TOYS (DVD) DVD

Toys
Barry Levinson directed this cautionary fantasy fable--a triumph of production design--concerning the clash between benevolent, funny toys and malevolent, violent war toys and video games. Donald O'Connor is the kindly, gentle Kenneth Zevo, founder of Zevo Toys. The workers love him and the love they feel for Zevo comes through in the lovingly cute toys they produce. His son Leslie (Robin Williams) is an eccentric inventor who concentrates on coming up with different styles of plastic vomit and over-sized ears. His addle-headed daughter Alsatia (Joan Cusack) enjoys trying out all of Leslie's inventions. But their innocent, idyllic existence is soon to be shattered. Kenneth is dying and he is reluctant to bequeath the factory to the immature hands of Leslie and Alsatia. He finally decides to pass on his factory to his three-star general brother (Michael Gambon), reasoning that the general will run the factory efficiently and prod Leslie and Alsatia into adulthood. When Kenneth dies, the general and his army surplus son Patrick (LL Cool J) immediately turn Zevo Toys into an oppressive fascistic environment. The general also stops production of the innocent Zevo products and forces the workers to manufacture violent interactive video games and sadistic war toys. Leslie must rouse himself out of his over-long childhood to preserve the tradition of Zevo Toys. Although Toys did not fare well at the box office, it features a stunning combination of production design by Ferdinando Scarfiotti and art direction by Edward Richardson. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Cast Robin Williams as Leslie Zevo Michael Gambon as The General Joan Cusack as Alsatia Zevo Robin Wright Penn as Gwen Tyler LL Cool J as Patrick Zevo Donald O'Connor as Kenneth Zevo Arthur Malet as Owen Owens Jack Warden as Old Gen. Zevo Debi Mazar as Nurse Debbie

Crew Ed Richardson - Art Director Anthony Thomas - Choreography Peter Giuliano - Co-producer Albert Wolsky - Costume Designer Barry Levinson - Director Stu Linder - Editor Thomas Dolby - Composer (Music Score) Enya - Composer (Music Score) Hans Zimmer - Composer (Music Score) Ferdinando Scarfiotti - Production Designer Adam Greenberg - Cinematographer Barry Levinson - Producer Charles James Newirth - Producer Mark Johnson - Producer Linda de Scenna - Set Designer Valerie Curtin - Screenwriter Mick Garris - Screenwriter Barry Levinson - Screenwriter Jeff Rona - Additional Music

Toys
(not reviewed)
 

Albert Wolsky: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Costume Design (nominated) Ferdinando Scarfiotti: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DDS: Dolby Digital Surround Additional Features: Featurette, trailers, and TV spots Anamorphic widescreen [aspect ratio 1.85:1] Audio: English 5.1 Surround, English Dolby Surround, French Dolby Surround Subtitles; English, Spanish DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 121 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Scene Selection 1. Main Titles [5:40] 2. Zevo Toys [2:48] 3. Kenny's Heart [4:48] 4. A Factory Tour [4:16] 5. Granddaddy [3:47] 6. Espionage [5:54] 7. War Toys [7:41] 8. Leslie and Gwen [6:52] 9. A Space of His Own [6:19] 10. Talking to Daddy [2:15] 11. Ask the General [2:35] 12. A Diversion [5:30] 13. A Madman at the Factory [2:03] 14. Surveillance [3:54] 15. Red Means Caution [8:34] 16. All the Old Toys [7:34] 17. Toy War [5:06] 18. Power Failure [6:33] 19. You Broke My Sister [4:25] 20. End Titles [3:29]