Patterico's Pontifications

6/7/2009

Up

Filed under: Movies — Patterico @ 11:49 pm



Ed Morrissey has an excellent review of the new Pixar movie Up. I can’t add anything, except to say that this is one of the best movies I have seen in recent years. Ed is exactly right about the Spencer Tracy and Kirk Douglas likenesses.

17 Responses to “Up”

  1. I really like it too. Before I saw it, I hadn’t read any reviews and I didn’t know what to expect, but I highly recommended it.

    Perfect Sense (0922fa) — 6/8/2009 @ 1:02 am

  2. this is one of the best movies I have seen in recent years.

    Ditto, Patterico. From the very moving opening sequence to the exciting and hilarious adventures. Apparently Pixar is incapable of making a bad film. The Incredibles still holds first place IMO, but can’t wait to own this one on DVD too.

    no one you know (1ebbb1) — 6/8/2009 @ 2:36 am

  3. Fenton’s Creamery is a real ice cream parlor in Oakland, near the Pixar office. I’ve eaten there — it’s a popular Bay Area restarant.

    aunursa (df5950) — 6/8/2009 @ 4:58 am

  4. Here’s an article on Fentons. (I’m having trouble entering links.)
    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/27/DDK517QG6J.DTL

    aunursa (df5950) — 6/8/2009 @ 5:00 am

  5. Patterico, UP was without a doubt the MOST CHARMING animated movie I’ve ever seen. Bar none! Of course, the Spencer Tracey and Kirk Douglas likenesses only added to it because I could see in my minds eye those two playing their respective roles.

    GM Roper (d53336) — 6/8/2009 @ 5:05 am

  6. The Spencer Tracy look was definitely intended for Fredrickson. I read the director saying he wanted the character to reflect Tracy and also modeled the character on several senior Disney animators who had recently passed away (the old men of Disney) that he knew. As he noted, they were guys who could get away calling a waitress “Honey”. I noticed the Kirk Douglas likeness too for Muntz, but I am not sure that was intended (although I assume it was, Pixar is deliberate in what it does).

    Excellent movie. Saw it the day it came out. Medved declared it the best Pixar movie ever (which is saying a lot). I agree.

    Joe (17aeff) — 6/8/2009 @ 5:20 am

  7. Pixar is just about the only movie maker today that has the imagination to create new characters and new story lines.

    Amphipolis (fdbc48) — 6/8/2009 @ 5:57 am

  8. I saw the film in 3-D with 16 or so family and friends. We all agreed it was amazing.

    tyree (7f4639) — 6/8/2009 @ 6:12 am

  9. I don’t go see Pixar movies cause of these are the same fascists what blocked The Path To 9/11 and I don’t give my monies to fascists. Not on purpose I don’t. This is one of those instances where it’s very easy not to give monies to fascists but it’s such a cute movie so what if they’re fascists.

    happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/8/2009 @ 6:35 am

  10. I loved it. The whole family loved it.

    MayBee (cca412) — 6/8/2009 @ 6:41 am

  11. [LIGHTLY SPOILY; WAY LESS SPOILY THAN MOST REVIEWS]

    Pixar does rock.

    The most significant problem was the failure to address the eminent domain issues that were obvious. The sophisticated people involved in the buildout would surely have political connections sufficient to move or raze the house without the homeowner’s consent.

    But at least the movie had a happy ending – the developers were able to complete their project, assisting the community for many years. The distraction of the storyline may have caused some viewers to lose focus, but in the end the long-term societal gain of a completed major project came through despite the predictable obstreporousness of the elderly.

    –JRM

    JRMayne (355c21) — 6/8/2009 @ 7:02 am

  12. Went to a double feature of Up and Night at the Smithsonian with a gaggle of girls, my 7 year old and her friends). Excellent movies, both.

    JD (1f5216) — 6/8/2009 @ 7:06 am

  13. JRMayne–I thought the civil lawsuit to get the old guy out of his house was pretty slick by the developer. A Kelo action would get too many property groups fired up. But even AARP would not get roused by an old guy who went crazy.

    Joe (17aeff) — 6/8/2009 @ 7:09 am

  14. Isn’t it a little creepy that they would appropriate the identities of actors after they are dead?

    California has laws to prevent this, at least without permission of the heirs. The heirs should demand money from Pixar, and threaten an injunction that would prevent the movie from being shown anywhere. $$$$$

    Daryl Herbert (a32d30) — 6/8/2009 @ 8:15 am

  15. According to IMDB, Kirk Douglas is still alive.

    Tom (252650) — 6/8/2009 @ 8:40 am

  16. “The Path to 9/11” is readily available on the internet, so Disney is only making it so they can’t make money on it. I’m OK with that.

    As to “UP”, it was really good. Not as good as Toy Story or Toy Story 2, but up there with the best of the Pixar movies.

    I agree with the PG rating. Some of the themes were a bit much for little ones. And not because of violence or profanity, but because of the emotional response to characters we care about having problems.

    There was one moment in the film, as an example.
    I won’t ruin it for those who haven’t seen the film, but at one point a plaintive cry from a 5 or 6 year old in the audience rang out:
    “Will Kevin be OK?”
    You have never heard as heartfelt an exclaimation as this one. The child was so upset, and the audience responded with a series of “Awwwww”s. It was touching.

    Go see it, in 3D.

    j.pickens (8b5ad5) — 6/8/2009 @ 12:16 pm

  17. go see it many many times cause of children are the future and with your monies Disney will help teh chilrens think more better! yay!

    happyfeet (2d133f) — 6/8/2009 @ 1:26 pm


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