Cinematography:
Jean-Claude KalacheComposer:
Michael GiacchinoCast:
Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, David Kaye, Jess Harnell, Josh Cooley, Pete Docter, Brenda Chapman, Teddy Newton (more)VOD (3)
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From the revolutionary minds of Pixar Animation Studios and the acclaimed director of MONSTERS, INC. comes a hilarious uplifting adventure where the sky is no longer the limit. Carl Fredicksen, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year old Wildnerness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time - Carl's front porch! The world's most unlikely duo reach new heights and meets fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, the rare 13-foot tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realizes that sometimes life's biggest adventures aren't the ones you set out for. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (13)
In the case of the latest animated feature film from Pixar, I fell victim to my own expectations and, above all, the enthusiasm of the newspaper critics, who gushed like a fountain and it was clear that this film was the number one film event of the year for some of them. Such a high percentage rating is truly exceptional. The same was true in four other cases, so I went to the movie theater to sit carefully so as not to collapse from the flood of impressions. During and immediately after watching, I would give it perhaps two stars, but the objective value of Up is of course significantly higher. Pixar excels in both animation and the script for a classic family spectacle for all generations, but for me, there are a few "buts." Firstly, to my taste, the story relies too much on sentimentality and nostalgia, secondly, it moves too much in the spirit of political correctness and expectations limited by a family film, whereas I would like the grandpa to be really tough on the annoying brat who intrudes into his contemplation about fulfilling his dreams from his youth, and in the spirit of classic performances by Walter Matthau, really "give it to him." I also wanted more gags and the plot didn't grab me after they arrived in Venezuela. It's strange because the creators strive for a spectacle inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World" or classic Verne-style adventures like "Five Weeks in a Balloon," which I grew up with as a boy. The idea of the flying house carried by balloons scored the most points, but it was obviously not a surprise to anyone. Overall impression: 60%. Up did not only lose to Ratatouille in my eyes but also to the robot Wall-E.
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Gran Torino meets Indy in escapades à la Pixar. Some parts are great, but altogether it seems so inconsistent that it’s bothering. However, Carl is a really nice guy and his only blemish is that he’s not dubbed by Clint. The real “hero" and the dog do their CGI best to make this movie work. And they had to try hard, because this movie was moving alarmingly near to the shameful average (quite normal for Pixar).
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The puppet masters (3D) prove why it is such a success for all audience ranges. For the first time, however, I feel like they’re being overly confident. There’s no willingness to take risks or deviate in any way from the popular trend. Life’s truths caress, while the overly mentoring tone grates on the nerves. I wasn't bored, but I didn't enjoy it, and that's worse.
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To begin with a brief thought: When did the movie theater turn into a canteen? Munch, gobble, slurp… Up is a multigenerational picture that will be enjoyed by everyone. Super action scenes, a romance of the highest caliber, and a breathtaking adventure that, in the style of old exploration films, throws one into an unknown, dangerous yet beautiful world. The storyline forms an incredible link between several lives. A pensioner who wants to complete his plan (to move) at any cost, a hunter (another pensioner) who is pursuing a trophy that constantly eludes him, a lonely boy who wants to help (pensioners) and mothers caring for their children. Add a flying house, talking dogs, a mischievous bird, and this merry-go-round of a movie becomes a whole lot of fun.
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There are Madagascar (or Ice Age) adventures, and then there are South American adventures. The first ones rely on dozens of funny characters, put together by a weak storyline about family values. The South American adventure contains only one funny character and the movie tells a story of wasted opportunities and fulfilling one’s childhood dreams (which may also have a dark side — a cleverly presented difference between a child’s and adult’s perceptions). Up is an animated movie that can only be fully appreciated by adult viewers (kids will definitely have more fun watching the Madagascar series). The highlight of the movie is the opening sequence, which briefly summarizes the life of the main character from his childhood to old age. It’s pure beauty. If the creators said “sod the kids” (which they obviously couldn’t do :)) and went on with this type of storytelling, this could have been my all-time favorite animated movie.
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Photo © Pixar Animation Studios
![Up - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/000/124/124747_ab3293.jpg)
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