*Up

How I Watched the Movie: I saw this in theaters with my parents not long after it came out this summer. We bought the DVD from Costco a months ago.

If you know me well (and if you read my Ratatouille review), you will know that I am a huge Pixar fan. Okay, so I don't actually believe my mom when she says that I did see Toy Story when I was little (I seriously cannot remember that movie), but I've always loved their movies like crazy. Pixar has turned into a family tradition at my house. My parents have bought me a plush Dot (A Bug's Life), Boo (Monsters, Inc.), Nemo and Dory (Finding Nemo) and Jack-Jack (The Incredibles); we even named our cell phones after Pixar characters. (Nota bene, if you're wondering why I didn't mention Cars, it's because that's the only Pixar movie I have yet to see.) So we heard that Pixar was making this adorable movie about an old man's house attached to helium balloons that floats around in the sky, you bet we were pretty excited for this one. Sure, the premise sounds cute and fluffy, because just how far-fetched does a floating balloon-house sound? But despite the fantastical aspect of Pixar movies--anthropomorphic insects, animals, cars, and robots; living toys and closet-monsters--actually watching the movies is a whole other experience. Of course you chuckle here and there and "aww!" over the more juvenile aspects, but all in all, it's the moral and meaning behind the movies that reaches out to everyone, young and old. That is what has made Pixar a name brand, the one that trumps over Dreamworks and other struggling animating copycats.

Up is no exception; in fact, it exceeds the other films. No other movie can make one cry in the beginning and leave one laughing over an inside joke that has now reached to international levels ("Squirrel!", anyone?). It is truly no surprise that this movie won (very easily, I must say) the Oscar for Animated Feature, in addition to a nod for the greatest Academy Award for them all (but truly, which one will you most likely remember? The heart-warming balloon movie or the war thriller no one has really heard of?). This movie stands out in so many ways. Yes, it does have many of Pixar's signature motifs (talking animals, check; hyperactive kid, check; fantasy, major check), but what was the last movie you saw that stars an aging balloon salesman who uses his area of expertise to make his house fly?

Ever since he was a little boy, Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) has held a fascination over flying and exploring adventures. In fact, that's just how he meets his childhood friend, who later becomes his wife, Ellie (Elizabeth Docter). The two dream of one day taking a trip to the Paradise Falls, an almost mythical tropical paradise that has given their hero, Charles F. Muntz (Christopher Plummer), his renown. After many happy years together--and after trying and trying to earn enough money to go to Paradise Falls, an elderly Ellie passes away, leaving Carl alone in their old home surrounded by modern-day skyscrapers and construction. Contemporary woes start to kick in for the senior citizen, as the construction workers try to buy his home from him and move him to a retirement home. However, using his skills from the trade he knows best--balloon-selling--Carl attaches hundreds and hundreds of balloons to his house to fly off to Paradise Falls. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters who join him on his journey, including a young Wilderness Explorer named Russell (Jordan Nagai) who yearns to earn his "Assisting the Elderly" badge by helping Carl; a colorful tropical bird Russell spontaneously names "Kevin" (Pete Docter); and a Golden Retriever, Dug (Bob Peterson), who communicates in plain English via his special collar. When Carl meets his ambitious role model Muntz at Paradise Falls, Carl's trip takes a turn for an even more daring--and dangerous--adventure.

Pros: It would take a whole essay for me to write about all the good things, but let me sum it up in short words. Animation. Characters. Plot. Sad. Funny. Cute. Action. Adventure. Whimsical. Creative. Don't you think it's awesome already?

Cons: Nothing! :D (Though the beginning is very sad...which could either be a pro or a con, whichever way you look at it.)

Red Flags: Nothing, except some intense scenes in which some characters' lives seem to be in peril. Check CSM here.

Grading

Plot: 10/10

Acting: 10/10 (all-star cast makes excellent voices for excellent characters!)

Screenwriting: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Enjoyment: 10/10

Overall: 50/50  (a definite favorite!)

Tidbits

Original Release Date: May 29, 2009

Length: 96 minutes

Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson

Producer: Jonas Rivera, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton

Screenwriter: Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Thomas McCarthy, Jim Capobianco, Aley Phelan

Distribution Company: Walt Disney Pictures

MPAA Rating: PG

Also Recommended:

• Ratatouille (2007)
• Finding Nemo (2003)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
• Spirited Away (2002)

Check It Out!

