audience for their loyalty to the original trilogy of Toy Story.
  • Sets Up the Criticism: Contrasts this by reiterating hatred for Toy Story 4, promising a detailed critique through the breakdown.

Critique Summary

Major Points of Criticism

  1. Plot Issues: Describes the plot as incoherent and filled with logical inconsistencies and contrived scenarios lacking cohesion and consistency with the original trilogy. Key scenes and sequences often don’t make sense or disrupt previously established rules and character motivations.
  2. Character Destruction: Asserts that major characters like Woody, Buzz, and Jesse have been fundamentally altered in ways that betray their previous development over the first three films.
  3. Inconsistent World-Building: Highlights how Toy Story 4 undermines key aspects of the established world, introducing elements that conflict with the logic of the original trilogy (e.g., the sentience of Forky).
  4. Problematic Themes and Messaging: The film handles serious themes (such as existentialism, depression, and relationships) in ways that the author argues are irresponsible and contrary to the spirit of the original series.
  5. Nostalgia Pandering: Criticizes the film's reliance on recycled music and imagery from the original trilogy to invoke nostalgia without providing substantive narrative or character support.
  6. Gaslighting Audience: Accuses the film of deliberately manipulating audience perceptions through gaslighting techniques to overwrite the established memories and character behaviors from the original films.
  7. Unused Opportunity: Argues that the film missed the opportunity to convey meaningful messages, introducing unnecessary new characters while sidelining established ones.

Examples Highlighting Critique

  1. Opening Scene: Questions the logic of why Andy wouldn't notice RC missing, the cluttered execution of the rescue operation, and geographical inconsistencies with Andy's house from previous films.
  2. Character Motives and Actions: Points to moments where characters like Woody act in ways that are out-of-character compared to their behaviors in the originals, like considering abandoning Andy in the beginning.
  3. Bo Peep's Characterization: Criticizes Bo’s transformation into a radically different character without logical evolution, implying an inconsiderate re-writing of her character.
  4. Forky’s Sentience: Challenges the very premise of Forky's sentience, pointing out it disrupts the internal logic of what constitutes being a 'toy' in the story's world.
  5. Buzz Lightyear's Portrayal: Condemns the portrayal of Buzz as foolish, dependent on his 'inner voice,' contrasting sharply with his intelligent and resourceful characterization in the original trilogy.
  6. Woody’s Inconsistent Choice: Argues that Woody abandoning Bonnie and leaving with Bo Peep contradicts his well-established loyalty to his kid from the original trilogy, effectively nullifying his character development.

Breakdown of Key Scenes and Logical Fallacies

  • Prologue: Calls out impossibilities and contrived tensions within the rescue scene of RC during a rainstorm, inconsistent house geography, and illogical toy behavior patterns.
  • Montages: Points out moments that do not adhere to logical continuity, such as how characters survive impossible physical scenarios and the intentionally misleading camera work.
  • Antique Store Rescue Scene: Highlights extensive logical errors, reliance on luck, and poor decision making presented as heroic or competent actions.
  • Finale: Condemns the blatant character derailment of Woody abandoning his foundational principles and friends, framing it as the ultimate betrayal of the character’s established loyalty and values.

In-Depth Analysis of Themes and Messaging

  • Disability and Redemption: Criticizes how Gabby Gabby's plotline implicitly suggests that characters (or people) need to 'fix' their perceived flaws to earn love, which runs contrary to inclusive and empowering messages previously maintained.
  • Toy Sentience and Imagination: Questions the internal consistency of the world regarding what can be a toy and come to life, using Forky's existence as a critical point of contention.
  • Parent-Child Relationship Parallels: Explores how the toys' relationship with kids mirrors parental roles, and how Woody's abandonment in Toy Story 4 sends a damaging message about responsibility and care.

Audience Reaction and Director’s Intentions

  • Directorial Choices: Critiques the choices made by the director and implies a disregard for the original integrity of the series, positioning his changes as informed by personal ego rather than narrative necessity.
  • Audience and Critical Reception: Notes that many audience members and critics did not critically assess these layers, often overwhelmed by the nostalgic elements and production quality to see the deeper narrative issues.

Conclusion of Analysis

  • Overall Summary: Toy Story 4 is framed as a profound betrayal of the established universe and characters, undoing critical developments and sending problematic messages through its narrative decisions.
  • Emotional Impact: Expresses the emotional fatigue and disappointment felt by the analyst in seeing a beloved franchise compromised.
  • Call to Acknowledge: Highlights intention to remind audiences of the foundational qualities of the original trilogy and why the fourth installment's deviations are deeply problematic.

Final Thoughts

  • Toy Story 4 is positioned as Pixar's weakest film, a significant fall from grace that leverages nostalgia without regard for the integrity of its source material or its audience's intelligence and emotional investment.
  • Emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and maintaining the integrity of narratives that have a lasting impact on audiences, especially those with foundational values like Toy Story

These notes encompass an extensive critique of Toy Story 4, covering a wide range of specific plot points, logical inconsistencies, and character analysis while emphasizing how it diverges from and undermines the themes and characters the original trilogy established.