Review of Up (2009) by Cj W — 08 Aug 2014

Up is definitely one of Pixar's most heartfelt and well crafted films so far in their brief history. It is as enthralling as any picture you will ever see, yet it is much more emotionally touching than just about any film these days.

The first 12 mins are probably the most emotionally gripping beginning shots to a film ever, we meet Carl and Ellie in these beginning moments, and we watch them fall in love, get married, struggle with life, set goals, and then never reach them, which is something that nearly all of us face.

Carl and Ellie had a dream to one day live beside Paradise Falls, it may have been unrealistic, but nonetheless, it was no fault of their own for why they never got there. Life just gave them some bad breaks, like it does to so many of us, and then Ellie gets sick and dies, leaving Carl alone, and virtually without any purpose or accomplishments to speak of.

But Carl decides to set out on this adventure to find Paradise Falls, and accomplish their dream. Along the way he meets Russell, a wilderness scout, Kevin, a rare bird, and Doug, who is a talking dog, and these characters teach Carl, and the viewer, what life is truly about.

We learn from this film that accomplishing your life's dreams is worth nothing if you have no friendship or love in your life. We are asked the question, what is the point in living your dream if no one is there to experience it with you? And by the end of the film, Carl realizes that his life's adventure was not here with Russell, Kevin, and Doug, but it was all those years he stood by and loved Ellie.

It really is just a sweet and charming film, one where all the jokes are so genuine, and sometimes it is ineffable why they are so funny, they just kind of flow with the film and feel so natural. However, the film is more than just its fantastic screenplay, the animation is very convincing and never ceases to interest you, and the score is just magical, it sounds and feels like the score from a Clint Eastwood drama.

Although, the animation may not be as stunning as some other Pixar classics, but it is just homely and at times contains some visual poetry. But to conclude, Up is definitely one of Pixar's best films, and is about as well crafted as any live action film to come out of the states recently.