Julian RuncanUp: Just Toying With Us
June 10th 2010 18:56
Pixar scares the crap out of me, they're just too good. Each movie gets better and better, and at this point it feels like they're toying with us. "Yeah we're good. We're so good, I bet we can make a movie about an old man in a flying balloon house, but still make it so touching that people will cry." It's a pretty cocky maneuver, but dammit they pulled it off masterfully.
While I didn't actually bawl, I will admit that I got a little choked up. Up's greatest asset was an understanding of a basic principle of storytelling: showing someone what's happening is always more powerful than telling them. Exactly what made WALL·E such an achievement, is what makes Up so touching. Pixar might possess considerable technical know-how, but above all these guys know how to tell a story well.
Some people have said that the film may be a little too heavy for kids, but I think that's ridiculous. Up is a film about life, love, and dreams. It is incredibly uplifting, and despite some heavier moments, finishes with a great message and a happy ending. Just because a story is touching, that doesn't mean kids can't enjoy it too. They're young, not idiots.
Up is an incredible movie, and a step in the right direction. It is taking western audiences a really long time to accept that just because something is animated, it doesn't have to be shallow. As long as films like Up keep being made, people should come to accept this soon enough.
9.5/10
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Comment by ShaunK
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like you I was also impressed with Up and it's adult themes of a hard life and missed opportunities, not as good as Wall-E but definitely puts a smile and a tear on your face, if your interested you can see my review here
Comment by AmyHuang
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