Up (2009 Pixar film) discussion

[Arielle]

I think I may be one of the last Disney fans to see this movie, but I finally did this morning. (Our theater offers discounts if you see movies before noon).

First off, I saw the movie in 3D with my boyfriend. Originally we had decided to see the movie in 2D because the theaters in Los Angeles charge $4 extra per ticket for a 3D movie -- that's $8 total. I think that is totally ridiculous. Why so much more? The glasses maybe? Though they make you recycle them at the end of the show... Anyway, after an epiphany last night, I realized that they most likely won't have the movie in 3D on the DVD/Blu Ray, so this would really be our only chance to see it in 3D. As a hardcore Disney fan, I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity.

I'm glad we saw it in 3D, just for the experience, but I don't think it was worth the extra $4 for the effects themselves. There were only a few shots that were cool-looking (mostly the wideshots when they were outside), but most of it was so subtle that you'd forget you were watching a 3D movie. Most of the 3D trailers that were before the movie didn't interest me, except for Toy Story 3, but I would have been much happier if it were a real trailer rather than just the teaser.

As for the movie itself, I enjoyed it very much. I cared very much about all the characters, and really really felt for Carl. However, I agree mostly with <b>gardener14</b>'s review in the fact that there were a lot of things that weren't believable, except I LOVED the talking dogs. I think what made them realistic for me was the fact that even though they talked like humans, they still thought like dogs.

I kinda of felt like the first and second halves of the movie were separate stories, and it felt a little disconnected for me. I would have liked to see a story more about the journey to South America (it's hard for me to believe that they got there in one night), and stopping along the way to finally get there. I think that would have made it feel more connected.

Other than that, I really thought there were a lot of great and funny moments. And out of all the Pixar movies, it tugged on my heart strings the most

Lastly: Why was this rated PG?

[CampbellzSoup]

I'm going ot guess from the outbust that Carl had when he struck the man in the head? That's the only reason I can think of a slightly higher rating than G.

[goofystitch]

The PG rating comes from two instances of blood (the man Carl struck and Kevin's wound) as well as violence in which characters are shot at.

[PixarFan2006]

I finally saw Up today (and in 3D, too). I thought it was a really good Pixar film and I probably liked it a little more than last year's WALL-E. There were a lot of funny moments (Especially with Dug the dog). I did not think the 3D was really that great. It was not even noticable half the time.

Overall, I give the film a 9 out of 10.

I thought the short, Partly Cloudy was okay, but it was not my favorite short.

[blackcauldron85]

About a deleted plot element:

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/06/11/up ... arls-face/
(via BlueSkyDisney.blogspot.com)

[pap64]

So for the first time in 3 years I decided to go to the movies with my nephew and went to see Up in the afternoon.

What a fantastic film. While it doesn't quite dethrone Ratatouille and Finding Nemo as my favorite Pixar films Up comes pretty damn close due to some great elements.

The characters were great, perhaps the strongest set of characters in recent Pixar history. Anything that dealt with Carl and Ellie was very movie and inspiring. I admit that I teared up and had a lump in my throat once the movie dealt with her. She managed to be both an inspiring and tragic figure not being able to conceive a child yet finding her life with Carl as a wonderful adventure.

Russell I thought was adorable in his earnest appeal. Though I am confused as to his relationship with his mother and father. Dug was very funny and I just wanted to pet him and give him a big old hug. How a sweet dog like him ended up with a psycho like Muntz is beyond me.

The animation as always was great. But what really stunned me were the little details, such as Carl's square design and they even nailed the colorful reflections of the balloons as they sent the house flying.

The funny thing is that I saw this film with not one but TWO groups of summer camp kids. I thought it was going to be a pain since it was the two extremes (pre teens on one end, pre school on the other). The movie was so enthralling that both groups didn't make a peep save to laugh at a joke.

You know you have a great movie when you manage to calm down hyperactive kids and they sit down to enjoy the story.