• Official website
• Wikipedia
• Yahoo!
• IMDb
• Rotten Tomatoes

*Ratatouille

How I Watched the Movie: I first saw it at the movie theater when it came out with a classmate and her mother (it was so sweet of them to invite me along with them!). I loved it so much and my mom bought it for us on DVD (to keep) from Costco.

Imagine that you are a talented chef, with the sharpest nose ever to pick out only the best ingredients for your entrees. You dishes are exquisite, and you have a gift for cooking that can't be found anywhere. But wait! There are just a couple "little" problems: (1) most of your family members are against your dream career, and (2) you are a rat.

This is the story of a little grey rat name Remy (Patton Oswalt), who lives in the French countryside outside of Paris. He can sniff out the best ingredients to create wonderful, savory dishes, but this is a secret he must guard from the rest of his family--except for his older brother, Emile (Peter Sohn)--because of their disapproval of human activities such as, well, cooking. In fact, Remy isn't acknowledged for much, besides having the talent of sniffing out rat poison in the trash that his kinsmen eat. But it's when he and his family are chased out of their home by the old lady whose home they live above that Remy gets the chance he's been waiting for. Through a sewer, the rat reaches Paris, and, with the help of his conscience, which is in the form of his late culinary role model, Chef Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett), he reaches the said chef's restaurant. It just so happens that on that same day, a young man named Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano), whose mother was a friend of the late chef, comes to Gusteau's for work. Since he has no culinary experience, Gusteau's former sous-chef, Skinner (Ian Holm), hires him to be the garbage boy. As Remy watches the restaurant go about its business, he spots Linguini spilling some soup and trying to cover up his mistake by adding in random ingredients. Remy accidentally falls into the restaurant through the skylight, but before he escapes, he can't resist but to fix the ruined soup. Linguini catches Remy in the act, and before Remy knows it, he's created a delicious soup that a well-known food critic savors. Skinner decides to hire Linguini as a cook, but when the kitchen staff realizes a rat is in the kitchen, Linguini is put in charge of getting rid of Remy. Since Remy saved Linguini's job, the former garbage boy keeps the rat and the two make a deal to work together and make it appear as if Linguini is cooking...although Remy is really the one doing the work. But when Linguini's fame grows practically overnight, does that mean that his secret will be undercover forever? And will Remy get to make his culinary dreams come true in the end? Also stars Janeane Garofalo, Peter O'Toole, Brian Dennehy, Will Arnett, James Remar, John Ratzenberger, Teddy Newton, Brad Bird, and Thomas Keller.

One should never doubt the quality of a Pixar movie, especially if it's one that was nominated five times at the Oscars. Ratatouille had every good thing a movie should have: comedy, action, a bit of romance, and a cast of fun characters. What more can you ask for? In addition, the screen writing was done wonderfully. One of my favorite quotes from the movies was when Remy tells his father, Django, “Change is nature, Dad. The part that we can influence. And it starts when we decide.”

Pros: First of all, the animation is breath-taking, as is the usual Pixar fashion. Although it is animated, you feel as if you are right there, or as if the characters are real--even the rats. Part of this is based on the animation itself, but another part of it is also the storyline. And what's not to love about a cute little rat who can cook? I could go on forever and ever listing pros of this movie, but let's put it this way: right beside (not next to) Finding Nemo, this movie is my favorite Pixar film.

Cons: There are cons? There are cons?! No, really, I simply can't think of any. Set one forth to me, and I'll probably shoot it down.

Red Flags: As stated by Common Sense Media, there's some intense action (not in the least bit graphic, though), a bit of romance, some attempts to curse, and some wine-drinking since, after all, it is France.

Grading

Plot: 10/10

Acting: 10/10

Screenwriting: 10/10

Originality: 10/10

Enjoyment: 10/10

Overall: 10/10

Tidbits

Original Release Date: June 28, 2007

Length: 111 mins

Directors: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava

Producer: Brad Lewis

Screenwriter: Brad Bird (story by Jane Pinkava, Jim Capoblanco, Brad Bird, Emily Cook, Kathy Greenberg)

Distribution Company: Walt Disney PIctures, Pixar Animation Studios

MPAA Rating: G

Also Recommended

• Finding Nemo (2003)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Spirited Away (2002)

Check It Out!

• Official
• Wikipedia
• Yahoo!
• IMDb profile
• Rotten Tomatoes