Film Review: Up
Up seems like a good direction to describe Pixar’s movement. Since Toy Story released in 1995, Pixar has continued to rise to one of the powerhouses in the industry. Up also happens to title their newest project, an effort that shows they still have not missed a step.
The reason I have to bring up Pixar as a studio is that their level of quality is spectacular. Every single year they release a film that is a contender for the best animated, or best overall picture. They deserve credit for the consistent greatness and creativity that is delivered with each movie. As a huge fan of their work, I was very excited to see Up.
Up marks the first Pixar film that is available in 3D. Truthfully it does not add much to the experience. The 3D glasses allowed a deeper field of vision, but there was nothing that made them absolutely necessary to the experience. It was not worth the $5.00 required for the two pairs of glasses I purchased, save for some of the trailers that jumped out of the screen.
But technical spectacle is not what makes Pixar films stand out. When Toy Story first released it was marvelous to watch because it was breaking new ground, but the reason it remains a classic is because of its heartfelt story and memorable characters. Similarly, Up is more than just visuals or 3D effects show, though it is a beautiful sight to behold. The vibrant colors and the flawless animation create a perfect presentation for the story.
The visuals and the characters are brilliant
Beyond the bright balloons, there is plenty to love about Up. There are laughs, but it is far from a comedy. This is Pixar’s most serious film to date. There are talking dogs and houses floating on balloons, but beyond that layer are characters and dialogue telling a tale of love and achievement.
The audience is brought up to speed with the life of lead character Mr. Fredricksen through a short segment at Up‘s opening. Within this fast-forwarded lifetime there is more emotion and warmth than in the entirety of many other films.
The emotional storytelling in Up creates a touching tale of love and adventure. The story is its strongest point, but it is supported by humor and even action. Up has laughs and tears, but through both it achieves a connection that the audience can feel. I was engaged and involved from the start of the film and it never let me go.
After my review of Wall-E last year there was a lot of angst about the score. One of my goals in reviewing movies is to review each one independent of outside opinion or my opinions on other films. With that in mind, I carefully considered Up for several weeks before this review was written. Even after this lengthy deliberation, I can find no faults. I was moved by Up, and I continue to be impressed by what Pixar brings to the table each year.
Up is a fantastic film with a wonderful story and a lot of heart. I have no reservations giving it my highest recommendation.
10/10
15 Comments
Your site is going to explode once certain people see the rating.
I didn’t even have to see the score before I knew what you gave it. I could tell you were trying to semi-downplay the movie and then try to surprise us with the 10. This is unbelievable. However, the rating cannot be as bad as WallE, since Up will no doubt be better than WallE.
@vinnyrose: You might be right. We will see over the next few days.
@airxxi: Both Wall-E and Up get my highest recommendation. Both are great films, and even if the responses are critical of my score I know that readers expect my opinion. In this case, my opinion is this movie is worthy of its score. I was not really trying to surprise anyone, but I did carefully consider this score for about a week to make sure it was deserved.
i grew more giddy as i read this in anticipation of a 10 at the end. i will say that this probably doesn’t deserve a 10 because i don’t think many animations should, but i am 100% more on board with this getting a 10 then wall-e. i will never see wall-e because i know it is about robot intimacy. i will consider seeing up and will not completely shut it down. either way, the balloons look cool and the color is pretty sweet. i’m five years old.
I literally refuse to read this review after being told by my roommate that you gave it a 10/10. I could have probably guessed you would have. To paraphrase TJ, you’ll give an animated movie like UP and Wall-E a 10/10, yet you rip The Departed.
Enough said.
Mario is dead for his comment.
On another note, I do want to see “Up”, as I think it looks good. However, I know for a fact that I will not give it a 10/10.
i was seriously waiting for someone to bring up the departed and am seriously so happy that someone did.
The departed deserved a 5/10 or less.
i loved it. i cant get enough of cute romantic old people silly fat kids talking dogs and good endings.
my favorite line was ” do i dig the hole before or after?….ITS BEFORE” haha
I knew the rating would not sit well with some readers, but as I said I stand by it.
@faith: That was hilarious and the more I think about it there were some really funny lines. Particularly by talking dogs.
I saw the movie last night. Obviously it wasn’t a 10/10. It had it’s dull moments, and some laughable moments, and some feel good moments. Overall, it’s a solid effort by Pixar, but by no means does it knock off top performers such as Kung Fu Pang, Surf’s Up, Ratatouille, or Toy Story. A solid 7/10.
I give my comment a 10/10.
i give vinnyrose a 0/10 for originality and humor.
@airxxi I believe you forgot the ’1′ in front of the first ’0′. I will just correct it for you.
“i give vinnyrose a 10/10 for originality and humor.”
@vinnyrose No typo occurred.
Leave a comment
Guidelines
Please keep your comments on topic and in good taste. I will delete any comments that are vulgar, off-topic, or otherwise inappropriate.