UP
by BigDaddy
After being sent the Blu-Ray of Up by Disney I could not get it in the player fast enough. I had already seen it in the cinema in 3D so I was eager to see how Blu-ray would match up. I was also very excited because Up is my 2nd favourite Disney/Pixar movie (after Monsters Inc)
At first glance, Up is the least conventional animated movie in recent memory. The hero is not a fish, monster, toy or superhero. He is a grumpy old man named Carl Fredricksen a helium balloon salesman, a widow who lives alone in the house he once shared with his wife which is now under threat from an office block development. See, not exactly classic Disney so far! In a brilliantly subtle opening sequence, we see a young Carl meet his best friend and future wife Ellie due to their shared interest in adventure and love of famous explorer Charles Muntz. We take an uplifting, yet ultimately sad and at times traumatic trip through their life together, dealing with hopes & dreams (they want to travel to Paradise Falls, South America) life (building their home) and death (Ellie?s miscarriage & death in later life). Still not getting that Disney vibe? All of this is packed into the first 7 minutes of the movie with such craft and skill you will be almost emotionally drained. I am not afraid to admit I was choking back the tears. Even the back-story of Russell (Carl?s young wilderness explorer companion on his adventure) is filled with sadness. His dad isn?t around much and Russell really lacks a father figure, someone to be proud of him.
I think this is what makes Up such an interesting movie, it has very ‘grown up’ themes and while it has lots of action and imagination (not to mention top drawer animation and talking dogs) to keep the kids happy I think it?s a very different movie to watch for us adults. It really makes you think about what you are seeing and how it makes you feel. It also gives you great hope.
Ultimately, after the adventure is over, the talking dogs are forgotten and the flying balloon house is a distant memory I will remember one thing about Up. This is a movie with lots of heart and it made my spirit soar.
I’m looking forward to reviewing Up and really hope I love it as much as you Big Daddy. I’m also looking forward to seeing what my two monkeys think of it. Great review
I loved the movie!
All the great animated movies have many levels of understanding from the simple to the more complex messages, to the tongue in cheek jokes. Take shrek, toy story…. all had many layers.