Now available on digital platforms is the feature length Disney film, Lightyear. It’s also currently available on Disney+.
Lightyear will be available on Blu-ray, DVD and Ultra 4K on September 13, 2022.
Lightyear is an animated film that is voiced by such stars as Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, Uzo Aduba and James Brolin.
Lightyear is a film based on the character Buzz Lightyear, as see in the Toy Story film franchise. If I am not mistaken, I believe it said in the beginning of this film that it was the film that Andy (the boy in Toy Story) watched that make him a fan of Buzz Lightyear.
Lightyear is the backstory to the character.
Buzz Lightyear is Space Ranger who works on the ship they refer to as “the turnip.” Him and his counterparts are asked to explore a planet to see if there are any signs of life. They team encounter hostile aliens, and in an attempt to flee quickly, Lightyear accidently crashes the ship. Now his team is stuck on the planet.
Feeling guilty, Lightyear offers to test out a hyperspace crystal to see if it can help the ship leave the planet.
What seems like mere minutes to Lightyear while testing the hyperspace crystal ends up being years for everyone else on the planet.
With every attempt he makes, his friends move on with their lives and age (Lightyear does not age).
On one return he learns that those remaining are under attack from robots, and it’s more important than ever to get off the planet.
Can Lightyear redeem himself and save those still left on the planet? Or is he destined to fail again, just like he has so many times in the past? To find out, check out Lightyear. Look for it where ever movies are sold/rented.
There is plenty of bonus content for this film.
Bonus Features*
Deleted Scenes
- Deleted Scenes Introduction – Director Angus MacLane introduces six scenes that are all drawn, set to music, timed and voiced, but are not included in the final version of this amazing film – which took five and a half years to make!
- The Dump – In one of LIGHTYEAR’s original opening scenes, we explore Proxima B, with its carnivorous plants, sulfur pits, weird bugs, hot climate, and lack of coffee! A familiar Space Ranger volunteers to risk all in an effort to return to Earth.
- Polly – Buzz relives childhood memories when he visits an aeronautic museum in which his father is memorialized. There, he finds Polly, his dad’s robot companion bird, who possesses a very revealing recorded message meant for Buzz!
- Meet Izzy – After young Izzy and her family (including her brother Maurice) move in next door to Buzz, the adorable, talkative girl bursts into Buzz’s home, warms up to Sox, and asks Buzz a lot of questions.
- Up in the Lair – After his spacecraft crash-lands and he winds up in the bunker of fledgling Space Rangers, Buzz is introduced to cheesy snacks and a character whose role was cut due to time. He also receives shocking information about his father.
- Tilted Ship – Star Command Space Rangers of the 56th Airborne Alpha Quadrant meet Buzz and the Space Ranger students. Buzz is given a truth serum so he’ll expose whatever he knows about his father’s connection to the aliens who have taken over Proxima B.
- Fathership – Buzz wakes up in what he thinks is his childhood home, where he meets his father, who was a time travel pilot, just as he is. But it turns out he’s on the mothership of the aliens who are destroying Proxima B – and hope to vanquish Buzz as well!
Featurettes
- Building the World of Lightyear – Visits to the Johnson Space Center in Houston and a very familiar cinematic archive gave the filmmakers inspiration as they embarked on the exciting journey of creating Lightyear’s breathtaking production design.
- The Zap Patrol – Meet the actors who gave voice to Izzy, Mo and Darby, the untrained, unprepared rangers who join Buzz on the adventure of a lifetime. While the misfits may not seem ideal for the mission, their unlikely friendship helps see them through challenging times.
- Toyetic – Learn why Lightyear is one of the most “toyetic” films ever. Join director Angus MacLane and others on the meticulous, fun process of creating toy models for spaceships and other production elements that led to the film’s richly textured animation.
Audio Commentary
- Lightyear Filmmaker Commentary – Join director Angus MacLane, writer Jason Headley, and director of photography Jeremy Lasky as they provide insight into the making of this remarkable animated feature while you watch it.
*bonus features vary by product and retailer
I was a little thrown off not hearing Tim Allen’s voice coming out of Buzz Lightyear, but after a short while I didn’t even notice the difference. After all, a toy wouldn’t sound exactly like it’s human counterpart anyway.
It was nice to learn more about the character. The Toy Story movie franchise holds a special place in our hearts. The original film was the first movie my husband and I saw together when we were dating. We even jokingly wrote up a “contract” that we would stay together for 99 year and it’s “signed” by Buzz and Woody (no kidding).
The animations in this film is spectacular. There were times I could have sworn is was real and not an animation.
There is a nice assortment of characters throughout the film. Because Lightyear goes into hyperspace for many years at a time, there is no question there would be new people waiting for him when he arrived back to the planet.
In this film, Lightyear has a different side kick. It’s not Woody but rather a robotic cat named Sox. There are times I feel like the Sox character stole the show.
The film is funny, especially Lightyear’s amusing remarks to situations. It’s not a “laugh a minute” type of movie, but there is humor. This film also has heart, especially when it comes to Lightyear’s friends.
If you think about Buzz’s personality and the things he says in the Toy Story films, the Lightyear character in this film is pretty spot on.
I enjoyed the film, as did my husband. My husband thought it was a wee bit too long (it’s 105 minutes) but I didn’t feel that it was.
Be sure to check out the film on social media to see what all the “buzz” is about (ha ha).
Twitter: @PixarsLightyear
Facebook: @PixarsLightyear
Instagram: @pixarslightyear
#Lightyear
Below is the film’s trialer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener in order to review this film. There was no compensation. The opinion expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
