Up

To begin with a brief thought: When did the movie theater turn into a canteen? Munch, gobble, slurp… Up is a multigenerational picture that will be enjoyed by everyone. Super action scenes, a romance of the highest caliber, and a breathtaking adventure that, in the style of old exploration films, throws one into an unknown, dangerous yet beautiful world. The storyline forms an incredible link between several lives. A pensioner who wants to complete his plan (to move) at any cost, a hunter (another pensioner) who is pursuing a trophy that constantly eludes him, a lonely boy who wants to help (pensioners) and mothers caring for their children. Add a flying house, talking dogs, a mischievous bird, and this merry-go-round of a movie becomes a whole lot of fun. (25/09/2009)

When you get the meanness of the old grandpa, the cuteness of the little boy, and the charming Kevin into the movie, it's something to watch! Plus, the atmosphere was soooo awesome in the theater, where I was probably the oldest one there. It was only at the beginning of the second half of the movie that the kids started suspiciously excusing themselves to the toilet... there were a few minutes of boredom. (23/04/2011)

In the case of the latest animated feature film from Pixar, I fell victim to my own expectations and, above all, the enthusiasm of the newspaper critics, who gushed like a fountain and it was clear that this film was the number one film event of the year for some of them. Such a high percentage rating is truly exceptional. The same was true in four other cases, so I went to the movie theater to sit carefully so as not to collapse from the flood of impressions. During and immediately after watching, I would give it perhaps two stars, but the objective value of Up is of course significantly higher. Pixar excels in both animation and the script for a classic family spectacle for all generations, but for me, there are a few "buts." Firstly, to my taste, the story relies too much on sentimentality and nostalgia, secondly, it moves too much in the spirit of political correctness and expectations limited by a family film, whereas I would like the grandpa to be really tough on the annoying brat who intrudes into his contemplation about fulfilling his dreams from his youth, and in the spirit of classic performances by Walter Matthau, really "give it to him." I also wanted more gags and the plot didn't grab me after they arrived in Venezuela. It's strange because the creators strive for a spectacle inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Lost World" or classic Verne-style adventures like "Five Weeks in a Balloon," which I grew up with as a boy. The idea of the flying house carried by balloons scored the most points, but it was obviously not a surprise to anyone. Overall impression: 60%. Up did not only lose to Ratatouille in my eyes but also to the robot Wall-E. (30/08/2009)

The puppet masters (3D) prove why it is such a success for all audience ranges. For the first time, however, I feel like they’re being overly confident. There’s no willingness to take risks or deviate in any way from the popular trend. Life’s truths caress, while the overly mentoring tone grates on the nerves. I wasn't bored, but I didn't enjoy it, and that's worse. (02/11/2009)

An animated flick that milks the emotions of the viewer with the same ease as the best live action dramas. In the moments when this happens, the simplicity and lack of originality of the story is a shame, it pops the balloons and brings down this bitter-funny gem, not in any drastic way, but enough to make it lose one star. Otherwise, I agree that the first 10 minutes are probably the best sequence I’ve ever seen in an animated film. (05/09/2009)