Disney’s UP debuted in theaters on May 29, 2009. Up was the tenth Pixar film. It was also the tenth time a Pixar film took the number one slot on opening weekend.
UP – Content Review
Pixar doesn’t mess around. This was genuinely one of the best movies I’ve ever seen and I’ll have to say that it’s my favorite Pixar movie to date.
In all the previews that I saw, I was very skeptical going into this flick. It didn’t seem like I would enjoy it at all. A grumpy old fart floating around in his house thanks to a bunch of balloons? Come on? I’m a 30-year-old male. I like action, sci-fi and explosions.
If anything, I thought the kids would enjoy it because the dog looked kind of funny in the previews. Boy, had I made some poor assumptions. Truth be told, I should have known better. Pixar has always knocked my socks off with their animation and story telling. They don’t do anything half way.
By the time the credits rolled, I (Mr. 30-year-old action and sci-fi fan) had laugh, cried (embarrassingly, quite a bit) and truly connected with the old fart, dog and the kid in the movie. My 6-year-old son loved the movie too.
The balance of humor and overall story that is conveyed speaks to kids and adults in different ways; however, the message is strong and the movie is certainly entertaining for all. I can’t count the times that my son and I have randomly shout “Squirrel!” since seeing UP – thanks to Dug’s (the dog) best line of the movie.
UP – 3D and Effects Review
This is where UP really sets itself apart from other 3D movies. Most 3D movies that I’ve seen are really made to be 3D movies. That is, the effects are built around the fact that you are going to be watching it in 3D. Someone reaches their arm toward the camera, which produces the effect of the arm coming toward the audience. This effect is particularly noticeable when you watch the movie in standard 2D. A couple of movies where I think they overdid it a bit were Journey to the Center of the Earth and My Bloody Valentine. In each of these, the effect is very distracting when you see the movie again in 2D.
You don’t get that sensation when watching UP. The 3D effects are subtle, yet immersive. This was the first movie that I have seen in 3D where I forgot I had 3D glasses on and was watching a 3D movie. So many scenes in other movies are made in order to tailor to the 3D effects. UP isn’t like that and is a great step in the right direction toward getting the balance between 3D and 2D viewing just right.
The RealD 3D glasses were great and weren’t so cumbersome that they became distracting to the viewing experience. The glasses were distributed to ticket holders as we walked into the theater in sealed plastic as seen in the above image. While they aren’t quite Oakleys, the get the job done in reasonable comfort.
UP 3D Review – Conclusion
All in all UP scores big on the 3D effects and overall experience. I can highly recommend this movie to anyone. It’s a great experience and one that I’m sure I will see many times. While I look forward to the Blu-ray and DVD version, I am cautiously optimistic that the 3D effects will translate well over to the small screen.
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