Up (2009 Pixar film) discussion

[blackcauldron85]

'Up' rises past 'Ratatouille'
http://micechat.com/forums/news/129325- ... uille.html

[JDCB1986]

Sorry for bumping this, but as a Christmas present, Pixar posted on their Facebook page this wonderful remix by DJ Pogo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVxe5NIABsI

I've been addicted to this song all week. Brilliant ! He has also made an entire EP of tracks that are made using Alice in Wonderland, you can download them for free @ his last.fm page.

WONDERLAND - Pogo
http://www.last.fm/music/Pogo/Wonderland
1. Alice
2. Bread and Butterflies
3. Lost
4. UnBirthday

[Margos]

Wow! That remix was brilliant!

[Disney's Divinity]

I finally got to watch Up a few days ago. I was looking forward to it, despite what some people might think (remembers PatF v. Up thread). I've always thought the story concept was a good one, in the same way that I thought the concept for WALL E was something to really look forward to. Similarly, Up let me down.

The beginning was really strong, and I enjoyed that part of it. Around the middle, I just slowly fell out of love (again, just like with WALL E). Part of it might have been Russell's voice, which was annoying; the character was, too. But most of it I blame on the dogs. It just comes across a little random when they're first introduced, and I didn't enjoy the way the story turned and focused on the bird after they came into the picture. I also felt the part where Russell decides to go help "Kevin" was a little forced. I think there's a similar bit of over-handedness in Ratatouille and Cars. Just felt like it could've been better written.

I think one of the biggest detractors from the film were the characters. Carl was the only good one. Russell was a bit annoying and not at all endearing, though at the very least he was developed. The dogs were not. At one point in the film (I think the same scene I talked about above), Dug says something about how he loves Carl and I'm just left wondering...why? You've only been with them a little time while walking, and even then you were more concerned about the bird; none of it rang true. The dogs were, while funny, a detriment to the movie, imo. As for Charles, he is good only in regards to how he mirrors Carl. But he's not a very interesting or entertaining character (thinks of Edgar from The Aristocats or Clayton from Tarzan).

The good parts: the entire beginning, some pretty good comical moments, and Carl and Muntz's fight scene (I laughed so hard at the denture thing that I got distracted and had to rewind). The message of moving on is also a good one and I do congratulate Pixar for giving their elderly characters more to do than just be old. I also liked the nice contrast between Carl and Muntz, with Carl letting go--literally--of the baggage weighing him down and Muntz unable to do the same with finding the bird specimen.

Maybe the praise that's been heaped on the movie had a subtle effect on me. After the movie was over, all I could think was, "And this is the movie I've heard such great things about?" But I didn't consider the hype going into it and I don't really have expectations for Pixar films like I do Disney ones. I watched it again just to make sure it wasn't a one time thing, that the movie didn't appeal to me more the second time around. It still fell flat for me, unfortunately.

I actually enjoyed the short "Partly Cloudy" a lot more than the movie--Pixar's shorts are always great. I think it's because Pixar has really good concepts that can rarely fill 90 to 120 minutes. Up is an example of that to me. The "old man flies house away with baloons" is a funny concept, but the movie veers off midway into the film onto a less interesting story. What could've been. *sigh*

[Kyle]

I'll be getting the Luxo lamp combo for my b day next week. I cant open it yet, but I have seen it in its package, it looks nicer than I thought it would. cant wait to open it.

and since I already own up, I'll be selling the blu ray on ebay.

[Margos]

At one point in the film (I think the same scene I talked about above), Dug says something about how he loves Carl and I'm just left wondering...why? You've only been with them a little time while walking, and even then you were more concerned about the bird; none of it rang true.

That was intended, because these dogs weren't meant to be human-like, but just dogs with audible voices. They weren't really "talking dogs," you know? And real dogs, especially ones with sweet dispositions, will simply fall in love with anyone, in a matter of minutes, really. So I think that that, while it would be unusual in a human-like character, is really perfect for Dug.

[Kyle]

I do think the dog parts of the movie brought it down, just because of how tacked on they felt, but I also think they really captured how dogs act, and what we think their saying a a lot of the time. I just dont think they added enough to the plot, they served no purpose other than to make the movie less of a downer for kids. They could have really stood to cut back on the amount of comedic animals in this movie. we didn't need a whole pack of dogs, as well as the snipe. the chase scenes felt like filler, and gave off a false sense of excitement. Why not use that time to further develop the human characters more?

[estefan]

To be honest, the only dog I didn't like and I felt could have used some improvement was Alpha. I just don't find the whole squeaky-voiced "Alvin and the Chipmuks"-type routine to be the least bit funny and they could have taken that gag out without affecting the plot, mainly because it added nothing to the plot.

Though, listening to Docter and Peterson's commentary track, they seem to find that thing to be a lot funnier than I do. I just wish one of the story people over at Pixar could have said "Okay, guys. Does this really add anything to the story or develop the characters?" Aside from that minor issue, I enjoyed the dogs in Up and Dug was just adorable.

[blackcauldron85]

'Up' screenplay online
http://pixarblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/u ... nline.html
(via disneyreport.com)

(And you can download the score...or 8 tracks of it, anyway! I missed the score download the last time it was free on some site, so I'm happy. It says that they're in Zip format, but they seem to be playing as mp3s in my Windows Media Player...)

[blackcauldron85]

'Up' among Genesis Award nominees
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... 14bdc86253

[estefan]

I guess killing off Ray in The Princess and the Frog led to its illegibility here, lol.

[DisneyFan09]

I loved Up. It's a heartwarming, sweet and visually stunning movie. Although I didn't liked Kevin and the villain could've been stronger (have a bigger motivation), I'll honestly say that this is undoubtly one of Pixar's best films. I loved the score, the emotional moments and the talking dogs (especially Dug, he's so adorable). And I'm proud to own it on blu ray.

[blackcauldron85]

PIXAR'S Bob Peterson: Animator, Screenwriter, Director, Voice Actor, Dog Lover
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-clo ... 60293.html
(via cartoonbrew.com)

[blackcauldron85]

Scene Dissection: "Up" director Pete Docter on the film's emotional opening montage
http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/la- ... 7449.story
(via animatedviews.com)

[David S.]

Up wins Humane Society Genesis Award!

http://theenvelope.latimes.com/la-et-ge ... 2984.story

[ajmrowland]

Nice to know that two family films are commended by animal lovers!

[blackcauldron85]

Another award nomination:

Up with the Hugos!
http://animatedviews.com/2010/up-with-the-hugos/

[blackcauldron85]

Inspiration for, and from, Up!
http://animatedviews.com/2010/inspirati ... d-from-up/

[blackcauldron85]

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... orium.html

... Pixar's computer-animated film "Up" bagged another honor Thursday, picking up the best foreign feature category at the Monkey King Awards, China's top animation award event.

"Up" defeated "Madagascar: Escape to Africa" and productions from nine other countries to earn the award at the event in Hangzhou City, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province ....

[IagoZazu]

I'm glad that Up is doing so well. It is a wonderful film.