wow i cant wait to see this movie now. i thank thee for you informitve review.

I saw Up a while back, and I'd have to say that it and Coraline were the best films I've seen all year. Even my mom agreed about how mature of a film Up was, and she's not too keen on cartoons and animated films.

I will say this--it did kinda drag near the middle, but I think it kept up a pretty good pace nonetheless. Also, Muntz is a psychopaath.

And I saw that trailer for A Christmas Carol that you mentioned the other day when I went to see Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3-D (well worth the price of admission, might I add). Pretty good 3-D effects, though much of the snow seemed a bit too much in the foreground. Not bad, though. Looking forward to it. (Despite the criticism agains Zemericks [Beowulf notwithstanding], I didn't mind the only Zemericks film I've seen, The Polar Express, and I didn't really think the CGI was as creepy as people have said. I just hope he gives up on that remake of Yellow Submarine that's planned--you can't remake something like that!!)

i just didn't feel like Polar Express had a soul. It was a meandering piece of depressing drivel with a fairly scary looking Santa sewn on at the end. It was just not... endearing.

The opening was incredible. It's probably the best Pixar opening. Really, it's the best opening I can think of any movie off the top of my head.

I don't know, I think I disagree with you on the humor. It was good for a kids movie, but a lot of it kind of fell flat to me. I told my girlfriend that if it wasn't for the talking dogs (especially the villains), then it would have been the perfect movie.

Definitely was one of this years best, which is saying a lot. Quite a handful of good movies this year.

I agreed with everything you wrote, and I (like many) also love Batman: the Animated Series. Pixar is so masterful with treating the viewer with respect and appealing to all age groups by using fantastic animation and great writing/storytelling, which is exactly what Batman: TAS did (and I still watch Batman: the Animated Series when I find the time).

About your comment of the villains, Alpha, the dog, wasn't the main antagonist, and so I liked that he was used more for comedy. The real villain was Muntz.

In fact, if you think about it, most Pixar villains are usually not all that evil (a troubled kid bully, an awkward girl who takes poor care of her fish, a computer who's only doing what he's programmed to do, etc.) The villain of Up is a crazed man who's so hellbent on his task that he is willing to kill an old man, a little boy, and a dog by throwing their house off a cliff. WTF?

..Pixar can be truly grateful for having such a lousy competition, both in animated movies but also by looking recent Hollywood offerings in general. When 95% of theatre flicks are dreck, even an average movie may look stellar.

Of course I do not think Up is average. I enjoyed every second of it, even when the plot started to waver and things began to drag on. However I DO think it is a little bit overpraised, and I feel it is because many people very taken completely off guard when they realized they are actually watching a *good* movie, something that is really not that common these days when most of the time you leave the theatre thinking something like "well.. it wasn't *too* bad...".

I completely agree about the opening, though. Pure genius. That part alone is worth the price of admission.

Saw UP the other day and I thought it was great. Personnaly I thought it was much better than the increadibles and almost as good as toy story.

I like that they used the 3D effect in a subtle way to enhance the movie and not rely on it to tell the story. Although this movie is great in 3D at the cinema, it is still a good movie without it.

Whilst everyone has said how great the opening sequence is (a praise which it deffinately deserves for it's story telling and intelligence) I disagree that it wasn't integral to the plot. I found the sequence to be vital but, like the 3D effect, it's presence throughout the movie is subtle but has a huge effect on this movies storytelling. As an example without that sequence there are alot of parts in the movie that would have had you believe that poor old guy is just a grumpy old git, but I found myself in a much more understanding frame of mind. It also sets him up as the perfect counterpart to the dim witted boy scout at who you want to scream "try using a fucking brain cell ya stupid little twat" instead of just teasing out one or two giggles from me as so many of this kind of comedy releif usually does. One of his scenes actually got a huge belly laugh from me.

As many have said it's not a perfect movie. It does drag a little in the middle (which isn't quite so bad when you consider the alternative would have been some mindless action sequence that either has no point or worse, sacrifises the integrity of the plot as a whole just so it could be included). Alpha's introduction as the main visual threat (not the main villain, who is quite insane really) is also made pretty weak with that cartoony voice whose comedy appeal isn't enough of a pay off to make it work. The bird is also quite annoying at times although i'm sure the kids will like it. The other main dog in the movie (which you can see on the poster)is funny at time but largly forgettable, enough for me to forget his name now anyway. However this is still a very good movie. This may or may not be wishful thinking but it makes you feel like the people behind it really wanted to tell a story and entertain you, not just make a quick buck at the box office like so many others all too often do. So if your reading these reviews to help you decide weather or not to go see it, go check it out. If you miss it in it's full 3D cinematic glory then fear not, there is still plenty to entertain on the small screen. I give it a solid 3 out of 5.

Ugh, I wish you hadn't compared the film to Benjamin Button. I found THAT film to be attempting to force emotional responses that were not justified by the story in most of its sequences (though there were a few that were good, I admit). Up I found far more affecting because it wasn't trying to force the emotional response.

But anyway...

I disagree with you about the "high concept" being unable to sustain the interest of the story at a high level (though the first ten minutes of the film are the best of the whole thing, for sure) because it's not just a device.

Yes, Carl is trying to fulfill this adventure he was never able to take with his wife, but it isn't just a gag that he turns his house into a dirigible. He has come to equivocate HOME, the sense of togetherness he experienced with and in his deceased wife, with his HOUSE.

He isn't talking to her spirit throughout the film--he's literally talking to the house. He has come to associate the house with his wife, but as it is merely a structure it cannot provide him with the human connection he needs. Hence, it quickly becomes a burden to him.

I don't mean to get too "high-brow" here, but I think you could draw a parallel between the Greek myth of Sisyphus forever pushing a boulder up a hill and Carl dragging his house around--I think what initially might seem like a gag is a brilliant metaphor to show Carl's internal torment.

This was an informative and well-constructed review. I still haven't seen Up, so this is still relevant to me.

My one and only nitpicky little comment is that Carl, being a man, would be a widower, rather than a widow. Widows are women only.

I really enjoyed up. I think I have to say it's one of my favorite pixar movies, and I think it will endure more than Toy Story for me. Toy Story, like so many other films, is full of laughs and guffaws. Despite having serious points, I find a lot of digital movies try too hard to make you laugh... and once you've seen a joke 2 or 3 times, it goes beyond funny.

The more subtle tones of this movie are what I enjoy the most. It's quiet, and I'm surprised nobody's made comparisons to Miyazaki films.

Like Miyazaki films, not a whole lot actually happens, and yet... the humanity and detail on the screen speaks volumes. The pacing as well, is different from your standard adventure piece. I also happen to think that it was inspired by Howl's Moving castle. John Lasseter (sp?), the CEO of Pixar once revealed that when they're strapped for ideas they enjoy turning on one of Miyazaki's films for inspiration. Considering their affection for Mr. Miyazaki-san, it's understandable to see that reflected in their work. Nowhere is it so obvious though, as this.

I certainly rate it higher than the semi lack-luster Bolt movie.