UP (REVIEW)
Hit animation
studio Pixar have never made a bad film and their latest 'Up' is no exception
- a wonderful story of dreams being fulfilled.
Beginning with
two lonely kids who meet and 'find' each other in the 1930's whilst sitting in
a movie theatre absorbing newsreels of adventurer Charles Muntz. He is a famed
explorer that the children idolise and eagerly want to mimic their hero with adventures
of their own. Flashbacks involving this perfect match, Carl and Ellie, show their
life together culminating with a tearjerker moment involving a bunch of balloons.
The highs and lows are all pinpointed in a beautiful prelude that sets the thoughtful
tone for the rest of the movie. Emotional terrain, this is actually quite sad.
Back
to the current day and Carl is now much older and alone - a grumpy old man. In
retaliation to avoid being whisked off and forgotten to a retirement home, Carl
devises a plan. He ties his cherished house up with enough balloons to lift it
off the ground and pilot it to South America where he promised Ellie he would
take her many years ago.
In spite of Carl hoping for time
out by himself, he has a stowaway, a short round cub scout, Russell. This mismatch
of an 8 year old and a senior citizen is full of anxious moments but plenty of
hilarity ensures -they're like the new odd couple. Chubby Russell may be a little
naive, but he brings out the inner child inside Carl. The pair share an array
of witty, while thoughtful, one-liners. They eventually land in a pretty place
called Paradise Falls - a destination where the pair catch up with the one and
only explorer Muntz, still chasing his lifelong quest of capturing an enormous
bird that scientists claim doesn't exist.
Filmed in both 2D
and 3D, I recommend the latter if you have the opportunity. The colours and visual
style resonates the cinema screen in a palette of bright open dreamscapes that
literally leap off the screen. Digital animation at its absolute best. 'Up' shifts
into a slower gear when Carl begins to like his new young friend and bond through
a series of events not unlike what a father and son may achieve together. A tear
may form during these moments but in a good way.
Like all Pixar
films, such as Ratatouille, Wall E and Cars, just to name a few, these films have
a heart when it comes to emotional characters whether they be people, animals,
or even robots. The great Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music, The Boss's
Wife) uses his unmistakable voice for the Howard Hughes type Charles Muntz, while
another legendary actor Ed Asner, is resonating as the grumpier by the minute
Carl. Take everyone you can for a more than worthy trip to the movies, grab your
Grandma and the neighbour's kids too.
'Up' is truly the best
family film around and the perfect way to get your animation fix before the inevitable,
much anticipated, upcoming 'Toy Story 3D' being released at Christmas.
Shane
A. Bassett
