Author: Brandia Deatherage | Published: May 5th, 2010

    
Pixar Scores Again

     Those crazy kids at Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios have done it again. After giving us the much celebrated Finding Nemo and the much less celebrated, Monsters, Inc., they really outdid themselves with their latest offering, delivered to us in the form of the highly entertaining, funny and surprisingly touching, Up.

     The Brainchild of Peter Docter, Bob Peterson and Tom McCarthy, Up is a poignant parody on the adventure of life. It begins with an episodic glimpse into the dreams and opposing realities of Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon salesman, and the love of his life, Ellie. During the first 15 minutes of this animated film, the viewer sits in wonderment at how its story of Carl and Ellie, two mere cartoons, has the power to provoke so many real and familiar emotions.

     After you’ve had a good cry, the story resumes at the final chapter of Carl’s life. An elderly Carl is under the weight of a heavy predicament: eviction and placement in the dreaded old-folks home. The creators of the film reject such an unhappy fate for Carl and draw up for him the most absurd escape imaginable. They have Carl cast away from his burdensome reality by attaching what must be thousands of helium balloons to the roof of his house and taking flight to search for the fantasy land of his and Ellie’s youth, Paradise Falls.

    What follows is an amazing adventure, with many dramatic moments which bestow revelations upon the characters and even more meaning upon the film. Several odd characters—a dog with a talking voice box and a flightless female bird named Kevin—and wacky situations—the house taking to the sky with an eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer still hiding in or on its foundation—are met along the way to add excitement and lots of laughs.



    Michael Giacchino, whose effort won him an Oscar at this year’s 82nd Academy Awards, delivers a marvelous score that adds amazing heart to the story. The light and bouncy score flies through the film like a balloon in clear and stormy skies, setting the mood appropriately for each scene.

    Up took home the 82nd annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in an apparent landside, beating out few real contenders. The film was also nominated for best picture, however, but didn’t have much of a chance in the same race between box office blockbuster Avatar, and the eventual winner, The Hurt Locker.

     Though Up was given a PG rating “for some peril and action,” there’s absolutely nothing in this film that should cause worry. Up is one of the few movies these days that should be suitable for everyone in the family, as it contains no suggestive language, curse words, or anything resembling impurity of the heart.

    That said, some very small, very squeamish children, may be frightened a bit by the films antagonist and his ruthless pursuit of the lovable and elusive Kevin. But I assure you, aside from the occasional gasp, or a few apprehensive moments of dramatic tension, there is nothing at all in this film that should scar the kids long-term.



    So, pop up a bag of popcorn, nestle in with your sweetie, rouse the kids from their studying (or video games) and enjoy this heart-warming tale of love, loss and redemption with those closest to you. You won’t regret it.



    This article provided courtesy of our sister site: Better Angels Now

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