Up review

Anyone who knows me knows I have been an animation nut for many years so I'm sure it won't surprise anyone that I went to see Pixar's new film Up in 3D. I own Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 1-6 (I just bought Vol. 6 on eBay) and Max Fleischer's Popeye cartoons on DVD. So I love Pixar. I don't think Up is their best film but it is outstanding and you should see it in 3D. The effects are fabulous. One of the best things about Up is how the story is set up. It tells the story of Carl & Ellie Fredericksen and their admiration for adventurer Charles Muntz. They promise themselves that one day they will go to Paradise Falls in South America but it never happens and Ellie gets sick and dies. Carl is determined to fulfill the dream and turns their house into a flying machine with balloons. Boy Scout Russell tags along and they find a rare bird when they get to South America. They also find the evil Charles Muntz and his pack of electronically controlled dogs. Dug is one of those dogs but he helps Carl and Russell escape. The action is exciting and the 3D really enhances the film. Pay the extra money.





I don't think Up is Pixar's best film but it is excellent and their standards are so high that it hardly matters. If you like their other films, you'll like this. The film was directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson and written by Peterson. Docter has been with Pixar since 1991. He directed Monsters Inc. but has written several other Pixar films. Peterson has been with Pixar since 1994. This is his first opportunity to direct but he wrote Finding Nemo. He's also the voice of Dug. Ed Asner is perfect as Carl. His outward crustiness disguises a lot of heart and he turns out to be a nice guy. Christopher Plummer plays Charles Muntz and child actor Jordan Nagai is Russell. Delroy Lindo and Pixar regular John Ratzenberger also contribute voices. As usual, Pixar's storytelling is the best thiing in the film and the beginning of the film is set up as perfectly as anything I've ever seen. It's simply amazing how they can make animated characters seem so real. Make sure you see it in 3D and here's the trailer for Up.