It was a wonderful film and can't wait to see it again on Blu-Ray.

[blackcauldron85]

Russell I thought was adorable in his earnest appeal. Though I am confused as to his relationship with his mother and father.

He lives in an apartment with his mom, where dogs aren't allowed. His dad lives with Phyllis (that was her name, right?). That could be his dad's girlfriend, or Russell's stepmom. Russell is a bother to his dad (according to Phyllis), so he doesn't see his dad much.

It could be that Phyllis usually answers the phone and lies to Russell; maybe Phyllis doesn't like Russell, so she tells Russell that he's a bother to his dad, without asking the dad, or maybe the dad is happier with Phyllis and doesn't want the responsibility of Russell. We don't really know.

[CampbellzSoup]

Wasn't that Phyllis at the end of the film cheering Russell on?

[stewie15]

Wasn't that Phyllis at the end of the film cheering Russell on?

Yea that's what I thought too and the lady at the end defs isn't his mom because she is full out a different race.

I'm thinking that Russell's dad left when he was little and then his mom died and Phyllis is his care giver/guardian

[blackcauldron85]

I totally thought that that was Russell's mom at the end- she was Asian, too...

Phyllis and his dad aren't really in his life much these days, I figured.

[goofystitch]

It had to be his mom because the only way for Russell to get in touch with his dad is to call him and his stepmom (or dad's girlfriend) Phyllis tells Russell that he bothers his dad too much, meaning she would not be supportive enough to attend his ceremony if that is the way she treats him. The woman sitting with Dug even looked related to Russell.

[blackcauldron85]

I think that a main point of the film is that Carl and Ellie weren't able to have children (I mean, they could've adopted, but didn't...), and Russell doesn't have a good relationship with his dad. Now Carl has a kid he can be in the life of, and Russell has an adult male role model.

[CampbellzSoup]

See I didn't get that part...

I thought he insinuated that his mother died...??

[goofystitch]

No. I think they chose to keep Russel's home life as vague as possible so that kid's in similar situations could identify with him. For example, kid who's mother died and who now has a stepmother and a father who is away a lot on business might identify with Russell. Or a kid who's parents are divorced and who's father isn't around much who has a girlfriend or new wife might also identify with his situation. Heck, even kids with married parents, but who have a deadbeat dad will identify with him. So rather than explicit stating the situation, the ambiguity leaves more room for people to identify with Russell.

Personally, it sounded more like his father is with a new woman and Russell's dad isn't around anymore. To me the woman seemed more likely to be his mom. She looked more proud of him than a stepmom who tells him not to call would have been. Also, the fact that she is also Asian is a good indication the she is his mother. I recently studied Asian American's in a marketing class and nowadays, most marry people of other ethnicities so odds are Phyllis isn't Asian.

[CampbellzSoup]

Then does Russell get depressed when Carl metions his mother...? It might have been a close realative, but I got the insinuation that his mother passed away...why would Carl feel so much remorse for asking.

[Simba3]

Last night pushed "Up" over the $200 million mark (domestically). And it's still going strong.

[disneyboy20022]

No. I think they chose to keep Russel's home life as vague as possible so that kid's in similar situations could identify with him. For example, kid who's mother died and who now has a stepmother and a father who is away a lot on business might identify with Russell.

Yeah...that has Happened to my cousin in the army....His first wife was a drugee and divorced her after he got custody of the baby....then he married her best friend who died after 10 hours after giving birth while he was on the way home from Iraq....so now its been 3 years and he remarried and happy now...and my cousin is only 30....idk how many people can be married 3 times widowed once and divorced once....aye aye aye...

Personally, it sounded more like his father is with a new woman and Russell's dad isn't around anymore. To me the woman seemed more likely to be his mom. She looked more proud of him than a stepmom who tells him not to call would have been. Also, the fact that she is also Asian is a good indication the she is his mother. I recently studied Asian American's in a marketing class and nowadays, most marry people of other ethnicities so odds are Phyllis isn't Asian.

