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- Jan 2, 2007
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I love Pixar, but I doubt that's a shock. Almost everyone I've met likes Pixar. They're one of the few studios that seems to understand the meaning of "family film," a film that older people can absolutely love just as much as the kids. So I was actually quite excited to see "Up," almost more so than the newest Terminator (Although I did see that too. It was OK, here's a brief review: 7.5/10 The story was lame, though the action was OK enough) or any of the other big names.
Up tells the story of one Carl Frederickson. It starts at his youth, his hero being the adventurer Charles Muntz, who promised never to return to the states until he had captured a mysterious creature live from South America's "Paradise Falls," as he was denounced as a fraud when he came back only with a skeleton. Carl soon meets Ellie, another aspiring adventurer as the film goes through their life together up until old age, after Ellie has died. Despite the scene being a montage, its actually well done enough to get some emotion. Carl has quickly become your typical old guy, grumpy and at times even silly, but the film never forgets that he truly is a likable character and doesn't forget to add some emotional ties. After attacking a young man on the street who dared damage a treasured possession of Carl & Ellie, he hears that he is going to be sent to a retirement home. He simply won't have this, and he also feels he must keep a promise to Ellie, to fulfill her dream of going to paradise falls and landing the house right by it. Carl then ties thousands upon thousands of helium balloons to his house, and right before he is taken to the rest home, he takes off in search of Paradise Falls and a final adventure.
Naturally, there are other characters and a larger plot, but I don't want to spoil it all for those who haven't seen it. Pixar proves with Up that it's willing to tackle real life hardships along with its wild and often hilarious adventure. The film has a message, and its subtle enough not to feel forced, yet its not so subtle that people who don't read between the lines won't get it. It's also done well enough to get true emotional responses from the audience, something which Pixar must be good at because they did a wonderful job doing it with a pair of robots, and that takes talent. Well, they've been able to do it again. Sure, in a different way, but it works and there are as many sweet moments as there are funny ones. The characters all work out and are well characterized, and the cast all fills the parts perfectly.
Like any Pixar film, Up is a visual feast. The distinct art style is as crisp as always, and the environments and special effects have a strange, almost surreal hybrid with the art style whilst looking nearly photorealistic at the same time. I saw the film in 3D, and while that was a treat, its not a movie that must be seen in 3D. If you don't like the darker screen, the extra ticket money, or even the 3D effect itself, you can enjoy Up for everything it is without them.
I'm trying to find a real flaw here, but even my nit picks are too tiny to even bring up. Sure, there WERE some problems, but almost every one is sealed up and hidden away by the spectacular production, inventive and entertaining scenario, and great humour. I can't give it a 10, but I certainly can give it a 9.5/10 It's one of Pixar's finest. The studio seems to get better and better. Speaking of which, there was a teaser for Toy Story 3. I'm gunna be 19 when it comes out... and you better bet I'm gonna be there on opening night. Although I still want a sequel to The Incredibles soon too
Anyways, go see Up! If you are a Pixar fan, you have nothing to lose. Even if you aren't, give it a shot. Take your family, or go alone. Either way its a fun, endearing, and inventive adventure/comedy that is, in a strange way, one of the best films out this summer.
Up tells the story of one Carl Frederickson. It starts at his youth, his hero being the adventurer Charles Muntz, who promised never to return to the states until he had captured a mysterious creature live from South America's "Paradise Falls," as he was denounced as a fraud when he came back only with a skeleton. Carl soon meets Ellie, another aspiring adventurer as the film goes through their life together up until old age, after Ellie has died. Despite the scene being a montage, its actually well done enough to get some emotion. Carl has quickly become your typical old guy, grumpy and at times even silly, but the film never forgets that he truly is a likable character and doesn't forget to add some emotional ties. After attacking a young man on the street who dared damage a treasured possession of Carl & Ellie, he hears that he is going to be sent to a retirement home. He simply won't have this, and he also feels he must keep a promise to Ellie, to fulfill her dream of going to paradise falls and landing the house right by it. Carl then ties thousands upon thousands of helium balloons to his house, and right before he is taken to the rest home, he takes off in search of Paradise Falls and a final adventure.
Naturally, there are other characters and a larger plot, but I don't want to spoil it all for those who haven't seen it. Pixar proves with Up that it's willing to tackle real life hardships along with its wild and often hilarious adventure. The film has a message, and its subtle enough not to feel forced, yet its not so subtle that people who don't read between the lines won't get it. It's also done well enough to get true emotional responses from the audience, something which Pixar must be good at because they did a wonderful job doing it with a pair of robots, and that takes talent. Well, they've been able to do it again. Sure, in a different way, but it works and there are as many sweet moments as there are funny ones. The characters all work out and are well characterized, and the cast all fills the parts perfectly.
Like any Pixar film, Up is a visual feast. The distinct art style is as crisp as always, and the environments and special effects have a strange, almost surreal hybrid with the art style whilst looking nearly photorealistic at the same time. I saw the film in 3D, and while that was a treat, its not a movie that must be seen in 3D. If you don't like the darker screen, the extra ticket money, or even the 3D effect itself, you can enjoy Up for everything it is without them.
I'm trying to find a real flaw here, but even my nit picks are too tiny to even bring up. Sure, there WERE some problems, but almost every one is sealed up and hidden away by the spectacular production, inventive and entertaining scenario, and great humour. I can't give it a 10, but I certainly can give it a 9.5/10 It's one of Pixar's finest. The studio seems to get better and better. Speaking of which, there was a teaser for Toy Story 3. I'm gunna be 19 when it comes out... and you better bet I'm gonna be there on opening night. Although I still want a sequel to The Incredibles soon too
Anyways, go see Up! If you are a Pixar fan, you have nothing to lose. Even if you aren't, give it a shot. Take your family, or go alone. Either way its a fun, endearing, and inventive adventure/comedy that is, in a strange way, one of the best films out this summer.