I agree...thats what I took away from it....and who knows.....perhaps his dad was of Asian background...we never see his father...Or a more simple reason might be.....regarding the ethinicty of Russel is...pixar made a kid like russel to show that you don't have to look good like Dash in Incredibles or adorable like Boo....people come in all shapes and sizes....

Although Russel's background could make a good Fan-fiction story...The Origin of Russel's Life or how a story on Muntz's Dogs...their back story from puppy hood.....and all that or the History of Dug....[/quote]

[goofystitch]

CampbellzSoup said:

Then does Russell get depressed when Carl metions his mother...? It might have been a close realative, but I got the insinuation that his mother passed away...why would Carl feel so much remorse for asking.

Because he realized he brought up a touchy subject. He said "You call your own mother Phyllis?" in a rude way. Then Russel yelled back "Phyllis isn't my mom!" Then he goes on about how his father is never around, not how he misses his mom. If his mom wasn't in the picture anymore, then he wouldn't have to call his father only to have Phyllis answer and tell him to stop bugging his father. No, it sounds more like his mother is alive and that is who we see at the ceremony. That would also explain why she is alone.

However, as I said before, I think Pixar left it as vague as possible so that kids in multiple situations can identify with Russel. Personally, my parents are still happily married, but my dad was a workaholic and wasn't around much to teach me things, so even with my background I was really able to relate to Russel, even though its not the exact same situation.

[a-net-fan]

OK I just got back from seeing UP with my cousin and this is something we discussed on the way home. Believe it or not we got the exact same thing from the movie.

First of all Russel talks fondly about his dad. He almost brags to Carl about him ....all the stuff they do and what a great dad he is (counting cars etc etc). But you eventually realize he is saying these things almost to cover up for his fathers shortcomings and that things arent that great after all. He doesnt want to make his dad sound like a bad dad because he still loves him deep down and wishes that was the kind of dad he was.....or could be. The things he talks about are more like the things he WISHES his dad would do with him. Carl ends up having the same disappointment when he meets his childhood hero who he had believed to be good all his life and is let down by him since he turns out to be a pretty evil person in real life. This is a common thread between Carl and Russle....that they were let down by two people who they looked up to. The lady at the end is Russels mother....im sure of it and Carl steps in and becomes the "father figure" in his life.....doing all the things that Russel had talked about that he did (but actually just wished he could do) with his dad. The End...Happy Ending.

The movie was great...I really enjoyed it! Ed Asner was perfect as Carl!! My favorite line was after Russel suggested they move the house like the big baloons in the parades and Carl goes: "we are going to move this house.. there will be no rap music or flash dancing". (or something like that) LMAO....best line in the movie! I cant stop lauging at that....

[Escapay]

The release hasn't been officially announced yet, but special features for the Blu-ray and DVD are starting to be classified by BBFC:

UP - BLU RAY BONUS
Video Feature
Classified 29 July, 2009 .
Run Time 35m 45s

00:07:18:03 COMPOSING FOR CHARACTERS - MICHAEL GIACCHINO SCORES UP (FEATURETTE)
00:05:34:06 (UP PROMO MONTAGE)
00:06:08:18 BALLOONS AND FLIGHT (FEATURETTE)
00:01:49:14 NO TITLE ON SCREEN (EASTER EGG)
00:06:06:01 GERIATRIC HERO (FEATURETTE)
00:08:48:02 MARRIED LIFE (FEATURETTE)

UP - BONUS
Video Feature
Classified 29 July, 2009 .
Run Time 36m 5s

00:21:20:24 ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!
00:05:34:02 (UP - PROMO MONTAGE)
00:04:28:06 HELIUM - DUG'S SPECIAL MISSION
00:04:41:11 THE MANY ENDINGS OF MUNTZ

albert